Once upon a winter, p.1
Once Upon a Winter, page 1
About Once Upon a Winter
This Christmas, a young woman is about to find out wishes can come true — but in the most unexpected ways.
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Weary of city life, Laura Everly moves to the small coastal town of Mistletoe, Maine. A chance visit to a charming antiques shop leads her to an unassuming snow globe she can’t resist buying. Unbeknownst to its owner, the snow globe can grant wishes, but they rarely unfold as expected, sending Laura into a maelstrom of joy and confusion.
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Farley Cooper is a rugged individualist with an outdoorsy charm that’s as intriguing as it is intimidating. He lives by his own rules, and his charismatic aura draws people in one minute while his directness repels them the next.
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While Laura’s dreams of a perfect Christmas in her new home seem to vanish, deeper feelings for Cooper take their place. But as curious coincidences pile up, doubts arise. Is the snow globe behind them all, including their growing attraction?
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Experience the enchantment of Once Upon a Winter, a heartwarming reminder of the true magic of Christmas.
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Once Upon a Winter
A Small-Town Christmas Romance
J.L. Jarvis
ONCE UPON A WINTER
A Small-Town Christmas Romance
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Copyright © 2023 J.L. Jarvis
All Rights Reserved
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
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The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author's rights is appreciated.
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Published by Bookbinder Press
bookbinderpress.com
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ISBN (ebook) 978-1-942767-61-9
ISBN (paperback) 978-1-942767-62-6
ISBN (audiobook) 978-1-942767-63-3
One
Laura Everly sighed contentedly as she strolled through the quaint seaside village of Mistletoe, Maine. Crisp, salty air filled her lungs as she wound her way down the main street lined with shops trimmed in twinkling lights. She popped into a bakery and inhaled the spicy aroma of gingerbread. It was exactly the storybook Christmas town she’d dreamed of for her new start.
Up ahead, a display in a shop window caught Laura’s eye. It was an antiques store decked out in full holiday splendor. Shimmering snowflakes dangled from the eaves as the warm glow of holiday lights beckoned from within. She had to go inside.
A bell jingled as Laura entered the shop. Immediately, her gaze fell upon a beautiful snow globe on a shelf. Enchanted by the snow-covered village nestled inside the glass globe, she drew nearer. It looked remarkably like Mistletoe. Without hesitation, Laura picked up the snow globe and ran her fingers over the polished wooden base.
“I see you’ve found our new arrival,” said the shop owner. An air of mystery clung to her, though a warm smile lit her eyes.
“It’s lovely,” Laura murmured. On impulse, she decided she had to have the piece as a memento of her new life in Mistletoe. “I’ll take it.”
After Laura paid for her latest treasure, the shop owner bent over the counter, brushed silver strands of hair back into her chignon, and wrapped the snow globe in large sheets of paper. “Are you enjoying Mistletoe?”
“I am. Actually, I just moved here.”
“How nice! Welcome to Mistletoe.” She extended her hand. “I’m Jessica.”
“Laura.”
Jessica’s eyes crinkled at the corners as she handed the bag to Laura. “You know, this is a very special snow globe.”
“Is it? How so?”
“It’s got a touch of Christmas magic in it. I’m told it chooses its owners. It seems it chose you.”
Laura enjoyed the old woman’s sales puffery, but she couldn’t resist saying, “Probably because I’m willing to spend ninety dollars on it.” She chuckled.
Jessica regarded Laura as though sizing her up. “Perhaps.”
Laura smiled. “Well, this owner’s on a budget. But I allow myself one special Christmas decoration each year. And this year, I think this will be it.” The snow globe was actually over her budget, but if it doubled as a housewarming gift, she could justify the purchase.
“It’s a small price to pay for a little Christmas magic.”
“I’ve outgrown Christmas magic, but I do love a snow globe.”
“Christmas magic never outgrows people. It’s a shame it’s the other way around.”
The shop owner was good; she would give her that. But the woman had a point, one that made Laura wistful. “It’s part of growing up.” After exchanging cordial holiday wishes with the woman, Laura left the shop.
