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“We were checking the timber trim on the old house near the bluff,” Ray explained, holding up the leather gloves and handing them back to Diane with a quiet, appreciative smile. “We found these sitting in the sideboard drawer in the dining room, right beside a box of old festival tins.”
Diane took the gloves, her cheeks turning an even deeper shade of pink as she tucked them securely into her coat pocket. “We were simply making sure the house was ready for the weekend market preparations,” she clarified quickly, looking around at the display table as if searching for a distraction.
Ray huffed. “I guess I’ll need to find Baxter a proper star-shaped chew toy.”
Beside the table, Ben let out a chuckle, his eyes crinkling warmly at the corners as he watched the commotion. He reached down, his hand finding Maggie’s gloved fingers and wrapping around them with open, honest affection. The warm, solid hold of his palm against hers filled Maggie with a profound sense of peace.
Theo looked up from petting the dog, leaning against his mother’s knee as he watched Ben laughing with Ray. He whispered up to Laura loudly enough for Maggie to hear. “Santa is definitely granting my wish,” Theo declared joyfully.
Laura smiled gently, resting her hand over her son’s shoulder as Ray clipped the leather leash onto the golden retriever’s collar. “Come on,” Ray told Baxter, gesturing toward the harbor street. “Let’s go deliver these holiday tins to the community hall before you steal another ornament.”
Diane adjusted her borrowed scarf, offering a brief, cheerful wave to Maggie and Ben before following Ray and the dog across the brick plaza toward the harbor road. Maggie watched them go, a sweet, knowing smile touching her lips as she recognized the beginning of a brand-new chapter unfolding in Cranberry Cove. The town’s tradition of giving was already moving forward, weaving new connections among her friends.
Maggie turned back toward the Wish Tree, where the forty-year-old wooden heart still hung suspended from its faded green velvet ribbon. Near the middle branches, Arthur was descending the wooden ladder. As he passed the carved heart, Arthur briefly reached out with a gentle hand, his rough fingers lightly touching the special ornament, stroking the worn wood for one quiet second.
Across the plaza on the iron bench, Vivian picked up her brass thermos. She looked toward the tree, her eyes softening as she watched Arthur touch the carved heart, before she quietly turned her face toward the harbor channel, holding her secret close against her chest.
Maggie leaned against Ben’s arm, her fingers tightening around his hand. She realized that while her own wish for love and family had been fully granted, and while Theo’s wish for laughter to return to the Foster house had come true, the age-old mystery of the town’s wish that started it all remained unanswered.
The secret of the carved wooden heart would keep its silence for now, waiting for the day when two old hearts finally found the courage to speak.
MAGGIE
The Christmas Eve breeze swirling over Cranberry Cove flitted through the pine garland strung along the wooden wharf railings and rang the brass ship bells of the moored fishing schooners.
The harbor boats were decorated for the holiday, their tall wooden masts wrapped in strands of twinkling white lights that reflected in the dark, calm water of the channel. Perfect snowflakes tumbled lazily through the afternoon air, settling over the pine boughs and the brick plaza of Harbor Square, where the sound of acoustic guitar chords and cheerful caroling floated from the wooden gazebo.
Maggie stood near the pine arbor at the edge of the square, holding a warm paper cup of spiced apple cider.
Beside her, Theo stood in his heavy parka and red beanie, holding a small, customized wooden dory that Ben had carved for him that morning. The boy moved the little toy boat through the air in wide, happy arcs, his eyes shining with pure excitement as he watched the caroling choir gather near the Wish Tree.
Laura stood on the other side of the arbor, wearing her green winter coat and a warm wool headband. She took a sip from her own paper cup, watching her son play before turning her head toward Maggie with a radiant smile. “I finalized the paperwork with the clinic director this morning,” Laura shared, her voice carrying a deep happiness over the distant caroling music.
Maggie turned, her heart leaping in excitement. “The Cranberry Cove Family Practice?”
Laura nodded, swallowing hard as a fine misty sheen highlighted her expressive eyes in the low afternoon light. “The permanent pediatric nursing contract starts the second week of January. I’m turning in my Boston apartment key after the new year and moving our things into the upstairs rooms at Dad’s house. We’re putting down real roots right here on Harbor Lane.”
A happiness spread through Maggie’s body as she looked at Laura. “That’s such wonderful news. Having you both here permanently is going to make the house feel so full of life.”
“Theo loves it here. I swear he has built a snow fort in every corner of this town with his school friends,” Laura noted, gesturing toward her son with an affectionate laugh. “And for the first time, after feeling lost for too long, I feel like I’m coming home to a family that’s whole again. My father is genuinely happy, and knowing he has someone as kind and caring as you beside him makes all the worry I had melt away completely.”
Maggie smiled warmly, reaching out to give Laura’s gloved hand an affectionate squeeze. “He’s a great man, and I care about him deeply.”
Footsteps sounded over the snow-covered pine boards near the display tables, and Ben approached the arbor carrying two extra wooden benches for the caroling choir. His face was relaxed and unburdened, his eyes bright with an easy, contented warmth that completely transformed his stern features.
Ben set the wooden benches down near the gazebo rail, wiping his overworked hands on his slacks before turning toward the two women, Theo circling them as he played. Ben eyed his grandson with playful humor. “If you keep flying that dory through the snowdrifts, we’re going to need a full hull repair before the Christmas Eve supper.”
Theo looked up from his toy, offering a bright, toothy grin. “It’s an ocean rescue boat! It can handle big winter waves!”
Ben let out a booming laugh that echoed pleasantly over the rustle of the pine branches. He reached down to gently nudge the boy’s red knitted hat over his forehead. “Fair enough, but the captain’s orders say we head over toward the Wish Tree before the choir starts the final song. And there’s a fresh plate of gingerbread cookies waiting on the kitchen counter at home for after the lighting.”
Theo gasped with excitement, grabbing his mother’s sleeve to pull her toward the center of the plaza. “Can we stand near the front row by the brass handbells?”
Laura laughed, letting her young son guide her across the snow toward the caroling group. “Lead the way, sir.”
Ben remained beside the pine arbor, his broad posture relaxed as he turned toward Maggie. He observed her with a loving gaze. He didn’t say anything right away, simply enjoying the companionship as the falling snow dusted the shoulders of his coat.
Maggie looked up at him, her heart light and beating with a calm rhythm. Looking at his handsome, smiling face under the pale afternoon sun, she reflected on the remarkable journey they had shared over the past four weeks.
