Never Sleigh Never (Man of the Month Club: Christmas Novella)

11. Cara

Cara

T he twinkling lights strung back and forth across Main Street cast a warm glow over the festival crowd. It may never snow in Magnolia Point, but tonight sure feels like a winter wonderland. My vision has come to life, and it’s picture perfect. Thanks to Thomas. Too bad a snapshot of this moment won’t tell the entire story.

The aroma of hot chocolate and freshly roasted pecans, along with joyful laughter and the cheerful strains of Jingle Bell Rock fill the air as families bustle from booth to booth, their faces alight.

I can check the box for resurrecting the Main Street Holiday Festival off my to-do list. I should be ecstatic, basking in the glow of success. My goal to bring some good, old-fashioned holiday cheer to our town has been achieved. But rather than full, my heart feels heavier than Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve.

“Thank you so much for bringing back the festival, Cara,” Mrs. Henderson gushes, squeezing my arm as she shuffles by. “It’s just like I remember from years ago.”

I force a smile, murmuring my thanks, but my gaze is drawn across the street to where Thomas stands, surrounded by a group of children at the craft booth outside the hardware store. Brad and some other guys from the store are busy helping kids create ornaments from little wooden cutouts, using paint and an assortment of nuts and bolts. The sight of Thomas, his flannel sleeves rolled up to reveal those powerful forearms, patiently helping a little girl as she paints, makes my chest ache.

All week, my co-chair has been professional, touching base via text about last-minute festival details. And nothing more. Not a peep about what happened on Monday morning. Or Sunday night. The easy camaraderie we’d developed, the stolen glances and lingering touches, evaporated like snowflakes on a rosy cheek. And it’s all my fault.

As the little girl runs off with a friend, Thomas, with his hands on his hips, looks around. I slip back a step, out of view, to watch as he surveys the crowd. He appears to be searching for something. Or someone.

Surely not me. He’s avoided me like the plague. And I don’t blame him for the hollow ache that bloomed beneath my ribs five days ago and has only grown.

“There you are!” Gabby’s voice cuts through my thoughts. She appears at my side, cheeks flushed. “Phillip and Mia have the photo booth under control, so I thought I’d come find you.” Her expression softens as she takes in my face. “Oh, honey. What’s wrong?”

I shake my head, forcing another smile. “Nothing. The festival’s an enormous success. Holiday cheer and all, right?”

Gabby loops her arm through mine, guiding me away from the busy thoroughfare to a quieter spot on a bench near the giant Christmas tree. “Come on, Cara. I know you better than that. This is about Thomas, isn’t it?”

The lump in my throat threatens to choke me as I nod. “I really screwed up. I’d love to blame Wayne for showing up out of the blue and causing issues, but…it’s my fault.”

“How is it your fault?”

“I broke my own vow. I swore off men, and then days later, I fell for the very next guy to step up and help me. And then I let him think he was just a rebound.” I blink back tears, not wanting to ruin my mascara.

Gabby’s grip on my arm tightens. “Thomas wasn’t just a rebound, though, was he?”

I’ve given this question more thought over the past few days than I care to admit. It’s not just Thomas’s physical attributes that have captured my heart, though the memory of his strong, calloused hands on my skin still sends shivers down my spine. It’s the way he carries himself, steadfast and as dependable as an old oak tree. It’s his loyalty to this town, the way he shows up without fail, not just for me, but for everyone who needs him.

It’s that rare, genuine smile that makes his rich brown eyes crinkle at the corners. And the gruff exterior that hides a heart of gold, always ready to lend a helping hand or offer a word of encouragement. The quiet strength, and the way he listens intently, really hearing what I’m saying and responding thoughtfully.

And then there’s the way he looked at me that night he came over, as if I was the only woman in the world. As if I’m beautiful even in flannel reindeer-covered pajamas. And the feeling of his arms around me, so protective and comfortable and…perfect. I’ve never felt anything like it.

No, what Thomas and I shared wasn’t just a fling. And I should know. I’ve had flings. But the gruff man, with his flannel shirts and work boots, his integrity and his kindness, has somehow woven himself into the very fabric of my heart.

“No,” I admit quietly, my voice barely audible over the hum from the festive crowd. “Thomas wasn’t just a rebound.”

“I didn’t think so.”

I lean my head on Gabby’s shoulder, utterly dejected. “I’ve fallen for him, Gabby. Hard and way too fast, even though Thomas Crawford is the complete opposite of everything I thought I wanted in a man. How is that even possible?”

“I couldn’t tell you,” she says with a laugh. “But I know firsthand how it feels. I mean, Phillip is basically my complete opposite, but we work. And we fell hard and fast, too.”

“That you did.”

“If you feel this way, you need to tell him,” Gabby urges, laying a hand on my leg. “Let him know the truth.”

I shoot a glance in Thomas’s direction, but he’s gone, disappeared into the crowd. Resigned, I shake my head, my stomach churning. “It’s too late. He probably can’t wait for this festival to be over, so he never has to deal with me again.”

A skeptical hum vibrates through Gabby’s chest. I sit up and frown at her. “What?”

She lifts a shoulder. “I wouldn’t be so sure it’s too late. From what I hear, Thomas has been extra grouchy all week, and not just because it’s almost Christmas.” She pauses, fixing me with a pointed look. “What’s worse, Cara? Sticking to your vow or not following your heart?”

I search the festival goers for Thomas again, wanting nothing more than to pick that backward baseball cap and flannel out of the crowd, but he’s nowhere to be found. The absence carves a void as vast as the starry night sky above, and I realize my feelings for the man aren’t something I can ignore or wish away. No matter my vow.

“You’re right,” I whisper, straightening my shoulders. “I have to apologize again. Tell Thomas the truth. The worst thing that can happen is he doesn’t feel the same way, but at least, I’d know. And based on how things stand now, I have nothing to lose.”

Gabby’s face splits into a wide grin. But my mind is already racing. “I need to get to the photo booth,” I tell her. It’s time to put my heart on the line and fight for what I truly want. A chance at love with Thomas Crawford.