Page 15 of Jam and Jingle Bells
I bent over to pretend to pick something up while I laughed hysterically. When I righted myself, he was giving me the stink eye. “Sorry, I couldn’t resist. You’ll be fine,” I whisper promised.
“And now,” Mayor Tottle said from the podium, “let’s discuss the crime rate.” He paused, pointedly, and gazed out over the crowd. “Bells Pass takes pride in our businesses and homes. We don’t take kindly to anyone vandalizing or causing an unnecessary stir in our little corner of the world.”
Lots of angry shouts filled the air at his words until he hushed them with his hands.
“As I’m sure you’ve all heard, our newest business, Rudolph Yoga Express, the business we are here to celebrate in fact, was vandalized last night.” More shouting and booing from the crowd was heard until the mayor spoke again. “I would suggest, with great emphasis, if anyone here tonight knows anything, or was involved, that you present yourself to the Bells Pass Police Department tomorrow morning to straighten this matter out. We will not stand for it here in Bells Pass. I am afraid we all owe Ellis David an apology for his misfortune.”
The spotlight flipped to us standing there like deer in the headlights. Ellis waved his hands wildly in embarrassment until the light switched back to the mayor. “I see Ellis brought along the gal who helped get the train back on the tracks this morning. I, for one, am thankful she stepped up, along with many other ladies here tonight, to help him out. How about a round of applause for those ladies?”
I fought the desire to hang my head. I wasn’t ungrateful for their appreciation, but I was embarrassed. I waved and that got a round of cheers. I took a step back, ready to escape, but he had my hand in a death grip.
“Enough about that now. Let’s get this tree lighting started! Ellis, come on up!”
A rousing rendition ofRockin’ Around the Christmas Treewas started by the Bells Pass Madrigals while Mayor Tottle motioned Ellis over. He was frozen to the spot and I couldn’t tell if he was even breathing. It was my turn to do the dragging, apparently, and I tugged him along to the podium.
Mayor Tottle pumped his hand up and down and motioned for him to take his place. He refused to let go of my hand, so I had to stand awkwardly next to him, but as far away as I could without it looking weird. Okay, who was I kidding, it was weird.
When the music ceased, he leaned into the microphone. “Good evening everyone,” he said, his voice shaking. “I suppose it’s strange I’m this nervous when I spend my days teaching six-year-olds how to do the downward-facing dog.”
Everyone in the crowd burst into laughter and that brought a smile to his face. I noticed some of the tension in his hand release a bit then. “I don’t really have a speech planned, but in light of what happened last night, I just wanted to take a second to thank everyone who jumped in to make sure the Rudolph Express wasn’t derailed permanently. To the Bells Pass Fire Department for getting there in seconds and putting out the flames,” he said as a cheer went up through the townspeople. “Officer Dennison who stood guard at the broken window until I could get plywood and then helped me secure it,” he paused while everyone clapped. Gabe stood by the choir looking ridiculously embarrassed as he always did whenever someone thanked him for something he did in the line of duty. “To Al at the lumberyard for opening the store on Thanksgiving night so I could get that plywood, and for loaning me a Shop-Vac.”
Again, heavy applause and hooting filled the night until he spoke again. “And finally, to Addie, Heather, and all of the ladies of Bells Pass who came across a scene this morning they didn’t understand, but they didn’t hesitate to order me out of my studio to sleep while they cleaned up. Because of them, a little girl’s birthday party won’t be ruined tomorrow.”
Clapping and hooting ensued and I tried to step away again, but he wouldn’t release my hand. Now it just looked like I was afraid to stand too close to him. If I wasn’t so embarrassed, it would have been comical. Instead, he tugged me back into his side and waited for everyone to quiet. “I hope you don’t mind that I make Addie the honorary switch flipper with me tonight. She’ll be representing all the wonderful people who kept me from losing it over the last twenty-four hours. Now, should we light this tree?” he asked energetically.
While everyone cheered, we walked to the side of the gazebo where the box sat for the lights. It was ceremonial, of course. Shep was below ready to hit the real switch to make it shine, but no one but a select few knew that.
“Three, two, one,” everyone yelled and our hands met as we flipped the switch. The tree lit up in blue sparkling lights and the crowd stood in reverence as the choir sangOh Christmas Tree.
I didn’t see any of it, I was too busy being wrapped up in his strong arms and grateful heart.
Chapter Four
I locked the coffee hut and handed the key to Melissa. “All cleaned up and done for another year,” I said, hugging her tightly.
“Thanks, Addie. I appreciate the help. With Holly here now, I’m stretched thin, and Ivy was busy helping Shep.”
“It was no problem,” I promised, walking with her toward the parking lot. “I had nothing else to do and you know I love seeing the kids when they come for cocoa. I had a blast. Thanks for asking me,” I assured her, waving at Mason and Holly who sat in the car waiting for her. “You better get in there and warm up before you get in trouble,” I said, my eyebrows pulled tight to my nose.
She did a salute and opened the car door. “You’re heading home, right?” she asked. “I don’t want to leave you here alone.”
I nodded, clapping my hands together to warm them. “In a few minutes. I want to see the tree one more time now that the crowd has thinned out.”
She smirked her all-knowing smirk. “I bet you do. You couldn’t possibly have seen it earlier when you had your face buried in the shirt of one, what was it, very grateful businessman?”
I sighed, going hands on hips. “That wasn’t by choice, Mel. What was I supposed to do?”
She grinned but didn’t answer, just lifted a brow. “Be careful out there alone?” She gingerly lowered herself onto the car seat.
“I will, I promise. Go home and warm up,” I encouraged, closing the door and waving as Mason backed out and pulled away.
Melissa was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis last year, and unfortunately, it attacked her feet. Being out in the cold Michigan winter was hard on her, but she loved Holly to the moon and had already missed too many years with her. She refused to lose more time and memories now that Holly was in her arms again. I respected her for that, especially knowing the kind of pain she lived with much of the time.
The tree glowed a soft blue as I approached the gazebo and climbed the stairs. The last few townsfolk wandered off while I stared at the tree that reached to the sky. In the summer it housed the birds and their babies, and in the winter, it brought a month of joy and happiness to everyone. I rested my butt on the railing, my face turned toward the lights. Snow floated down from the sky and made the whole scene magical. The other word that filled my mind was lonely. In all my years of coming here I had never felt lonely while gazing at the tree, but tonight, that was exactly how I felt.
I suppose seeing everyone I was close to so deeply in love didn’t help my lonely heart.
Funny, your lonely heart didn’t bother you once while Ellis was holding your hand. I rolled my eyes and told my brain to shut up, mostly because it was right and that annoyed me.
