Christmas in Evergreen Tidings of Joy - Nancy Naigle Page 0,58
“Put it on.”
“You think I should?”
“Why not?”
She slid it on her finger and smiled, then balled her hand into a fist and pulled it to her heart.
He grabbed his coat and opened the door, waiting for her. He locked up behind them, reaching for her hand. They took the stairs and walked around the corner to meet the others in front of Daisy’s Country Store.
Everyone was dressed in red and green, Katie and Ben included. Michelle was rounding everyone up and doing a head count.
“I’m here,” Hannah called out. “Everyone warmed up?”
“I was getting worried about you! You’re never late for caroling. I’m so glad you brought Elliott. The more, the merrier. We are warmed up, and we even practiced that song about wassailing, yes.”
“My favorite!” Hannah squeezed Elliott’s hand. “Come on, everyone!”
Michelle swept a white-gloved hand in the air above her head. “First stop, the retirement center, and the last, Barbara’s Country Inn. Let’s go!”
“Dashing,” Hannah called out, and every voice, soprano, bass, on pitch, off-key, belted a hearty dashing through the snow as they began walking down Main Street, and it sounded as merry as if they’d been classically trained.
Some old timers didn’t bother singing at all, choosing to ring leather straps of jingle bells at just the right moments instead, and of course there was always Henry, who brought his kazoo. Every year without fail, and although it was a running joke in the town, it wouldn’t be the same if he didn’t.
Folks on Main Street came out of the shops and watched, applauding as they walked by, some abandoning their last-minute Christmas shopping to join in the fun.
Chapter Twenty-One
They’d caroled the retirement center, Main Street, the gazebo, three houses where people couldn’t get out of the house, and now stood in front of Barbara’s Country Inn.
Ben leaned in to Katie. “We’re the surprise guests tonight.”
She clapped her gloved hands. “Fun.”
Ben loved how Katie had enthusiastically jumped right in like she’d been an Evergreenian forever. He’d miss her when she left. Things would be a little lackluster once she moved on, and he wasn’t ready for that.
They all gathered at the bottom of the front steps of the inn.
Fanned out around the front porch area, Hannah stepped in front of them and gave them a note, then raised her hands in the air as ever so softly they began singing “Silent Night,” taking it louder with each round. Hannah’s hand motions led them until finally the heavy wooden door of the inn opened.
Megan stood there, wearing a shiny green dress. Couples held glass cups of punch and moved toward the commotion. “Everyone! Come in and get warm!” Megan gave them room to enter. She already had treats and a hot chocolate bar all set up for them.
The carolers flowed into the inn, still singing, with Ben playing his guitar and leading them inside. They switched gears into a fast-paced “Up on the Housetop,” and everyone joined in.
With songbooks in hand, the carolers sang with heart and animation that was contagious. Even people who’d already retired to their rooms were coming downstairs to see what was going on and ended up joining in from the steps in their pjs.
Megan jumped in between songs. “I have the new firepit out there putting off a toasty warmth, and all the fixins for Christmas s’mores!”
Katie and Ben looked at each other. “S’mores?”
“Oh, heck yeah.” He put his hand on the small of her back and followed closely behind her to the firepit. And that was it for the caroling that night.
Snow fell sizzling against the firepit, and Christmas lights twinkled behind them.
Katie and Ben sipped cocoa by the firepit, laughing. “I’m so glad you came with us tonight,” he said.
“Me too. I’ve never been caroling before.”
“You did great.”
“And you are quite talented with that guitar, I must say.”
“Thanks. Ha, would you look at those two?” He pointed over to Elliot, who was feeding Hannah a perfectly brown toasted marshmallow.
“They are so great together,” Katie mused. She patted her hand to her heart. “Sweet.”
It was, and he could almost picture himself in that situation with Katie. Something he hadn’t really given much thought to after the divorce. Those wounds were old. Sure, he was over it now, but it didn’t mean he wasn’t a little anxious about being in that situation again.
Thomas didn’t mind being in charge of making the marshmallows for anyone who was game. “You want yours crispy?” he asked Michelle.