Stuck in Christmas (Holiday Magic #1)

Prologue

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the sprawling reindeer farm, its golden light softening the edges of weathered barn doors and glinting off the antlers of the majestic creatures grazing in the nearby pasture. Renee Douglas stood at the paddock's edge, her notebook clutched tightly in one hand as she fought the urge to roll her eyes. Her friend Sherry busily captured images of the reindeer that grazed peacefully, their fluffy coats glistening under the pale winter sun.

The air was thick with the scent of hay and the earthy reindeer musk, a far cry from the familiar aromas of beignets, café au lait, stale booze, and urine-soaked concrete that usually perfumed her mornings in New Orleans.

Kris, the farm owner who took his role a little too seriously, looked like he stepped out of an ad for sugary drinks with polar bears. His coat and pants were bright red, a contrast to his pale skin and white hair. Flushed spots on his plump cheeks darkened as he extended his calloused hand toward Renee, the smile on his face inviting and warm .

“Thank you, Kris, for offering us an inside look into your reindeer farm.” Renee shook his hand firmly.

“Call me Santa!” he bellowed, laughter resonating deep within him as he rubbed his ample belly. His quintessential jolly figure contrasted against the rustic backdrop of the farm.

Seriously, this guy.

Renee rolled her eyes and glanced to where Sherry didn’t seem any closer to being done with the photographs. “Of course. Thank you, ‘ Santa .’”

“Have you made your Christmas list this year?” Kris asked. He wasn’t going to let this go.

Renee sighed and waved him off. “I’m a little old for that, don’t you think?”

“You’re never too old to believe in the magic of Christmas,” Kris responded with a wave of his hand.

“Well, Christmas hasn’t been too great for me the last few years, but this year will be different,” Renee said, straightening her spine. It had to be.

“Oh ho ho,” Kris laughed. “That sounds like a good plan.” He winked at her and took off toward Sherry and the reindeer. For a robust older man, he was relatively nimble and fleet of foot. If he weren’t so damn likable, Renee would have probably thrown up from all the Christmas overload by now.

As for her holiday plans, they would be life-changing if she could get there in time. She closed her notebook and glanced at her phone. If they could wrap this up in the next few minutes, she’d be able to reach her destination before nightfall.

Sherry returned to their staging area and began stowing her gear in the car. “See? That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

Renee crossed her arms, her brow furrowing. “Really? We travel 200 miles to interview a reindeer farmer for a magazine fluff piece. This is a stretch, even for Positively New Orleans. ”

Sherry dismissed her concerns with a light flick of her hand, her spirit unwavering. “I don’t know. It’s nice to get out of the city, and Christmas can be so romantic.”

“Holy shit,” Renee muttered, half-convinced she had stepped into an alternate reality. “Who are you, and what did you do to my sarcastic best friend?”

“The holiday may be in the dead of winter, but think about it - Christmas trees, twinkly lights, mistletoe, and maybe even a little snow. It’s magic!” Sherry bounced from foot to foot.

“Snow. We live in the South. On a cold day, it could be 60 degrees.”

“You know what I mean,” Sherry laughed, batting her eyelashes theatrically. “This time of year, anything is possible. It’s magic.”

“So you said. But magic isn’t real,” Renee scoffed, shaking her head to physically rid herself of the absurd notion.

“The romance. And holiday movies,” Sherry added, her voice echoing around the farm.

Here we go, Renee thought.

“I stand by my conviction that not only are romantic holiday movies awesome—they’re necessary,” Sherry insisted.

“Necessary?” Renee challenged, the corners of her mouth twitching as she fought back a smirk. “ You’ve lost your mind. I think you’ve been smelling too much reindeer shit.”

Sherry’s eyes sparkled. “People love happy endings.”

“Yes, they do. That’s why they pay $100 extra for them in seedy massage parlors.”

“Why do you have to be so cynical? Why can’t you just believe in the magic of Christmas?” Sherry slammed her trunk shut. “It’s a magical time of year. Anything could happen.”

“For shit’s sake. I don’t understand how people can watch two hours of predictability and be ‘surprised’ at the happy ending. Those movies are all the same,” Renee’s voice rose slightly, her passion spilling over. “You’ve got the cynical businesswoman needing a lesson, a hot guy with a truck and a dog, maybe even a precocious kid. A snowball fight, a baking montage, a romantic trip to find a Christmas tree that ends with a magical kiss under the mistletoe as the snow starts falling.”

“I’d watch that movie,” Sherry said reverently. “Especially if Pedro Pascal was the hot guy in a truck.”

“He’s too famous for this ridiculous imaginary movie,” Renee snickered. “It doesn’t matter. All you need is a decently handsome man with dark hair and blue eyes who looks good in flannel. They’re a dime a dozen. You can’t swing a dead cat on basic cable without finding one.”

“You act like you wouldn’t say yes to the dress if one of those generic guys showed up in your life,” Sherry said.

“I might say yes to Mr. Right Now, but Mr. Forever? That’s a pipe dream. Same as my fake movie. They’re all the same.”

Sherry tilted her head, her voice softening. “Has it ever occurred to you that people need a little romance? A little magic? These stories give people hope.”

“Hope is overrated,” Renee interjected, her tone almost defensive.

“Don’t say that,” Sherry cautioned, her voice steady.

