Chapter 6: Ghosts of Christmas Past
1076 Words
The night after Ethan’s confession, Lila barely slept. His words lingered in her mind like the faint scent of pine and cinnamon still hanging in the house. Maybe we can start over.
Could they?
The question haunted her as she went about her day. Sophie, blissfully unaware of her mother’s inner turmoil, chattered away about Christmas crafts and the festival, while Diane’s pointed looks made it clear she wasn’t buying Lila’s nonchalant act.
By the time the sun dipped low, bathing the snowy landscape in shades of gold, Lila found herself walking through the town square. The festival was only two days away, and the square was bustling with activity. Vendors were setting up their booths, children were laughing as they ran through the snow, and the sound of carolers practicing floated in the air.
But Lila wasn’t here to admire the festivities. Her feet led her to the gazebo, where she found Ethan on a ladder, securing the last strand of lights to the railing.
“You spend more time up there than on the ground,” she said, folding her arms as she looked up at him.
Ethan grinned, stepping down carefully. “Just making sure everything’s perfect.”
“It already is,” she admitted, gesturing to the transformed square.
He wiped his hands on his gloves, his expression softening. “And you? Are things starting to feel a little more... perfect?”
Lila hesitated, the weight of their conversation the night before pressing on her. “Ethan, about what you said—”
“Lila!”
She turned at the sound of a voice and saw Allison, the festival coordinator, hurrying toward her. The woman’s cheeks were flushed, her clipboard clutched tightly in her hands.
“Sorry to interrupt, but we’ve got a problem,” Allison said, glancing between Lila and Ethan. “The choir director just canceled. Some emergency with her family. And without someone to lead the carolers, we’re in trouble.”
Lila frowned. “Can’t someone else step in?”
“We tried, but no one knows the arrangements as well as she does,” Allison said, sighing. “I was hoping you might help.”
Lila’s eyes widened. “Me? I haven’t sung in years.”
“Come on, Lila,” Ethan said, his smile teasing. “You’re practically famous for your Christmas solos.”
She shot him a glare. “That was a long time ago.”
“Allison, I really don’t think—”
“Please,” Allison begged, cutting her off. “The festival depends on this. You don’t have to do much—just guide them through the songs. You’d be saving Christmas, Lila.”
With a groan, Lila finally relented. “Fine. But only because it’s for the festival.”
The rehearsal that evening was nothing short of chaotic. Lila stood in front of the group, feeling more out of place than she had in years. The carolers were a mix of adults and children, their enthusiasm making up for their lack of coordination.
Ethan, of course, stayed to “help,” though his main contribution seemed to be cracking jokes from the sidelines.
“You’ve still got it,” he said after they finished a shaky rendition of O Holy Night.
Lila rolled her eyes. “That was barely passable.”
“Come on,” he said, stepping closer. “You’re being too hard on yourself. You’re amazing, Lila.”
The sincerity in his voice made her stomach flip. She looked away, focusing on the music sheets in her hands.
“You really think we can pull this off?” she asked, changing the subject.
Ethan grinned. “I think if anyone can, it’s you.”
Later that night, Lila sat by the fire in her mom’s living room, a mug of hot cocoa in her hands. Sophie was fast asleep upstairs, and Diane was quietly knitting on the couch.
“You’ve been quiet,” Diane said, not looking up from her needles.
“Just tired,” Lila said, though they both knew it wasn’t true.
Diane set her knitting aside and gave Lila a knowing look. “It’s Ethan, isn’t it?”
Lila sighed, leaning back against the couch. “It’s complicated.”
“It doesn’t have to be,” Diane said gently. “He’s a good man, Lila. And from what I can see, he still cares about you—about both of you.”
“That’s what scares me,” Lila admitted. “What if I let him in and it doesn’t work? What if Sophie gets hurt?”
Diane reached over, taking Lila’s hand in hers. “Life is full of risks, honey. But sometimes, the greatest rewards come from taking a chance.”
---
The next day, as Lila prepared for the final caroler rehearsal, Ethan showed up unexpectedly at the house.
“Morning,” he said, leaning against the doorframe with a thermos of coffee in his hand.
“Ethan, what are you doing here?” Lila asked, surprised.
“Thought you could use some caffeine,” he said, handing her the thermos.
She accepted it reluctantly, her cheeks warming. “Thanks.”
“Also,” he added, his tone casual, “I figured I’d walk with you to rehearsal. Moral support and all that.”
Lila shook her head but couldn’t hide her smile. “You’re impossible, you know that?”
“I’ve been told,” he said with a wink.
By the end of the rehearsal, the carolers were sounding surprisingly good. Lila felt a glimmer of hope that the festival might actually come together.
As they packed up, Ethan lingered, helping her gather the music sheets.
“You were incredible,” he said quietly.
“Ethan—” she began, but he cut her off.
“I mean it, Lila. Watching you up there... it felt like old times.”
She swallowed hard, her defenses crumbling under his steady gaze. “Things aren’t as simple as they used to be.”
“They don’t have to be simple,” he said, stepping closer. “We just have to figure them out together.”
Before she could respond, a gust of cold wind blew through the open door, making her shiver. Ethan took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders, his hands lingering for just a moment.
“Think about it,” he said softly, his voice almost lost in the wind.
- Writer
