Page 75 of The Lie That Stole Christmas

“What’s that?”Carter asked.

“Who is Santa in this song?”

Carter’s eyebrow raised, and his eyes swung quickly to Ashley.She smiled and shook her head before dropping her gaze like a teenager with a crush.

“The father…?”he guessed like he was on a quiz show.

Taylor sighed and threw her body and head back in her chair.

“Is that not the right answer?”Carter asked, clearly confused.

“No, that is exactly the right answer,” Tori said.

Taylor threw a bow at Tori, who swatted it away with a roll of wrapping paper.

Carter moved toward Ashley and stopped just beside her chair.“Can I steal you away for a minute?”

“You can steal her away much longer,” Taylor said.“We have to wrap her gift.”

“I told you girls not to get anything for me.”

“Like you didn’t get anything for us.”

Ashley smiled.“I had to make up for all the missed Christmases.”

“Ditto,” Tori said.“Now go and don’t come back.”She flashed a smile that showed she was half joking, half serious.

Ashley laughed as she followed Carter toward the front door.He grabbed her coat, held it for her, and helped her slip it on.

“What is this?”she asked.“Road trip?”

“We’re not going far.”He wrapped her scarf around her neck and opened the door, letting the December chill into the house before stepping outside.He waited for her to follow, then took her hand and guided her along the stone path.

She sucked in a breath as the path lit up with Christmas lights, illuminating the entire length of the walkway toward the guest house.

“Oh, wow.”

The bushes lining the stone path sparkled with thousands of tiny white lights.Garland wrapped around every post and railing, accented with oversized red bows that fluttered gently in the cold breeze.Beyond the giant evergreen on the south lawn stood proudly against the night sky, draped in lights from top to bottom, though the star remained dark until the official tree lighting ceremony.

“What do you think?”he asked.

Ashley spun around, taking it all in.“It’s magical.”

The guesthouse came into view, every window glowing with warm candlelight.Wreaths hung from the doors, red ribbons trailing from their greenery.The scent of pine drifted through the crisp air.But it wasn’t just the guest house that stole her attention.

Beyond it, the festival grounds with rows of wooden vendor booths had already been assembled and stood waiting beneath strings of lights that stretched overhead.Signs marked where local businesses would set up hot cider, homemade ornaments, roasted nuts, and Christmas crafts.The sleigh sat near the edge of the property, polished to a shine and ready for the horses.

Workers moved across the grounds, checking cords, adjusting decorations, and prepping for opening day.And for the first time since she’d returned, Ashley could see it.This wasn’t a list on a spreadsheet or a tradition she remembered from childhood.The Wetherby Christmas Festival was alive and waiting for the gate to open and the people to ascend.

More than the signs, tables, and decorations, it was the feeling that rose inside her, filled with warmth and joy and childhood wonder.She’d locked those feelings away for years and refused to acknowledge them.Now the lock was open, and she freely let it flow into her.It was like seeing light after coming out of a dark cave.

“It’s just how I remember it.”

Carter interlocked his fingers with hers.“Come on.There’s more to see.”He guided her along the stone path until they reached the entrance to the festival grounds.Workers worked to get everything done, but stopped to wave at Carter as he passed before returning to their tasks.

“Good afternoon, boss,” a man with a broken front tooth and a salt and pepper five o’clock shadow said.

“Light looks good, Larry.”