Page 52 of Saved By Noel
Moisture pools in Clara’s eyes, and she blinks rapidly to clear them. Crying has always made me uncomfortable, but I resist the urge to retreat. I clear my throat again and motion to the list.
“Some of these ideas I’m going to veto—no changing the town name to No-el, no fake snow machines, no mistletoe kissing booth,” I say.
“But—” Clara starts to interject.
“No. Kissing. Booth,” I state firmly. Clara huffs but nods. “There are a lot of reasonable ideas here. I think we should call a town meeting and present this list. Give everyone a chance to vote on it.”
“I have an even better thought,” Clara says, eyes twinkling. “If the town is on board with the festival idea, we should have a Christmas in July Heartmark movie marathon and let everyone brainstorm ideas together. Give people more ownership of the plan.”
I nod. “That’s not a bad idea.”
“Of course, it’s not a bad idea. When have you known me to have bad ideas?” Clara quips. I tilt my head with a deadpan expression in my eyes. “Hey, you just admitted to my festival idea beinggood.So none of the sarcasm leaking out of your eyeballs shall be directed my way from now on,” she says, looking infinitely pleased with herself.
“Fine.”
“How soon can you pull together a town meeting to vote on the festival?” Clara asks, sitting back and taking another bite of pizza.
I sit back in my chair as well. “That’s the great thing about small towns. Doesn’t take much notice to pull everyone together. I’ll put out the call to gather early Monday morning.”
“Can I stay for the meeting?” Clara asks quietly, twirling the ring on her finger and not making eye contact with me.
I lean forward to force Clara to look into my eyes. “This was your idea, Clara. Of course, you can come.”
The corners of her mouth turn up slowly, pulling on the string knotted around my heart.
“The town has to be able to blame the right person if this goes sideways,” I joke, trying to relieve the tension in my chest.
“Har har,” Clara scoffs. “I’ll be sure to share credit with Noel’s finest mayor when this turns out to be the best thing that ever happened to this town.”
The jury is still out on the Christmas festival, but I’m trying to ignore the persistent feeling thatClaramight just be the best thing to ever happen to this town.
Chapter thirty-two
HOTTIE McSCROOGE
We’ve got an official date for the Christmas in July brainstorm session. Wednesday after the week of the Fourth. Town shouldn’t be too busy midweek after a big holiday week.
ME
Sounds good! I’ll put in a request for PTO that day and plan to work remotely the days around it.
HOTTIE McSCROOGE
Have you picked the movies for the marathon yet?
ME
Of course! I narrowed down all my favorites that have Christmas festival scenes in them and picked the best five.
HOTTIE McSCROOGE
Absolutely not. I will not subject my town to five Christmas movies in a row.
ME
But Clark! All five have good ideas! It will be fun!
HOTTIE McSCROOGE
