Snowfall

chapter nine

Ethan Hayes pulled his Honda into the driveway of the small brick house just as the sun dipped below the trees. December 1, 2025. Moving day. The air was crisp, carrying the first real bite of winter, and light flurries danced in the headlights as he shut off the engine.

The house looked exactly like the listing photos: single-story, red brick, white trim, a narrow driveway flanked by leafless oaks. A For Rent sign still leaned in the yard, though the agent had promised to remove it tomorrow. Behind the house, a small creek murmured—audible even from the driveway—feeding eventually into the James.

Ethan sat in the car a moment longer, hands on the wheel, letting the quiet settle. Seventeen years of chasing ghosts, and here he was. Something about this street—this exact spot—felt like the end of a very long road.

He climbed out, stretched stiff legs, and started unloading boxes. Furniture would come later; today was just essentials: clothes, books, kitchen basics, the artificial tree still in its box from last year. By the time the sky darkened to indigo, he had carried in a dozen loads and was down to the last—two grocery bags of non-perishables he’d grabbed on the drive down.

His stomach growled. He realized he had no milk, no bread, nothing fresh. The moving truck with his bed wouldn’t arrive until tomorrow, so tonight he’d sleep on the floor. But first, food.

He locked the empty house, pocketed the key, and stood in the driveway surveying the quiet cul-de-sac. Holiday lights twinkled on several porches; a blow-up Santa swayed gently on someone’s lawn three doors down. The house next door—blue door, warm porch light—was the only one with chimney smoke curling into the night air. The scent drifting over was unmistakable: cinnamon, molasses, ginger.

Gingerbread.

Ethan’s heart stuttered. He hadn’t smelled real gingerbread baking since… he couldn’t remember when.

He needed directions anyway. The listing agent had mentioned a grocery store “just a couple miles away,” but in which direction he couldn’t recall. The neighbor with the blue door seemed the logical choice.

He crossed the narrow strip of lawn separating the driveways, boots crunching on frozen grass. The porch light cast a golden pool on the welcome mat. A wreath of pine and red berries hung on the door. He took a steadying breath and knocked—three firm raps.

Inside, footsteps approached. The door opened.

A woman stood there, mid-thirties, auburn hair pulled into a loose bun with flour-dusted strands escaping around her face. She wore a red apron over jeans and a soft gray sweater, sleeves pushed up, hands still lightly dusted white. Her eyes were gray-green, exactly the color of river stones after rain.

She smiled—warm, open, a little curious.

“Hi,” she said. “You must be the new neighbor. I saw the car earlier.”

Ethan’s mouth went dry. The world narrowed to her face, her voice, the faint Southern lilt that wrapped around his name like a memory.

He tried to speak and managed only, “Yeah. Hi. I’m… Ethan. Hayes.”

“Emily Ross,” she said, wiping her hands on the apron before offering one. “Welcome to the street. Moving in on the first of December—brave soul.”

Her hand was warm, strong from kneading dough. When their palms touched, something electric passed between them—not dramatic, not lightning, but a quiet recognition deep in the bones.

Ethan released her hand too quickly.

“I, uh… just realized I have no food,” he said, gesturing vaguely. “And no idea where the nearest grocery is. Thought I’d ask before I starve on my first night.”

Emily laughed softly. The sound hit him like summer sunlight on water.

“There’s a Harris Teeter about ten minutes away. Left out of the neighborhood, right at the light, can’t miss it.” She pointed down the street to demonstrate. “Open till eleven tonight, I think.”

“Thanks.” He nodded, but didn’t move. The scent of gingerbread was stronger now, wrapping around him like an embrace.

Emily tilted her head. “You okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

He forced a smile. “Long drive. And the smell coming from your kitchen is killing me. Gingerbread?”

“My specialty,” she said proudly. “Christmas orders are pouring in. I run a little home bakery—mostly holiday stuff this time of year.”

Ethan swallowed. “Smells incredible.”

“Hold on.” She disappeared inside for a moment, returned with a small paper plate covered in foil. “Fresh out of the oven an hour ago. Welcome-to-the-neighborhood tax.”

She handed it over. Beneath the foil were four perfect gingerbread stars, iced with smiling faces.

“You didn’t have to—” he started.

“I wanted to,” she said simply. “Moving’s rough. Sugar helps.”

Their fingers brushed again as he took the plate. This time the jolt was stronger. For an instant, Ethan saw—or remembered—her hands shaping dough by lantern light in a different kitchen, a different century.

He blinked the image away.

“Thank you,” he said, voice rough. “Really.”

“Anytime,” Emily replied. “If you need anything—directions, a cup of sugar, someone to tell you which neighbors are nosy—I’m right here.”

She smiled again, and Ethan felt the years of searching crack open inside his chest.

“I’ll probably take you up on that,” he said.

“Good,” she answered. “Night, Ethan.”

“Night, Emily.”

She closed the door gently. The porch light stayed on.

Ethan stood on her porch a long moment, staring at the gingerbread stars, breathing in the cold December air laced with cinnamon.

The first person he had asked for help.

The woman he had searched half his life to find.

Right next door.

And she had no idea.

Yet.

He walked back to his empty house, plate in hand, snow beginning to settle on his shoulders. Inside, he set the gingerbread on the kitchen counter—the only thing on it—and ate one star slowly, reverently.

It tasted exactly like home.

Outside, the flurries thickened. Somewhere in the distance, church bells began to ring for evening service.

Ethan whispered into the quiet house, “I found you.”

Then, softer, to the woman sleeping next door with a silver locket around her neck:

“On the very first try"