Tidings of Joy: Based on a Hallmark Channel original movie Page 11

“Sorry. What’s happening?” Katie pulled out her notebook and started taking notes. She’d suspected Nan was up to something, but this? No, this exceeded her expectations completely.

  Nick stepped closer to Nan. “Carol. Hannah. This was built by your parents fifty years ago during the Christmas blizzard.”

  “But…how?” Carol’s jaw slacked.

  Hannah leaned in too, trying to make sense of it all.

  Nick went into story mode. “Fifty years ago, Nan and I were much younger then.”

  “You got that right,” she inserted.

  “We were all at the Tinker Shop. Hannah, your parents were always hosting something or other, and between it and the bakery just over here, we all were forced to make do through the terrible snowstorm. No supplies, except for what was on hand, but luckily both places were well-stocked and surprisingly everyone was at such peace about it.”

  “It was like a planned campout.”

  “With a lot of craft projects.”

  Nick explained. “That storm lasted for weeks, and since there’s only one road in and out of town—”

  “We were for most of the month of December hunkered down together,” Nan said. “We started a system to share food, share firewood.”

  Nick said, “And…after a while, it surprised us to find we were really enjoying ourselves. It was more like Christmas than it ever had been before.”

  “It was wonderful,” Nan said. “It was so rare that an entire town would get to come together like that. The twins taught piano lessons. We had embroidery lessons, and there was a lot of music. We read books aloud, we talked, we laughed, and since we had so much time on our hands…”

  “It was decided that we’d all work together to build the time capsule,” Nick said. “Using everyone’s unique skills and talents, we went to work.” He pointed to Hannah and Carol. “You kids were so small; you had no idea what we were working on. It was all hands on deck, though, as we created the mural and boxes.”

  “It was such a huge project, but no one minded,” Nan said.

  “And that picture of your grandparents, David. That was taken here in front of this wall after the mural was painted and before we assembled the time capsule that spring.”

  “Wow! It really is a special photograph.” He clutched the photo in his hand.

  “All of the wooden boxes were made and painted and stenciled during the storm, as were the contents for each of the boxes right there in the tinker shop.”

  “My friend, you see me having coffee with him often, he was a young artist back then. He designed the mural. The original drawing was just on an eight by ten canvas. In the spring, it was transferred to the wall, and a group of us from school helped fill in the colors like a giant paint-by-number.”

  Katie could almost picture them huddled together during that storm and the bonds that had to have been made through that experience. It must’ve been amazing to have all that creativity happening at once. She looked at the mural again. To be a part of something like that, a beautiful mural that would stand the test of time? Truly a gift.

  “But why keep the secret?” Carol’s brows pulled together, the look of disbelief still in her eyes. “Why didn’t you just tell us?”

  Joe placed a loving hand on her shoulder.

  Nan laughed. “That was your father’s idea, Carol. He loved surprises.”

  “Don’t I know it.” Carol placed a hand on her heart. “It’s a little overwhelming to know Dad had a hand in all of this.”

  “He wanted us to lead you all to it,” Nan continued, “but have you find it on your own.”

  Carol sniffled back a tear. “Dad always said, ‘What’s a Christmas present without a little surprise?’”

  Nan was enjoying this. “And look! It’s not just a time capsule. It’s twenty-four boxes. A new surprise every day all month.”

  “It’s an advent calendar.” Michelle began making sense of it all. “A Christmas countdown.”

  David elaborated. “One box for each day between now and Christmas.” He about bounced out of his boots at the prospect.

  There was an awful lot of head-nodding going on. Katie could hardly take it all in. Was there any way this could even be true? She wrote feverishly in her notebook.

  She caught Ben watching her. Am I being silly? Is this all some big annual Evergreen prank that every out-of-towner is just a pawn in? Like one of those murder mystery dinner shows, only on super-holiday steroids?

  But Ben looked as surprised as everyone else.

  “I’m not sure I’ve ever used the phrase ‘Christmas magic’ unironically in my entire life, but this…” Katie shook her head. “When’s the last time you saw anything like this?”

  “Should we open the first box?” Hannah asked.

  A resounding yes came from the crowd that’d grown even bigger since they’d first gathered.

  Ezra got into the action. “Michelle, care to do the honors?”

  Carol urged her on. “Come on, Mayor.”

  “Sure.” With a big smile, Michelle marched right over to the newly found town treasure.

  Ben touched Katie’s arm. She sucked in a breath, then turned to him with a smile. “I’m going to go help them.” He went over to help Ezra steady the tall wooden ladder Joe had just brought around from the back of the building.

  Katie rubbed her fingers across her arm where Ben had touched her.

  Everyone pushed in as Michelle carefully climbed the ladder in her high heels, up to the top, where she could reach the box marked with a one. Michelle placed her hand in the half moon at the top of the box and slid it forward, kind of like a filing cabinet drawer. She lifted a red envelope from the box.

  “Okay, here we go.” In a strong and commanding voice, she read the letter so all could hear. “To the people of Evergreen. Now that you’ve found this calendar, it’s our great hope that you will enjoy the gifts inside. The first being—” Michelle stopped. She was reading ahead silently.

