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TWENTY-FIVE

EMERALD FALLS

Seven-year-old Ivy Stuart stared in awe at the sparkling lights and decorations as she and her parents walked along the streets of Emerald Falls. Mama told her she’d like Winterfest and that there would be pretty Christmas trees and twinkling white lights and a skating rink and fun stuff to do.

But she hadn’t imagined it would look like magic.

All the stores were lit up, and booths with cotton candy, snow cones, funnel cakes and all kinds of goodies to eat were spread out. People dressed like elves were in Santa’s workshop helping kids make arts and crafts, Christmas decorations and wreaths. Holiday music echoed around her and a giant sleigh sat by Santa’s workshop for family pictures. The line to see Santa was filling up quick with kids giggling and squealing. One mama sat her baby on Santa’s lap but the baby started crying and looked scared so she had to leave the line.

Kids ran and played and threw snowballs while others flew around the ice-skating rink.

“They’re having a snowman-building contest tomorrow,” Mama said.

Ivy bounced up and down on her heels. “I wanna build one.”

“I’ll go sign us up,” Daddy said.

Mama pointed out an area showcasing wooden sculptures. “Just look at that. Whoever did that is really talented.”

“Let’s go see the animals.” Ivy darted toward a fenced area to pet the farm animals.

Mama chased after her, clasped her arms and forced her to look at her. “Ivy, you have to stay close,” she scolded. “I need to see you at all times.”

Ivy bit her lip. Mama was always worrying, telling her to hold her hand and stay close. But she was a big girl now, not a baby. “I’m right here, Mama.”

Mama smiled down at her. “I know. I just couldn’t stand to lose you, honey.”

“You won’t.” Her mama was so silly sometimes. She tugged her hand. “Let’s pet the baby lambie.”

“Okay.” Mama tweaked her cheek and they hurried through the fence gate. Goats climbed on stacks of hay, making noises and a calf mooed from the corner. Other kids roamed through the petting zoo, feeding and petting the animals.

Ivy smiled at two little girls holding hands. They were petting furry white rabbits, whiskers twitching as they stroked their fur. The girls looked kind of like their mother and must be sisters.

She’d asked her parents a dozen times for a sister or brother, but Mama just got sad when she asked and said that was up to God, and then she started talking about something else. One night she’d heard Mama and Daddy talking about it in their bedroom and Mama had started crying and Daddy told her it was okay, that at least they had Ivy.

Another girl about her age hugged a tiny black puppy to her chest as she and her older brother climbed the stage where the sign read Santa Paws—Pet pictures with Santa.

Ivy’s heart gave a pang. Sometimes she felt like she was missing out, that she was supposed to have a sister or brother. Although she liked to play with her mommy’s friends’ kids, Taylor and Heidi and Mazie.

She wandered closer to the edge of the fence housing the animals, then looked up and saw a big tall man with a beard wearing all black watching her from near the ice cream truck. He lifted a black gloved hand. His eyes narrowed as he stared at her, and his lips curled into an odd smile that gave her the willies. Then he stepped away from the ice cream truck as if he was coming over to talk to her. He looked like some kind of creep in a movie.

Mama’s warning rang in her head. There’s bad people out there, Ivy. Stay close to me and Daddy.

Butterflies fluttered in her stomach and she turned and ran back toward her parents. But for a minute there were so many people, she lost them in the crowd.

Her heart pounded and tears caught in her throat as she searched the crowd. Where had her mama been standing?

Heaving for a breath, she checked the place where the goats had been and then the Santa Paws line, but she wasn’t there.

Suddenly, someone snatched her arm. She jerked around to scream.

“Ivy, remember what I said about strangers. I told you not to wander off,” Mama cried. Her mama was shaking as she folded her into a tight hug.

Ivy hugged her back. Maybe Mama was right about bad people being out there.