Restoring Christmas

by Kate Kasch

  “Well, what was that all about? Did you get fired? Please say you got fired,” Gretchen held her hands together at her heart as if she were praying.

  “No, I didn’t get fired, Gretchen. I actually got promoted. They offered me the Marketing Manager position.”

  “Congratulations?” Gretchen sounded less than excited.

  “Yeah, Adrienne. Congratulations,” Gabe voice was flat.

  “Let me guess, you have to start tomorrow, on Christmas day?” Gretchen teased.

  “Well, no. But I have to give her an answer by the 26th.”

  “You didn’t take the job?” Gretchen asked, surprised.

  “I told her I would like to think about it. And that’s the truth – it’s not a simple decision either way. So, I am going to think about it – is that okay with everyone?”

  All three of them nodded their heads, afraid to say another word. Adrienne’s tone of voice made it clear that she would like to change the subject.

  “Okay, then!” Nick did just that. “I’m going to run to the hardware store. Gabe is going to continue framing out the garage, and you two,” he pointed at Adrienne and Gretchen, “are going to hang some Christmas lights and get into the spirit of the season. Does that sound good?”

  Adrienne and Gretchen smiled. Saint Nick.

  Another hour of work flew by and then the famished crew warmed up inside with some lunch. There were only a few hours left until the start of the contest, and that realization loomed over them as they ate in thoughtful silence. Adrienne was thinking about the contest and her promotion. Gretchen, Gabe and Nick were thinking about the contest and Adrienne’s promotion. What would she decide to do?

  “Gretch,” Adrienne disturbed the quiet, “what’s going on with your job? What does your boss from McMurphy’s have to say about you being out?”

  “It’s no biggie. I told them I have a family emergency and need a week off. They were fine with it. This week is a super busy week, and tips are huge – trust me, people are happy to pick up the extra shifts.”

  “It’s that easy, huh?” Adrienne envied her sister’s simpler life. “What is your plan after Christmas?”

  “I’m not totally sure yet. I guess it all depends on what happens tonight. The outcome of the contest will determine a lot.”

  Gretchen’s words hung in the air; the outcome of the contest will determine a lot. It sure would.

  After a quick lunch, the group went back outside, back to work. This was the homestretch – the last few hours to finish up the decorating and the garage. It was the last few hours of getting to work together all day and laugh together all night. Although Adrienne wanted to finish the project, now the thought of it being over made her sad. Despite the ups and downs, the last five days had been a joyous, healing, learning experience.

  Peeking at her watch, Adrienne took a deep calming breath: 4:30 p.m. They had half an hour. All the lights were hung along the roofline and around the big pine tree on the front lawn. Five faux multi-colored presents sat beneath the tree, invoking the feeling of Christmas morning. They too, would soon light up. The front portico and front door were beautifully adorned in garland and lights, with a giant red bow pinned to the top of the triangle pediment. Charlie Matthews from Matthews Garden Supply wanted to contribute in some way, so he sent over a dozen natural pine wreaths. Adrienne and Gretchen hung the wreaths from red ribbon on all nine front-facing windows as well as the three dormer windows. A pair of light up reindeer sculptures stood perched on the left side of the lawn. The word NOEL was spelled out in large lighted letters on the right side.

  Stepping back to the look at the house, Gretchen said, “It looks incredible. I am dying to see what it looks like with the lights turned on. And we should test it to be sure the lights are all working. You remember what happened in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation movie, right?” She was referencing the hilarious scene in the movie where Chevy Chase’s character put up thousands of twinkle lights, and when he plugged in the main cord during the big dramatic reveal, the lights didn’t go on.

  “Yeah, you’re right. Did you check on Nick and Gabe? Are they done?”

  “They’re putting on the last of the roof shingles! You should see it; you would never believe there was a giant gaping hole there only this morning.”

  “Great,” Adrienne continued to stare at the house. “I feel like something is missing.”

  “Really? I don’t even know where we’d put anything else,” Gretchen laughed.

  “I got it!” an idea sprung to Adrienne’s mind, “We forgot the candles in the windows!”

  “Oh my goodness, you’re right! Let’s hurry, I know where they are inside.”

