Chrissy perused the papers.“Wow, this is great, Tilly.You could be right.It could be a new option for us.”
“They’re not that difficult to grow.I’ve had one for a few years, and each year I get some beautiful blooms from it.”Tilly pulled another sheet of paper and put it in front of her sister.“Because I need them urgently, I found someone who could supply what I need for the stage, and I thought you could use those as a starting point for growing our own.I know Sunny will be able to find out how to graft them and the best way to do it.It might take a couple of years before you can sell them to everyone, but that’s what happens with every new variety of flower.In the end it will be worth the initial outlay.Can you imagine every shop front on Main Street having bursts of color from our poinsettias?It will only enhance the town’s Christmas spirit.”
Tilly waited as her sister read over the report she’d put together, optimistic that this would be something that Chrissy, Ryder, and Sunny would get on board with.
“I’m thoroughly impressed by your research, Tilly-Pilly.It’s very concise.”
“I know it’s always a risk to branch out, but you and Ryder have done so much since you’ve taken over.Diversification is good for business.”
Chrissy laughed.“It really is.I’ll take this to both Ryder and Sunny, but I do like it—a lot.”She looked at her watch and let out a little yelp.“I’ve got to go.I’m glad we did this, Tilly, and when you need Ryder and me for rehearsals or whatever, call, and we’ll be there.”
Tilly helped her sister gather up the papers and slipped them back into the folder before handing it to her.“Thank you for everything, Chrissy.For being Mary and Ryder being Joseph and for listening to my idea and not shooting it down.”
“Always.Again, I’m sorry about what I did.And I love your poinsettia idea.I think it’s excellent.”
They shared a hug, and Tilly saw her sister out.Once the door shut, she did a little happy dance.Now that the main players were sorted out, she could tick that off her list.She had so much to tell Zach.All that she’d achieved since she’d last seen him.
If only she could share that she’d locked in the celebrity.After what she’d seen about Kathryn, and Zach’s reaction to her—one she respected—she’d crossed the talk show host off her list.Unfortunately, none of the other celebrities she’d emailed had responded, and time was running out.Tilly didn’t want to panic, but the reality was—with no star drawcard, the chances of them winning were dwindling with every day that passed.
Chapter Eleven
The days weregetting colder and Zach was feeling it in his bones.He wasn’t used to the snow and had had some close calls on black ice in both his truck and walking along the sidewalk.He endured the good-natured ribbing from his fellow crewmates because he knew if the roles were reversed, he’d be doing the same.
“How’s the event planning with Tilly Bloom going, Langley?”
Zach turned from his locker and smiled at his fire chief.“It’s going well.I’m headed over to her place now to work on it.”
The last thing he was going to do was let his boss know they still had so much to do and it was getting closer and closer to the event.Work had been super busy for him, so he hadn’t been able to help Tilly as much as he’d hoped, but now that Thanksgiving had passed and he wasn’t covering for the guys who wanted to spend time with family, he could return his focus to the task at hand.
“Do you think it’s going to happen?”the fire chief asked.
It took everything in him not to snap at the man, but he was the boss, and as such, yelling at him wouldn’t be good for his employment record.“I do.Tilly is working really hard.She’s kept me informed about what she’s done, and I’ve told her what I’ve done.I know that she got word early today that all the permits for road closures, etc., have been approved.”
“Good.I really do want to see Tilly succeed.She’s a good person.”
“That she is, sir.I don’t want to be rude, but is there anything else you need?Because I really do need to go.”
“There is.Because the event is fast approaching, I’ve got your next two shifts covered so that you’ve got time to put all your attention into this project.”
Zach blinked.“Thank you, sir.That will be a big help.I know Tilly will be pleased to have me around more.”
A big smile spread over the fire chief’s face.“Excellent.Good to hear the both of you are getting along so well.”He gave Zach a slap on the back.“See you in ten days.”
“You will.”The man walked off and he closed the door of his locker, picked up his bag, and hoisted it over his shoulder.He was eager to get to Tilly’s to tell her she had his undivided attention for the next ten days.
Not being able to see her since the day at her house where they’d almost kissed had been hard.The brief moments of communication between them hadn’t made up for not seeing her in person.So many times over the intervening days, in the dark of night on his shifts, he’d thought over the moment and wondered if he should’ve done things differently and kissed her.Each time, though, he shut his thoughts down.His reasons for not kissing her were valid, but he knew the more time he spent with her over the next few days, resisting her was going to be harder and harder.
He reached his truck, pulled out his phone, and fired off a quick text to let her know he was on his way and that he had good news.His phone pinged with a response from her when he was halfway down the road.He would look at it when he got to her place.It had only taken going to one call-out where the driver had been texting and driving for him to discipline himself to ignore his phone anytime he got in his vehicle.
The drive to Tilly’s zipped by and, given that he’d had a busy shift and hadn’t gotten much sleep, he was surprisingly energized and ready to start some serious planning.
In all their conversations, he hadn’t asked if she’d heard from his mom, and she hadn’t said anything to suggest she had.The fact that she’d seen what his mother had done and how it had affected him still amazed him.That she understood how it hurt him only showed how caring she was.
What he didn’t know was if his mom was still her main target.She hadn’t said anything to the contrary, so he assumed she still wanted Kathryn.He wasn’t sure how he felt about that.
Well, he was at her place now, and he could ask her.
Zach smiled after he opened his messages with Tilly and saw her thumbs-up.He’d learned that sometimes when she was busy, or distracted, that was her typical response.
