Christmas in Evergreen Tidings of Joy - Nancy Naigle Page 0,62

able to make wishes? And she had one wish she needed to make.

She picked up the snow globe, holding it tight between her two cupped hands. She stared into the glass globe at the tiny church that looked just like the one here in town. “Okay, you,” Hannah whispered. “I’ve made a few wishes in the past, and they’ve all come sort-of true. And then they kept not working out. So, this year, just…surprise me.” Hannah shook the snow globe. Excitement rushed through her. When she opened her eyes and looked up, Nick was staring right at her, smiling. She set down the snow globe and raced outside to catch up to the others. Please let the magic still be there. Let the surprise be a good one.

Michelle had just pulled the name out of the top hat as Hannah got there. She crossed her fingers, hoping her name would be the one called to open today’s calendar box.

“Katie!” Michelle called out, scanning the group of locals in front of her.

Ben nudged Katie, not looking surprised at all.

“What?” Katie’s hands flew to her face. “I didn’t even put my name in!”

“Someone did,” Michelle said. “That’s the name that came out.”

“Go get ’em,” Ben said.

“Okay!” Katie still clung to her notebook when she stepped next to Michelle in front of the giant advent calendar. “Lucky fifteen.” She turned and slipped her hand into the arch at the top of the box, slowly sliding it forward while trying to sneak a peek. Everyone clapped as she presented the red envelope from the box. Sliding her finger beneath the flap, she slid the sheet of paper out and read from the letter.

“Dear Evergreenians.” Katie spoke loud enough for everyone to hear. “One of the best gifts of building this calendar was how nice it was to spend time together. And so, today’s gift is a little bit different.” She straightened, seeming intrigued to find out what was special today. Her face twisted a bit as she scanned ahead silently. She smiled and read on. “Whoever opens today’s box should name the Christmas activity they love the most but do the least. It’s our humble request that the entire town spend a few hours together doing that activity.”

Everyone seemed excited by that announcement.

Katie shook her head. ”Okay, that’s a lot of pressure.” She looked to Ben, and then Michelle.

“I don’t know. That red-letter envelope does feel legally binding,” Ben said with a tone of authority. “I think you have to do it.”

Katie turned and faced everyone. “Okay, well, there is one thing I really love doing, and definitely not often enough…”

“What is it?” Hannah screamed from the back as she worked her way to the front to lead the carols to follow.

“Snowmen. I love building a snowman.”

Michelle raised her hands in the air. “Okay. You heard the lady. We’ll all, as a town, be building snowmen together for a few hours. Let’s gather supplies and meet back in the clearing next to the gazebo in an hour. There’ll be plenty of room for a whole snow family, cousins and all.”

Everyone clapped, then disbursed to get ready to satisfy the Day 15 challenge.

Hannah made a quick change to the scheduled song. “Under the circumstances, I believe a little ‘Frosty the Snowman’ is in order.” And so the choir started, but the whole town joined in singing about that happy, jolly soul who came to life one day.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Katie twirled in the deep snow to clear a nice circular outline for them to build a snowman. Since fresh snow had fallen just last night, there was plenty of the white stuff piled up in the park. Some drifts rose a few feet against buildings and fence lines. It couldn’t be a more perfect day to bring everyone together for her favorite Christmas activity.

Groups of people had staked out their little piece of the park and had started building snowmen, while others cheered them on as they frolicked in the snow. One family built a giant target, and they were already throwing pitches at it, trying for a bullseye.

Across the way next to the gas station, two men worked on a truck with a snow blade on the front. They’d probably be using that a lot this winter.

Katie teamed up with Ben, Nan and Michelle to build their snowman together. They worked great together. With barely a word, they had the base in place. Ben and David quickly rolled a hefty midsection and lifted it onto the