  The girls dashed inside the house and down the stairs. They searched around in a few of the boxes.

  “I think I saw them in that box that had all the extra ribbon,” Gretchen frantically pulled open box after box.

  “Found them!” Adrienne held up a couple of the single electric candles. “Let’s hurry and get them plugged in and then we can do the big test on the lights.”

  The girls split the candles up and ran up the stairs. They went room-to-room plugging a single candle in to each front-facing window.

  “Make sure you test each one to be sure the bulb isn’t burned out!” Adrienne yelled up to Gretchen who was in one of the upstairs bedrooms.

  “I need a bulb! One of them is burned out!” Gretchen yelled back down.

  Adrienne rushed back down to the basement to the box where they found the candles and frantically pulled everything out of it praying for extra bulbs. She found a couple other candles in the box, and hoping at least one of them worked, she rushed back upstairs. Up in the front bedroom Adrienne handed Gretchen one of the candles, “Try this one,” she said. Much to their dismay it didn’t turn on. “Okay, this is our last hope,” Adrienne handed Gretchen the last candle. Gretchen placed it on the windowsill and holding her breath, plugged it in. Whew! It turned on!

  “Yay!” Gretchen cheered and the sisters jumped up and down. “Okay, how much time do we have?”

  “It’s 4:50; we have ten minutes.”

  “Okay, let’s quickly check on the guys, and then test the lights,” Gretchen said.

  “There is no time to check on the guys, at this point, whatever the garage looks like is how it will have to be. We need to make sure the lights work, because without the lights – we have nothing.”

  Dashing back outside Adrienne ran to the side of the house where there was an outdoor electrical outlet. She grabbed the extension cord and yelled to Gretchen, “Gretchen! Are you ready?”

  Gretchen stood at the edge of the front yard, almost in the street.

  “Wait! Gabe and Nick want to see too!” Gretchen yelled back to Adrienne. Gabe and Nick run to where Gretchen is standing. “Okay! Now!”

  Adrienne held her breath, closed her eyes and said a little prayer. She then pushed the plug into the outlet . . . and heard nothing. Does that mean they didn’t come on? Did it not work? Noooooo! She was thinking as she ran to the front yard to see. She immediately looked to Gretchen, Nick and Gabe and saw their faces alive with delight. Adrienne walked over to where they were standing and turned toward the house to take it all in. It was magical. The candles, the wreaths, and the garland were all beautiful, but now at dusk with the lights along the roofline, the front portico, and the pine tree – the house was glowing. The presents and the reindeer and the word NOEL added to the absolute magnificence that was 22 Oak Street.

  “It is absolutely amazing,” Gretchen whispered, a tear sliding down her cheek. Nick wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her toward him.

  “All I can say is: WOW,” Nick said. “How did you two do this? And in one day?!”

  “It was not just one day. And it certainly was not just us,” Adrienne looked at Gabe. “We could never have done this without you two. I don’t know how we will ever be able to repay you.”

  “It wasn’t the way I thought I would b
e spending the days leading up to Christmas,” Gabe smiled, “but I wouldn’t change a thing.”

  The four friends stood with linked arms and continued to stare at the house in silence. They did it. They actually did it! Despite fires and permit problems and trees falling on the house – they got it finished. 22 Oak Street had been brought back to life.

  “We are so going to crush this contest,” Gretchen smiled. “What house could look more beautiful than this one?”

  Just as the words escaped her lips, a series of five sedans pulled down Oak Street, stopping in front of the house.

  “They’re here.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  The foursome stood at the edge of the yard as the five-car entourage lined up on the street. The time had come, and Adrienne felt ready – well, almost ready.

  “I have to run inside, you three get things started out here,” Adrienne said quickly as she rushed into the house.

  “Wait, where are you going? You can’t leave me out here to fend for myself!” Gretchen panicked. But Adrienne was already halfway up the lawn and paid her no attention.

  A judge stepped out of each of the five cars and they all made their way over to Gretchen, Nick and Gabe. With Mayor Jessup leading the pack, Gretchen plastered a nervous smile on her face and turned on the charm.

  “Why Mayor Jessup, what a pleasure to see you again,” Gretchen held out her hand for a handshake.

