Page 47 of The Christmas Blueprint

“It’s brilliant,” he said. “I want to make a couple of sketches before I meet with the mayor this morning. Do you have a few more minutes before you head to your shop?”

“No, but yes,” she said. “This is too important for me to walk away from. This is only my second year in business, and I’m holding my own, but I have bigger plans for my shop, the artists I work with, and me,” she said firmly. “So who needs sleep?”

“Not me.” He smiled back at her, and they both ducked back into the building.

Killian quickly nailed the board shut and took a couple of pictures with his phone and used the app to do the measurements.

The windows had all been replaced, and one door that they used had been fixed enough to be functional and secure, but Killian wanted to have at least three entries. And the patio.

“I don’t know what the mayor will think of the mixed-use plan,” he said cautiously. “It sounds a little like a business laboratory, more Portland than rural Oregon.”

“But so necessary here. We have a lot of ideas and talent, but not as much capital to get ideas off the ground,” Sophia defended.

“Understood. Like I said. I like the idea. The Mill Market would offer variety, opportunity and flexibility. More chance for locals to participate. Who knows what someone will propose? The Mill would need a manager to keep things organized. Probably a board as well to decide what businesses to rent to and to establish rules and communication.”

Sophia caught her breath and jumped up and down a couple of times. “You sound like you’re considering the idea.”

“I am.” He paused before he hammered in the last nail. “We have a long way to go. Lots to consider and research, but I like this direction. It feels unexpected.”

“Yes,” she said softly, and her eyes shone brightly in the dim of the building. “But if you tell Jeffrey it’s my idea, he’ll hate it.”

“I don’t know him that well, but I definitely have the feeling he has his own agenda.”

“That’s a massive understatement.”

“I know he and Riley had issues in high school. Is his animus personal, or does he just hate anything that’s not about him?”

“Both.”

“Good to know. This morning I’m going to feel him out.”

Sophia made a face of distaste, and he made a faux lecherous one back, making them both laugh.

“This is going to take a lot of work, a lot of brainstorming and consulting.” he said looking around. “Do you have the time this month with it being Christmas? I don’t even know if I will. Harlow will be out of school in a couple of weeks for the winter break. I thought I’d have a lot of time to dig in before making a presentation to Zhang, the mayor, the city council, and the planning commission. I’d feel more confident if more of the commission would agree to meet and discuss some options.”

“I wouldn’t,” Sophia said. The work ahead and challenges didn’t seem to daunt her. “And having a fourth-grade girl over the holidays will be fun,” Sophia said, her eyes glowing with excitement. “There’s the Christmas Walk. The Christmas Market. Baking cookies for the cookie exchange. Lots of volunteering opportunities. She might like to help make the felted elves for my gift-wrapping station.” Her voice rose at the end of the sentence as if she’d just realized packing Harlow’s free time was not her responsibility, but Killian’s optimism soared.

He wasn’t alone in this project or in taking care of Harlow. And Sophia’s list of the Christmas activities caught his interest. He hadn’t done any of that in years. He barely celebrated Christmas anymore. What if he did it badly? What if Harlow were bored out of her pre-tween mind? Or worse, miserable?

“Maybe we could do the whole two birds one stone thing without killing anything,” he suggested, suddenly feeling nervous and very presumptuous. Was he putting a move on Sophia? Or were his intentions pure—wanting to help Harlow have a festive holiday while still allowing him and Sophia to collaborate?

No one had ever said he was selfless, not even his mother, who had adored him.

“Maybe you could help me and Harlow with some of the Christmas spirit, and as we spend some time together, we can discuss the project—get some ideas down and create some sample blueprints.”

He winced, waiting for another crack of thunder and a lightning bolt to be hurled at him because yes, he was fighting the urge to kiss her again. He desperately thought of more suggestions to make spending time with him more appealing—he could help build Sophia’s booth at the Christmas Market. He could…

“Yes, Killian. I love that idea.”

*

“Killian Flanagan.” JeffreyBane stood, buttoned his suit jacket, and shoved his hand out to shake like he was still campaigning.

Killian shook the proffered hand. He supposed campaigns never truly ended unless the politician was no longer running for office, but his attitude was so different from their first meeting that Killian felt like he’d fallen into a wormhole and been spit out in an alternate universe.

“Good to see you again, Mayor,” he lied, sounding respectful. “What did you want to see me about?”

Jeffrey, still smiling, seemed disconcerted by the direct approach.

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