Outside, snowflakes danced in the breeze as she strolled through the square, clutching her magical snow globe. The Christmas village inside, with a gentle snowfall, filled her with wistful, childlike joy. It would serve as a tangible reminder of why she’d chosen to move there. The town’s charm infused every corner of Mistletoe. She would have that same feeling inside her home, to remind her of the quaint small-town appeal that had motivated her to relocate to Mistletoe. It was the start of her wonderful new life.
Once home, she wasted no time unpacking the Christmas decorations and placing them around her cozy living room. Piles of boxes still surrounded her, but she had a pot of pine branches near the window to scent the room with holiday cheer. Red and green stockings hung from her fireplace, fairy lights adorned every doorway, and a festive wreath decked the chimney. She might not have finished unpacking, but Laura was ready to enjoy Christmas in all its glory.
With a contented sigh, she sank into an armchair and gazed around as warmth flooded her chest. The place already felt like home.
The next morning dawned bright and clear, with blades of sunlight cutting through the trees and casting shadows across the bright snow. Laura hummed along to “White Christmas” as she made coffee, anticipation quickening her pulse.
She had just taken the first bite of her toast when her phone rang and displayed her old office phone number. She scowled and answered with a short greeting.
“Laura.” Fran’s poorly concealed relief rushed out. “I’m sorry to bother you, but we can’t locate the final draft of the quarterly report for the meeting in an hour.”
Laura shut her eyes and took a moment then tried not to sound too dismayed. “It’s on our shared drive in the cloud. I even copied Allison and Jason on it.” Same old Fran—flummoxed by technology.
“I guess I must’ve looked in the wrong folder or something.”
“It’s the one marked Quarterly Reports. If you don’t see it, try searching online for it.”
“Oh. That’s a good idea.”
And an obvious one. “I’m sure Allison or Jason could help you.”
“Yeah, but I hate to ask them. They always seem so put out.”
“Don’t let them intimidate you. It’s their job,” Laura replied, tight-lipped.
A heavy sigh came over the line before Fran spoke again. “Yes, I know that.” Another deep sigh followed by silence reminded Laura why she’d quit her job. It was the same reason she’d chosen to move away before the holidays. She would be able to enjoy a stress-free holiday season surrounded by family without having to worry about being deluged by stress from the office. And come the new year, she would start her new job and work remotely from home.
Laura took the few moments of silence as her cue. “Have a merry Christmas!”
Fran sounded hesitant but returned happy holiday wishes and ended the call.
“That’s funny. I don’t remember that house looking that much like mine, except my house doesn’t have an impressively muscular guy at the door. No surprise there.”
Upon further examination, she decided he looked like Michelangelo’s David in L.L. Bean clothes. “If you showed up at my door, I wouldn’t turn you away.”
It had been a long time since she’d had a man in her life—so long that she had to think back and count. Three years. She had reached a point where it was easier to give up than to suffer through any more dates and relationships that didn’t work out. Her sister was right about two things: she had terrible taste in men, and she was undatable. Once she’d accepted those two items as facts, it relieved all the pressure.
With a rueful smile, Laura set down the snow globe and peered at her little lumberjack. “Why can’t Santa drop a hot guy like you down my chimney?” As if in reply, the snow globe shimmered in the morning sunlight. Laura laughed and headed for the kitchen to refill her coffee.
Two
By midafternoon, Laura was carrying one of the last boxes out of the moving pod when thunder rumbled from the east. A cold gust of wind swept strands of hair over her face, sending a shiver down her spine. As the brilliant sunshine gave way to a deluge, she closed the pod doors and scurried inside. With a frustrated sigh, she shook the water out of her hair and peered out the window. The once sparkling harbor was now tempest-tossed, with silver lightning illuminating the churning waves with each clap of thunder.
Suddenly, another sound pricked her ears—dripping water. Pivoting, Laura discovered a slow drip from the ceiling. Scanning the stacks of identically sized and symmetrically arranged boxes yet to be unpacked, she located the pots, pans, and large mixing bowls. Her sister had always laughed at her painstaking organization, but thanks to thorough labeling, she quickly retrieved a large pot. As she hurried to place it under the leak before it became a stream, she grumbled, “How do you like your charming Christmas cottage with its quaint leaking roof?” That wasn’t part of the plan.
With the leak getting worse, she had to do something. When things went wrong in her apartment, she’d always called the super, but there was no super there. What she needed was a handyman, so she pulled out her phone and searched online. There’s only one handyman listed? Her brow furrowed at the results. Well, you wanted small-town living.
