A Christmas Promise

Chapter 3

(Julia’s POV)

The morning air is cold, biting against my cheeks as I step out of my parents’ house, wrapped in a thick coat that doesn’t do much to keep the chill at bay. Pinevale has transformed into a winter wonderland. Snowflakes fall gently from the sky, blanketing everything in soft, sparkling white. It’s beautiful, but there’s a sharp edge to the beauty today, something cold and distant.

I glance down at Ellie, who’s already pulling on her boots with excitement. She’s been buzzing about the ski resort all morning, talking about the festival and the lights and the snow. She’s never been to a big ski resort before, and I’m sure her excitement has nothing to do with me or the reason I’ve agreed to help Asher—it’s just the thrill of it all. Her optimism is contagious, and I almost forget about the weight in my chest, the knot of unease about the decision I’ve made.

“Are you ready, mom?” Ellie asks, bouncing up and down in the snow. Her red scarf is wrapped tightly around her neck, her nose slightly pink from the cold.

I force a smile, nodding. “Ready.”

We make our way to the small car Asher had offered to take us to the resort. The ride is quiet, save for Ellie’s excited chatter about the festival, the activities, the decorations. The drive through the snow-covered streets feels like something out of a movie—a slow, serene kind of beauty that contrasts sharply with the storm of emotions whirling inside me. Pinevale is the same as it always has been, but I’m not the same person I was when I left. I’m different, worn down by the years, by the pain, by the mistakes.

When we pull up to the ski resort, my breath catches. The building is a massive log structure, with tall windows and intricate stonework framing the entrances. It’s beautiful, a place that screams luxury and comfort. I feel a pang of insecurity as we step out of the car, my boots crunching in the snow beneath me. The place is bustling with people—workers carrying decorations, volunteers running errands, and the low hum of conversation fills the air. It’s not the sort of place I imagined myself being, but here I am, standing at the threshold of it.

Asher meets us outside, a warm smile spreading across his face as he greets us. He’s wearing a thick sweater under his jacket, the sleeves rolled up slightly to reveal strong forearms. He’s tall, built like someone who spends his days on the slopes rather than behind a desk. There’s an ease to him, a confidence that I can’t help but notice.

“You made it,” he says, his voice warm and welcoming.

“I’m here,” I reply, feeling awkward in the moment. “Thanks for having me.”

“No problem,” Asher says with a chuckle. “Let me show you around.” He gives Ellie a smile. “How are you doing, kiddo? Ready to help your mom?”

Ellie beams up at him. “I’m ready! I can’t wait to see the tree and the lights!”

Asher chuckles again and motions for us to follow him inside. The warmth of the building immediately envelops me, the contrast to the outside world’s coldness making my shoulders relax slightly. The interior is cozy but grand—high ceilings, warm wood beams, and large stone fireplaces that add a rustic charm to the place. There are festive decorations everywhere, garlands of pine, twinkling lights, and wreaths hanging from every corner.

Asher leads us down a hallway to a large room at the back of the resort, where the festival team is gathered. It’s a team of volunteers, mostly locals, some familiar faces and others new. They all look busy, organizing supplies and making plans for the big event. Asher introduces me to each one, a group of friendly, smiling faces who seem genuinely excited about the work they’re doing.

“Everyone, this is Julia,” Asher announces, his voice carrying through the room. “She’s going to help out with the festival this year. Julia, meet the team.”

I nod to everyone, forcing a smile as I shake hands with the various people. I can feel the weight of their gazes on me, the curiosity, and the unspoken questions. Who is she? What’s her story? Why is she here? I try to ignore the nervous flutter in my stomach as I take in the room, the faces, the energy.

Asher gives me a quick rundown of the tasks—setting up decorations, organizing activities for kids, managing the volunteers, overseeing the setup of the Christmas market stalls. It’s a lot to take in, a lot to manage, but it’s exactly what I need. Something to keep me busy. Something to help me forget about the mess of my life for a little while.

The day passes in a blur of activity. I move between groups, helping where I can, doing my best to blend in. There are moments when I find myself enjoying the work—when I’m lifting boxes of lights and decorations, when I’m laughing with the volunteers as we hang up streamers and tinsel, when I see Ellie’s face light up as she explores the resort and plays with some of the other children who’ve come to help. But there’s always that lingering ache, that part of me that’s still trapped in the past, still haunted by the decisions I made, by the life I left behind.

Around midday, I take a break, stepping outside to get some air. The cold air stings my face, but it’s refreshing too, a sharp reminder that there’s a world beyond the walls of the resort. I look across the snowy grounds, watching the other workers, and that’s when I see him.

Liam.

He’s standing at the edge of the resort, watching Ellie with a soft expression on his face. I can’t make out the words, but his mouth is moving, and Ellie is looking up at him with that same excited grin she’s always had. And then, just like that, they’re walking away, Liam guiding her toward the sledding hill at the far end of the resort.

My chest tightens, and I can’t look away. There’s something in the way he’s interacting with Ellie that’s both foreign and familiar. He’s trying. I can see it in the way he’s holding her hand, in the way he’s speaking to her like she’s the most important thing in the world. It’s like he’s trying to make up for lost time, trying to show her that he cares, that he wants to be there for her.

And yet, as I watch them, I feel a storm of emotions swirling inside me. There’s a part of me that feels proud of him, proud that he’s making an effort, proud that he’s trying to build a relationship with our daughter. But there’s another part of me—the part that’s been hurt, the part that still remembers the neglect, the absence, the years of him not being there when it mattered most.

I stand there, just watching them. I can see Liam’s hesitation, his uncertainty, as he helps Ellie onto the sled, making sure she’s comfortable before pushing her down the hill. She’s laughing, the sound carrying through the air. I can almost forget everything else. She’s happy, and that’s what matters.

But the bitterness inside me refuses to let go, refuses to forgive the years of hurt, the pain that he caused when he chose his career over us, when he let me shoulder the weight of everything alone. I want to hate him for it, I want to be angry, but I can’t deny the truth of what I’m seeing in front of me.

He’s trying.

But will it be enough?

I turn away, shaking my head as I force myself to walk back inside. I can’t do this right now. I can’t keep thinking about Liam, about the past. Not when I’m here, not when I’m trying to make a new life for myself. I need to focus on the present, on the work ahead, on what’s best for Ellie.

And yet, no matter how much I try to push it away, the thought lingers in the back of my mind. Can I ever forgive him for what he did? And if I can’t, what does that mean for the future?

I don’t have the answers, and right now, I don’t know if I ever will.

But for today, I have to focus on what I can control. The festival, the decorations, the laughter of Ellie as she makes new memories. That’s all I can do right now.

Asher finds me a few minutes later, his presence warm and steady as always. He’s holding a mug of hot cocoa in his hands, offering it to me with a smile.

“Take a break,” he says gently. “You look like you could use it.”

I take the mug, the warmth seeping into my cold fingers, and nod. “Thanks.”

“Anything on your mind?” he asks, his voice soft, like he knows there’s something I’m not saying.

I hesitate, unsure of how to respond. The truth is, there’s a lot on my mind. But I don’t know how to explain any of it, not to Asher, not to anyone. So instead, I offer him a tight smile and shake my head.

“Not really,” I say. “Just… getting used to all of this.”

And for now, that’s enough.