So much.
Perhaps she’d bitten off more than she could chew.Perhaps she should forget all about the live-action traveling Nativity play and just do Carols by Candlelight.
Her blood pounded through her veins and panic threatened to drown her.
This was too much.
So many people she had to organize.To be in charge of.
She couldn’t do it.
She’d have to tell the mayor that upon reviewing all the logistics, it was an impossible task to complete.Too ambitious.Maybe next year would be a better time.The organizing committee would understand, given the late notice.They would have a full year to plan and put everything in place.
Tilly stood, decision made.Next year was a much better idea.
There’s always a next time.And next time you’ll find what is right for you, my Tulip.Just you wait.
Everything within her stilled.That inner voice sounded like her beloved dad.She could picture him pulling her close and saying those words to her.He always made her feel better, when what he should’ve done was encourage her to keep at it.Not to give up, like she was doing now.
Was she going to do that again?Succumb to her doubts and fears.Was she really going to disappoint the mayor of Marietta when Chelsea had given her a chance she didn’t have to?Tilly was aware of the reputation she had around town.A reputation she deserved.
Would she fail at this before she’d even started?
“No, I’m not.I’m going to make it so appealing that everyone will want to be involved.Everyone is going to see me in a different light after this.”
Besides doing her job competently, she was going to focus all her attention on this task.There would be no distractions.Nothing to tempt her attention away from this big project.
Determined to get everything right, she marched over to her computer with the papers in hand and sat down.The website she needed was already on the screen when she woke up her laptop.If that wasn’t a sign that she needed to do this, she didn’t know what was.
Tilly meticulously filled out the online form, referring to her handwritten one many times—very glad that she’d done it.If only the people who completed the information she had to enter as part of her data entry job for a finance company were as careful as she was, then she wouldn’t have to follow up constantly to verify what needed to be inputted.
Once she was satisfied that everything on the form was correct and the description of the event sounded as good as she pictured it, Tilly closed her eyes and hit Enter.She counted to ten before opening them again, and there it was on the screen—confirmation that the form was submitted.
“There’s no going back now, Tilly Bloom.”
Tilly ignored the flash of discomfort that she’d put on the form that Kathryn Lancaster was going to be the narrator and emcee.If she put it out into the universe, it would happen, right?She was manifesting success and all that good stuff she’d read about in those self-help books she’d picked up a couple of years ago.
She tried not to think of the evening at the diner when she’d mentioned Kathryn’s name and Zach had immediately gotten up and left.During their brief dinner, he’d been engaging, but she’d sensed he was holding back, as if he didn’t want anyone to see who the real Zach Langley was.
She stared at the submission confirmation on the computer screen, shrugging off thoughts of the enigmatic man.What should she do next?
*
“Hi, I’ve gotan appointment with Mayor Flint,” she announced to the mayor’s assistant.
“Hi there, Tilly.She’s just with someone at the moment, but take a seat.She won’t be long.”
“Thanks.”
Tilly sat and did her best to stop her leg from shaking.On the drive over she’d tried to work out who Chelsea would’ve picked to work with her.It didn’t matter who it was.Tilly would get on with them.There weren’t too many people she didn’t like.
The door opened and Chelsea popped her head out.“Oh good, you’re here, Tilly.Come in.”
Didn’t she have someone with her?Why would the mayor want her to sit in on a meeting with someone else?Unless...Of course, the person Tilly would be working with was in her office.
Tilly jumped up and smoothed down the front of her dress.She’d chosen to wear one of her slick sheath dresses, one that was both stylish and professional.Her hair was in a low ponytail, and she’d accessorized her outfit with medium-size gold hoop earrings and a plain gold link chain necklace.She’d wanted to present herself to the mayor as capable and trustworthy for such a big event.“Hi, Chelsea.”
The mayor smiled and then stepped away so Tilly could enter.The person who was sitting in the chair had their back to her.The closely cropped hair and broad shoulders indicated her helper was a man.