  The crowd below sensed her hesitation.

  Michelle’s voice softened. “Carol, this is from your mom and dad.”

  “Really?” Carol patted her heart, tears streaming down her face. Joe stayed close to her.

  Michelle tucked the note back into the envelope and emptied the rest of the contents from the box, then closed it before climbing down the ladder to hand the note and a red book over to Carol.

  Joe stood at Carol’s side, and Ben walked over and gave Nan a hug with Nick standing close by.

  Now that Katie could get a better look, she could see they’d crafted the numbered boxes from old wooden milk crates that had decorative fronts on them. The pin-striping and numbers on each drawer appeared to be hand-painted. She wanted to touch the carved snowflakes in the scene’s corner. Done with such precision, it was hard to imagine a group of townsfolk in the middle of a blizzard constructed this all by hand fifty years ago.

  This wasn’t even her town, and she was emotional about it; she could only imagine what Carol and Hannah were feeling today.

  Carol opened the letter and continued to read it to the others, who’d all moved in even closer now. “The first being the original Kringle recipes.” Joe tossed his head back with a smile.

  Carol read on. “We’ve placed them here for our daughter Carol so she’ll always have a part of us close. May the Christmas surprises in the next twenty-four boxes of this calendar inspire the whole town. Merry Christmas. With love, Mark and Sue Fenwick.” A tear in her eye, Carol clung to Joe. “Mom and Dad. I just can’t believe it.”

  Touched, Katie stopped taking notes.

  “This is so special, honey.” Joe hugged her close. “And exciting.”

  Before she even realized it, Katie had leaned against Ben, mirroring Carol and Joe. Praying he hadn’t noticed the emotional moment, she pulled away. But even that tiny moment left a spark i
nside her that still tingled in her fingertips. Did he feel that too?

  “Well, everyone, it looks like now we have some new recipes to try,” Joe said. “So stop by the cafe for some Christmas kringles!”

  The town applauded, and people began moving in different directions to get their day started.

  “Ready?” Ben asked.

  But Katie was too inspired—in awe, really—by what had just happened that she was afraid to forget even one teensy detail. “You know what? I’m just going to hang back here for just a few minutes and get down a few more notes.”

  “I should get to the library.” Ben hesitated, but then explained, “I’m the one who puts the lights on the tree.” He pivoted, walking back toward her. “I’ve got to get the lights up. I’m the light guy. Stop by later?”

  “I will.” She watched him walk down the street, right past Ezra, who stood in front of the time capsule still staring up at it. But her focus was on Ben. The confidence in his stride held her attention.

  There was so much energy coursing through town square at this moment: smiling faces of the people who’d just witnessed the time capsule reveal, and delight of others as the gossip whipped like a wildfire in a windstorm through town.

  She was so thankful she’d been walking by when this had happened.

  Suddenly she remembered she’d been heading to the library to rescue her article from the printer. “Ben, wait!”

  But he was pretty far ahead. Hopefully, he’d be busy putting up lights until she got there. She couldn’t risk missing out on this. She stooped to the ground, placing her notebook on one knee, and scribbled as fast as she could before walking over to Ezra and asking for a few comments from his perspective as the former mayor of this town.

  It was no surprise to Katie that Ezra was astounded he hadn’t been part of the secret and maybe even had hurt feelings, but with all the seriousness of a politician, he’d responded, “I’m not surprised at all. Evergreen has always held a certain amount of magic and excitement. This is just par for the course.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Katie was relieved the tree in the front of the library was still bare. Hopefully, that meant she’d beaten Ben back to the library. She raced up the steps and inside. Nobody was at the front desk.

  She let out a breath. Thank goodness luck was on her side this morning. She walked toward the back room, where the printer was.

  Ben stepped around the corner from Nan’s office.

  “Ben. Hi.” Katie froze. From the strained look on his face, she had the sick feeling he’d already found what she’d come to retrieve. “There was a paper that I left on the printer that—”

  He moved to the center of the room, where he normally read to the children, and lifted a piece of paper in front of him. The low children’s bookshelves made him look larger than life.

  Her breath caught.

  Without a hint of a smile, Ben began reading from her outline. His voice was clear, and he projected as if performing. The deep crease between his eyebrows further accentuated the tension that already came through in his tone. “Despite the warmth and honest connection these people feel, it’s hard not to wonder how much of Evergreen is an act.”

  Katie hoped her knees wouldn’t buckle beneath her. “Okay, first of all, that’s just the notes I was taking to send to my mother. Who is also my editor, but—”

  He looked so disappointed in her, and that hung heavy in her heart. “I get it. I get how easy it is to say, ‘what a bunch of Christmas weirdos,’ or ‘look at those oddballs running around their Christmas Village.’”

  His words stung.

  He twisted the paper between his hands into a scroll. “But you’ve met these people. You’ve become their friend. Why would you make so light of their feelings? Of who they truly are?”

  The words on that page were harsh. It was a story—not the one she wanted to write, the one she should write. “Oh, Ben, that’s not what I was doing.” She’d never have submitted that draft. She knew it wasn’t right yet. She hadn’t meant for anyone else to see it.

