Page 83 of The Holidays with Mr. Mitchell
“Well, now I’m starving. Any chance they’re making bread yet?” I laughed.
“I have plenty of food prepared for you to sample, darling. It’s the food that will be served throughout the venue, and of course, the dinner menu as well. I must ensure everything meets with your approval.”
“Jim wanted to be here to make the final approvals,” I chuckled.
“Ah, he’s adorable, especially since he was fine signing off on cheese trays and champagne bottles for his company.”
“No shit,” I said, before my attention was pulled to the next attraction.
“This isTiny Tim’s Tree Lot,” Cat said. “It’s where guests can pick mini potted firs as favors. I assume the children will love this part, and of course, adopting a live tree instead of a dead one, as Jim’s silly prank implied people should do.”
I laughed as I took in the area. Globed lighting was strung throughout, making it look like an authentic tree lot withfull-sizedChristmas trees; however, true to the spirit of Tiny Tim, they were all adorable miniature trees.
“I love that you came up with this idea,” I said. “You’re a genius.”
“I know,” she scrunched her face up in a cute way. “Jim can thank me later for that little detail,” she finished with a wink. “And over here,” she pointed as we slowed to a crawl past a flickering streetlamp, “this is where we will have horse-drawn sleigh rides over freshly packed snow. They will lead the guests through that enchanted forest over there and end with photo ops. We’re also setting up antique wooden benches, fur throws, and a sign that reads‘May Your Days Be Merry and Bright’in wrought iron script.”
“Damn, I’m ready to go on that now.” I couldn’t stop smiling.
“I can drive us through the enchanted forest, but it’s best viewed at night and, of course, by horse-drawn sleigh,” Cat smirked.
“I trust it’s going to be amazing, and I really want to experience that with Jim and the girls the night of the event,” I said.
“Excellent thinking,” she answered.
“Cat, I love you so much right now it’s unhealthy.”
“You just wait till we get to the ballroom.”
We continued down the side alley and into Dickens Square. A towering Christmas tree dominated the space, draped with cascading lights and framed by carolers warming up beside a mock fire barrel. Beyond them, the faux cathedral loomed, itsstained-glass illusions glowing, and a choir riser ready to hold golden-robed singers tonight. It looked like a scene straight out of a Thomas Kinkaid Christmas painting.
“Is this where the blessing scene happens?” I asked, motioning toward the faux altar.
“Yep. Nat confirmed that Spencer will give the toast here before the guests are served dinner. We’ll have stringed instruments enhancing the introduction to Spencer and the start of Mr. Scrooge’s evening,” she chuckled. “And yes, we made sure the fake stained-glass window has a hidden snow blower behind it for a ‘Silent Night’ reveal.”
“Oh my God,” I whispered. “Youbuiltthe most perfect real-life Scrooge event.”
“That’s what I hoped you’d say,” she said. “Now, wait until you see Scrooge’s house. To be clear, you’re entering from the back to make your grand host entrance and watch Jim arrive in that Christmas Vacation RV with the guests. After that, Jim will be taken from the RV and changed into his Scrooge attire. Then he will be directed to where he’ll make his official entrance to the event, through the front square in the Scrooge carriage.
I groaned. “Yes, we must have Jim arriving promptly in that RV while most guests are waiting to be loaded into carriages and offloading them,” I said. “It has to be timed perfectly.”
“Oh, this will be perfection once the men are set in motion to retrieve Jim and bring him in that clunky old thing.”
“Have you seen it yet?” I laughed, so disconnected from all this planning that I forgot Jake and Collin bought and shipped the damn thing here.
“Of course,” she laughed. “It’s behind the lot. We hid it here, so the guys will arrive promptly and leave. The engine has been checked, so even though it looks and will probably feel like the damn thing is going to break down, it won’t.”
“Jim will wish it had once he knows where it’s dropping him,” I laughed again.
Cat led us down a narrower cobbled path lined with frosted hedges and glowing lanterns shaped like falling stars.
“We’re almost there,” she said, that signature wicked grin spreading. “I saved the best for last.”
The cart slowed down, and we stopped in front of what looked like a grand brick estate with ivy-covered windows, twin staircases winding up to Juliet balconies, and stained-glass archways glowing from inside.
“Welcome to the ballroom,” Cat announced.
The double doors creaked open as she waved to the crew inside. “You ready?”
