He did an amazing job. The town looked so…festive. And the fact that Clara liked it made me love it even more.
“We’re ready,” Todd appeared next to me. I glanced over to see him standing next to our tree, which I’d brought to his house, telling him to make it the centerpiece of town square. It was covered in strings of lights and every branch held an ornament. Todd would never cease to amaze me.
I raised my eyebrows as I nodded toward the decorations. “The whole time?”
He shrugged. “What can I say?”
Regret coated my chest. “I’m sorry I forced you to hide it all.”
He chuckled. “I knew you’d come to your senses eventually.” Then he stepped closer to me. “For what you asked me about, I was able to find this.” He held out his hand, and nestled in his palm was a gingerbread Christmas tree ornament. “Unfortunately, they don’t make brown, dying Christmas tree ornaments. This was the best I could do.”
I took it from him. “This will work.” I glanced up. “Thanks.”
He nodded. “Of course. And when you’re done, the tree is ready to be lit.”
“Perfect.”
It didn’t take me long to find Clara. She was laughing and talking to a group of townspeople who were all thanking her for bringing Christmas back. Their conversation hushed as I pushed through the group and wrapped my arm around her waist.
“I’m stealing you away,” I murmured into her hair.
She giggled and followed me.
When we were a good distance away, I held out the ornament Todd had found for me. Clara studied it and then glanced up at me.
“What is this?” she asked.
“An ornament. So you can start collecting our memories.”
She knit her eyebrows together for a moment before her lips made an “o” like she’d just realized what I was doing. “Because of the tree?” she asked, nodding in its direction.
“Isabelle’s tree.” I shrugged. “Apparently, they don’t make brown and dying tree ornaments, so this was the next best thing.” I studied her. “Do you like it?”
She gently took the ornament out of my hand and held it up. She turned it a few times before her gaze met mine and I could see the tears brim on her eyelids. “I love it.” She paused. “And I love you.”
I didn’t wait. I scooped her up into my arms and pressed my lips to hers. Gentle at first and then more fervently. Suddenly, someone cleared their throat and we pulled away.
“Come on you two turtle doves. There’s no mistletoe around here. You’ve got a whole town waiting for you.” Todd smiled at us.
I stepped back and Clara did the same. I didn’t let her go too far as I grabbed ahold of her hand and walked toward the tree where the town had gathered. I wanted to just plug the Christmas lights in and have that be the end of the event, but people began to chant, “Speech!” and Clara looked expectantly over to me, so I decided to give them what they wanted.
I started out saying I was grateful that the people of Grinchland had understood that I was struggling. I told them that I’d never felt more loved or cared for. And then I apologized for canceling Christmas in the first place.
“From here on, Grinchland will now celebrate Christmas—” I boomed, and the entire crowd began to cheer. Clara louder than anyone else.
I raised my forefinger, and the celebration grew quiet. Once I had everyone’s attention, I finished the rest of that sentence. “Grinchland will now celebrate Christmas…within reason.”
With that, I grabbed the plug, stuck it into the outlet, and the lights on the tree gleamed.
***
