“Ugh. I’m so sorry, Amber. Don’t they know you need a break? You were the number one tour this year. What more do they want from you?”
“Christmas.”
Her face fell. “Oh.”
“Yeah. Oh.”
Cindy was the only one who really knew how conflicted I was about Christmas. “They want me to use Haven for a show.”
“Just say no.”
“It’s not that easy.”
“It really is.” She crisscrossed her legs underneath her and took a sip before she went on. “They need you more than you need them. Period.”
“Maybe.” I felt a little better after talking to her.“I’m going to say no.”
“Good. Now tell me about the tub.”
I laughed and gave her the PG-13 version of it. With maybe a few NC-17 overtones. By the time we got off the phone, I felt much better. Enough that I ended up falling asleep on the couch with the dogs and a sense of resolve.
I didn’t have to let the label take over my peace, dammit.
16
tate
I lether avoid me for a week.
The longest damn week of my life. Mostly because I was still trying to get the last of the supplies in to set up the freaking village. We finished out the weekend of Halloween, and the word of mouth had spread to surrounding areas, bringing new people in for the maze. Now that I knew there was interest, I’d make sure next year was more organized.
It also gave me high hopes for the Winter Wonderland.
That was if I could get the sheds for the artists set up. I’d originally looked into doing little houses, but we didn’t actually need it to be that intense. In the end I just needed spaces that would allow the artists to display their wares safely and deck them out in their own style.
I had a handful of sheds already installed to show off the concept in videos to the artists I invited. It had taken me months to tweak it until we found the perfect style, cement foundation, and size, but then I’d gotten it in my head to customize. I was a jackass trying to do too much and now I was paying for it.
Molly ducked her head into the trailer. “Hey.”
I waved her in. “Please don’t tell me you have a problem.”
She grinned. “Actually, why don’t you come out here?”
I sighed and pushed out of my chair. The squeak was getting more intense. Pretty soon, it was going to fall apart when I sat down. That was a problem for another day. I followed her out of the trailer and down the steps and up the path. The sound of a forklift made my heart kick. “No way.”
“Yes.” She shook me. “The trucks got here a few hours ago.”
“And you didn’t come get me?” I’d been on the phone with the mayor for the last hour and could have used the escape.
“Because I wanted to be able to do this.” She ran around the back of me and pushed me forward. “Look! The first five sheds are placed, and Bill got the breaker box set up. We even have electricity.”
I ran a hand over the icy blue shed. I’d opted for a neutral blue palette for all of them. Wintery and easily transformed into Christmas, but also easily transitioned to all year round if this crazy plan worked. I opened the door and stepped inside. It was a simple room with French doors and a shiplap wall treatment. The floor was a heavy duty vinyl that could withstand foot traffic, cold weather, and the inevitable salt and mud.
I’d spent an obscene amount of money to have a few upgrades. I didn’t want it to look like a cheap operation, but also I wanted it to be inviting enough to bring families as well as good paying customers.
It was a little tight for me, but this shed was one of the smaller ones. I made three sizes available to give me a good blueprint for a different array of artists.
I’d filled all twenty of the prototype sheds at a steep discount.
