Just a Little Christmas Magic

'Tis the season for chaos and winter wonderland whoopsies as perpetually cheerful social worker, Livie Mason, armed with twinkle lights and an unbreakable spirit, aims to revive the community center and save Christmas, one tangled tinsel twist at a time. Holiday hilarity ensues when Livie’s old flame and new neighbor, Christmas Grinch Luke Ramsey, is caught up in a mistaken identity making for a not-so-cute-meet-cute. In a jumble of jovial jingle, he’s roped into helping bring back the Christmas Festival to fund Livie's wish.
Despite merry mishaps and being ho-ho-holiday opposites, Livie and Luke form an unlikely dream team, navigating calamities, festival fiascos, and renovation ruckus. Christmas magic blankets the town, and sparks reignite between the unlikely duo. Just as success is within reach, an overheard conversation shatters Livie's trust and her heart. But, in a surprising twist, the truth is revealed, and Luke just might be the unexpected hero needed to save it all.
It's a mistletoe makeover Snow Valley needs, an unexpected fa-la-la fix-up for Luke and Livie, and a race against time. Can a little Christmas magic, and a lot of love, turn tangled tinsel turmoil into whimsical holiday cheer, one decked hall at a time?

CHAPTER 1: "Wow! Your booth looks great, Suzy," Livie Mason’s eyes shone with excitement as she took in the festive holiday booth, which screamed Christmas, with lights and garlands tastefully and festively strung. A yet-to-be-hung sign leaned against the booth, branded with an image of a cookie jar full of cookies and the name “Cookie Jarvis.”
Suzy, the owner of Cookie Jarvis, beamed, unable to contain her excitement. "I couldn’t help myself. Just needs my sugary baked goods, and I’m ready."
It was clear that Suzy Tucker had been hard at work prepping for a town-sized holiday event, given the level of cheer the space boasted. Suzy’s joyful perkiness and energy were wildly represented by the over-the-top design of her booth, especially given what they had to work with –– a town and holiday booths that had seen better days.
"That’s fantastic! Off to a great start!" Livie replied, her enthusiasm infectious as she checked things off on the inch-thick stack of papers held together by an old flimsy clipboard.
"Everyone is so excited you’re bringing back the Christmas Festival. I haven’t seen so many smiles in Snow Valley since... well, the last festival," Suzy said, her voice filled with nostalgia and hope.
Livie nodded, her expression turning serious for a moment. "The town needs this. The kids, too."
Livie scanned Main Street, which buzzed with the energy of townspeople who were hard at work. They were setting up booths along the street, draping buildings, light posts, and storefronts in festive holiday decor. In the distance, a group was preparing to raise the community Christmas tree in Town Square, the centerpiece that would crown the season’s efforts.
As she watched her friends and neighbors come together, a glint of faith and hopeful conviction sparked in her eyes. This was a town that had seen better days, but its people had always been its greatest strength. They were facing one of the biggest challenges in recent memory, but Livie believed in their resilience. Despite the hard times and the tightening of purse strings, Snow Valley was still full of kind-hearted, giving souls. She hoped the spirit of generosity that had always defined this community hadn’t faded, even in the face of adversity. There was something about this season, about Christmas in Snow Valley, that brought out the best in everyone, and she was counting on that now more than ever.
"This is a brilliant fundraiser for the youth community center," Suzy added, her eyes shining with purpose.
Livie’s face softened. "The whole town coming together for the kids is so..."
"Special. Like you, honey," Suzy finished for her, quickly stepping inside her booth. “Hold on, I have something for you.”
Livie followed her to the entrance, watching as Suzy prepared a cup of hot chocolate to go.
"Suzy? Is that your famous peppermint hot chocolate I smell?" Livie asked, a look of pure joy spreading across her face as she breathed in the rich aroma.
It was people like Suzy who fueled Livie’s confidence that they could pull off her biggest challenge yet. Snow Valley, once a quaint resort town brimming with charm and allure, had always been a magnet for tourists, drawn by its unique small-town charisma and some of the best ski slopes around. The name alone –– Snow Valley –– had promised winter wonderlands and cozy mountain escapes.
But those days felt like a distant memory. The snow that had once blanketed the town and brought it to life had been missing for years, leaving the place to grapple with an ache that no amount of festive spirit could quite fill. The charm was still there, buried beneath the surface, but the town’s enchantment had faded, along with the snow that had once defined it.
Still, Livie wasn’t ready to give up. She saw in Suzy and the others the spark that had made Snow Valley special in the first place. If anyone could bring the town back to its former glory –– snow or no snow –– it was the people who had built it, loved it, and never stopped believing in it.
"Made a big batch of this for the volunteers and a special one for you. I know how much you love it," Suzy replied with a wink as she handed the cup of cocoa to her dear friend.
Livie tucked her clipboard under her arm and gripped the cup with both hands, savoring the warmth and the comforting scent. Before she could take a drink, her phone rang. She quickly answered when she saw the caller’s name on the screen.
"Hey Marvin, I’m right up the street and..." Livie began, but her smile quickly dimmed as she listened. "The Mayor? I’ll be right there."
Livie dropped her phone back into her pocket and took a sip of her hot chocolate. Her shoulders relaxed, and she smiled joyfully. "Delicious as always, Suzy."
With a grateful nod to Suzy, Livie continued down the sidewalk, balancing her hot chocolate on her clipboard, checking things off her list as she went, and greeting passersby along the way.
“Keep up the good work, Suz. I’ll catch up with you later.”
“You betcha, hon. You know where to find me if you need anything.” Suzy waved.
The town-sized event being prepared was a maze of garlands and piles of coiled lights littering the ground, making it cumbersome to navigate. She passed behind the booths along a row of small retail shops, all empty, like much of the town. Losing their main economic source, tourism, put a strain on their sweet little town like no other. And now the Community Center, where Livie was a social worker, desperately needed repairs and a miracle.
Livie finally came to the largest unit at the end. The door was marked Snow Valley Youth Services and Community Center. Livie stood outside, stared at the door for a moment, and gathered her thoughts. She was about to face the Mayor for reasons she didn’t yet know. However, she couldn’t help but assume that the news wasn’t good, as it tended not to be where the town was concerned as of late. Whatever the news was, anyway.
A few children ran out as she opened the door, their laughter filling the air. Livie laughed along with them as if her heart was warmed by the festive spirit that was slowly but surely returning to Snow Valley. They were her reason, this space was her reason, and this town was her reason. The underprivileged youth used the facility as a safe place to play, do homework, receive tutoring, socialize with others, and so much more.
Even more near and dear to Livie’s heart were the foster children she worked with who frequented this space. For some, it was the only constant in their lives, and she would do everything in her power to make sure they had a place to host meet-and-greets, counsel the children, and have a safe space they could count on.
Livie charged inside, “Here goes nothing.”