  “Do you really think this is all for show? You can’t imagine for a minute we’re doing what makes us happy?”

  It had been her first impression. She couldn’t deny that. “I think a lot of people would come here and find it all a little too good to be true, yes.”

  “And what about you?” His gaze was laser-steady. He wanted an answer.

  Feeling under attack, she didn’t know how to respond. “I just watched your mayor open up a wall that has Christmas presents from fifty years ago. I gotta be honest, I’m not sure what to believe.”

  The twinkle that usually danced in Ben’s eyes was nowhere to be found. It was as if a heavy cloud hung over him. His words came slow and steady. “Some places, some people are just…earnest and want what’s best for each other. Small towns are—”

  She clenched her teeth. “That again? Small towns don’t have a monopoly on people caring about each other. I know plenty of hard-working city-dwelling people who make sure everyone around them is cared for.”

  “You’re oversimplifying my point,” Ben said.

  “And so are you. You’re going to have to trust me that I’m not here to write a hit piece about your town.”

  Ben frowned. “Right.” Before he could say anything else, a triple knock at the front door broke his train of thought. “That’s the fourth-grade class coming over. I have to get that.” He walked past her and opened the door. “Ah! Welcome to story hour, everyone.” He masked the situation by imitating a funny inflection. “Get settled. I promise to do my most hilarious voices.”

  The kids giggled at his Transylvania-vampire accent and gathered around the empty stool where he’d soon sit and whisk them away into a fairytale or holiday story.

  Ben corralled them into the room, casting a look of irritation in her direction. He sucked in a breath, then played to his audience like there was nothing wrong.

  Most of the kids greeted him by name as they marched inside in what seemed to be an endless parade of kids.

  “Ben, I—” She didn’t want it to be like this between them.

  “I should get in there,” he said.

  “Ben, wait. I really have enjoyed my time here. Despite my vacation turning into a work trip, I really like the peppermint hot cocoa and the way the whole town rallies to put up Christmas decorations. And I really like…” She caught herself. Surprised that what was getting ready to come out of her mouth was I really like you. She stood there, shocked by that realization.

  He handed the outline back to her. “Write the article you want to write.”

  She took it, unable to speak a word.

  Quietly, he said, “I hope it turns out.” Taking his place on the stool at the front of the room, he poured all of his focus on his audience. “Okay. Gather around.” He spoke with contagious enthusiasm.

  Katie watched the children lean in anxiously with their chins tipped up, already enthralled in the story yet to be told.

  “On Christmas Eve, on the long, long day that was the twenty-fourth of December…” It was as if Ben’s voice had already lulled them into a trance.

  Unsure if it was his storytelling or the man himself that had her feet so firmly planted there in that spot in the library, she didn’t move. The children’s laughter and joy made it hard to pull in another breath.

  She lowered her head, hoping he’d forgive her and feeling more conflicted than ever over what to write, or why she was even doing it in the first place. She may have just blown a potentially special friendship with Ben, maybe even more.

  A Christmas tree made from books all stacked in a pyramid stood in the corner. Instead of a star on top, there was Louisa May Alcott’s A Christmas Dream and How It Came to Be True. Nan had mentioned it was her favorite. It’d be just like Ben to have put that together for her.

 
; Katie slowly backed out of the library with regret and walked through Town Square. Shoppers came in and out of Daisy’s Country Store with bags full of gifts for loved ones, and the smell of sausage and bacon, mixed with something sweet, drifted from the Kringle Kitchen. A few people sat outside. Filled to capacity, no doubt. She knew why. Not only was the food good, but the family-owned business truly cared about their role in these people’s day. She walked past the Letters to Santa box and went directly to the inn.

  Maybe she should just head home now. Had she worn out her welcome in Evergreen?

  When she got to the inn, she didn’t stop to talk to Megan, who was in the kitchen. Instead, she went straight to her room and closed the door behind her. She stared at her suitcase, wondering what she should do.

  She crawled across the bed and closed her eyes. Her intentions had been good. There was something about Evergreen, that was for sure. It might be Christmas magic, it might just be a bunch of kind people with good hearts, but whatever it was, it had had a profound effect on her. Her life wouldn’t be the same after this. There’d always be a little sparkle of joy from what she’d experienced here.

  She knew what terpenes were, for goodness sake. You couldn’t unknow that.

  Ben’s recitation of that one sentence from her outline hung over her. Was that what her visit here was meant to be? No. No it was not.

  Great clarity came over her. She’d come here to work on a new novel. A story that would touch hearts and uplift readers. That assignment wasn’t what she was really here to do at all. In no way did it get her closer to her goal of finishing a second book.

  She opened her laptop and started perusing the novel notes she had so far. There were a few good ideas here. She could spend the next day or two shaping the outline, getting the plot points down and putting together a plan.

  But the appreciation in Mom’s voice when they’d been on the phone came back to her. Mom was in a bind. Would it really kill her to write one quick article? It wasn’t like she hadn’t done so dozens of times before. If she stayed focused, she could probably get the article completed in two days, and then still have time to work on the novel too.