Stuck in Christmas (Holiday Magic #1)

Chapter 22

Twenty-Two

I hustled through the chilly air toward Eli’s apartment. Even more Christmas chaos than usual echoed across the town square, but since this chaos was my doing, I guess I needed to get over it.

The blinds were closed on Eli’s apartment windows, and my heart raced. Today was the day I would finally show him how much his work meant to the community. With a deep breath, I stepped forward and knocked on his door.

When Eli opened the door, he looked startled, as if I’d caught him off guard in the middle of something secretive. He stepped outside, closing the door quickly behind him as if to guard whatever lay within.

“What are you doing here?” He glanced nervously behind him. “You can’t be here. I’m working on a Christmas surprise for you.”

I would bet that the Christmas surprise involved a spinning tree, and I couldn’t contain my excitement any longer. “I have a surprise for you. It’s over at Town Hall. Get your coat.”

Eli hesitated, standing like a wall before the door. “Okay, give me a second.” He eased back inside, trying to shield whatever project he was working on from my prying eyes.

As we walked closer to Town Hall, the scene unfolded before us—a sea of people lined up along the street, news crews and satellite trucks parked behind them, all buzzing with anticipation.

“What is all this?” Eli asked, bewildered.

“Hopefully, a Christmas miracle for you,” I said, hoping it was better to ask for forgiveness than permission in this situation.

A man wearing the ugliest Christmas sweater on the planet rushed over to us. “Eli. Isn’t this wonderful? The news media from all over the Southeast are here to tell our story.”

“Story?” Eli’s brow furrowed in confusion.

“The story about Toys for Tots,” the man continued.

“Who are all those strangers lined up over there?” Eli asked.

I gestured toward the crowd. “Those are people from surrounding communities, bringing toys and food for needy families.”

“How did they learn about all this?” Eli’s voice was tight.

“Miss Renee wrote a great story about it,” Ugly Christmas Sweater said before darting off. Traitor!

Eli turned to me, a glare in his eyes. “I didn’t ask you to do that.”

“I know you didn’t, but?—”

“But nothing. I don’t want publicity for what we’re doing here,” he interrupted, his voice rising.

I took a breath, trying to remain calm. “Listen, I know you don’t want the publicity, but the program needs it. You had hundreds more families than you had donations for, and I thought if we turned a spotlight on what the town was doing?—”

“You’d get a great story out of it,” he finished bitterly.

“That’s not it at all,” I insisted, but he was already shaking his head, the anger palpable.

“I’ve heard enough.” He stormed off, leaving me standing there, frustration mingling with disappointment.

Joe and Bonnie exchanged glances, observing Eli’s retreat before turning their attention to me as I stepped into the crowd of reporters, ready to face the fallout of my well-intentioned surprise.

I knew Eli wouldn’t come back, and it was because of me that the crowd of reporters was here on Christmas Eve. I had to do something to help the program, so I took the podium and turned my attention to the reporters.

“Thank you for joining us today. As you can see, the town takes in hundreds of donations from around the area,” I began, gesturing toward the piles of toys waiting to be wrapped. “We sort through them by age and gender, and then dozens of volunteers wrap everything up so these children have presents to open on Christmas morning. Our restaurant partners have graciously donated holiday dinners for all the families.”

The flash of cameras and scribbling of pens filled the air. A reporter raised his hand, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. “Who came up with this idea?”

“He prefers to stay anonymous,” I replied, a small smile forming. “But I can tell you he started doing this as a child and has been building the program ever since.”

Another reporter jumped in. “What else can you tell us about this man?”

My heart fluttered at the thought. “He’s smart and very talented, but he can also be quite stubborn when he sets his mind on something.” Laughter rippled through the crowd, and I couldn’t help but chuckle. “He’d prefer the world see him as one way when underneath, he has the biggest heart. He puts the needs of others before his own, is kind to strangers, and always gives 100 percent to his family. He’s thoughtful, sweet, and funny?—”

I trailed off, lost in my thoughts. I could almost feel his warmth as I imagined him leaning in to kiss me. “And when he leans in to kiss you, you’d be a fool not to kiss him back,” I trailed off, an invisible hand clenching my heart.

An awkward silence fell over the crowd, and I felt a flush creep into my cheeks.

The first reporter broke the tension. “He sounds amazing and perfect.”

“He is,” I whispered, almost too quietly for anyone else to hear. A soft sigh escaped my lips as I said, “A perfect person for me.”

Then the second reporter asked, “Then what are you doing here with us?” Laughter erupted again, and I found myself grinning despite the heat rising in my face.

“Good point,” I said, my heart racing. I started to run off but turned back to the crowd. “Thank you for getting the word out, and Merry Christmas, everyone.”

I sprinted over to Joe and Bonnie, adrenaline surging through me. “Where’s Eli?” I called out, scanning the area.

Bonnie smiled, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Strangest thing. Our Christmas tree didn’t get delivered this morning.”

“You are the best.” I planted a quick kiss on her cheek.