Snowed In With The Grinch

Chapter 9: Christmas Chaos

Holly McAllister didn’t know how it had happened. One minute she’d been putting the final touches on a meticulously organized spreadsheet in Jack’s workshop, and the next, she was standing in the freezing cold town square with a tangled mess of Christmas lights in her hands.

“Explain to me again why I’m doing this?” she grumbled, glaring at Jack, who stood a few feet away, hands on his hips, surveying the towering Christmas tree in front of them.

“It’s called teamwork, McAllister,” Jack replied, grinning as he gestured toward the massive evergreen in the center of the square. “The whole town helps decorate the Christmas tree. It’s a tradition.”

Holly raised an eyebrow, holding up the string of lights like it was a dead snake. “This is not teamwork. This is manual labor.”

Jack laughed, clearly amused by her indignation. “Consider it part of your initiation into Snowfall Valley. Everyone pitches in, even the Grinch.”

“Stop calling me that,” she snapped, though her tone lacked the venom it usually carried. She yanked at the tangled string of lights, her irritation growing with every knot she uncovered. “And who thought it was a good idea to let a giant pile of lights become *this*?”

“Relax,” Jack said, stepping closer to take the lights from her hands. His fingers brushed hers briefly, sending a small jolt of something she refused to acknowledge up her arm. “Here, let me show you a trick.”

Holly watched as Jack deftly untangled the mess in a matter of seconds, his hands moving with an ease that made her feel both impressed and annoyed. “Do you have a superpower for this kind of thing or something?” she asked, crossing her arms.

“Years of practice,” Jack replied, flashing her a smug grin. “Stick with me, and you might actually learn something.”

Holly rolled her eyes. “Don’t hold your breath.”

---

The town square was alive with activity as locals worked together to transform it into a winter wonderland. Children ran around carrying garlands and ornaments, their laughter ringing through the crisp air. A group of elderly women stood nearby, debating which ribbons to use on the tree, while a pair of teenagers struggled to set up a giant inflatable snowman.

Holly couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen this much enthusiasm for Christmas. Growing up, her holidays had been quiet affairs—just her and her dad, trying to make the best of things with a tree they’d picked up at the last minute and store-bought cookies. She’d never really understood the point of all the fuss.

“You’re frowning again,” Jack said, nudging her shoulder lightly.

“I’m not frowning,” Holly retorted, even though she absolutely was.

“You are,” Jack insisted, stepping back to admire the lights he’d just wrapped around the lower branches of the tree. “But don’t worry. By the end of today, you’ll be singing Christmas carols and drinking eggnog with the rest of us.”

“Not a chance,” Holly said, but her lips twitched in the faintest hint of a smile.

Jack grinned at her, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “We’ll see.”

---

Holly wasn’t entirely sure how she ended up in charge of hanging ornaments on the tree, but Jack had a way of roping her into things before she could object. She stood on a ladder, carefully placing glass baubles on the higher branches while Jack steadied the ladder below.

“Higher, McAllister!” Jack called, craning his neck to look up at her. “That branch needs something bigger.”

Holly scowled down at him. “If I fall and break my neck, this is on you.”

“Relax,” Jack said, his voice filled with an infuriating amount of confidence. “I’ve got you.”

“Somehow, that doesn’t make me feel better,” Holly muttered, reaching for a particularly shiny ornament. She stretched as far as she could, her fingers brushing the branch.

“There you go,” Jack said, watching her with a smug smile. “You’re a natural.”

“Don’t push your luck, Winters,” she said, climbing back down the ladder. “I’m only doing this because I have no other choice.”

Jack chuckled. “Sure, keep telling yourself that.”

As Holly stepped off the ladder, she noticed a little boy standing nearby, holding a small ornament shaped like a snowflake. He looked up at her with wide, hopeful eyes. “Can I hang this one?” he asked softly.

Holly hesitated, glancing at Jack, who nodded encouragingly. “Go ahead,” she said, crouching down to his level. “Want some help?”

The boy beamed, and together, they hung the snowflake on one of the lower branches. Holly couldn’t help but smile as the boy ran off to join his friends, his laughter echoing through the square.

“See?” Jack said, leaning against the ladder. “You’re not so bad at this whole Christmas thing.”

“Don’t get used to it,” Holly replied, though her tone was softer than before.

--

By mid-afternoon, the tree was nearly finished. The towering evergreen sparkled with lights, ribbons, and ornaments, and a giant gold star sat perched on top. The entire square looked like something out of a Christmas movie, and Holly had to admit—begrudgingly—that it was impressive.

“Not bad, huh?” Jack said, standing beside her with his hands in his coat pockets.

“It’s… fine,” Holly said, though she couldn’t hide the slight awe in her voice.

Jack chuckled. “I’ll take that as a win.”

As the townsfolk began to gather around the tree for the lighting ceremony, Holly found herself standing next to Jack, their shoulders almost touching. The air was filled with the hum of anticipation, and for the first time in a long time, Holly felt something other than frustration. She wasn’t sure what it was—contentment, maybe, or a tiny flicker of warmth she wasn’t ready to acknowledge.

When the mayor stepped forward to flip the switch, the crowd erupted into cheers. The tree lit up in a dazzling display of color, the lights reflecting off the snow and casting a soft glow over the square. Holly couldn’t help but smile as she watched the children’s faces light up with wonder.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Jack said, his voice low.

Holly glanced at him, surprised to find him looking at her instead of the tree. There was something in his expression—something warm and unguarded—that made her stomach flutter unexpectedly.

“Yeah,” she said softly. “It is.”

---

The crowd began to disperse as the ceremony came to an end, but Jack wasn’t ready to leave just yet. He turned to Holly, his grin returning. “What do you say to some hot cocoa? My treat.”

Holly hesitated. Every instinct told her to say no, to keep her distance. But the warmth in Jack’s eyes and the memory of the little boy’s smile made her pause. Maybe, just this once, she could let her guard down.

“Fine,” she said, rolling her eyes. “But only because it’s cold.”

Jack’s grin widened. “Whatever you say, Grinch.”

---

The two of them ended up at a small café near the square, sitting by the window with steaming mugs of cocoa in hand. Jack had insisted on extra whipped cream and sprinkles, much to Holly’s amusement.

“So,” Jack said, leaning back in his chair. “Admit it. You had fun today.”

Holly sipped her cocoa, stalling for time. “It wasn’t… terrible.”

Jack laughed, the sound warm and genuine. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

Holly shook her head, though she couldn’t stop the small smile that crept onto her face. For the first time since she’d arrived in Snowfall Valley, she felt like maybe—just maybe—this town wasn’t as terrible as she’d thought.

Holly’s unexpected enjoyment of the day leaves her questioning her resolve to hate everything about Snowfall Valley—and Jack. But as sparks begin to fly between them, she wonders if letting her guard down might be a mistake.