Page 17 of Grinchland
“Clara—”
“Todd.” I raised my eyebrows. “The mayor can’t ban Christmas. He just can’t.” I paused. “When is the next town council meeting?” I couldn’t just fight this from my front lawn. If I wanted sticking power, I was going to need to go to the source.
Todd sighed. I could tell that he didn’t want to say but doubted that his silence would stop me. He was right.
“Tomorrow night,” he said.
I grinned. “Perfect. I’ll see you there.”
“But—”
“No one will know that you’re the one who told me.” I tapped the edge of my nose and then gave him a wink.
He didn’t look settled from my comment, but he didn’t push me more. He was halfway down my stairs when he stopped and pointed to the two giant red ornaments I got last year.
“You have a twenty-two inch ornament set from Balsam Hill?” Then he stopped and blinked like he hadn’t expected to say those words out loud.
I parted my lips and jutted out my finger. “You’re?—”
“I didn’t say anything,” he said as he hurried down the rest of the stairs and across to his car. I was still waving my finger in his direction when he met my gaze as he backed out of the driveway.
That was an unexpected turn of events. He not only knew the brand of Christmas decoration I had on display, but he also knew that they’d sold out last year two days into December. They were the sought after decoration.
If Todd knew all of that, did that mean…he was a closeted Christmas fan?
I watched his car disappear around the corner before I stepped back and shut my front door. Maybe I wasn’t the crazy one in this town; maybe it was Silas. I glanced at his house from my window, tapping my lips with my finger as my thoughts swirled.
Sure, my citations were starting to rack up. I now owed the town of Grinchland $240, which I did not have. But if I could get the town to agree that these rules were ridiculous and bring Christmas back, maybe they would waive the fees in gratitude.
“How many of you are living a lie?” I asked as I pictured the town and everyone I’d seen when I drove around yesterday. What had happened that made the entire town put their own holiday traditions aside and agree to banning an entire month?
Something big.
I sighed as I narrowed my eyes. No matter what, a mayor can’t just impose his desires on a whole town. It was time a revolution began, and if I had to be the one to lead the charge, so be it.
My first act of full defiance was my outfit I picked out to wear to school. I decided not to go subtle. I went with my brightest, loudest—literally, it played Christmas music—dress I owned. With twinkling earrings and bright red lipstick, I looked like a very festive Ms. Frizzle.
“Perfect,” I whispered as I turned side to side in the mirror. Silas St. Nick had no idea what was coming for him. This was war, and I was bringing out the big guns.
NINE
SILAS
Never in my life had a woman frustrated me as much as Clara Snow did. Nothing was getting through to her. I’d called Todd last night after I put Isabelle to bed, asking him to come as soon as he could this morning to give Clara a citation. I’d hoped it would convince her that I wasn’t going to let this go, but instead of taking decorations down, she put up even more before she left for school.
When I saw her while dropping off Isabelle, my jaw hit the floor. Not only was she wearing blinking earrings shaped like Christmas lights, she had a dress that was so intense, it hurt to look at. Add the deep red lipstick and the strips of green and red tinsel that were clipped to her hair, and I was appalled.
Isabelle gasped, and at first, I thought my greatest fear had been realized. That she was finally remembering. But from the starstruck look in her eyes, I knew her reaction wasn’t from fear but love. I was going to hear about Ms. Snow’s outfit for days to come. My plan on keeping Christmas away from my daughter was no longer working—especially since this Christmas-obsessed person was now her teacher.
I sighed as I turned down our street. My days were already stressful as it was. With Clara added to the mix, I was ready for some dinner, a beer, and bed. But from the sight of multi-colored lights flashing on the road, I knew my night was just beginning. I slowed as I neared my house, fearing what I was about to see but knowing exactly what it was going to look like.
And I’d been right.
Clara had made quick work of decorating her lawn. There was not a square inch of open space to be seen. Santa stood next to his sleigh with reindeer leading the way. Large, tacky inflatable animals holding Christmas items waved in the wind with a giant nativity set in the center. Lights covered every possible surface of her house. She even had another Santa set on her roof.
This woman was a magician with how fast she got all this up.
Music blared from her house, and the lights danced along with the beat. I could only imagine what her electric bill was going to be this month. And with the sheer number of items that were simultaneously plugged in? I was surprised she hadn’t blown the breaker.
