Chapter 2 – The First Task
Clara woke to the soft glow of winter sunlight streaming through her window. The memory of the Wishing Bell lingered like a whisper, a spark of hope mixed with anxiety. She shook her head, trying to push the thought aside. She had errands to run, a day to survive, and Sara's cheerful nudging to keep her mind occupied.
Sara nudged her, smiling. "Morning, sleepyhead! You look like someone just told you Christmas was canceled," she teased, placing a steaming mug of cocoa in her hands.
Clara rolled her eyes but smiled faintly. "Not in the mood for jokes, Sara. That bell… I don't even know if it did anything."
Sara leaned closer, nudging her shoulder. "Don't forget — today's the big announcement. The town's pairing of volunteers for the holiday tasks. You'll find out who you'll work with."
Clara groaned, a mix of dread and curiosity twisting in her stomach. "Of course. Something else to stress about…"
The chatter of the town hall echoed outside as Clara and Sara walked toward it. The streets were alive with townsfolk preparing for the holiday festival, and today was the **official volunteer assignment announcement**. Clara's heart beat faster, nerves twisting in her stomach.
Inside the hall, townspeople crowded together, all eyes on the podium where the mayor would announce the pairings. Clara spotted familiar faces and then, across the room, **Ethan Moore**, standing tall and calm. She quickly looked away, focusing on Sara.
The mayor raised his hands for silence. "Good morning, everyone! As part of our holiday festival preparations, volunteers will be paired to complete the tasks assigned by the town committee. Please listen carefully as your names are called."
Clara's stomach dropped as the names were read. Then it happened:
"Clara Devlin and Ethan Moore!"
A ripple of whispers ran through the hall. Clara's cheeks flushed bright red. She quickly adjusted her coat, trying to mask her shock. Ethan glanced at her briefly, expression unreadable, before following the assistant to the first task location.
The first task awaited them at **Mrs. Alderwood's quaint little store**, tucked in a corner of the town's main street. The elderly woman greeted them warmly, her eyes twinkling behind her glasses. "Ah, you two! Perfect timing. The store could use some holiday magic."
Clara and Ethan exchanged a glance — grumpy, tense, yet slightly amused by the irony of fate. They set to work, Clara climbing the small ladder to hang sparkling lights while Ethan adjusted garlands on the shelves.
The air smelled of pine and cinnamon, strangely comforting despite the tension between them. Then, disaster struck. Clara's foot slipped. "Ahh!" she yelped, and instinctively, Ethan caught her around the waist.
"Careful!" he said, steadying her. His eyes lingered on hers for a moment longer than necessary.
Clara's cheeks burned. "I'm fine!" she insisted, stepping down carefully.
They continued working, the initial stiffness giving way to small smiles and quiet conversation. A stray ornament rolled off the counter, and they both reached for it at the same time, fingers brushing. Clara felt her heart skip a beat.
"Remember Mrs. Dalrymple's shop in college?" Ethan asked suddenly, breaking the silence. "When we… almost got caught sneaking cookies into the display?"
Clara laughed softly. "I remember. You had frosting all over your nose."
For a brief moment, the past mischievous days warmed the chill of their tension. Yet, the shadow of the incident still lingered, unspoken, just beneath the surface.
By the time the decorations were finished, the store glowed with holiday warmth. Mrs. Alderwood clapped her hands together. "You two make a wonderful team! Thank you so much."
Clara and Ethan exchanged a glance, silently acknowledging that while they still had barriers to cross, today had shifted something — a flicker of connection, buried under grumpiness, old grudges, and winter frost.
As they stepped back into the cold afternoon, Clara muttered, "One task down. Two more to go."
Ethan's lips curved into the faintest smile. "One down. Let's see what the town has in store for the next."