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Chapter One

If there’s one place in the world that truly captures the ic of Christmas, it’s Reindeer Falls

I’ about a few fancydisplays, or an extravagant light display I’e Christmas tree in the middle of the mall That’s standard Christmas stuff Amateur Humdrum

Cliché, even

Holiday et that anywhere A run-of-the-mill, D-list Santa Claus at the office party? Everyone knows you ordered the costu drew the short straw

Manufactured perfection Fake

But Reindeer Falls? Reindeer Falls is the real deal It’s the ical place on Earth The spirit of Christmas is woven into the very heart of this town It’s like the set of a Hallmark Christmas movie exists in the real world Which—yeah, yeah—sounds manufactured

But it’s not It’s real, from the Bavarian architecture to its local toy shop to its undeniably cozy, sweet-s local bakery

Ginger’s Bake Shop, to be exact

Everything about Ginger’s Bake Shop is decorated for the holiday season Pink Christhts and garlands of pink and white swirled lollipops There’s even a tree theerbread houses Another of nothing but pastry ornaar cookies Scones erbread men

The real ones are in the bakery case

The gingerbread men, that is

Outside, as if it were staged, a light snowfall rains down People hurry past bundled up in their jackets I watch a fanature stuffed reindeers It’s a bear wearing reindeer antlers, but it’s exclusive to the Flying Reindeer Toy Company, located in none other than Reindeer Falls Of course There’s a Teddy Bear Café where you can have tea with your Bavarian Reindeer, but it’s mostly for—

“Maggie? Earth to Maggie Are you paying any attention?”