Chapter 9 Silas
NINE
SILAS
Never in my life had a woman frustrated me as much as Clara Snow did.
Nothing was getting through to her. I’d called Todd last night after I put Isabelle to bed, asking him to come as soon as he could this morning to give Clara a citation.
I’d hoped it would convince her that I wasn’t going to let this go, but instead of taking decorations down, she put up even more before she left for school.
When I saw her while dropping off Isabelle, my jaw hit the floor.
Not only was she wearing blinking earrings shaped like Christmas lights, she had a dress that was so intense, it hurt to look at.
Add the deep red lipstick and the strips of green and red tinsel that were clipped to her hair, and I was appalled.
Isabelle gasped, and at first, I thought my greatest fear had been realized.
That she was finally remembering. But from the starstruck look in her eyes, I knew her reaction wasn’t from fear but love.
I was going to hear about Ms. Snow’s outfit for days to come.
My plan on keeping Christmas away from my daughter was no longer working—especially since this Christmas-obsessed person was now her teacher.
I sighed as I turned down our street. My days were already stressful as it was.
With Clara added to the mix, I was ready for some dinner, a beer, and bed.
But from the sight of multi-colored lights flashing on the road, I knew my night was just beginning.
I slowed as I neared my house, fearing what I was about to see but knowing exactly what it was going to look like.
And I’d been right.
Clara had made quick work of decorating her lawn.
There was not a square inch of open space to be seen.
Santa stood next to his sleigh with reindeer leading the way.
Large, tacky inflatable animals holding Christmas items waved in the wind with a giant nativity set in the center.
Lights covered every possible surface of her house.
She even had another Santa set on her roof.
This woman was a magician with how fast she got all this up.
Music blared from her house, and the lights danced along with the beat. I could only imagine what her electric bill was going to be this month. And with the sheer number of items that were simultaneously plugged in? I was surprised she hadn’t blown the breaker.
I shook my head as I pulled into the driveway.
Once I’d parked my car in the garage, I gathered my things and got out.
On days that I had late meetings, Mrs. Bloomburg from across the street came over to take care of Isabelle.
She was a modest woman, and I wondered what she thought of the holiday monstrosity next door.
I shifted my briefcase to my other hand so I could open the back door. Once in the mudroom, I kicked off my shoes, hung my keys up, and then set my briefcase on the bench by the door.
“I’m home,” I called out as I rolled my shoulders and then my neck.
When no one answered, I made my way into the kitchen.
The dishes were done and there was a faint smell of Italian seasoning lingering in the air.
My mouth watered, wondering what Mrs. Bloomburg had made for dinner.
She always fixed me a plate and left it in the fridge for when I got home.
“Daddy!” Isabelle’s voice had me turning. She was running toward me from the dark living room. “Come see this.” Her little hand found mine and she started tugging.
I let her drag me, and she didn’t stop until we were standing in front of the living room window, the lights from Clara’s house flashing against the couch, the floor, and all the walls. Mrs. Bloomburg sat on the armchair with her eyes wide.
“Evening,” I said to Mrs. Bloomburg. “It’s eventful out there.”
She sputtered and nodded. “It’s so…bright.” She blinked as if to emphasize her statement.
“Yeah.”
“It’s magic,” Isabelle whispered as she stepped forward and smooshed her face against the window. It was like she wanted to take in every inch of Clara’s house.
“Peanut,” I said as I grabbed a hold of her shoulder and pulled her back a few feet. Sure, this wasn’t the TV, but that much light that close couldn’t be good for the eyes.
“How do you feel about this?” Mrs. Bloomburg asked.
I glanced back at her. I widened my eyes and sighed. “I’m trying to deal with it. I told her about the laws, but she doesn’t seem to care.”
The music changed from Mariah Carey’s “All I want for Christmas” with corresponding Christmas light show to Burl Ives singing “A Holly Jolly Christmas” which had a much slower melody, and I felt like I was less likely to have a seizure.
“Well, you’re a stubborn man. I’m sure you’ll manage.” Her tone was light and full of affection as she slowly rose off the chair.
Out of anyone in Grinchland, she would know. When Nicole was alive, the two of them would sit on her porch drinking lemonade on the hot summer nights or hot cocoa as they watched the snow fall. I’m sure there were numerous times Nicole complained about me and my ways.