“Seriously,” Renee stressed, crossing her arms tighter to ward off the chill that was not from the temperature outside.

“Ah. You heard back from your agent.” Sherry’s tone shifted.

“Yes. He didn’t like the script,” Renee said, disappointment creeping into her voice. “Said it was lacking ‘heart.’”

Sherry raised an eyebrow. “Well?”

“What does he know?” Renee shrugged.

“Umm... a lot. His clients have produced more award-winning movies in five years than most agents combined.”

Renee threw up her hands and paced the parking lot. “I thought you were on my side.”

“I am on your side. So. Best friend to best friend. Is. He. Right?” Sherry’s gaze remained unwavering, even as Renee dipped her head to avoid looking Sherry in the eye. “Is it lacking ‘heart?’”

Renee sucked in a breath and stared at her friend. The friend who had been by her side through one heartbreak after another. She might be able to bullshit anyone else in the known universe, but not Sherry. “Maybe.” Renee’s voice faltered. “I don’t even know what I was thinking—writing a screenplay. I need to stick to what I do best—writing the fluffiest fluff pieces New Orleans has ever read.”

“That’s not all you do best,” Sherry countered. “And ‘fluff’ keeps you warm at night—because they do have heart. You’re a storyteller, and people love your stories. They want to know what’s happening in other people’s lives.”

“So they can see if theirs are better,” Renee replied defensively.

“Now you don’t believe that,” Sherry challenged.

“Okay, fine. I don’t,” Renee conceded.

“People love reading your stories. You inspire them. You show the human side of your subjects—just like you’ll do with Mr. Kris, I mean, ‘Santa.’”

“It’s easy to write those stories because they’re about other people,” Renee countered. “Writing a screenplay is so much harder.”

“Why is that?” Sherry inquired, genuinely perplexed.

“Because it’s all me on the page,” Renee admitted, her voice trembling slightly. “I’m out there. Exposed. Afraid.”

“Just like falling in love,” Sherry noted, her tone turning serious.

“Yes. Exactly like that.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

“It’s just one more area where I keep getting kicked in the teeth,” Renee sighed. “Love, relationships, writing a screenplay—rejection, rejection, rejection.”

“And just like writing a screenplay—with a relationship, you have to go all in and put your whole heart into it,” Sherry replied.

“I did that with Jon.” Renee clenched her fists to steady herself.

“Did you? Did you really?” Sherry challenged.

“Close enough,” Renee muttered begrudgingly.

“My daddy used to say close enough only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades,” Sherry chuckled.

“I ended it before he could end it with me. I saw the writing on the wall,” Renee admitted, her eyes reflecting hurt and disappointment.

“Did the wall say you never showed him the real you? The you that your friends and family know and love,” Sherry asked. “You’re smart and kind and go out of your way to do the right thing—even when no one is looking. You gave up your fancy news job to move home and take care of your mom before she passed away.”

“I’d do it again, too.”

“My point exactly. You’re an amazing woman, and I wish you’d let someone special see that side of you. If anyone deserves a happy ending, it’s you.” Sherry’s earnestness warmed the space between them.

Renee’s heart swelled, and she felt a rush of affection towards her friend. “I love you for that, even if I don’t believe that will happen anytime soon.”

“You never know.” Sherry began bouncing around like a kid who downed too many Red Bulls laced with pixie stix. “Maybe something will happen at my Christmas party.”

Renee winced. She waited too long to have this conversation with Sherry. “About that. I’m not going this year,” she forced the words out.

“What?”

“I’m sorry. I should have told you sooner. I’m booked at a nearby spa.” Renee’s cheeks flushed as the guilt settled around her shoulders with a heavy thud. “I’m going to check in, file my story, get a massage, a facial, and rest.”

Sherry’s eyes widened with shock. “A spa? Really? Where did you find a spa open on Christmas, for crying out loud?”

“Not far from here, actually,” Renee answered as she glanced at her phone again. “Listen. I have to get going. I love you. I’m sorry I’ll miss the party, but I’ll catch up with you in a few days.”

“But it’s Christmas!” Sherry exclaimed.

“I appreciate what you’re doing. I do. But I need a break from the holiday spirit. All it does is remind me what I’ve lost,” Renee said as she opened the door to her car and eased into the driver’s seat. “I’m going to the spa, turning off my phone, and unplugging altogether.”

“That does sound nice.” Sherry gave her a sad smile, then brightened. “Ooh. Maybe you’ll meet a handsome baker at the spa who knows how to make your favorite pie.”

Renee rolled her eyes. “That’s my cue. Bye, Sherry. Merry Christmas.” She closed the door to the car, turned on the ignition, and waved through the window before she drove out of sight.

Sherry watched her go with hope bubbling up in her soul. “I wish she would find love for Christmas. Although, with her stubborn side, she’d probably miss all the signs, and we’d still be waiting for her to get her head out of her ass this time next year. If only she could keep getting her chance at a happy ending until she gets it right. Now, that would be some hefty Christmas magic.”

With that, Sherry got into her car and exited the reindeer farm parking lot on her way back to New Orleans.

Kris watched it all from the shadow of the reindeer barn and smiled, touching his finger to the side of his nose. There was nothing he liked better than a little Christmas magic.

Especially for the stubborn ones.