Читать книгу Christmas in Evergreen - Nancy Naigle - Страница 9

Chapter Five

It was moments like this that Allie, for just a nanosecond, wished she hadn’t sold her reliable Ford Excursion when Grandpa had died and left her his truck. It had been his pride and joy; then again, he’d been an ace mechanic. He’d done the full body-off restoration on it over a two-year period. It was factory down to the rivets, as he’d liked to say. He could work on anything from kitchen appliances to tractors, and he’d taught her plenty over the years. She wished now she’d paid even closer attention. On a bright note, she’d gotten pretty good at doctoring up the old truck to get it going again.

She walked around to the front of the truck, pushed the wreath that hung from the hood ornament to the side, and jimmied the latch on the hood, coaxing it to release.

It squeaked as she raised it. She reached over the shiny radiator, down inside the engine compartment toward the distributor cap, and got to work. It would’ve been a lot easier if she’d been a couple of inches taller. She lifted one leg off the ground, stretching to give the wires a good jiggle and checking for anything loose. Her road calls took her down rough country lanes sometimes. She assumed that was why sometimes, just a simple wiggle made all the difference.

“You could’ve walked to DC by now.”

Allie almost bumped her head on the hood twisting toward Michelle Lansing. She’d recognize her voice anywhere. She extricated herself from the truck and turned to see Michelle marching toward her, carrying a box wrapped in blue Christmas paper that almost matched her coat. It was filled with a half dozen giant, glittery Styrofoam snowflakes.

“Don’t we have enough real snow?”

“Oh, this is for the Christmas festival.” Michelle lifted the box to make her point. Her brown curls bounced with each word. Glitter sparkled on the lapel of her coat. “You know, the one you’re going to miss?”

“Yes, I’m aware I’ll be missing the Christmas festival. Thank you for the reminder.” Allie made one last tweak under the hood.

“I’ll tell you, whoever decided to take over after you planned this thing is crazy.”

Allie snickered as she twisted to see her friend. “You’re taking over the planning!” She’d talked Michelle into it when she’d decided to make the big move to DC.

“Like I said…”

Allie got a good laugh out of that. She’d loved planning the festival. Yes, it was a lot of work, but everyone in town looked forward to it all throughout the year. It had been a labor of love for her, but she’d been doing it for so long, it really didn’t seem all that complicated anymore. Not so unlike making your first Thanksgiving dinner for a crowd. It was scary as heck, but after a few years, you knew exactly what order to cook things in so everything was done at the same time, and it seemed like a breeze. Michelle would have it down pat soon, too.

She slammed the hood and turned to Michelle as she brushed her hands together to get the grease from her fingers.

“Oh, boy. Don’t tell me you’re taking this thing to DC.”

“Of course I am,” Allie said. “This was my grandpa’s truck.” She gave the rounded curves a loving pat. “I love this truck.”

“Well, it obviously doesn’t love you.”

“Why are we friends again?” Allie teased.

“Because I’m the only one who will tell you that you are never going to get this thing to start.”

Allie straightened the live wreath that hung from the hood. “Oh, yeah? Watch this.” She gave Michelle a cocky nod, then crossed her fingers it would start. Holding her breath, she dropped into the driver’s seat and turned the key. Without a moment’s hesitation, the truck started right up. “See. It worked!” She was as surprised as Michelle was, but she’d never admit it.

“Great!” Michelle trudged through the yard, leaving a path in the snow all the way to the truck. “Now you can take me to town hall.”

“No. I have to get to the airport,” she said.

“It’s on the way!” Michelle put the box of snowflakes on the middle of the bench seat. “And this box is awkward. So let’s go.” She slid in and pulled the door closed.

Allie stared at her friend. This was exactly the reason Michelle was the right person to take over the duties of the Christmas Festival. She was bossy and determined.

If town hall weren’t on the way, she’d make her get out of her truck right now. But Michelle had a point. It was just a few blocks down the road. In a town the size of Evergreen, there wasn’t much that wasn’t along the route.

One way in. One way out.

