Exactly an hour and fifteen minutes later, Caleb and Autumn stood at the entrance of Maplewood’s open skating rink—and for a moment, time seemed to pause.
A towering Christmas tree rose from the very center of the ice, its branches heavy with ornaments and soft golden lights. Long strands of fairy lights spilled outward from the tree like glowing ribbons, stretching to the tall black posts that circled the rink. Snow drifted lazily from the sky, catching the light as it fell, turning the air itself into glitter. Laughter echoed softly, blending with distant carols and the scrape of skates over ice.
Couples from around town glided across the rink hand in hand, cheeks flushed, breaths fogging the cold air. The snow, the lights, the tree—it all felt unreal. Enchanted. Exactly as Eleanor had
