She looked out on the lake, the Christmas tree lights continuing to flicker. She took a deep breath and stood up straighter.
I just have to believe. Luke goes out there every day. He said it was safe.
She held the Santa charm to her heart as she put her first foot on the ice. Then she took another step, and another, and pretty soon she was walking across the lake. She was at the Christmas tree in no time.
As soon as she got to the tree, she realized she didn’t even know what to look for, or how to fix it. She started by gently moving the strands of lights on the tree that were blinking.
Nothing happened. They just kept blinking.
The wind was picking up. The lights on the tree were swaying back and forth. That’s when she remembered how Luke had shown her how to wrap the lights around the branches so they wouldn’t fall off.
She did that quickly the best she could, even though her frozen hands were clumsy. She was down on her hands and knees, trying to look under the tree for the battery pack Luke had talked about when her hand touched something furry and wet.
She screamed and jumped back. Then came a familiar bark. It was Comet, and he was with Luke.
Before she could say anything, Luke scooped her up so she was no longer on her hands and knees. “What are you doing out here!” he shouted at her. He looked angry and worried.
She pointed at the tree. “The lights! There’s something wrong with the lights.”
“You need to get inside now!” he yelled over the wind as he took off his gloves and put them on her shaking hands. He also quickly put his hat and scarf on her.
“Let’s go,” he said, putting his arm around her to shield her from the wind.”
But she refused to budge. “No!” she insisted. “You need to stay and fix the lights. I’ll go. But you stay. Please, they can’t go out. They can’t go out . . .”
She took off before he could argue, but he caught up with her. He put Comet’s leash in her hand and looked down at Comet. “Go!” he told Comet. “Take her inside.”
For the first time, Comet listened to Luke and did just what he was told. He barked and started pulling Riley toward the shore.
When Riley looked over her shoulder and saw Luke was still watching her, she tried to yell out to him but her voice almost disappeared in the wind. “Luke, go back and fix the lights! I’m okay. Go!”
Luke hesitated.
“Go! Hurry!” Riley urged.
“Get inside,” he yelled back before turning and rushing over to the Christmas tree.
Comet didn’t stop pulling her forward until they got inside the lodge.
She had just taken off her coat and was trying to warm up by the fire when Luke burst through the front door. “Are you okay?” he demanded, checking her hands. “What were you thinking going outside without any gloves or a hat? Are you trying to get frostbite?”
Riley pulled her hands away from him. “Why aren’t you out there fixing the lights?!”
Luke pointed at the window.
When Riley rushed over and saw the lights were now back to normal, glowing in all their glory, she almost cried she was so relieved.
“There was a loose cable. It’s all fixed. It’s fine,” Luke said as he picked up a blanket off the couch and wrapped it around her.
Now Riley did feel tears in her eyes—grateful tears. She touched the Santa on her charm bracelet and shut her eyes. Thank you, Dad.
“Are you okay?” Luke asked, sounding genuinely concerned. “I was in the front yard checking the lights there when the Santa from the sleigh came loose and blew down to the lake. I was running after it when I saw you. You should never have gone out there dressed like that. You could have really been in trouble.”
“I know,” Riley said. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. I panicked when I saw the lights. I was looking for you. I wanted to explain about—”
But Riley didn’t have a chance to finish when Mike stormed into the room. “There you are,” he said, pointing at Riley. “Everyone is waiting for you at the dance. This is your event, remember? All the media is here. You need to get in there, now. I’ll go tell everyone you’re coming.”
Mike started walking away but then stopped and gave Riley the once-over. “But go fix your hair and your face first. You’re a mess.” Mike left the room before Riley could say anything.
She picked up a nutcracker, and she swore she would have thrown it him if Comet hadn’t barked at her. “Sorry,” she said to Comet as she put the nutcracker down. Then she looked at Luke, who had an amused look on his face. “Not sorry,” she added.
Luke started to leave the room. “I’ll see you at the dance.”
“But wait . . .” Riley started, but he was gone before she could stop him.
A few minutes later, after she’d touched up her hair and makeup as Mike had demanded, Riley entered the ballroom. She was just starting to look around for Luke when Mike hurried over and linked arms with her.
“There you are. My favorite author,” Mike said merrily.
Riley gave him a suspicious look. “Did someone spike your eggnog?”
“Just smile and look happy,” Mike whispered in her ear. “Everyone’s watching.”
When he led her onstage, the band had just stopped playing.
He took the mic. “Hello, everyone,” Mike said, beaming. “Thank you all for being here—our Christmas Campers, everyone from the Christmas Lake community, and all the media that’s helping us share this very . . . unique Christmas story. And now, without further ado, let’s give a big round of applause for Miss Christmas!”
Riley fought to keep smiling when Mike called her Miss Christmas.