She still couldn’t get used to the remodeled town hall building. Once an all-red brick building that used to be the school, it was now sided in a soft dove gray lapboard with white trim, accented with cranberry-colored doors. It had been a great improvement; it was just strange to see the light-colored building in this spot.

This year’s Christmas Festival banner had already been hung high above the doors. Never an easy task. She was delighted that they’d kept the same design she’d created long ago. The tri-colored, weather-resistant banner had snowy-white Christmas trees in each corner and a green ribbon across the bottom with a bow right in the middle, like a perfectly wrapped Christmas present. Above the bow read 48th Annual Evergreen Christmas Festival. A matching banner would be hung in front of the gazebo on Main Street soon, where many of the outdoor gatherings would happen.

People carried tall boxes as they headed inside—probably more trees to decorate. Two men hung over a ladder, trying to finish stringing lights in the huge shrubbery in front.

On the steep stairs to the front doors on the second floor, the six-foot-tall nutcrackers dressed in all of their Christmas finery guarded the entryway. Allie had always struggled with where to put those huge nutcrackers. And there were seven of them to place. A gift from a well-loved resident long ago, they had to be as old as she was, and they were heavy. But they were tradition, so they were part of the equation, even though not a year went by that the ominous statues didn’t send at least one tiny tot crying into the arms of his parents.

Allie stopped in front of the building and waited for Michelle to get out of the truck.

“You’ve got to come in,” her friend pleaded.

“I’ve got to go.”

“But I want you to see the layout. We’re changing some things. Come on.”

She could spare a couple of minutes for her friend. It was important to her. Besides, Allie was curious. “Okay. One minute.” Allie knew how hard Michelle had been working on this project. She left the truck running rather than risk it not starting again. “You’ve got one minute.” She hopped out and jogged to catch up with Michelle, who’d raced ahead, carrying the fake snowflakes and dodging two guys clearing snow from the walkway.

They ran up the steps side-by-side, then Michelle backed up to the door and pushed it open, letting Allie go in first.

The inside of town hall buzzed with activity. Teams of people decorated Christmas trees with shiny plastic balls in festive colors. Another group strung giant snowflakes, like the ones Michelle was carrying, from the rafters and on nails along the walls. It was all hands on deck to prepare for the festival. The whole building smelled of fresh pine from the trees. Lights and decorations put the dazzle on the greenery like a sparkling jeweled necklace, making the finishing touches on a beautiful gown.

“This looks amazing!” Allie stepped inside and twirled, trying to take it all in. What Michelle had already completed in such a short time was impressive. Long tables served as workstations around the room, and folks seemed to be enjoying themselves. There was no shortage of volunteers. Michelle handed off the box of fake snowflakes to one of them.

“You did such a good job,” Allie said.

Her friend pulled her hands to her heart. “Thank you.”

Allie noticed the new mayor, Ezra Green, giving orders to one of the snowflake makers. “This one needs a little more sparkle…” he said, handing it back to her.

What does he know?

Ezra’s father had been mayor all the years Allie had run the festival, and Ezra and his dad were as different as night and day. Mayor Green, Sr. had always stayed out of the way, simply reminding her once in a while to keep up the traditions and trusting her to get the job done. He was laid back, never in a hurry, and always wore a smile. Ezra was up to his elbows in the middle of things, plus he had an abundance of nervous energy that was unsettling—like a piece of live wire dancing around. That would’ve driven her crazy.

Michelle’s shoulders drooped. “Uh-oh. Here comes the mayor. I haven’t had enough coffee for this.”

Allie couldn’t get used to referring to Ezra, who she’d known since grade school, as mayor. “There’s not enough coffee in Evergreen,” she agreed.

Ezra marched over to them. “Michelle, I have an idea.” As jittery as a Chihuahua in a room full of strangers, he could hardly stand still.

“Good morning, Ezra,” Allie said.

He all but growled in her direction. “Former resident.”

“I haven’t even left yet!” He’d taken her decision to relocate so personally.

Michelle gave him half a chance. “What’s your idea this time, Ezra?”

“I think we should have an app,” he announced, way too proud of himself, standing there with his big idea as bold as brass. “You know, an interactive experience.”

“The festival is in five days. We can’t get an app made in five days.” Michelle’s frustration level rose.

