A few days before Christmas, the forecast announced a snowstorm, warning people to prepare.
Clara had been at the farm, organizing trees for delivery, when the snow started to fall heavily, blanketing the roads and making travel impossible.
Just as she was about to close up, Jack arrived, covered in snow and slightly out of breath.
"I heard you might be snowed in," he said, smiling sheepishly.
"Thought I'd make sure you're okay."
Clara laughed, touched by his thoughtfulness.
"Looks like you might be snowed in too."
As the storm raged outside, they settled by the fire in her cabin, the world outside silent beneath the heavy snow.
They talked for hours, sharing stories about their lives.
Jack opened up about his photography career, how he'd once traveled the world capturing remote landscapes, and the heartbreak that had eventually brought him to a halt.
Clara listened, feeling her own heartache rise to the surface.
She shared her struggle of taking over the farm, the loneliness she hadn't voiced to anyone, and the fear that she wasn't doing justice to her father's memory.
As the fire crackled, their gazes met, each seeing a reflection of their own heartache and resilience in the other.
Jack leaned closer, and for a moment, it felt as if they might kiss.
But Clara pulled back, her insecurities rearing up.
She wasn't ready to risk her heart just yet.
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A Winter's Promise
عاطفيةA Winter's Promise When Clara took over her family's Christmas tree farm after her father's passing, she vowed to keep his legacy alive, turning the farm into a place where families could find joy and warmth during the holiday season. But as each Ch...
