A Christmas Promise

Chapter 4

(Julia’s POV)

The morning air feels unusually heavy as I step out of the resort’s main building, the crisp chill nipping at my skin. It’s as though the weight of everything that’s been happening over the past few days has somehow settled in the air, and I can’t shake the feeling that something is off. Ellie’s excited chatter as she pulls on her boots fades into the background of my mind as I try to focus on the task ahead.

The festival is only a few days away, and there’s still so much to do. The decorations are up, most of the stalls are in place, and the volunteers are ready to go. But the final push—the final touch to make it all come together—feels out of reach. There’s a sense of unease that’s creeping up on me, one I can’t quite place.

We’ve been working hard, I’ve been keeping busy, but something about today feels different. And I’m not the only one who notices.

I step inside, I’m immediately greeted by the hustle and bustle of the planning team. People are moving in all directions, carrying decorations and supplies, their faces lit up with excitement. But there’s an undercurrent of tension in the room, a hushed murmur that doesn’t escape my notice.

Asher’s standing near the back, talking to a few of the volunteers. His brow is furrowed, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. He catches my gaze as I approach, and his face immediately softens, the lines of worry still visible, but he manages a quick nod of acknowledgment.

“Everything okay?” I ask, my voice sounding sharper than I intended. But I need to know. There’s a storm brewing here, I can feel it.

Asher exhales sharply, rubbing the back of his neck. “Actually, no. We just got some bad news.”

“What happened?” I feel the knot in my stomach tighten, the familiar anxiety creeping up my throat.

“The sponsor—the one who was covering the cost of the lighting and the ice rink—pulled out,” Asher explains, his voice low and frustrated. “They’re facing some financial issues, and they can’t follow through on their commitment. Without that funding, we’re looking at having to cancel some major parts of the event. The rink, the lights, maybe even the festival itself.”

I blink, the weight of his words hitting me like a punch in the gut. The lights are the centerpiece of the entire event. Without them, the festival won’t have the magic that Pinevale is known for during the holidays. It would be a disaster—not just for the festival, but for the resort and everyone involved.

“We’re running out of time,” Asher continues, pacing a little as he talks. “If we can’t come up with something fast, we’ll have to start making some tough decisions. And I don’t want to see this whole thing fall apart, not now, not after all the work everyone’s put in.”

I can see the worry in his eyes, and despite everything else I’ve been dealing with, I can’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for him. Asher has been nothing but professional and kind since I started helping with the festival, and I know how much this means to him. He’s trying to hold it all together, and I admire that strength.

“We’ll figure something out,” I say, more to reassure myself than anyone else. “We still have a few days.”

But even as I speak those words, I feel a weight settling over me. Time is running out, and I have no idea how we’re going to fix this.

The room falls silent for a moment, and just then, Liam walks in. His presence is like a gust of wind—unpredictable. He looks out of place here, not because of the clothes or the fact that he’s the only one wearing a more casual outfit, but because of the way he stands in the doorway, watching us with something unreadable in his eyes.

I turn away, trying to shake off the sudden tightness in my chest. He doesn’t belong here. Not anymore.

Asher notices him at the same time I do and immediately straightens up. “Liam,” he says, his voice holding a trace of tension. “We’ve got a problem.”

Liam raises an eyebrow, stepping into the room, his gaze shifting from Asher to me and then back again. “What kind of problem?”

Asher runs a hand through his hair, frustration evident on his face. “The sponsor pulled out. The festival’s in jeopardy. We’re trying to figure out a solution.”

“What can I do to help?” he asks.

I glance at Asher, who’s nodding slowly. “We’re brainstorming,” he says. “But we don’t have a lot of time. Any ideas?”

Liam steps forward, his brow furrowed as he crosses his arms. “Well, first things first, we need to make sure the lighting and the rink are covered. Without them, the whole event falls apart.”

I nod in agreement, but I can feel my frustration building. I hate that Liam’s here, that he’s offering solutions as if everything between us is fine, as if I’ve forgotten the years of neglect, the broken promises, the hurt.

But I keep quiet, pushing down the anger and the resentment. Now is not the time for that. The festival is what matters.

“There has to be a way,” Asher says. “We need to keep the momentum going. Maybe we can find another sponsor or scale back on some things, but we can’t let this fall apart.”

Liam’s eyes fixed on Asher. “I’ll talk to a few people,” he says, his tone cool. “Maybe there’s someone we can reach out to.”

I watch him, my mind racing. He’s always had a way with words, a charm that people seemed to fall for. But I can’t let that distract me. Not anymore.

“Thanks,” Asher says, though his voice is laced with uncertainty. “But we need something more concrete. We need to find a solution, fast.”

Liam nods, but there’s a shift in the air. His gaze drifts back to me, and our eyes meet. I don’t know what I see in his eyes—regret, maybe? Or is it just guilt?

I can’t tell. And I don’t want to.

Before I can say anything, Liam speaks again. “Julia, can we talk for a second?”

I freeze, caught off guard. The last thing I want to do is have a conversation with him, not here, not now. But there’s something in his tone, something that makes my heart skip a beat, and I find myself nodding before I even realize it.

“Sure,” I say, my voice guarded, unsure of what to expect.

Asher looks between us, sensing the shift, but he doesn’t say anything. He nods and steps away, leaving us alone.

Liam and I step outside into the cold air, and I feel a shiver run through me. We stand in silence for a few moments, the only sound the crunch of snow beneath our feet.

Finally, Liam clears his throat. “I—I wanted to apologize. For everything, Julia. I know I wasn’t there when you needed me. I wasn’t there for you or Ellie, and I’m sorry for that.”

His words hang in the air, and I feel a surge of emotions rise within me. It’s not what I expected. I thought he’d say something else, something more. But this… this feels too little, too late.

“I don’t know what you want me to say, Liam,” I reply, my voice tight. “You can apologize all you want, but it doesn’t change anything.”

He winces, the expression on his face one of pain. “I know,” he says quietly. “But I needed you to hear it. I needed to say it. I know I’ve screwed up, and I don’t expect forgiveness. But I want you to know I’m trying. For you, for Ellie… for the both of you.”

I want to say something back. I want to tell him how hurt I’ve been, how angry I still am. But I don’t. I can’t. The words won’t come.

Instead, I simply nod. “I hear you. But it doesn’t change what’s happened.”

Liam stands there, his jaw tight, like he wants to argue, but he doesn’t. He simply nods, his eyes lingering on me for a moment before he turns and walks back toward the resort.

I watch him go, my heart heavy in my chest. I don’t know what I expected from that conversation, but it certainly wasn’t what I got. I don’t know if I’m ready to forgive him, if I ever will be. The years of neglect, the pain… they don’t disappear just because he says a few words.

Asher finds me again shortly after, his face lighting up as he walks toward me. “I’ve got an idea,” he says, his tone full of confidence.

“Tell me,” I say, my voice low.

“I think I can cover the costs temporarily,” Asher says, his eyes shining. “I know a few investors who might be willing to help out for a short-term solution. We might not have everything we wanted, but we can make it work.”

Relief floods through me, and I can’t help but smile. “That’s great, Asher. Really great.”

I glance over at Liam, standing at the edge of the resort, watching us. His jaw is clenched, his eyes dark, and I can’t help but feel a twinge of something—envy, maybe? Jealousy? It’s hard to say.

But for now, the festival might just go on, despite everything.