Clearly, this wasn’t the first harebrained, last-minute idea the new mayor had tossed her way. Allie was so glad she’d never had to deal with Ezra when she’d been planning the festival.

His eyes bugged out like he was about to explode. “Well, we need to find some way to make the festival current. We need to shake things up.” He did a little shimmy shake that made her think of the chicken dance. If only she had that much energy.

Michelle brushed her curls from her face, a nervous habit from way back. “This is my first year in charge, and I don’t want to shake things up.”

Ezra narrowed his eyes. “It’s my first year as mayor, and I want things shaken.”

Michelle sucked in a breath, and then let him have it. “Your dad was mayor for thirty years, and this was good enough for him.”

It was taking all Allie had to stand there and hold her tongue.

“That’s my point!” Ezra said. “We don’t want this to be our parents’ festival.”

Michelle turned to Allie for help. “Allie?”

“Don’t look at me.” She threw her hands up. “Soon-to-be former resident, remember?”

Ezra wiggled his brows in a way that was as annoying as a kid brother, although Allie was pretty sure that wasn’t what he was going for.

“Hey, everyone. I came to help out.”

Allie spun around to see the newest addition to Evergreen heading their way. Barbara Rousseau, once an executive at one of the largest financial institutions in the nation, had bought the big turn-of-the-century home at the corner of Green Street and Pine Drive. Years ago, it had been a bed and breakfast, but it had gone into foreclosure and sat empty for years, falling into disrepair. Finally, a distant family member had put it on the market. The place had needed some serious TLC, but the widow had taken an early retirement and invested her money and her vision into the place, and it hadn’t taken her long to transform it. Folks anxiously awaited her grand opening on Valentine’s Day, but recent rumors had it that she’d be opening at the first of the year.

The pretty redhead was all bundled up against the weather in a camel-colored coat and colorful infinity scarf, more corporate than small-town Evergreen.

“Barbara! How’s the inn coming?” Allie asked.

Her face lit up. “Oh, my goodness. So great! We’re opening in two weeks. I can’t believe it.”

So, rumors were true. That was great news, because there wasn’t an inn or hotel within miles of Evergreen. Until now. Nice lodging in the area would help everyone.

Ezra did that weird brow wiggle again. “It’s so nice to have someone move to Evergreen to open a business.”

“Thanks,” Barbara said.

He turned his gaze to Allie. “Instead of business owners moving away.”

“Okay, meanie,” she said to Ezra. “Don’t make me tell them about the incident in second grade.”

Ezra paused, then pasted a smile on his face and said, “Best of luck in your new job.”

Allie and the girls exchanged a knowing glance. She’d put Ezra right in his place. Honestly, she wasn’t sure which thing he was so worried about her telling; there were so many. It could’ve been anything from the time he’d cut her left pigtail off at the shoulder when he’d sat behind her, to the time the teacher had asked him to “tell her more” and he’d broken out in the song from Grease, to the time he’d told everyone that his ancestors had come over on the cauliflower. He’d always been a funny kid with way too much energy, but he’d also been one of the brightest. As irritating as he could be, it was true that he’d probably do great things for Evergreen.

“Michelle”—Ezra was clearly eager to change the subject—“since Doc Hadley retired and moved away, we need someone new to play Santa. I’m thinking we go against type: younger, handsome…” He stroked his hair, preening, in hopes for their approval.

Michelle shut him down. “Too late. I already got a guy out of Burlington.”

“I think I saw him,” Allie said. “He looks like Santa Claus even without the costume.”

“Wait? He’s here already?” Michelle was surprised. “Must be getting ready for the role.”

“Well, okay. If you want to be traditional,” Ezra said. “But what about the children’s choir? Can’t they do some newer Christmas songs?”

The only somewhat-newer Christmas song Allie could think of off the top of her head was “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer,” and she wasn’t so sure that was a good choice for the family event.

Michelle shook her head, but Allie was pretty sure her friend would like to shake Ezra right about now. “Give me a break.” Michelle threw up her hands and walked away.

Barbara and Allie tried to hold back their snickers as Ezra ran after Michelle, begging her to listen to more of his great ideas.