  “Ms. Harkins, the pleasure is all mine, truly. I see you have really fixed the place up, and in such a short period of time. Impressive. You must have had a lot of help,” he glared at Gabe.

  “We sure have been working hard, and we could not have done it without our friends and certain members of the community. It really does take a village, I guess,” her voice shook a little.

  The Mayor shook Nick’s hand and then walked over to Gabe. He held his hand out and Gabe took the Mayor’s hand in a handshake. Gabe instantly regretted it when Mayor Jessup said, “Good luck tonight, Gabe. May the best man win.”

  The Mayor then turned to the other four judges who crowded around Gretchen, Nick and Gabe. “This is the first house we will be seeing today, 22 Oak Street. You will see on your Scoring Sheet that all homes will be judged based on a combined score from five categories: Exterior Illumination, Curb Appeal, Creativity, Interior Décor, which is limited to the first floor of the home, and an Overall score that is a subjective score based on your own personal opinion – how the house makes you feel. Why don’t we all take a minute to take in the house from the street, and then walk around the yard getting a closer look at all the details – okay?” Gretchen looked over at the four remaining judges for the first time, and much to her surprise, she recognized someone.

  Inside the house Adrienne was frantic, yet focused, as she pulled some last-minute details together. She figured she had about ten minutes before the judges made their way inside. She threw a fire starter log in the fireplace and lit it, she turned Christmas music on, and lit a candle that smelled like gingerbread. Since there was no time to bake cookies, she filled a red platter with sugar cookies bought from the Dreamy Bean and placed it on the coffee table in front of the fireplace. She quickly warmed up hot cocoa and poured the steaming liquid chocolate into five Christmas mugs, topping each with a generous dollop of whipped cream.

  Just as she was topping off the final mug of hot cocoa, she heard the front door open. Giving the house a once-over, she thought, now that’s better. The house was warm, sparkly and a place where anyone would want to spend their Christmas Eve.

  Adrienne heard Gretchen speaking loudly, a warning that the judges were on their way inside. “Welcome to the Harkins’ family Christmas home,” Gretchen was saying.

  That’s my cue, Adrienne thought. Walking over to the front door wearing the Santa Claus apron her mom used to wear every Christmas and holding a silver tray of steaming mugs of hot cocoa, Adrienne looked like Mrs. Claus herself.

  At the sight of Adrienne, Gretchen raised her eyebrows in surprise.

  “Welcome! Welcome! Please come in and make yourselves at home. Would anyone like some hot cocoa or a Christmas cookie?” Adrienne’s voice was as sweet as sugarplums.

  The judges entered the house one by one. The first three judges, one man and two women, Adrienne didn’t recognize. However, the fourth person to walk inside was a woman dressed in white from head-to-toe and glowing like a star on top of a Christmas tree.

  “Angela?” Adrienne was completely taken by surprise. “You are one of the judges for the contest?”

  “Adrienne! How lovely to see you dear! Didn’t I mention I was one of the judges? I’m sure I did!” She smiled that infectious smile while taking a mug off the tray.

  “You definitely did not mention that, trust me, I would have remembered.”

  “One of the original judges came down with the flu, so last minute they asked me to step in. The thinking was, since I’m from out of town I can be impartial. So, here I am! Merry Christmas, dear.”

  “Merry Christmas. Please enjoy our home,” Adrienne smiled.

  And last to enter the house, was Mayor Jessup. He smiled a big ol’ fake smile at Adrienne, who fake smiled right back at him.

  “Mayor Jessup, nice to see you. Would you like some hot cocoa?”

  “I would, thank you Ms. Harkins.”

  “I see you came to our home first. Isn’t that interesting.”

  “Oh, I was just so anxious to see what you’ve done with the place. You know, since this house could be mine in a week.”

  Adrienne’s mouth dropped open in a shock. The nerve! She stood there holding the empty tray as anger started to build. The anger started in her toes and worked itself all the way up to her stomach where it burned, and then as it rose higher, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath and listened to the soft Christmas music playing in the background. Hark! The Herald Angel Sings filled the house, and Adrienne smiled as the stress melted away. Thanks, Mom.

