Christmas in Evergreen Tidings of Joy - Nancy Naigle Page 0,6
I pray he doesn’t get stuck there for Christmas.”
Ezra studied the sky. A dense bank of clouds hung dark and heavy above.
“So.” She took a breath. There was no sense worrying about what she had no control over…although she did it all the time. “For now, we’ll just keep with tradition and let the banner hang on a weird angle.” She lifted her hands to the side, seesawing them and giving in to a laugh.
Ezra lifted his chin, training his gaze on Michelle. “Ever since you’ve become mayor, you’ve somehow relaxed. How is that possible?”
Michelle knew it wasn’t becoming mayor that had changed her life. It was Thomas. Him and his son, David. The past year of dating Thomas and the two of them in her life had been a life-changer. She’d gained a new perspective on things, and life sure felt good in this mode. “I guess happiness will do that.”
Joe and Ezra smiled at each other, then Ezra turned and came down the ladder.
“You know, Ezra,” Joe said as he spotted him down to the ground, “it’s not going to be the same around here without you.”
Ezra turned to Joe and Katie. “Well, it helps that the new mayor won by a landslide.”
Michelle paced her response. “Stop. Saying. Landslide.” He’d said it so many times that it was already getting old.
Katie leaned in. “Wow!”
Ezra propped his arm on the ladder casually with a told-you-so look on his face.
Michelle rolled her eyes. “I was the only one running.”
“Well, that’s just because nobody wants to run against the woman who had the best plans on how to run a town,” Joe spoke matter-of-factly.
Michelle’s face flushed. She’d put in a lot of work to pull that town project together. She wanted to earn the trust of the town, and even running unopposed, it had been important to her. She was honored to have been voted as the first woman mayor of Evergreen. Michelle turned to Katie. “She also had the previous mayor’s strong endorsement,” she said about herself. “That helped. Thank you, Ezra.”
“You earned it,” he said. “I’m leaving Evergreen in ever-capable hands.”
“Thanks.” Michelle cocked her head with a playful smile, then pointed her finger toward the banner again. “Okay, you two. Can we take this side up a little bit?”
Ezra started back up the ladder.
Michelle turned to Katie. “I’m sorry. You needed something.”
“Oh, I just need a phone charger. But congratulations, Madame Mayor.”
“You can call me Michelle. It’s fine.” She glanced up at the banner, and then back to Katie. “You said your name was—”
“I’m Katie. Nice to meet you.”
“Hi, Katie. Phone charger. Right. You’ll want to visit Daisy’s Country Store. It’s located just across the square. They sell everything: phone chargers, wool socks, souvenirs, you name it.”
Ezra shouted down from atop the ladder again. “Is it straight enough now?”
Michelle and Katie both tilted their heads up. In unison, they both leaned to one side, slightly off-kilter.
“Well, if it was too perfect,” Michelle said with a shrug, “it wouldn’t be charming.”
Both Joe and Ezra stared at her, puzzled.
“Don’t give me that look,” Michelle teased. “It’s good enough. Ezra, aren’t you supposed to be packing?”
“No, but I do have an Evergreen Historical Society meeting at the Kringle.” He climbed to the ground. “Got to run. Nice meeting you, Katie. Enjoy your visit.”
Katie waved and gave him a thumbs up.
“Thanks, Ezra.” Michelle turned back to Katie. “Oh, Katie. The store is right there.” She pointed to the flowered sign just up the road. “Lisa can help you with that phone charger.”
“Thank you so much.” Katie headed for Daisy’s Country Store with her luggage still in tow.
Michelle was glad tourists were already starting to arrive. The recent magazine article had the Evergreen Express booked to capacity every day, and she’d seen more day-guests than they usually had too.
The first year Michelle had helped with the Christmas Festival had been back in high school. It’d been part of the Future Business Leaders Association project she’d started, and the school still continued filling that role. Every year, she’d been on the Festival committee, but the last two years she’d chaired the whole thing. Even with having to move locations, they’d been able to have a successful event. But this was her first year as mayor, and she wanted more than anything for it to be the most special Christmas Festival so far.
Across the square, Hannah Tinker stood on the sidewalk out in front of Daisy’s Country Store, snuggling a chunky brown-and-white chihuahua mix in her