Chapter 7: Temporary Work and Temporary Truces
1448 Words
Holly sat in the corner of the lodge’s café, her laptop in front of her, even though there wasn’t much for her to do on it. The screen glowed mockingly, displaying a sparse inbox filled with rejection emails. She scrolled aimlessly through job boards, her coffee growing cold beside her. This wasn’t how she had imagined her life—stranded in some picture-perfect town with no job and no plan.
She stared out the frosted window as snowflakes continued to fall in a steady rhythm, blanketing the streets and trees in pristine white. It was beautiful, in a way that annoyed her. She didn’t want beautiful. She wanted answers. She wanted solutions.
And, most of all, she wanted out of this town.
The chime of the café door pulled her attention, and of course, it was him. Jack Winters. He didn’t just walk into a room; he entered like he belonged there, like his presence was the missing piece that would make everything better. He spotted her almost immediately, his face breaking into an infuriatingly familiar grin.
“Grinch,” he called, making his way over. “Still hard at work saving the world?”
“Go away, Jack,” Holly muttered, not even bothering to look up from her screen.
“Not a chance,” Jack said, sliding into the chair across from her without an invitation. He leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand as if he had all the time in the world. “What are we working on today? Another rejection email? Or is it a pity post on LinkedIn?”
Holly’s jaw tightened. “I’m busy.”
Jack raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “Busy sulking?”
“No,” she snapped, finally looking up at him. “Busy trying to figure out how to get my life back on track.”
“Well, lucky for you,” Jack said, leaning back in his chair, “I happen to know someone who can help.”
Holly sighed, closing her laptop with a frustrated snap. “Let me guess—you?”
“Me,” Jack confirmed, his grin widening. “And Mayor Granger.”
“Mayor Granger?” Holly repeated, skeptical.
“She’s looking for someone to help with the marketing side of the Snow & Ice Festival,” Jack explained. “Temporary job, nothing fancy, but it’s something. And since you’re stuck here anyway, why not make yourself useful?”
Holly frowned. She hated how much sense he made, which was almost worse than the grin he wore while making it.
“And what’s in it for you?” she asked, narrowing her eyes.
Jack shrugged. “The satisfaction of knowing I’ve helped a damsel in distress.”
“I am not a damsel,” Holly shot back, her voice sharp.
“Sure you’re not,” Jack said, his tone light and teasing. “But seriously, it’s not a bad gig. The festival’s a big deal around here. Plus, you might actually have fun.”
Holly snorted. “I doubt that.”
Jack stood, brushing imaginary snow off his jacket. “Suit yourself. But if you change your mind, let me know. I can put in a good word for you.”
With that, he walked away, leaving Holly alone with her thoughts—and the uncomfortable realization that he was probably right. She needed something to do, something to distract her from the slow-motion train wreck her life had become. And if working for the festival kept her from spiraling, maybe it wasn’t the worst idea in the world.
---
Holly wasn’t entirely sure how she’d ended up sitting in the mayor’s office later that afternoon, but there she was. Mayor Evelyn Granger, a petite woman with silver hair and a sharp sense of humor, sat across from her, shuffling through papers on her desk.
“So, you’re the one Jack was raving about,” the mayor said, looking up with a twinkle in her eye.
“Raving?” Holly repeated, skeptical.
“Well, his exact words were, ‘She’s grumpy but smart. Might be useful.’” The mayor chuckled. “Which is high praise, coming from Jack.”
Holly wasn’t sure whether to feel insulted or flattered. “I guess I should thank him?”
Mayor Granger waved her hand dismissively. “Don’t worry about it. We could use the help. The Snow & Ice Festival is the biggest event of the year, and our regular marketing coordinator just had a baby, so we’re shorthanded.”
“I’m not really a Christmas person,” Holly admitted.
The mayor smiled knowingly. “That’s okay. The festival isn’t just about Christmas. It’s about bringing people together. Community, tradition, things like that. You don’t have to love Christmas to understand that.”
Holly nodded slowly, though she wasn’t entirely convinced. Still, it wasn’t like she had any better options.
“What exactly would I be doing?” she asked.
“Helping Jack with the festival’s marketing and outreach,” the mayor said. “He’s got the creative side covered, but he needs someone to handle the logistics—spreadsheets, emails, social media posts. That sort of thing.”
Holly frowned. “I’m working with Jack?”
“Yes,” the mayor said brightly. “He’s got a lot of ideas, but he’s terrible at following through. You’ll keep him on track.”
Holly groaned internally. She should have known Jack was involved. “Fine,” she said reluctantly. “I’ll do it.”
“Wonderful!” The mayor clapped her hands together. “I’ll let Jack know.”
Holly forced a smile, though the thought of spending more time with Jack made her want to crawl under a blanket and never come out.
---
The next morning, Holly found herself standing in front of Jack’s workshop, a small cabin near the edge of town. It looked like something out of a Hallmark movie, with smoke curling from the chimney and a wooden sign that read *Winter Creations* hanging above the door.
She knocked twice, then immediately regretted it when Jack opened the door, grinning like he’d been expecting her.
“Morning, partner,” he said, stepping aside to let her in.
“Don’t call me that,” Holly said, brushing past him.
The inside of the workshop was warm and surprisingly tidy. Shelves lined the walls, filled with tools, books, and what appeared to be miniature models of Jack’s sculptures. A large workbench stood in the center of the room, covered in sketches and scraps of paper.
“So, what’s the plan?” Holly asked, crossing her arms.
Jack gestured to the workbench. “We’ve got a lot to do. Flyers, social media posts, press releases. You’re good with words, right?”
“Better than you,” Holly muttered, picking up one of the sketches.
Jack laughed. “Fair enough. Here, take a look at this.” He handed her a notebook filled with handwritten notes. “These are my ideas for this year’s marketing campaign.”
Holly flipped through the pages, her eyebrows rising. “You want to call the festival ‘Winter’s Wonderland’?”
“It’s catchy,” Jack said defensively.
“It’s cheesy,” Holly corrected.
Jack shrugged. “Cheesy works.”
Holly shook her head, but a small smile tugged at her lips. She hated to admit it, but Jack’s enthusiasm was infectious.
They spent the rest of the morning working side by side, brainstorming ideas and organizing tasks. Jack’s creative energy was exhausting, but it also made the hours fly by. For the first time in days, Holly felt like she was actually accomplishing something.
---
By the time they finished for the day, Holly was tired but oddly content. Jack walked her back to the lodge, his hands shoved into his coat pockets as they trudged through the snow.
“You did good today, McAllister,” Jack said, glancing at her.
“Don’t sound so surprised,” Holly said, smirking.
Jack chuckled. “I’m just saying, maybe you’re not as much of a Grinch as I thought.”
“Don’t push your luck,” Holly warned, though her tone was light.
When they reached the lodge, Jack stopped at the bottom of the steps, his grin softening into something more sincere. “Seriously, thanks for helping. It means a lot.”
Holly hesitated, then nodded. “You’re welcome.”
As she watched him walk away, she realized something strange. For the first time since she’d arrived in Snowfall Valley, she didn’t feel quite so trapped.
Holly’s temporary truce with Jack begins to open the door to unexpected possibilities—and emotions she isn’t ready to confront.
- Writer