  Putting Mayor Jessup out of her mind, she walked back to the kitchen where Gabe, Nick and Gretchen were standing around the island.

  Placing the tray on the counter, she asked the group, “So what do you think? What was their reaction outside? Did they seem to like everything?”

  “Each judge seemed to love the outside decorations, and I heard so many comments about how beautiful the house is, I even heard one person say it was ‘magnificent’ but that was Angela, so you know . . .” Gretchen said.

  “I would say every judge loved it,” Gabe said, “but honestly, I’m worried about the Mayor. He hasn’t said one word, either negative or positive, and I was listening for him.”

  “I have to agree. The Mayor is the issue, but we all knew that to be the case before they even showed up,” Gretchen said.

  “Yeah, he said something to me at the door about how glad he is that we fixed the place up just in time for him to buy it, or something like that,” Adrienne looked down at her hands.

  “He said what?! I’m going to march in there and tell him where he can stick the mistletoe!” Gretchen was heated. As she started toward the family room, Nick grabbed her arm.

  “Hold on there, Positivity Protector – the last thing you want to do right now is cause a scene and disrupt the peace. That’s the reaction he is trying to get out of you two. The best thing you can do, and I know it’s hard, is ignore him. Keep that smile on your face and wish everyone a Merry Christmas.”

  The judges walked around the first level of the home sipping their hot cocoa and commenting here and there about the garland, or a wreath or an ornament. They were paying attention to every detail. Adrienne and Gretchen felt like they were holding their breath the entire time the judges were in the house. The judges wrote notes and scores down using their clipboards, and after what felt like hours, but was probably only ten minutes, they thanked Adrienne and Gretchen for their time.

  Adrienne and Gretchen thanked all the judges for coming, wishing them all a Merry Christmas as they left. Mayor Jes
sup paused as he was leaving, turned around and said, “Good luck, ladies,” with a crooked smile before he turned and walked out. Adrienne gave him the biggest smile she could muster and said, “Merry Christmas, Mayor Jessup! And have a blessed day!”

  The last judge to leave was Angela. She wrapped both Adrienne and Gretchen into a giant hug and said, “What you two, or you four,” nodding toward Gabe and Nick, “have done here, is truly spectacular. No matter the outcome, you should be so proud of yourselves. I know I’m proud of you, and I know your parents are smiling down at all of us right now. Now, what I want you to do while you await the results, is spend some time thinking about all you have gained from this experience. And then whether you take home that grand prize or not, you will feel like you’ve won. Is that a deal?”

  Nodding their heads with tears in their eyes, they give Angela one last hug before she left.

  Once the front door closed, the four friends looked around at each other. There was nothing left for them to do. They gave it all they had – left it all out on the field. The rest was out of their hands. Adrienne felt like she could breathe easy for the first time in a week.

  “We need wine,” Gretchen headed straight for the kitchen.

  “We sure do! It’s Christmas Eve and we have a lot to celebrate!” Adrienne followed her into the kitchen.

  Nick walked into the family room, grabbed the platter of cookies off the coffee table and brought them into the kitchen. “I’m starving. Anyone else hungry?”

  “I’m starving,” Gabe opened the refrigerator and poked around. “Well it’s not going to be a Harkins Hoop-dee-doo, but I think I can throw something together that resembles a meal.”

  “When do they announce the winner?” Nick asked with his mouth full of cookie.

  “All the contestants received an email with the details, but I haven’t even had time to read it!” Adrienne picked up her phone. She opened her email and read through the message. Then she summarized for the group, “Here is how it all goes down: The judges will go visit all homes in the contest, taking notes and scoring each home as they go. As they leave each house, that house will have a combined score that will be written down on some master sheet. Obviously, the house with the highest score, wins. At 8 p.m. they will announce the winner live at what was supposed to be Town Hall, but due to the fire, now they will announce it in town, in front of the big Christmas tree near the train station. If the winners are not present at the live announcement, they will be notified via phone later this evening. However, they are encouraging all contestants to attend the live announcement. There will be a First Place winner and a Runner-up announced. All contestants will receive a gift certificate to Peas & Pickles for entering.”