From the corner of her eye, Pam spotted the woman peeking out from behind the swinging doors: Out one door and in the other – all in a matter of five minutes.
“It appears Cassie does not take long breaks. She’s back,” Pam said. John and Denise both turned, and the snoopy woman retreated back into her kitchen and disappeared from sight.
“I think I shall talk to the woman. See if she’s still happy working here.”
“If you can, find out what her special interest in me is, and even Pam for that matter,” John said. Denise started toward the back of the room, and after a few interruptions from her clientele, slipped into the kitchen.
Music, from the nearby Twelve-days of Christmas clock, began to sing the words to Jingle Bells, and then chimed four times.
Pam stood. “Fun carnival games are happening right now in the town square. Ready for the challenge? I’m fantastic at games.”
“Am I ready? I was born ready.” John bounced to his feet and grabbed her hand. “I’m great at games, too.” His face beamed as he glanced her way. “Leastways, I think I am.”
In one hour they’d exhausted the mid-way. When they reached the last game, the score was tied. “I got this one, Johnny boy. My father taught me how to shoot,” Pam said.
“But they’ve coerced poor defenseless reindeer to stand as targets? Doesn’t that contradict the theme of this whole weekend?” John appeared genuine in his defense of the animal.
Pam grinned. “They aren’t real, you silly man. Guess I forgot you were a softie where a doe is concerned.”
“Hah, hah – laugh all you want.” John picked up the play rifle and tried to shoot it like a handgun.
Pam chuckled again. “It’s a rifle. You won’t hit anything with an aim like that.”
“Okay, smarty. Why don’t you try first?” John said.
Pam raised the water rifle and rested the butt end against her shoulder. She eyeballed the reindeer target through the scope and her finger pressed against the trigger. A piercing stream of water jetted toward the wall where the tin animals mounted. It pinged one, and she held her aim steady until the animal staggered and fell upside down. Pam looked at John and grinned. “Not looking too good for you.” The next two did the same. She passed the weapon over to him. “It’s all yours.” It was then she noticed his ashen face. “What’s the matter?”
“I think I will decline this challenge and declare you the winner – but just by one measly point. Not a great win, but a win regardless.”
“It’s water, John, and the target is only a tin shaped reindeer.”
“I know. And I’m grateful that your father taught you shooting skills if only to defeat me today.”
“You’re crazy!” Pam took the prize of the plaid stuffed reindeer that the lady offered. “Look, a perfect contribution for your tree. Let’s pop it off at the center along with the candy canes, then head over to get a seat for the Santa show.”
“Good idea,” John said.
When they arrived at the center, they hurried to the storage room and pushed the small curtain they’d hung for privacy. John’s tree stood where they’d left it. He threw the candy canes on the cot, and Pam hung the winning ornament upfront and center on a branch.
“There, your very first ornament. Tomorrow, after I give you the remnants from my box of treasures, we will decorate it to perfection.” Pam looked around to find John had disappeared behind the curtain. “Where did you go?”
“I never noticed this here before. Do you suppose Tom left it for me? I know he saw me bring the tree in earlier.”
“It says, HELP YOURSELF, in bold black letters, so I am assuming so. Now you will have to wait until December to see my box of goodies,” Pam said.
“What about tonight? You invited me to your place, right?” John asked.
“Yes, I did. But this baby-sized tree will only hold a small sample of ornaments. Maybe by winter, you will have a bigger one.”
“If I’m still here, I will,” John said.
Pam did not welcome the topsy-turvy upheaval of emotions that occurred at the thought of him leaving Cedar Springs. She attempted to remain calm and keep her voice steady.
“Oh, so you’re having second thoughts about settling down in the mid-west?” Pam asked.
“I don’t know why I said that. Cassie has my head spinning. She claims I will not find my destiny here in your fair town and I beg to differ. I’m hoping you are my destiny.”
“She is rather odd. I would not take her advice too seriously.”
“I agree, but… there’s something about her that eats at my craw. I can’t put my finger on it.”
“Or your brain! Forget her.” Pam grabbed the box and plunked it on his bed. She opened the flaps and peered inside. “These are cute and all miniature.”
John dragged a shiny one from the bottom of the box. “Except this one.” He held up a large ornate key. Pam gasped and dropped onto a nearby chair.
“What’s the matter?” John asked.
When she recovered her composure, Pam muttered in disbelief. “It looks just like the key on the ornament I received in that package from the North Pole.”
“This one is not an ornament. It’s a real key to a large lock,” John said as he turned it over in his hand.
“It is a strange coincidence,” Pam murmured as she rose to her feet. “We’d better run if we want to secure a front seat to the show. You don’t want to miss a single adventure in Santa’s workshop, now do you?”
“Right. We’ll get back to this tomorrow, as planned,” John said.
John popped the key into
