Page 33 of Christmas at Wolf Creek
I force a smile, crossing to ruffle her hair. “Toronto was boring, squirt. Just a bunch of grown-ups talking about boring grown-up stuff. But I did bring you something.”
Her eyes light up instantly. “A present?”
“Maybe,” I tease, reaching into my pocket. “If you go brush your teeth and get ready for bed like your mom asked, I might remember where I put it.”
“I’m going!” she declares, scrambling off the couch with renewed energy. “Mom, come on!”
Ella laughs, standing to follow her daughter. “The magic words: potential presents.” She glances at mewith gratitude. “We’ll be back in fifteen minutes. Twenty tops.”
Once they’re gone, the artificial cheer drains from the room. Kori and the others look between us expectantly, clearly sensing something’s wrong.
“What’s going on?” Wren asks directly. “You four look like someone died.”
Declan sighs, taking a seat by the fire. “We need to talk about Ella. And we need all of you to hear this.”
As he explains the mysterious call, I watch their reactions closely. Shock, concern, anger—emotions flicker across their faces in waves. By the time he finishes, the cozy room feels colder despite the blazing fire.
“So, the other day, Jake Brennan said there have been strange cars on the road behind Ella's place. Someone knows she’s here,” Lana says slowly. “Someone who might be dangerous.”
“Maybe. Or it could just be someone out hunting. But that could explain her behavior at the tree lighting,” Kat adds, uncharacteristically serious. “She saw something—or someone—that spooked her enough to stay here instead of going home.”
I hadn’t heard about this. “What happened at the tree lighting?”
“She disappeared for a while,” Mia explains. “Came back looking pale. Insisted on staying here that night instead of going back to her cottage.”
The pieces click together in my mind. “She might have already seen whoever’s looking for her.”
“All the more reason to get the full story tonight,” Kane says grimly.
“Before we ambush her,” I caution, “remember she’s been protecting Nora alone for eight years. Her instinct will be to run, not confide.”
“So, what do we do?” Kori asks, looking around the room. “How do we convince her to trust us with whatever this is?”
“By proving we’re trustworthy,” I say simply. “No demands, no pressure. Just support, whatever she decides to tell us.”
The others nod in agreement, though I can see the worry etched on their faces. The perfect family Christmas we were building has just acquired an unwelcome shadow.
“I brought presents,” I say suddenly, remembering the small packages in my luggage. “For everyone, but especially for Nora. We should still give her a normal evening, before...” I trail off, not needing to finish the thought.
“Good idea,” Wren agrees, understanding immediately. “Let’s keep things normal for her sake.”
We hear footsteps on the stairs, and the conversation shifts instantly. By the time Nora bounces back into the room in candy cane pajamas, we’re discussing tomorrow’s plans for sledding on thehill behind the lodge as if nothing is wrong.
“Ready for that present?” I ask her, producing a small, wrapped package from my pocket.
“Yes!” she exclaims, taking it with reverent hands. “Can I open it now?”
“That’s generally how presents work,” I tease, watching as she carefully unwraps the paper to reveal a small wooden puzzle box, intricately carved with forest animals.
“It’s beautiful,” she breathes, running her fingers over the detailed work. “How do you open it?”
I kneel beside her, showing her the hidden panels and sliding pieces. “It’s a puzzle box from Japan. You have to solve it to get to the secret compartment inside.”
“A secret compartment?” Her eyes widen with delight. “Is there something in it?”
“Only one way to find out,” I wink, watching as she immediately begins experimenting with the panels.
Ella stands behind her, one hand resting protectively on Nora’s shoulder. When she meets my eyes, I see gratitude there, but also something else—a wariness that makes my heart sink. On some level, she already knows something’s wrong.