After dialing the number, she was surprised when, instead of voicemail, she got a brusque “Hello?”
“Hello! Is this Farley Cooper?”
“Who’s calling?”
“Laura. Laura Everly.”
“Everly… Not familiar with the name. Where are you?”
“At 45 Chestnut Lane. I just moved here.”
“Oh, right. The little red house?”
Placing another pot under a fresh leak, Laura said, “Sorry, but can we talk later? Right now, I’ve got a waterfall forming in my living room.”
A pause followed before the husky, masculine voice replied confidently, “I’m on my way.”
“Really?”
“That’s what I said.”
“Great!”
Laura hastily added a large mixing bowl as another leak spouted, only to have a sudden downpour of water drench her completely. Soon, drywall fragments fell on her with the force of a storm surge, leaving her hair sopping. She cried out then tamped down her emotions. She had to think clearly. A puddle was forming and working its way to her neatly stacked boxes. Frantic, she threw down a kitchen towel and hurried to move the boxes across the room. Laura prided herself on maintaining control through assiduous planning and organization, but her entire world was falling apart.
A brisk knock snapped her out of her daze. As she opened the door, a gust of wind blew an icy mist at her face, blinding her for a moment. When she was able to focus again, instead of finding the older man she’d pictured—one with a worn face and worn work clothes—Laura found herself face-to-face with a man in his early thirties with sandy-blond hair and piercing blue eyes.
His chiseled features and broad shoulders projected a sense of quiet authority as he assumed an expectant stance on her doorstep. He was ruggedly handsome, with a day’s worth of stubble gracing his jaw. His flannel shirt clung to his muscular arms. Laura guessed he was over six feet tall by the way he towered over her.
When she didn’t immediately speak, his intense eyes narrowed slightly with impatience. “I’m Cooper. You called me?” he said in a deep voice.
Laura swallowed. “Yes, Farley Cooper,” she managed to get out, feeling suddenly flustered. Stepping aside, she invited him in.
He gave a terse nod, his expression unreadable. “Everyone calls me Cooper.”
Unsettled, she stared and repeated, “Cooper.”
He peered at her with a hint of amusement in his eyes. “Are you okay? Have you injured your head?” He pointed toward her hair.
She reached up with both hands and grasped a chunk of drywall still dangling from the side of her head. “Yeah, I’m fine. But the ceiling… Well, see for yourself.” He brushed past her and walked across the room. As she followed, Laura asked, “How did you get here so quickly?”
“I live two blocks over.”
Without further pleasantries, he examined the damage. Meanwhile, she watched the play of muscles across his broad back as he reached up to the ceiling.
After a quick inspection upstairs, Cooper descended the stairs briskly and went outside without a word. Laura hesitated then grabbed her jacket and slipped it on while she followed. He had an air of no-nonsense efficiency about him that left her feeling wrong-footed. She wasn’t sure what to make of the enigmatic handyman, but one thing was certain: he was even better looking than the snow globe figurine that had first made her wish for him.
That’s odd. But I didn’t really wish, exactly. It was more of a comment. You have to rub things to make wishes come true. Except that’s more of a magic lamp thing. Snow globes must be different. Hello! Have you lost your mind? ’Cause you sound kind of crazy. And you’re talking to yourself!
While Cooper inspected the waterlogged ceiling, Laura forced her thoughts back to more pressing matters like her caving-in ceiling and Cooper. Who lived two blocks over. If that was an example of what she would find two blocks over, she needed to get out and explore her new neighborhood. But her new neighbor’s frown brought her back to the present predicament.
Cooper shook his head. “Hold on a sec.” He went upstairs, and Laura finished moving her boxes away from the water. After a brief upstairs inspection, Cooper came downstairs and went outside. Moments later, he returned and stuck his head in the door. “Can you come here and give me a hand?”
Pulling her hood up to shield her from the rain, she followed him to the side of the house. With a tarp slung over his shoulder, a nail gun in his hand, and a ladder under his arm, he lifted his eyes to the roof. “That’s where your leak is. Your home inspector should’ve caught that.”
When she stared blankly, he rolled his eyes. “You didn’t get a home inspection?”
All she could offer was a helpless shrug.
