“Hold up.” I studied the place. “This is. . .Holly’s house. Why are we here?”
The ghost got next to me. “This is your lesson.”
Nikolas dragged in two big suitcases and placed them next to the couch. “Honey, we have to get to the airport. Surely you’ve packed enough clothes.”
Holly yelled out from the bedroom. “I’m coming.”
Nikolas took in all of the suitcases by the couch. Besides the two that he dragged in, there were five more. He mumbled to himself. “We’re only staying for days, not weeks.”
Holly pulled another suitcase into the living room. “What did you say?”
“I said we’re only going to be there for. . .” Nikolas turned and looked at the suitcase she brought in. “What is that for?”
“This one is for my shoes.”
Nikolas pointed at the ones by the couch. “Hold up. Then what’s in these bags.”
“Makeup, gowns, outfits, and—”
“Holly, this is outrageous. I only have one small bag. Meanwhile, you would think that you’re moving to Finland.”
“It’s my wedding.”
“Our wedding.”
She shrugged. “Then bring more clothes if that would make you feel better.”
He shook his head. “I’m not saying that. I’m saying. . .never mind. I give up.”
“Thank you, sweetie.” Holly walked over and kissed his cheek. “Happy wife. Happy life.”
“I hate that my father declared that. You’ve truly run with it.”
“But it’s the truth.” She batted her lashes. “Besides, I’m so happy that I’m thinking of registering us for the Mile-high club when we get on the plane.”
Nikolas’s annoyed expression shifted to excitement. “Where would we have sex?”
“Well. . .I believe it would be easier for me to suck you off. All I have to do is pretend to be laying on your lap.”
Nikolas grinned. “That’s a deal. I’ll start loading these bags in the car. You should have said that first before you told me to carry the bags. Husbands need a bit of motivation, too.”
“I’m learning.”
He pulled her in for a hug. “I love you, Holly.”
“I love you.” She kissed him and then leaned away. “And thanks for not being mad anymore.”
I raised my brows and stepped closer to them.
“Jamaica would have been better.” Nikolas frowned. “But I think it’s nice that you’re trying to show Ivy the magic of Christmas.”
Shocked, I held out my hands. “What? We’re in cold ass Finland for me?”
Holly wrapped her arms around his neck. “Once Ivy sees the snow castle and participates in the wedding, she’ll understand that life is full of magic and one can only imagine and it will come.”
I frowned. “Girl, I would have rather gone to Jamaica, sipped some cocktails, and lounged in a bikini. The magic of Christmas?”
I turned to the ghost. “Can you believe her?”
He grinned.
I turned back to my ridiculous friends. They were interlocked in a passionate kiss. Then, the house faded around us, wisping away like smoke. The odd forest of clocks returned.
I looked to my left and realized the ghost had moved on. I hurried forward and followed him. “That happened this year.”
“It did.”
“That’s odd. The other ghost showed me stuff from long ago.”
“Perhaps the tree believed this year’s moments will be a big enough lesson.”
Another house showed. I recognized it immediately, stopped, and didn’t move forward. “What is that doing here?”
“When you picked, the forest learned. This is your next lesson.”
“That’s my. . .childhood home. I haven’t been there in many years. And I don’t plan on going inside now.”
“You have no choice. I could make you. It would hurt.”
Nervous, I walked forward. “Fine.”Chapter 14
Feliz NavidadI walked into my childhood home, but it no longer looked the same. All of the furniture was different. Somewhere off in the kitchen, Feliz Navidad played.
“Who lives here now?” I stepped in further and looked around. When I made it to my old living room, I stopped and stared.
Next to a Christmas tree, a teenaged boy sat in a wheelchair. He had green eyes, a caramel complexion, and black curly hair. Some of the curls hung around his ears. Completely focused, he drew in a sketchbook on his lap. I figured he was black and possibly Hispanic, but I wouldn’t bet all my money on it.
I walked over and glanced at the drawing. On the page, a man smiled back at me and wore an impeccable suit.
“Why are we here?” I glanced at the ghost. “There’s a new family in this place. What would it have to do with me?”
The boy hummed Feliz Navidad.
Then I looked at the mantle on the fireplace. Three framed pictures of me were on it. One was from when I was a little girl. Another showed me at my college graduation. And the final one was a news clipping of me at my first collection.
“How. . .did they get pictures of me? What is going on?” I stepped to the mantle.
Noise came from my side. I turned in that direction.