Page 9 of Brewing Up Christmas

The Heartfelt Conversation with Walt

Eli yanked the ladder into the back of his pickup, the sharp clank of metal against the truck bed ringing through the cold afternoon air. The town was quiet now, the earlier snowfall leaving a thick white layer covering the street. His breath puffed in clouds, disappearing into the pale sky as the last bit of daylight clung to the horizon.

As he worked, he heard the familiar crunch of boots approaching from behind. Eli turned, wiping his gloved hands on his jacket as Walt strode up, his coat pulled tightly against the chill.

“Busy as always, huh?” Walt called out, his voice gravelly but full of warmth.

Eli smiled faintly, tossing the last of the ladder into the truck. “Just trying to keep the holiday spirit alive.”

Walt stopped beside him, hands stuffed deep into his pockets, his gaze drifting to the snowflakes Eli had hung along the street. The soft glow of the lights reflected off the freshly fallen snow, casting a warm glow against the fading light of the day.

“You’re doing more than most,” Walt said, his voice quieter now. “Reminds me of the old days, when we’d have the big tree in the center of town. Those were the real Christmases.”

Eli paused, leaning against the truck and crossing his arms. “Tree in the center? I don’t remember that.”

Walt chuckled softly, his eyes growing distant as if he could see the memory unfold right in front of him. “Ah, you wouldn’t. It’s been years since we did that. Budget cuts, people getting busy, you know how it goes. But there was a time when that tree was the heart of this town.” He sighed, shaking his head lightly. “Caroline... she loved that tree.”

At the mention of his late wife, Eli’s gaze softened, and he turned toward Walt, waiting for him to continue.

Walt’s voice was laced with nostalgia, a faraway look in his eyes as the memories seemed to take over. “Every year, right around now, we’d head down to the square for the lighting. They’d set up the biggest tree you’ve ever seen, and when those lights flicked on... well, it feltlike magic. Caroline always said it made everything feel brighter. Even after a tough year, seeing that tree... it made her smile. And that made everything else fade away, you know?”

The raw emotion in Walt’s voice stirred something deep inside Eli. It wasn’t often that Walt talked about Caroline, and when he did, it was always with that same softness. The town’s old Christmas tree tradition wasn’t just about decorations or lights—it was about people, about memories, and the way something as simple as a tree could tie everything together.

“What happened to it?” Eli asked, his voice low.

Walt’s smile faded, replaced by a faint sadness. “Times changed. People stopped coming out as much, then the town decided it wasn’t worth the money. They stopped putting it up altogether about five or six years ago. It’s a shame. That tree... it brought people together. Especially Caroline and me.”

The snowflakes drifted down around them, soft and quiet, as the weight of Walt’s words hung in the air. Eli didn’t respond right away. Instead, he looked out over the street, picturing the square with a towering Christmas tree, lights twinkling in the snow, families gathering around with hot cocoa and laughter. It felt like something the town needed—a spark to bring them all back to life.

Eli straightened, crossing his arms over his chest as an idea began to take shape. “What if we brought it back?”

Walt blinked, taken aback. “What?”

“The tree,” Eli repeated, his voice firmer now. “What if we put it back up in the square? Bring everyone together again, just like you said. I’m already neck-deep in holiday decorations. What’s one more?”

For the first time in their conversation, Walt’s eyes lit up, a spark of something that hadn’t been there before. “You serious?”

Eli nodded. “Yeah. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen? I’m sure people would love it. We can figure it out.”

Walt laughed, the sound rough but full of warmth. “You’d do that? Put that tree back up?”

“Why not?” Eli said, his voice calm but steady. “If it’s what the town needs, and if it meant that much to Caroline... it’s worth it.”

Walt looked away for a moment, his face softening with emotion. “She’d love that,” he said quietly. “Hell, I’d love that. That tree... it was always magic to her.”

Eli felt something stir in his chest. This wasn’t just about fulfilling a mission for Angelina anymore. This was about something bigger—something that connected the town, brought it together. He could feel the Christmasspirit meter tugging at the edges of his awareness, like it knew how important this was.

“I’ll get Nolan and a few others to help,” Eli added. “We’ll find the tree, get it set up in the square. And when those lights go on... it’ll be for her.”

Walt blinked, emotion clouding his eyes for just a moment before he cleared his throat. “You’d really do that? For Caroline?”

Eli nodded. “Yeah. For Caroline. And for the town.”

Walt clapped him on the shoulder, his grip firm, the roughness of his glove pressing into Eli’s jacket. “I can’t tell you what that means, kid. You’ll be doing more than you know.”

Eli smiled faintly, though something deeper had settled inside him—a sense of purpose he hadn’t felt since this whole holiday mission began. “We’ll make it happen,” he said, climbing into his truck and giving Walt a nod. “I’ll start tomorrow.”

Walt stepped back as Eli started the engine, watching him with a renewed sense of hope. “You pull this off, Eli... you might just bring this town back to life.”

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