“Sounds like an interesting concept,” he managed to choke out.
Could there be a way to get out of this?
Why had he been asked to help out?Why couldn’t it be someone who’d been there longer?Someone who knew the town better than he did?
“It does, and if anyone else other than Tilly Bloom was organizing it, then I’d say it was going to be wonderful.”
“Why is Tilly doing it a problem?”
“Tilly is a wonderful person.Always helping out when she can, but she never finishes things she starts.Always went from job to job as a teenager.She even left Marietta for a job opportunity in Texas, but she was back after six months.Over the years we’ve learned that what Tilly says and does are two very different things.”
Zach bristled at the captain’s character dissection of the lovely Ms.Bloom.He may have only met her once, but he’d seen the determination in her eyes.She wanted her vision to succeed.To make the town a part of something big.
“Maybe this time will be different,” Zach said.
“With you involved, it will be.The mayor really does like this idea and wants to see it come to life, so she decided that someone needs to help Tilly make this happen, and that person is you.I don’t have all the details of what’s planned.”
“I’m not sure I’m the right person for the job.I’m not good at organizing something like this.”Especially ones where his mom could potentially turn up and disrupt the new life he was building in this town.
Anyone else would be better than him.
“I don’t think that’s too much of a concern.You would be more in the background, making sure Tilly keeps up her end of the bargain.”
His palms grew clammy, and beads of sweat broke out on his forehead.The more they talked, the more he realized there was no chance of him getting out of this task.“Can I ask you a question?”
“Certainly.”
“Why me?Wouldn’t it be better to have someone Tilly is familiar with and more comfortable with?”
“I had considered a couple of the other guys on the team, but I thought this was a good opportunity for you to get familiar with the town.You’re new, and from what I’ve heard, you don’t seem to get out much.This will be good for you.”
It was becoming more and more obvious that any question he asked, the captain had an answer for.There had to be a way he could get out of this.
Wait...the event is Christmas Eve.
“I can’t do it,” he blurted out.“I’m working Christmas Eve.I can’t be part of planning an event I’m not going to be able to attend.Not to mention, it wouldn’t be fair to one of the other guys if they have to work after knowing they had the time off.”
The captain gave him a look, and his relief at being able to get out of it was quickly quashed.“I’ve played around with the roster.You’re off now.And before you ask, the person rostered on is fine with taking the shift.Seems they were looking for a way to get out of a family Christmas party.”
Zach opened his mouth to argue more but snapped it shut.There was no point.For whatever reason, he’d been given this assignment, and no one else would do.
Chapter Four
Tilly read theemail for the third time and squealed aloud again.“It’s happening.I can’t believe it.”
As much as she thought she had it in the bag, given the organizing committee had extended a special invitation for Marietta to participate, there had always been a chance that Chelsea could’ve come back and said she and the council believed there wasn’t enough time to get everything prepared—except, she hadn’t.In fact, Chelsea had said that she’d arranged for someone to help her out with the event.
Tilly didn’t care who it was.She was just over the moon that her little idea was now going to come to fruition.
She raced over to her kitchen counter, where she’d put the paperwork she’d filled out a couple of nights ago.She needed to get online and submit the form to the committee, advising them that Marietta was accepting the invitation.After she’d done that, she’d contact the mayor’s office and find out who her little helper was going to be and then they could get started.
There was a lot to do and not much time to get it all done.With Thanksgiving only days away, most of the businesses would be busy with customers and in the midst of holiday preparations.She’d have to wait until the following week before she could speak to them and see if they would be willing to be part of it.There were other things she could do in the meantime, like finding the people to bring the story to life.Maybe she could get Chrissy and Ryder to play Mary and Joseph.That would make everything a little easier.Her family would step up to help her—at least, she hoped they would.
Next, she would need to find a baby who could play Jesus.Plus, people to be the angels, the wise men, and the shepherds.Not to mention, contact Kathryn Lancaster, now that Tilly knew it was going ahead.If she could lock the talk show host in, then everything else would fall into place.
Who did she need to contact at the fairgrounds to organize a stage for the carols and—?Tilly sat down with a thump.
There was so much to do.
