Page 52 of The Mistletoe Makeover

“We have a diner,” I say, pointing to Wanda’s restaurant. “But we’ve lost a lot of businesses.”

“This is going to be... interesting.” Jaz bites her cheek. “How much money do we have to work with?”

“I have a spreadsheet with the budget numbers,” I say. “And we have tons of decorations stored in one of the empty storefronts.”

“Are the decorations in good shape?” Ella asks.

“Some. You’ll also have a few thousand to spend.”

“A few thousanddollars?” Jaz asks.

“Yeah,” I say, realizing that’s far too little. The big donation is mainly covering my salary and Jace’s concert.

I pull into a parking spot and fish the budget records from my bag. Ella and Jaz look over the numbers.

“That’s impossible,” Jaz says as she looks over the sheet.

I turn to them. “Listen, I know it’s a challenge. Especially given our limited resources. But try to keep an open mind. The committee will volunteer all their free time to bring this festival back to life. It’s that... or the town dies.”

Jaz stares at me. “So you want us to work a miracle? Is that what you’re saying?”

“If there’s anyone who can do it, it’s you. And I’m working on a fundraiser that will help us make more.”

I take them to the abandoned storefront where we keep the Christmas decorations from past years. Most of them look like they’re from fifty years ago, but the committee can’t part with them. When we step inside, a man with wrinkly skin steps around a large aluminum Christmas tree.

“Nolan, I didn’t know you’d be here,” I say, then turn to Ella and Jaz. “This is Nolan Whitmore, our resident handyman. He can fix anything.”

They both shake Nolan’s hand as he gives them a nod. Nolan remembers the good old days of the Maplewood Mistletoe Festival. He’s probably the only one, other than my mother, who believes I can restore it to its glory days.

“Nolan, we’re going to have a look around and see what’s salvageable.”

Now that Jaz and Ella are here, I’m wondering what I’ve gotten myself into. Everything looks like trash. Ella and Jaz spread out, combing through boxes. Then Jaz moves to the back storage room and discovers something covered with a tarp.

“An old tree from a shop window,” Nolan says. “No one has used it in years.”

Ella looks it over. “It’s in decent condition. The only problem is that it’s a monstrosity to put together. But if we didn’t have to buy everything, that would save us money.”

Knowing that we have little to work with, it’s a start. “Let’s put it on our list as a potential decoration.”

Ella stops in front of a vintage light-up Santa. It’s enormous and would probably cover the entire side of a building.

“I have an idea,” Ella says, her eyes skirting over the room. She tilts her head in that signature way when her design wheels are spinning. “I can’t believe how much vintage stuff is tucked back here. Some of it is junk. But others are classic. What if we clean up the good stuff and make the downtown look vintage-inspired?”

“I think the idea of bringing back old Maplewood is fabulous,” Jaz says, clapping her hands together. “What do you think?”

“I love it,” I say, throwing up my hands and giving the girls high fives. If anyone can make this town come back to life, it’s Jaz and Ella. “If you decide what’s salvageable and put together a sketch of the Main Street design, I can assemble a crew of people to set up the decorations.”

My phone rings and Jace’s name pops up on my screen.

“I need to take this,” I say, wondering when I’ll stop getting tiny zaps of energy when he calls. Apparently, my body didn’t get the memo about ignoring my feelings.

“Hey, what’s up?” I say cooly, making sure I don’t sound too excited.

“Where are you? I just passed your car parked on Main Street.”

“In the old mercantile building sorting through Christmas decorations.”

“Are you free?”

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