“I’ll figure something out.”
Mrs. Bloomburg nodded. “I have the confidence that you will.”
I walked her to the front door. Once she had her jacket and scarf on, I held the door for her as she walked out onto the porch. Just as she stepped onto the doormat, she paused and bent down. When she straightened, she was holding a glittered lollipop.
“Did you drop this?” she asked, handing it over to me.
I took it from her and stared down at it. I shook my head. “No. But I have a feeling…” I glanced over at Clara’s house. Was this part of her revenge? She was slowly going to drop decorations in my yard until I gave in and stopped citing her?
If that was her master plan, she was in for a rude awakening.
I glanced back over to Mrs. Bloomburg, who was studying me. She looked like she wanted to ask me a question but wasn’t sure if she should. When she smiled and nodded toward her house, I realized she was never going to.
“All right, I’m going to head home.” She held onto the railing as she started to descend the stairs.
“Can I walk you home?” I asked. I didn’t want her to accidentally slip.
She paused and then nodded. “Might be for the best. My eyes aren’t what they used to be, and those lights are messing with my depth perception.”
I didn’t wait for her to change her mind. I was down the stairs and to her side in a matter of seconds. She held onto my hand as we slowly walked down the pathway to the road. Once we were safely at her door, she patted my hand.
“I can take it from here,” she said as she turned the handle.
“You sure?” I asked.
She nodded. “Yes, sir.”
I told her goodbye and she returned the sentiment. When her door was firmly shut and locked, I shoved my hands into the front pockets of my slacks to conserve body heat as I hurried back across the street. Just as I got to my walkway, I stopped and stared over at Clara’s house.
It made me angry that this woman thought she could just come in here and change everything because she didn’t like the way things were done.
We were a close-knit community. No one had complained when we outlawed Christmas.
They knew they could celebrate it elsewhere. Why couldn’t Clara just fall in line?
I shook my head as I pulled my phone out of my back pocket. If Todd and I couldn’t talk some sense into her, maybe George could.
The phone rang three times when George’s scratchy voice answered. “Sheriff speaking,” he said.
I smiled as I turned away from Clara’s house and hurried up the walkway to warmth. “George, it’s Silas.”
“What can I do for you, Mayor?”
“I need you to come write a ticket.”
Thankfully, George didn’t need a lot of convincing. I told him that as soon as he got here, he’d know what I was talking about. He didn’t seem happy about it, but he said he’d stop by on his next round of patrolling.
I’d put Isabelle to bed, heated up and eaten my dinner, and I was enjoying my beer when George texted me that he was on his way. I was in bed in my pajama bottoms, so I grabbed my robe and headed downstairs. I sat in my lit up living room, waiting for the action to happen.
I was mid swig on my beer when George slowed in front of my house. I could tell his attention was on the scene playing out in Clara’s lawn as soon as he pulled up.
My phone chimed with a text.
Geez. Her electric bill must be in the hundreds.
I’m sure it’s astronomical
I downed the rest of my beer and set the empty can down on the side table next to me.
I adjusted my weight on the couch as George pulled into the driveway and turned off his cruiser.
I watched as he opened his door and climbed out.
Once he rounded the hood, he paused. Then he went up her walkway until he got to her door.
A few seconds later, I saw her door open. They spoke and suddenly George was let inside. I frowned when the door shut and I could no longer see what was going on.
Twenty minutes later, George still hadn’t come out and I was now pacing in my living room.
“How long does it take to write a ticket?” I grumbled under my breath.
Apparently for George, twenty-one minutes…now twenty-two.
I headed back up to my room, threw on a pair of jeans and tugged a sweatshirt over my head. It was unlikely, but I was going to check on George just in case Clara had decided to strangle him with tinsel and Christmas lights. It really was my duty as mayor.
I checked on Isabelle to make sure she was fast asleep. Then I grabbed my keys, locked the door, and headed over to Clara’s. I couldn’t tell if the house was quiet or not, the blasted music was too loud. How my daughter was sleeping through this should be studied.
When I got to her front door, I knocked—loud. I tapped my foot on her porch, my energy needing somewhere to go.
I had raised my fist to knock again when the door swung open. Clara was standing there with a smile on her face that suddenly dropped when she saw me.