LITMIR.BIZ

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can take me to town hall.”

      “No. I have to get to the airport,” she said.

      “It’s on the way!” Michelle put the box of snowflakes on the middle of the bench seat. “And this box is awkward. So let’s go.” She slid in and pulled the door closed.

      Allie stared at her friend. This was exactly the reason Michelle was the right person to take over the duties of the Christmas Festival. She was bossy and determined.

      If town hall weren’t on the way, she’d make her get out of her truck right now. But Michelle had a point. It was just a few blocks down the road. In a town the size of Evergreen, there wasn’t much that wasn’t along the route.

      One way in. One way out.

      She still couldn’t get used to the remodeled town hall building. Once an all-red brick building that used to be the school, it was now sided in a soft dove gray lapboard with white trim, accented with cranberry-colored doors. It had been a great improvement; it was just strange to see the light-colored building in this spot.

      This year’s Christmas Festival banner had already been hung high above the doors. Never an easy task. She was delighted that they’d kept the same design she’d created long ago. The tri-colored, weather-resistant banner had snowy-white Christmas trees in each corner and a green ribbon across the bottom with a bow right in the middle, like a perfectly wrapped Christmas present. Above the bow read 48th Annual Evergreen Christmas Festival. A matching banner would be hung in front of the gazebo on Main Street soon, where many of the outdoor gatherings would happen.

      People carried tall boxes as they headed inside—probably more trees to decorate. Two men hung over a ladder, trying to finish stringing lights in the huge shrubbery in front.

      On the steep stairs to the front doors on the second floor, the six-foot-tall nutcrackers dressed in all of their Christmas finery guarded the entryway. Allie had always struggled with where to put those huge nutcrackers. And there were seven of them to place. A gift from a well-loved resident long ago, they had to be as old as she was, and they were heavy. But they were tradition, so they were part of the equation, even though not a year went by that the ominous statues didn’t send at least one tiny tot crying into the arms of his parents.

      Allie stopped in front of the building and waited for Michelle to get out of the truck.

      “You’ve got to come in,” her friend pleaded.

      “I’ve got to go.”

      “But I want you to see the layout. We’re changing some things. Come on.”

      She could spare a couple of minutes for her friend. It was important to her. Besides, Allie was curious. “Okay. One minute.” Allie knew how hard Michelle had been working on this project. She left the truck running rather than risk it not starting again. “You’ve got one minute.” She hopped out and jogged to catch up with Michelle, who’d raced ahead, carrying the fake snowflakes and dodging two guys clearing snow from the walkway.

      They ran up the steps side-by-side, then Michelle backed up to the door and pushed it open, letting Allie go in first.

      The inside of town hall buzzed with activity. Teams of people decorated Christmas trees with shiny plastic balls in festive colors. Another group strung giant snowflakes, like the ones Michelle was carrying, from the rafters and on nails along the walls. It was all hands on deck to prepare for the festival. The whole building smelled of fresh pine from the trees. Lights and decorations put the dazzle on the greenery like a sparkling jeweled necklace, making the finishing touches on a beautiful gown.

      “This looks amazing!” Allie stepped inside and twirled, trying to take it all in. What Michelle had already completed in such a short time was impressive. Long tables served as workstations around the room, and folks seemed to be enjoying themselves. There was no shortage of volunteers. Michelle handed off the box of fake snowflakes to one of them.

      “You did such a good job,” Allie said.

      Her friend pulled her hands to her heart. “Thank you.”

      Allie noticed the new mayor, Ezra Green, giving orders to one of the snowflake makers. “This one needs a little more sparkle…” he said, handing it back to her.

      What does he know?

      Ezra’s father had been mayor all the years Allie had run the festival, and Ezra and his dad were as different as night and day. Mayor Green, Sr. had always stayed out of the way, simply reminding her once in a while to keep up the traditions and trusting her to get the job done. He was laid back, never in a hurry, and always wore a smile. Ezra was up to his elbows in the middle of things, plus he had an abundance of nervous energy that was unsettling—like a piece of live wire dancing around. That would’ve driven her crazy.

      Michelle’s shoulders drooped. “Uh-oh. Here comes the mayor. I haven’t had enough coffee for this.”

      Allie couldn’t get used to referring to Ezra, who she’d known since grade school, as mayor. “There’s not enough coffee in Evergreen,” she agreed.

      Ezra marched over to them. “Michelle, I have an idea.” As jittery as a Chihuahua in a room full of strangers, he could hardly stand still.

      “Good morning, Ezra,” Allie said.

      He all but growled in her direction. “Former resident.”

      “I haven’t even left yet!” He’d taken her decision to relocate so personally.

      Michelle gave him half a chance. “What’s your idea this time, Ezra?”

      “I think we should have an app,” he announced, way too proud of himself, standing there with his big idea as bold as brass. “You know, an interactive experience.”

      “The festival is in five days. We can’t get an app made in five days.” Michelle’s frustration level rose.

      Clearly, this wasn’t the first harebrained, last-minute idea the new mayor had tossed her way. Allie was so glad she’d never had to deal with Ezra when she’d been planning the festival.

      His eyes bugged out like he was about to explode. “Well, we need to find some way to make the festival current. We need to shake things up.” He did a little shimmy shake that made her think of the chicken dance. If only she had that much energy.

      Michelle brushed her curls from her face, a nervous habit from way back. “This is my first year in charge, and I don’t want to shake things up.”

      Ezra narrowed his eyes. “It’s my first year as mayor, and I want things shaken.”

      Michelle sucked in a breath, and then let him have it. “Your dad was mayor for thirty years, and this was good enough for him.”

      It was taking all Allie had to stand there and hold her tongue.

      “That’s my point!” Ezra said. “We don’t want this to be our parents’ festival.”

      Michelle turned to Allie for help. “Allie?”

      “Don’t look at me.” She threw her hands up. “Soon-to-be former resident, remember?”

      Ezra wiggled his brows in a way that was as annoying as a kid brother, although Allie was pretty sure that wasn’t what he was going for.

      “Hey, everyone. I came to help out.”

      Allie spun around to see the newest addition to Evergreen heading their way. Barbara Rousseau, once an executive at one of the largest financial institutions in the nation, had bought the big turn-of-the-century home at the corner of Green Street and Pine Drive. Years ago, it had been a bed and breakfast, but it had gone into foreclosure and sat empty for years, falling into disrepair. Finally, a distant family member had put it on the market. The place had needed some serious TLC, but the widow had taken an early retirement and invested her money and her vision into the place, and it hadn’t taken her long to transform it. Folks anxiously awaited her grand opening on Valentine’s Day, but recent

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