Chapter 5
FIVE
Party Pooper
Noelle
The next day, as the sun set over the horizon, the lights came on.
Multicolored illuminations shone on the frosty ground and twinkled around my house.
My heart swelled with pride at the festive scenery I had created with my daughter, and I enjoyed the wonder of Christmastime.
A decorated home always put me in the mood for the magical season, and I had a hot chocolate to sip on once the red, green, and white chocolate bomb melted into the liquid.
The mug was warm against my hands, and I watched good old Saint Nick greet vehicles on the street. He handed out candy canes with a festive ho ho ho while he jingled his bell. He wore a big red suit with a crisp white beard and a kind smile.
I had to give myself a pat on the back for hiring an impersonator dressed up as Santa Claus to bring happiness to everyone right outside my front door. The wonderful idea dawned on me yesterday after Faith got back from her visit with her father.
Faith didn’t know the truth about the jolly man, and she still believed in Santa Claus.
I’d keep her faith alive for as long as the magic would shine, but I couldn’t turn down the idea.
I made a couple of phone calls with the connections I had to the North Pole for my daughter, and Santa was more than eager to take the job.
One-hundred dollars a night for a few hours of his time until Christmas Day.
The impersonator in red went up to a small boy wandering around Candy Cane Lane.
I had added the sweet treat to my front lawn this morning as soon as the sun came up.
Santa rubbed his enormous belly and kneeled down to him, offering a candy cane with a big grin.
The boy wore a green beanie. He beamed brightly up at the magical man and took the sweet gift without hesitation.
He even stole a hug and then darted back to his parents.
Unfortunately, I had seen Jack out in the early hours of the day with more miserable decor as he scrambled around his property, making last-minute adjustments to his messy yard.
Characters of envy straight out of the movies were everywhere with no thought put into the process.
It was an unorganized clutter. He was a typical man without a woman’s helpful touch.
As much as I hated the thought, I had to give him credit because he had done everything himself.
If I had helped Jack, I would’ve... What the hell was I thinking? Assisting him in his plan to destroy me?
No. Absolutely not. I’d never do anything with Jack Timber. He could shove his ornament up his grumpy ass.
The house next door had not one twinkle in sight. There was no shimmer from the hard work Jack had done. His house was completely dark.
Maybe Jack had given up. He had realized how stupid his idea of representing Christmas with such an awful sight was. A sore loser in the making while the clear winner was me.
The truth hurt, didn’t it, Jack?
A triumphant grin spread across my face, as wide as the damn envious creature in green that my defeated neighbor had tried to use in his scheme against me. I had won. Take that, Jack Timber.
Suddenly, a bright green glare radiated through the window, and I shielded my eyes. I cursed at the blinding sight. The illumination toned down after a few seconds while my eyes adjusted to the glare, and I gasped at the sight before me.
Jack had turned on his devious display, and he had only been toying with me. The battle was still on. Damn you, Jack Timber!
Bitterly, I stirred inside my cozy home with a bah, humbug of my own directed right at the enemy.
Flames burned out of me while I teetered on the edge of storming across enemy lines and telling Mr. Timber to turn down his damn lights.
His dang green glow was overpowering my brilliant Christmas display.
Crap! Even more infuriating, Jack had someone dressed up as the green and furry creature with catlike features and a potbelly parading around on his property.
I was ready to scream.
Double damn you, Jack Timber! Screw your idea that you stole from me. I won’t let you get away with ruining Christmas, you no-good copycat.
I hurried toward the front door.
“Where are you going, Mommy?” Faith asked with her face wrinkled up in worry.
My steps came to a halt. I couldn’t let Faith see how upset I was at our neighbor. I had to cool my jets.
Deep breaths, Noelle. In through your nose and out through your mouth. Good. Save your rage for the asshole next door.
“I need to talk to Mr. Timber,” I answered with a smile.
Faith pressed her nose up against the glass. “Cool!”
Her face lit up like a Christmas tree at the person dressed in green, and my daughter’s excitement made my heart leap as she ran for the window, but the organ stopped when I saw the impersonator.
My blood boiled, and I seethed inside while my cheeks heated with rage.
I wanted to tackle that damn idiot dressed up as a party pooper in a fuzzy suit.
“Stay here, sweetheart,” I said as I grabbed my winter jacket and reached for the doorknob. “I’ll be right back.”
“Aw...” Faith pouted. “But I wanna come too.”
The make-believe creature handed out green candy canes. There was another idea he’d robbed from me. I wanted to shove one of his candy sticks where the sun didn’t shine. It was as if Jack had read my goddamn mind, and I wanted him out of my head.
Can you hear me, old man? Get the fuck outta my brain!
“I’ll get you a candy cane,” I bribed my daughter.
“Promise?” Faith breathed against the glass and fogged it up.
“I’ll happily pry one from his greedy hands.” I smirked.
I wasn’t kidding. I’d steal every single one of the devious creature’s candies to get the impersonator to go away.
I wouldn’t let Jack win. Especially after he had crossed the line I had drawn between our yards and let whoever was under the costume come onto my yard.
No fucking way I’d let him get away with this.
Faith clapped and cheered me on. “Yay! Go get him, Mommy!”
Oh, it’s on, you big meanie.
I charged out, my boots stomping in the snow, and locked eyes on my target. I glared at the tall person dressed in green without a bone in my body quivering with fright. Instead, I quaked with the need to confront this asshole and give him a piece of my mind.
I glared down at his big furry green feet and watched him extend a candy cane to a boy no older than six. The child smiled and was ready to accept the offering, but the impersonator took the candy back before he could grab it. Immediate tears formed in the child’s eyes.
“Psych.” He laughed evilly.
What an asshole!
I tapped his shoulder. The green one turned around, and I yanked the candy cane out of his grasp before the dick could blink. I gave the candy stick to the child who deserved a sweet treat, and he smiled at me while wiping his tears away.
The envious imitator growled.
Immediately, the boy ran away and scurried down the street. I stood right where I was and stared the awful beast right in the eye. Dark hazelnut eyes bored into mine, and I recognized who was underneath the costume.
Jack Timber.