Page 11 of A Perfectly Splendid Christmas (On the Way to Christmas)

Kacey pointed to a full pine tree a few inches taller than her. “This is the perfect tree.”

They had been perusing the Christmas tree lot located just outside of downtown Splendid Lake for nearly thirty minutes. Kacey

looked adorable clad in jeans, hiking boots, her teal jacket, and a matching teal hat.

“You’re positive?” he teased her.

She jammed her hands on her hips and frowned. “You said you invited me because I’m an expert, and now you have the nerve to

doubt me?”

He loved when she teased him. “You’re right, Kace. I’m out of line. If you say this is the tree, then it is.”

She laughed.

After he paid for the tree, Kacey helped him secure it on the roof of his car before they climbed in and started toward his

house.

“Could we make a stop?” Kacey asked.

“Sure. Where am I taking you?”

“It’s a surprise.” She pointed toward Main Street. “Head into town and find a parking spot anywhere.”

He parked in front of the Coffee Bean. “Are you buying me a snack?”

“Nope!” Her smile was coy as she gathered her purse from the floorboard and pushed open the door. “Let’s go.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Drew met her on the sidewalk, and she grabbed his hand before steering him through the crowd of Black Friday shoppers. “Where

are you taking me?”

“You’ll see,” she sang.

She stopped in front of the Christmas Shop and smiled up at him. “I want to get you a special ornament so you’ll remember

this Christmas. Okay?”

“That’s a great idea.” Although he was certain he’d never forget this Christmas.

Drew followed her inside the store, where several customers milled around more than a dozen Christmas trees, all covered with

lights and decorations. Each one seemed to have a theme. One had white lights and all-white ornaments, including snowflakes,

snowmen, and stars. Another tree was adorned with red lights and red decorations, and a third had multicolored lights and

matching glass balls.

A spirited rendition of “Deck the Halls” rang through the store’s speakers, and a suspiciously strong scent of pine filled

his nostrils, causing him to wonder if either plug-in air fresheners or powerfully scented candles were hidden among the decorations.

Kacey fluttered around the store, checking out displays of ornaments. Drew looked out the large glass window, where folks

decorated the light poles with garland and light-up candy canes in preparation for the festival.

When he turned, he spotted an ornament for Kacey, and he smiled as he picked it up and headed toward the cashier, where Kacey

already stood in line.

After they had both paid, they met at the door leading out to the street.

“Here you go.” She handed him the bag.

He held out a bag to her. “And here’s yours.”

He pulled out a beautiful classic wooden guitar with the year printed on it. He smiled and felt warm all the way through.

“It’s perfect. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” She lifted her chin. “You said it was your favorite instrument.”

“I love it.” He pointed to her bag. “Open yours.”

She smiled as she pulled a banana split ornament from the bag. “Oh, Drew! Is this to commemorate all those times we shared

a banana split at Scoops?”

“Of course.”

“I love it.” She slipped the ornament into the bag and nodded toward the door. “Let’s stop at the bakery for some Christmas

cookies and then decorate that perfect tree.”

Drew and Kacey spent the afternoon decorating the tree, eating cookies from her sister’s bakery, drinking eggnog, and listening

to Christmas music. They reminisced and laughed, and he couldn’t remember the last time he’d had such an enjoyable day.

When the tree was done, Drew turned off the overhead lights, and they stood in front of it, admiring their work.

Kacey smiled up at him. “I was right. It’s perfect.”

“Yes, you were.” He felt the overwhelming urge to kiss her. As he started to reach for her, she crossed the room and flipped

on the lights.

She pointed to the television. “How about we watch a movie?”

“Sure.”

“Do you have popcorn?”

“Who doesn’t have popcorn?”

She laughed on her way to the kitchen. “You find a movie, and I’ll make the popcorn. Is it in the pantry?”

“Yes.” Drew found the remote, flipped on the television, and sat down on the sofa.

Soon the aroma of popcorn coupled with the sound of popping filled the house, and he smiled. If only he could find a way for

this day to never end.

Later that evening, Kacey flopped down on the sofa across from her mother’s favorite chair. “It was the perfect day, Mom.

We never stopped talking and laughing.” She told her about decorating the tree and then watching a movie together. “I’ve never

felt this close to a man.”

“You love him, don’t you?” Mom asked.

Kacey sighed. “Yeah, I do, but we want different things. He’s pursuing a job in Newton, and I’m planning to go back to Charlotte

eventually.”

“What if there was a way that you could find a compromise?”

“How?”

“What if you worked remotely from Newton?”

