* * *
For the first time since his arrival, Molly insisted that Nicholas drive his vehicle through town instead of their usual pedestrian mode of transportation.
Nicholas felt like he was on edge during the entire drive to wherever she had them heading.
He couldn’t stop thinking about his car.
In New York, his Jaguar was not a flashy car. It was nice, but relatively modest. He could have afforded a more expensive vehicle, but he liked the Jag. He’d often receive compliments about it, but other business owners were often surprised that someone at his level would choose such a cheap option when it came to his everyday ride.
When it came time to choose a rental car, he'd picked a Jaguar like the one he had at home. It was something he felt comfortable with driving, even in the snow. He liked having something he knew how to drive.
However, in this small town, Nicholas worried that his vehicle would stick out like a sore thumb. Instead of serving as a symbol of his modesty, he was concerned that it would make him seem like he was just another materialistic showoff. Here, this car was considered expensive. Perhaps even exorbitant. Nicholas wasn’t too invested in what people in town thought about him, though.
The only opinion he seemed to care about lately was Molly Carmichael’s.
He watched her out of the corner of his eye, wanting to gauge her reaction to the situation. Was she uncomfortable in the passenger seat? Was she judging him for being a materialistic showoff?
Although, she didn't seem to even notice. Once she had them on a tiny dirt road leading to the middle of nowhere, her entire focus went to fidgeting with his car radio, trying to find a certain station.
“Christmas Classics? Nope. Christmas In Canada? Interesting, but no. Christmas In The 80s? Very interesting, but no...” Molly’s hand finally fell away from the radio knob as a smile spread across her face. “Indie Rock 103.5. Perfect.”
“That’s one of my favorite music genres,” Nicholas told her, still focused on the very dark and empty road ahead. “I’m happy to know you listen to more than just Christmas music. I was worried all that jingling might be doing something to your ears.”
Molly stuck her tongue out at him and then pointed to a bend in the dirt road. He could barely see it with only the headlights to guide him. He'd forgotten how dark it could get without city lights everywhere.
“There,” she told him. “You can park the car right over there. We'll be able to see anyone coming for miles.”
Nicholas drove the car to the exact spot that Molly had pointed out, parking it in what seemed to be a large patch of unmanned grass that went on for several miles all around. There were no lights as far as he could see. Molly hopped out of the vehicle, pulled her woolen hat down on her head, and walked through the grass until she came to a sudden stop.
“Come with me,” she said, her smile still visible in the light of the car. She threw her head back, pointing up towards the night sky. “This is the perfect spot.”
After using his keys to lock the c
ar, Nicholas made it to the same spot as Molly. His feet crunched on the snow and he hoped he wouldn't trip in the dark. The snow seemed to glow underneath his feet and the stars never looked so bright.
“There it is,” she whispered, pointing up to the sky.
He followed her finger. “What am I supposed to be looking at—”
Nicholas’ words left him as he looked up into the heavens.
The stars glittered and twinkled in the sky. There were more of them than he'd ever seen. More than he'd ever even imagined existed in the entire universe. The Milky Way stretched out before him, showing him exactly how it had gotten its name.
“Wow.” Nicholas was taken aback by the sight, being starstruck by the literal stars themselves. “It’s so beautiful...”
“There's another one,” Molly said quickly, pointing up to a different dark patch of sky.
A small point of light flashed and streaked across the sky. A shooting star.
“Make a wish,” Molly whispered, another star streaking through the sky behind the first.
“You want me to make a wish?” he asked, still awestruck by the view above him.
“That is what most people do on shooting stars,” Molly teased. “Although, considering the time of year, it should probably be a Christmas wish.”
“A Christmas wish, of course. You want me to make a Christmas wish.” He shook his head but smiled. “Well then, let’s see... What do I want for Christmas? A pony?”
“Take it seriously,” Molly told him, giving him a gentle bump with her shoulder. “Christmas magic is a powerful thing. You should always be careful what you wish for. You just might get it.”