Up to Snow Good - Kelly Collins Page 0,26
fast on her tongue. “It takes a particular mindset, that’s all I’m saying. You have to think of things a certain way. Honestly, I don’t know if your folks ever really grasped that either, with all due respect, of course.”
Lauren nodded, but it was all the answer she could muster.
Sally went on, “You’re pretty, and you’re young—in the prime of your life, really.” She chuckled and shook her head. “Not enough men in this town, that’s your problem. In Denver, they’d be lining up to buy you dinner. Word has it that Aspen Cove has a surplus of men too.”
Lauren didn’t want to speak, afraid of what she might say once she got started.
“Why waste away in Moss Creek, anyway? I can’t imagine it, there have to be so many memories.”
That touched off more worries, and thoughts streamed through Lauren’s head and heart. She opened her mouth to speak, but Sally went on.
“Well, I only want you to be happy. And if you want my advice about this whole winter village thing, it sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.”
“Does it?”
Sally leaned forward, glancing around as if sharing some national secret. “What if some kid gets bit by a reindeer, or Santa Claus shows up drunk? Honestly, if you pull it off, it’ll be a miracle, but more than likely, it’ll break you.”
Lauren wrapped things up with a few pleasantries before stepping out onto the sidewalk. She glanced around, already imagining the other shopkeepers giving her similar answers. She wasn’t afraid to try, but after the mayor’s response and now Sally’s, her high hopes were falling fast. Needing a spiritual boost, she stopped at the church next.
“Father Christmas?” the pastor repeated. “Me?”
“What could be more fitting? It would certainly bring the congregation around.”
The pastor shook his head, jowls jiggling. “But would it be fitting? I am a pastor, after all. And Santa Claus? It’s all rather secular, isn’t it?”
“We’re not pushing the crass commercialization of the holiday, but the old-fashioned family aspect. We won’t put you in a red suit and beard, but something more worldly? Father Christmas, not Santa Claus. It’s a subtle difference, but an important one, we think.”
Pastor Higgins shook his head despite his own sympathetic smile. “I’m sorry, Lauren, but I just don’t think so.”
She had been afraid of just that response and couldn’t ignore the twisting in her belly. “Well, okay, I understand if you don’t want to take part, but you’re still welcome to be there as a presence to greet newcomers. It could help your numbers.”
“It could, but I’m sorry, Lauren. I don’t see how I can help.”
“Just to get the word out, really. You’re our spiritual leader, and your endorsement would go a long way to bringing legitimacy to our project.”
He shrugged. “We try to stay out of secular matters. How would it be if we appeared to take sides, one business against another?”
“This is an idea to bring the community together, Pastor Higgins. I guess some of my fellow entrepreneurs don’t quite see it that way, but I thought surely you’d have a more enlightened perspective.”
“I’m happy to enlighten you. This is the Christmas season. Other than Holy Week in April, this is the busiest time of our year.”
“Too busy to mention it during the service, or let me put up a few fliers?”
“I can pray for you, I’m always happy to do that.” Lauren smiled and nodded and asked that he did indeed say a prayer for her. More and more, she had the feeling she would need it.
Chapter Twenty-One
Max
Max was glad to tell Lauren that his father seemed to reconsider. There was no point in mentioning all the complications, but it was relevant to them both that he was no longer fostering his family grudge.
“That is good news,” she said. “I mean, I get that your father felt betrayed, but my father felt he had a duty to be honest.”
“I understand,” Max said. “I always have. My father’s infidelity was the greatest mistake of his life, and I think he knows that. If your father hadn’t brought it to light, painful as that was, who knows? He’d have kept doing it, probably indefinitely. It wasn’t pleasant, but it was necessary, and it’s on him. I guess my father’s coming around to that, finally.”
Lauren nodded, her smile pure and simple. “Wonderful that it had a good outcome.”
Max nodded, wanting to believe it and glad that Lauren seemed willing to.
Sitting with her in front of the fireplace, pine logs crackling, barely