Christmas in Evergreen Tidings of Joy - Nancy Naigle Page 0,68
held up a red stocking with white rick-rack on it. “And this. You made in second grade.”
“Isn’t that cute?”
“You made it for me, and inside you’d made a Santa’s list with my name on the nice side. I still remember crying when I saw it.” Pam handed Katie a snowman ornament to hang.
Katie walked it over to the tree, looking for the right spot or, as Lisa had advised, the slightly wrong spot to hang it. The tree was pretty, even if it had no smell. No terpenes. No snow.
Pam hung an ornament on the other side.
“I’m really sorry I didn’t make the deadline. I keep trying to think how to turn this story into something I can print, but—”
“You should publish it,” her mom said. “As-is. Just not in my magazine.” She stepped back, admiring the tree.
“What are you saying?” Katie waited, trying to understand.
“Honey, those characters! The town vet who stayed because she found love, the woman who moved there to run the general store, those competing anxious mayors.”
“I know, but it wasn’t meant to be about—”
“I know. And don’t you worry. I have my eyes out for another article.”
Katie breathed a sigh.
“The point is, I know you were looking for some inspiration for your next novel, and honey, I think you found it.”
This was the first time she’d really heard Mom encourage her to work on the novel. Katie thought about the story she’d sent to her. It hadn’t been right for the magazine. She’d known that all along, but there was something special about it. The people of the town, the age-old traditions. Mom’s encouragement tonight just might make this her best Christmas in a long, long time.
Mom looked over at her, waiting for a response. As her editor, and as her mom, Katie knew she was in good hands.
Katie had taken her mom’s support a little for granted. Like those people in Evergreen who cherished their traditions, she loved and cherished her time with Mom over the holidays, and there was room for them to do more. She hung another ornament from one of the higher boughs. “So, Mom, is the invitation still open to come to your office Christmas party?”
Pam’s eyebrows shot up, and her mouth opened wide. “It is!”
Mom had wanted her to come for years, and she’d never given in. The happiness on her face was unmistakable. I’ve been really selfish about this. It’s time to change that.
“Good,” Katie said. “‘Cuz you know I’m coming.”
“I’d love that so much. That’s great.”
“And I will write that book.”
“I know you will, and it’s going to be wonderful.”
Katie and her mom decorated the tree with little conversation, just enjoying their time together.
When her mom left, Katie sat in the living room on her couch in the dark, staring at the tree by only the illumination from the Christmas tree lights, wishing there was some way the two worlds, her life here and her friends in Evergreen, mostly Ben, could be one.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The following Monday morning after the town revealed the contents of the daily calendar, Ben and Nan walked back to the library together to start their day.
While Nan went inside, Ben collected the books from the night drop out front and carried them inside for processing. His phone rang. The New York City number took him by surprise, and he didn’t hesitate one second before answering.
When he finished the call, he walked inside.
Nan stood behind the desk, checking in the books left over from the weekend, pulling the cards from the pockets and stamping the date the old-fashioned way before placing them on the cart to be shelved.
Ben adjusted his glasses and picked up the other stamper to help. Stamp…stamp…stamp. They were in perfect time. “The strangest thing happened this morning.”
“Oh, what was that?”
He stamped the next book, watching Nan for a reaction. “I just got an interview request for that job in New York.”
Nan opened the next book. “For the one that was on the printer a couple of weeks ago?”
“Yeah. The strange thing is, I never actually applied for it.”
“My. That is strange.” She stamped another book and never looked up. Didn’t congratulate him. Just kept her eye on the task. So unlike her.
“Nan?” His tone had come out more like that of a schoolteacher getting ready to put the naughty kid in the corner. He hadn’t meant for it to, but it wasn’t so far from the circumstance.
“Hmm?” If it hadn’t been for her averted gaze and the tight grip of