“Give the woman some air!” Laura says. Then she turns to me. “Sorry, we don’t get new people that often. They aren’t exactly housebroken for this.”
I chuckle. “It’s fine. I’m not used to celebrity status.”
“Foin,” Jayme says, imitating me. “Oh my gosh. I’m loving your accent.”
Lexi’s gaze meets mine and she mouths, “Told you.”
“I love yours too,” I say.
“Okay,” Laura claps. “Let’s get this party started!”
She walks further into the living room and grabs a stack of papers. “On this list you will find twenty random things. We leave the specifics up to interpretation. For example: A reindeer could be an actual living animal—though, I don’t recommend that—or a stuffed reindeer or an ornament … You get the gist. Also, you’ll see a few tasks on the list. Not optional. You must find someone and sing a carol to them. You must get someone to wear a Santa hat. And you must do an interpretive dance to a Christmas song in a public place, like the town square or Bud’s. First team back here by the deadline with all the items wins.”
“Wins what?!” Shannon asks, excitedly.
“The grand prize!” Laura says. “Including free haircuts and styles with me. A dozen of Jayme’s cinnamon muffins for each of you. And this beeee-utiful gift basket assembled by our own Shannon and Ella Mae. It’s got foo-foo stuff like Christmas-scented candles, bath bombs, lotions, fuzzy socks … the works.” She smiles briefly and then asks, “Questions?”
“Can we split up? Or do we have to stay with our partner?” Lexi asks.
“You can split up. But no enlisting your men or children … or Memaw.” She looks straight at Lexi.
“Awww. Memaw,” I say softly. She’s not my biological grandmother. Lexi and I are related through our moms, not her dad, but I remember Memaw and can’t wait to see her again.
“She’s over the moon about you moving here,” Lexi says quietly.
“Okay. I’ll give all of us ten minutes to strategize with our partners and then we’ve got an hour and a half to comb the town and get these items. Feel free to lightly pilfer—with the permission of the owners. You’ll return whatever you take.”
We break into teams. Lexi and I are paired up, of course.
She and I run down the list that apparently Em’s husband, Aiden, put together so no team would have an advantage. I’m loving how seriously they take this. In Brooklyn, a scavenger hunt basically meant trying to find parking. Here, it seems less like frivolous holiday fun, and more like strategic warfare with cocoa breaks.
“Okay,” Lexi says. “I’ve got a plan. We’ll drive around and load up the van with these.” She points to a few items on the list and then skips down to another group of items. “We can save these for last. But this?” She points to item number fifteen. “I’m going to send you out to get while I go to a few of the shops downtown that are still open for these three things.” She circles three items. “Then we can sing the carol, do the dance and give away a Santa hat.”
“You ready?” she asks.
“I’m ready. Let’s win this.”
“That’s what I’m talking about,” she says, smiling.
This morning I was in Laguardia Airport, asking myself if I was certain about this move. Now I’m already knee-deep in abirthday celebration as if I’m one of the girls. The smile I give Lexi fills my face. My initial nerves have been replaced by an unexpected feeling of belonging. I only hope my first day at the station goes equally well.
The buzzer on Laura’s phone sounds a few minutes later and Lexi and I make a mad dash for the van. Soft flakes start to fall, dissolving on the windshield as we drive through town.
Lexi maneuvers to various stops, introducing me to each location like a tour guide:This is the Seed and Feed. Also, our formalwear shop is at the back. I resist teasing her about the uncanny choice of putting tuxedos and manure in the same building.
We gather a bunch of random items: corn from the Seed and Feed, gingerbread from a place called Oh Sugar!—a bakery that was about to close when we pulled up, a picture of the tiniest Christmas tree we could find …
Then Lexi says, “Okay. It’s time to divide and conquer.” She types an address in my phone’s GPS. “Go here. They’re waiting for you. You’re going to strap their inflated Santa to the roof of the van and come back here and meet me. I’ll make the rounds for items six through nine while you’re gone.”
“Got it,” I say. “Number fifteen is in the bag!”
Lexi smiles and we switch spots. She jumps out and I take the driver’s seat, adjusting it to my height. I hit “Go” on my maps app and follow the slightly sexy voice of Australian Siri guy.
I arrive at the neighborhood Lexi sent me to, this one has mostly one-story brick ranch-style homes. I hop out at the address. A couple steps out the front door.
“Alex?” the husband asks.
“Yeah. Dane?” I answer.
