A Letter to the Giftmaker - Chapter 26

The golden pink glow of the morning sun made the freshly fallen snow sparkle as the carriage rumbled down the road. The clatter of the horse's hooves was distant inside the plush velvet-lined interior. Edwin gaped once more as he looked around.

Harriet had spent an hour the night before thanking Edwin before he was granted the reprieve of them being invited to dinner. They had slept in the guest quarters of the Giftmaker's mansion after the old man had insisted they not go back out into the blizzard. It was a strange experience to awaken in accommodations much grander than his tiny apartment.

After a quick breakfast, they had all thanked the Giftmaker profusely, but he had waved them off with that knowing smile of his. Now, as the carriage pulled into the town square of Whitbury, they had to decide how to spend Christmas day.

"I saw that The Chiming Bell had a Christmas Supper," Jo said as he climbed out of the carriage.

"I still don't have any money." Edwin stepped down onto the sidewalk next to him.

Harriet accepted Jo's hand to get down. "We should check in with Carol."

Across the square, the door to the tavern was closed, but there was movement inside. Edwin thanked the coach driver and headed over to the door. After a few raps with his knuckles, the door swung open.

"Edwin!" Carol grinned widely. Her hair was neater than two nights before and she wore a festive green dress beneath her apron. "Did you manage to deliver your letter?"

"Not exactly, but we did make it to the Giftmaker's."

"Come in," she gestured to all of them. "Have you had breakfast?"

They all nodded.

"We heard you had a mid-day supper for Christmas." Edwin rubbed his arm. "Do you have room for three more? And how much is it?"

"Yes, of course." Her voice screeched with excitement. "After everything you did for me, of course you can come to Christmas supper. And I wouldn't think of charging you. Any of you."

"When does it start?" Jo asked.

Carol glanced at the clock above the kitchen door. "In an hour or so."

"I'm going to invite anyone left in the dorm," Jo said. "The more the merrier."

The door swung as he hurried out. Harriet stepped after him. "I want to swing by the baker's. I need to thank him."

Edwin blinked as his friends left. "Carol, is the food wish still working?"

She nodded. "Yep. It magically appears whenever I need it. Better yet, it disappears if there's extra before it can rot or mold!"

He felt his shoulders relax. The magic was real. "That's great!"

"Speaking of, I still need to organize and serve. I've got a big meal to prepare for!" Carol hurried back into the kitchen, leaving him alone.

The empty tavern felt oppressive around him. They had spent so much time outside, and then in the cavernous mansion, that this warm and cozy space felt too small. Or maybe it was because he was alone. After several minutes of fidgeting with the pen Jo had given him, he stepped outside.

He brushed snow from a bench outside the tavern and sat down to look across the square. Harriet stepped out of the bakery and joined up with the kids throwing snowballs at one another. She laughed as a snowball exploded on her shoulder, before rolling her own up in her new gloves and throwing it back.

After several minutes, she stumbled over to the bench, laughing. "I can't remember the last snowball fight I had."

He chuckled. "Did you win?"

She shook her head. "I don't think so. There's snow running down my back." She shivered from the sensation and then sat down on the bench.

The glittering white snow coated the rooftops and filled in the lawn of the square. A few faint flakes danced in the air, the last reminder of the blizzard. The whoops and hollers of the kids echoed off the windows of the closed shops.

"Thank you," Harriet said after a minute. "For giving me your wish."

Edwin shook his head. "It was never mine to begin with. I was just holding on to it until you needed it."

People began to arrive at the tavern. Old friends hugged one another and families laughed at inside jokes. Comments were made on hair and clothes and new partners and growing children.

"Hey!" Jo returned and sat with them on the bench. "Four of my coworkers are joining us, if that's okay?"

"That's great!" Edwin said.

Harriet nodded. "We can celebrate Christmas."

"And your new job," Jo said.

She blushed with excitement. "I know! I still can't believe it!"

The two friends talked breathlessly, and Edwin listened. Soon after, he headed inside and enjoyed a meal together with his friends. The tavern was bright and full of life. Everyone laughed and talked and celebrated.

Edwin leaned back in his chair, his finger tracing the worn wood of the table as the dessert was brought out. He felt like he was floating, buoyed by a warm glowing sun within him. Somewhere far away in a forest, he knew his letter was buried beneath the snow, but he gave it only the briefest thought. He was happy and at peace here, with those who cared for him.