“Mom, I don’t even know how he feels about me. I think he cares for me, too, but he’s never said he likes me as more than

a friend.”

“What if you just asked him?”

Kacey grimaced. “And what would I do if he rejected me?”

“And what if he didn’t?”

Kacey huffed and stood up. “How about we start on those Christmas cards?”

“You were always great at changing the subject.” Mom headed toward her bedroom. “I’ll get out the cards, and you make us some

tea.”

Kacey headed into the kitchen, her thoughts swirling with her mother’s questions.

The bakery was hustling and bustling the night of the Christmas Tree Lighting Festival. Kacey rushed around delivering hot

cocoa and Christmas cookies to the customers standing in the line that stretched from the counter to the door. Mom ran the

register, and Dani kept a supply of cookies and hot cocoa available. Customers sat at the tables in the dining area while

enjoying their festive treats.

Out the front window, Kacey saw townspeople milling about, bundled up in coats, hats, scarves, and gloves while talking, eating

Christmas cookies, drinking cocoa, and visiting the stores.

When there was a break in the line, Kacey retrieved her phone from the back pocket of her jeans and found a missed call and

message Drew had left ten minutes ago. She was surprised that she hadn’t seen him, since he promised to stop by the bakery

before the program started.

She stepped into the kitchen, moved to the far corner, and then played the message.

“Hey, Kace. It’s me.” His words came in a rush. “I need your help. I’m stuck in traffic, and the festival is going to start

soon. Can you possibly fill in for me? Give me a call, and I’ll let you know what I need you to do. I’ll take over as soon

as I get there. Thanks.”

Kacey called him back, and he answered on the second ring. “I just got your message. What’s going on?”

“I was stuck in traffic. I’m almost there, but the festival starts in ten minutes. Can you help me? I’ll tell you where everything

is. It’s easy.”

“Uh, I don’t know, Drew.” Her stomach dipped. “You remember how I froze up every time we had to give presentations at school.”

“Kacey,” he began slowly, as if speaking to a child, “you can do this. I have faith in you.”

She listened while he explained where to find the CD with the kids’ music on it and whom to give it to. “I’ll try, but you

need to promise me that you’ll get here as soon as you can, okay?”

“Thank you, Kace. You’re the best.”

“You’re going to owe me, Murphy,” she teased.

“I know. I’ll see you soon.”

Kacey disconnected the call and then slipped her phone back into her pocket before gathering up her coat, hat, and gloves.

“Where are you going?” Dani asked when Kacey returned to the front of the store.

Kacey zipped her coat. “Drew was stuck in traffic, and he needs me to direct the choir for him until he gets here.”

“What do you know about directing a choir?” Dani laughed.

“Nothing, and honestly, the whole idea of standing up there in front of all those people scares me to death, but Drew needs

help.” Kacey rushed out of the bakery and into the community center, where she found the CD and Drew’s folder of music.

She exited the community center and wove through the noisy crowd until she came to the thirty-foot-tall artificial tree that

towered at the end of the block near the town hall. The members of the children’s choir, all wearing elf hats, stood in front

of the tree. A podium faced the children, and microphones stood on stands in front of them.

Riley rushed over to Kacey and grabbed her arm. “The festival is about to start! Where’s Mr.Murphy?”

“He’s on his way, and he asked me to fill in until he gets here. I’m going to take care of the music. You tell all the kids

to get ready.” She searched the sea of nearby people until she found a young man standing by the electronic equipment, and

made a beeline to him. “Are you Brian?”

He gave her a curious expression. “Yes.”

“Drew Murphy is stuck in traffic, and he asked me to direct the choir until he gets here.” Her hands shook as she gave him

the CD. “Here’s the music.”

“Got it.” Brian took the CD and turned to the equipment.

Kacey spotted Mayor Fairmount and dashed over to him. “Excuse me, Mayor.”

“Yes?” Mayor Fairmount spun to face her.

“I’m Kacey Williams. Drew Murphy is stuck in traffic, and he asked me to direct the choir.” She took a deep, trembling breath,

hoping to calm her frayed nerves. “I-I’m ready whenever you want to make the introduction.”

“Oh good. Let’s get this show on the road.” The mayor walked over to the microphone near the tree.

Kacey joined the children and put her shaking finger to her lips, indicating that they should be quiet. When she turned toward

the crowd, her stomach plummeted, and her throat began to close up.

Calm down, Kacey! You got this!

Then Drew’s voice echoed through her mind: Kacey, you can do this. I have faith in you.

Drew believed in her, and she was determined to make him proud.