“I can’t. There are too many loose ends to worry about. The vendors—”
“Are registering as we speak,” Jeanette assured him. “Dana Sue is showing them to their assigned spaces. They’ll be all set up by four o’clock this afternoon, well ahead of the five-o’clock starting time for the festival. Anything else?”
“The choirs—”
“Mary Vaughn has the schedule. She’s double-checked with all the choir directors. No one’s mentioned any glitches. Tully McBride will play the piano like always. The piano’s been tuned and is already right in front of the stage. Tully’s banging away on it right this second to make sure. The programs have been printed and Sonny will be here at four-thirty to hand them out.”
He swiped his hand through his hair. “I hate this,” he muttered. “Have I mentioned how much I hate this kind of thing?”
“More than once,” she told him. “It’s getting tiresome. Everything is going to go beautifully. The decorations are the best ever. Ronnie’s checked every electrical connection and switch. The tree will light up right on schedule. You know all this. Why are you in such a panic?”
“It’s not panic. It’s annoyance that I have to deal with any of this. I was not hired to run Christmas. I was hired to run a town.”
She frowned at him. “Well, in Serenity, Christmas is part of the job.”
“It doesn’t mean I have to like it. I’m obsessing over the kind of stuff my mother obsesses over, inconsequential junk that doesn’t matter.”
“It matters to the kids. It matters to the town,” she reminded him. “Therefore it needs to matter to you. As for your mother, maybe you should ask her why all these things matter so much to her. I think you’d be surprised.”
“Well, none of it matters to me.” He frowned. “And when did you turn into such a cheerleader for the holidays? To say nothing of defending my mother?”
“I think I understand her a little bit better since that talk I had with your father,” she said.
The response only served to remind him of yet another thing that was still sticking in his craw. Before he could say anything, though, her expression turned nostalgic.
“You know, I really do have a whole new outlook on the holidays,” she said. “I think it started when I finally made peace with my parents. I let all the rest go, too. I realized I didn’t have to be miserable during the holidays as some sort of penance for being alive when my brother wasn’t. The day we bought the tree helped, too. That tree farm smelled so good. And then you agreed to buy the perfect one for the festival.” She sighed happily. “That was a wonderful day.”
Tom stared at her, thinking what an idiot he’d been today. “I’m sorry. Here I am going on and on about a bunch of nonsense and spoiling your enjoyment.”
“You haven’t, trust me. A few weeks ago I would have been as grumpy as you,” she admitted. “The prospect of being involved with the festival literally made me feel sick, but now, I don’t know, it makes me feel hopeful. Like I’m reclaiming something special that was lost to me for a long time.”
She looked at him worriedly. “I just wish you could relax and get into the spirit of this, too. You promised me you’d try.”
“Yes, I did. Let me get through the next couple of hours and I swear to you I will be the cheeriest man you’ve ever met.”
“Because it’s the holiday season or because your part in the festival is over?”
He grinned. “Do I have to answer that?”
Her sigh now was one of frustration. “That’s what I thought. I’ll see you outside.”
“Save me some eggnog,” he said as she left.
He’d meant to make her smile, but instead she walked away looking sad, as if he’d just popped her holiday balloon. He’d have to find some way to make it up to her....
* * *
The giant snowflakes on the light poles in downtown Serenity were sparkling. Vendors lined the streets, selling arts and crafts, quilts, jewelry and homemade jams and jellies. Kids, excited in anticipation of Santa’s arrival, were inhaling cotton candy and hot dogs. Any minute now, Santa would arrive atop the town’s fire truck as a local choir sang “Here Comes Santa Claus”, the lights on the tree in the square would be turned on and the Christmas festival would be officially under way.
Next to Jeanette, Maddie grinned and squeezed her hand. “You did good! It’s absolutely beautiful and there are more vendors than we’ve ever had before. I can’t wait for the choirs to start singing. That’s my favorite part. And the kids can’t wait to see Santa. At least Jessica Lynn can’t and Katie’s pretending she still believes for her sister’s sake. Kyle’s too old and Cole’s too young, but it’s nice to have at least one kid who still believes in Santa.”
“Where’s Helen?” Jeanette asked. “I thought she’d be here by now with Sarah Beth.”
“Last time I saw her she was in the kitchen at Sullivan’s telling Erik how to decorate the Christmas cookies he’s bringing over here for Santa to give away.”
Jeanette chuckled. “How was that going?”
“Erik just tunes her out and does his thing.”
“Really?”
“Oh, did I forget to mention that he gave her some icing and told her to do whatever she wanted with it? Last time I saw him, he was trying to get red icing out of his hair.” Maddie turned to her, her expression sobering. “You and I haven’t had much time to ourselves to talk lately. Right after the first of the year, we have to get serious about expanding the spa. Meantime, what’s going on with you and Tom? We’re taking bets he’ll be giving you a ring
