Victor laughed. “Well, I guess you could say that.”
As they drove to town, Maria handed over her Grange key and explained where the decorations were stored. It all sounded pretty simple and straightforward. Carol asked a few questions, just to make her aunt feel more involved and perhaps instill a bit more confidence in her capabilities. Before long, Victor was pulling up to a big barnlike structure. “This is it.” He slid out of the cab so Carol could exit through the driver’s side, leaving the engine running and the heater going.
“I’ll give her the quick tour and be right back,” he promised Maria. “You stay put—or else.”
As they trudged through the snow, up to the side door Maria had said to use, Carol thanked him. “That was a brilliant idea to entice Maria to cooperate.”
“Thanks! I’ll get her all checked into urgent care, then comeback to help you. I’m guessing she’ll be tied up for at least a couple hours.”
Once inside, Victor turned on the overhead fluorescent lights, then led her to the storage closet Maria had told them about. It wasn’t hard to spot the boxes clearly marked “Christmas Cotillion.”
Carol tugged out a box, peeked inside, and saw sparkling garlands. “Looks pretty straightforward to me.”
He pointed out where some folded tables, ladders, and other helpful items were stored, then turned up the heat and wished her good luck.
“You’re probably the one who needs that with Maria,” she joked.
He tipped his cowboy hat and grinned. “Well, we got her over a barrel. No cooperation at the hospital means no decoration happens here.”
After he left, Carol set up a couple of folding tables and began removing boxes from the storage room. She opened each one to evaluate what she had to work with and estimate how much time and effort this might take. Some of the decorations had definitely seen better days and, since there were far more than necessary, she set some boxes aside to be returned to the storage room. She retrieved a borrowed notepad from her bag, then took a few minutes to study the layout of the large room. She began to sketch out a plan of sorts. Though she had no idea what her aunt or anyone else would think of the final product, it looked pretty good to her. She was just going for the ladder when Victor returned.
“Sorry that took so long,” he apologized as he removed his fleece-lined jacket and cowboy hat. “What can I do?”
She showed him her sketches, explaining how she planned to execute the whole thing.
“Wow, you’re really organized,” he said as he set the ladder up near the small stage like she’d instructed.
“Well, time’s a-wasting,” she said as she carried a box of garlands over to him. “And we might not get a full day’s work in today. Maria might need to go home to rest after they tend to her arm.”
“I had the same thought. Plus, I promised Mom I’d stop by the grocery store.”
“We could use groceries too.” She handed him the end of an evergreen garland. “Attach that in the center next to that light strip, please.” She squinted. “Those fluorescent lights sure are bright. Do they usually leave them on during the dance?”
“Can’t really remember for sure. But I think so.”
“Seems it’d be nicer to have softer lighting. Make it feel warmer and cozier.”
“I’m sure you’re right but not sure how you’d accomplish that.” He stretched to hold up the garland. “How’s that look?”
“Great.” She grinned, wondering if she was referring to the garland or how handsome he looked perched up on the ladder in his Wranglers and plaid flannel shirt. She glanced away, resuming her focus. That kind of ogling was so out of character for her.
For the next hour or so, they worked together happily. And besides taking her direction surprisingly well, Victor even contributed a few creative suggestions of his own. The results were promising. “At this rate, I’m sure we’ll have everything ready in time for the dance,” she told him as she set an emptied box aside.
He glanced at his watch. “I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for a coffee break.”
“It’s like you’re reading my mind,” she said.
“If you feel like a little walk, there’s one fairly close by.”
Once they were bundled up again, they headed outside where the sun was shining against a clear blue sky. “Oh, wow, it’s so beautiful out here.” She blinked against the light.
“Sunshine on snow really brightens things up.”
“So cheerful.” She tugged a new pair of sunglasses from her bag, ones she’d purchased for the Bahamas. “And it reminds me of my question for the cotillion. If we could round up some table and floor lamps, it would really improve the ambiance in there during the event.”
“I’m sure my mom would be glad to loan you some, and Maria could probably contribute some too.”
“I don’t think it’d take too many. I thought about candles, but that might be a fire hazard. Of course, we could get electric candles.” She glanced down the street. “Do you guys have a dollar store?”
