All Chapters of The Christmas Contract : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Melody walked out of her room, looking like a zombie. She couldn't remember when she got back home last night. Everything feels so different. The house, the bed, even the air. Everything was better. Her head was banging so hard and she could barely see where she was going.“Good morning ma'am, the boss asked us not to disturb your sleep.” The voice sounded unfamiliar. “Is there anything you'd like us to get for you?”“Where am I?” Her voice also sounded far and foreign to her. “My head is hurting.”“Please sit, I'll get you something for the headache.” She heard the voice saying.She knew this was a dream, but why was she feeling physical pain in her dream? That's weird. Just then she heard footsteps and someone handed her painkillers and a glass of warm water. She took it and after the drugs she slept off, right where she was sitting.Almost thirty minutes passed, when Melody opened her eyes. Now she could see clearly that this wasn't her friend's house. This was the most beautiful h

The grocery bags felt heavier than they should have as Melody wheeled the cart across the parking lot, but it wasn’t the weight of the items inside that slowed her steps. It was her thoughts layered, tangled, refusing to settle. The late afternoon air was cold enough to bite, yet her cheeks were warm, her chest oddly light.That was really thoughtful of Blake.The thought slipped in again, uninvited, settling comfortably where it didn’t belong. She pressed her lips together, almost annoyed at herself. Thoughtful wasn’t something she was used to receiving without a catch. Not anymore. Men didn’t usually do things just to be kind, not in her experience. There was always an expectation, an invisible receipt waiting to be signed.She unlocked Tara’s old Mustang Beetle and carefully arranged the grocery bags in the backseat, making sure nothing would tip over. When she straightened, her reflection stared back at her from the shiny red paint eyes brighter, shoulders less slumped. New York h

Tara’s eyelids felt like they weighed a hundred pounds as she trudged up the stairs to her apartment. After almost twenty hours of back-to-back shifts at the hospital, she could barely stand, let alone think about preparing a proper meal. Every muscle ached, and her stomach grumbled with the kind of emptiness only a long day of relentless work could bring. All she wanted was a quick bite and then her bed. Just sleep.She flicked on the kitchen light and trudged to the fridge, expecting to find the usual bare shelves that reflected her chaotic lifestyle. But the moment she opened the door, she froze.The fridge was brimming. Milk chilled in its container, fresh fruits neatly arranged, rows of yogurts stacked like tiny towers, leftovers from a feast she hadn’t even been invited to yet, and enough snacks to satisfy the cravings of a small army. Her jaw dropped.“Oh my God…” she breathed, her voice echoing slightly in the quiet apartment.“Melody!” she called out, astonished, almost laugh

Brandon knew something was wrong the moment he walked into the house.The lights were on, but the place felt different. He almost always wasn't looking forward to coming back home and facing Claudia. It was early for regrets. He dropped his work bag by the door and loosened his tie, his shoulders aching from another long day. Snow Brook Valley was calm at night, but tonight everyone was outside to light the town’s Christmas tree.He was supposed to join them, but Claudia already said she won't be going because she wasn't feeling too well. He knew the only reason she didn't want to go was because she wasn't a fan of mingling with the locals.The living room was a mess.Empty ice cream bowls sat abandoned on the coffee table. Crumpled napkins littered the couch. A shopping bag lay tipped over near the door, its contents spilling out carelessly. Brandon frowned.“Claudia?” he called.His eyes landed on her.She was sprawled across the couch, curled slightly on her side, fast asleep. Her

By the time Melody pulled the sugar cookies out of the oven, the entire apartment smelled like a bakery.Warm cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, comfort wrapped in heat. The sugar cookies were already cooling on the counter, lined neatly on parchment paper, their white snow icing slightly cracked in places, just the way she liked them. She stood for a moment, hands on her hips, breathing it all in.This was her favorite part. Not the eating, but watching her work, with so much pride. Since she got here, she hasn't been baking a lot but with the way she feels right now, it would be her new everyday routine.She wiped her hands on a kitchen towel and glanced at the clock. She still had time, but not enough to linger. Carefully, she turned toward the living room.“Tara?” she called.Tara appeared almost immediately, already dressed down in sweatpants, her hair wrapped in a scarf. “Yeah?”“Can you watch the pie for me?” Melody asked. “It needs maybe ten more minutes. Please don’t let it burn.