Chapter Four
Tilly read the email for the third time and squealed aloud again. “It’s happening. I can’t believe it.”
As much as she thought she had it in the bag, given the organizing committee had extended a special invitation for Marietta to participate, there had always been a chance that Chelsea could’ve come back and said she and the council believed there wasn’t enough time to get everything prepared—except, she hadn’t.
In fact, Chelsea had said that she’d arranged for someone to help her out with the event.
Tilly didn’t care who it was. She was just over the moon that her little idea was now going to come to fruition.
She raced over to her kitchen counter, where she’d put the paperwork she’d filled out a couple of nights ago.
She needed to get online and submit the form to the committee, advising them that Marietta was accepting the invitation.
After she’d done that, she’d contact the mayor’s office and find out who her little helper was going to be and then they could get started.
There was a lot to do and not much time to get it all done.
With Thanksgiving only days away, most of the businesses would be busy with customers and in the midst of holiday preparations.
She’d have to wait until the following week before she could speak to them and see if they would be willing to be part of it.
There were other things she could do in the meantime, like finding the people to bring the story to life.
Maybe she could get Chrissy and Ryder to play Mary and Joseph.
That would make everything a little easier.
Her family would step up to help her—at least, she hoped they would.
Next, she would need to find a baby who could play Jesus. Plus, people to be the angels, the wise men, and the shepherds. Not to mention, contact Kathryn Lancaster, now that Tilly knew it was going ahead. If she could lock the talk show host in, then everything else would fall into place.
Who did she need to contact at the fairgrounds to organize a stage for the carols and—? Tilly sat down with a thump.
There was so much to do.
So much.
Perhaps she’d bitten off more than she could chew. Perhaps she should forget all about the live-action traveling Nativity play and just do Carols by Candlelight.
Her blood pounded through her veins and panic threatened to drown her.
This was too much.
So many people she had to organize. To be in charge of.
She couldn’t do it.
She’d have to tell the mayor that upon reviewing all the logistics, it was an impossible task to complete. Too ambitious. Maybe next year would be a better time. The organizing committee would understand, given the late notice. They would have a full year to plan and put everything in place.
Tilly stood, decision made. Next year was a much better idea.
There’s always a next time. And next time you’ll find what is right for you, my Tulip. Just you wait.
Everything within her stilled. That inner voice sounded like her beloved dad. She could picture him pulling her close and saying those words to her. He always made her feel better, when what he should’ve done was encourage her to keep at it. Not to give up, like she was doing now.
Was she going to do that again? Succumb to her doubts and fears. Was she really going to disappoint the mayor of Marietta when Chelsea had given her a chance she didn’t have to? Tilly was aware of the reputation she had around town. A reputation she deserved.
Would she fail at this before she’d even started?
“No, I’m not. I’m going to make it so appealing that everyone will want to be involved. Everyone is going to see me in a different light after this.”
Besides doing her job competently, she was going to focus all her attention on this task. There would be no distractions. Nothing to tempt her attention away from this big project.
Determined to get everything right, she marched over to her computer with the papers in hand and sat down. The website she needed was already on the screen when she woke up her laptop. If that wasn’t a sign that she needed to do this, she didn’t know what was.
Tilly meticulously filled out the online form, referring to her handwritten one many times—very glad that she’d done it.
If only the people who completed the information she had to enter as part of her data entry job for a finance company were as careful as she was, then she wouldn’t have to follow up constantly to verify what needed to be inputted.
Once she was satisfied that everything on the form was correct and the description of the event sounded as good as she pictured it, Tilly closed her eyes and hit Enter. She counted to ten before opening them again, and there it was on the screen—confirmation that the form was submitted.
“There’s no going back now, Tilly Bloom.”
Tilly ignored the flash of discomfort that she’d put on the form that Kathryn Lancaster was going to be the narrator and emcee.
If she put it out into the universe, it would happen, right?
She was manifesting success and all that good stuff she’d read about in those self-help books she’d picked up a couple of years ago.
She tried not to think of the evening at the diner when she’d mentioned Kathryn’s name and Zach had immediately gotten up and left. During their brief dinner, he’d been engaging, but she’d sensed he was holding back, as if he didn’t want anyone to see who the real Zach Langley was.
She stared at the submission confirmation on the computer screen, shrugging off thoughts of the enigmatic man. What should she do next?
*
“Hi, I’ve got an appointment with Mayor Flint,” she announced to the mayor’s assistant.
“Hi there, Tilly. She’s just with someone at the moment, but take a seat. She won’t be long.”
“Thanks.”
Tilly sat and did her best to stop her leg from shaking. On the drive over she’d tried to work out who Chelsea would’ve picked to work with her. It didn’t matter who it was. Tilly would get on with them. There weren’t too many people she didn’t like.
The door opened and Chelsea popped her head out. “Oh good, you’re here, Tilly. Come in.”
Didn’t she have someone with her? Why would the mayor want her to sit in on a meeting with someone else? Unless . . . Of course, the person Tilly would be working with was in her office.
Tilly jumped up and smoothed down the front of her dress.
She’d chosen to wear one of her slick sheath dresses, one that was both stylish and professional.
Her hair was in a low ponytail, and she’d accessorized her outfit with medium-size gold hoop earrings and a plain gold link chain necklace.
She’d wanted to present herself to the mayor as capable and trustworthy for such a big event. “Hi, Chelsea.”
The mayor smiled and then stepped away so Tilly could enter. The person who was sitting in the chair had their back to her. The closely cropped hair and broad shoulders indicated her helper was a man.
I’m working with a man. Okay, that’s fine, I’m adaptable. I just hope he doesn’t go all I know everything on me.
There was something familiar about him. About the way he held himself and for a split second, she thought it was Zach sitting in the seat, but she dismissed it because there was no way he would be her helper.
He hadn’t been in town long enough. She needed her assistant/helper to be someone who knew the town.
Someone familiar with the business owners so they could visit them and ask for their involvement if she was busy.
Someone the townspeople were comfortable speaking with.
“Take a seat next to Zach, Tilly.”
Tilly sat with a thud as she turned and faced the man she’d been thinking about only a few seconds ago.
Had her thoughts really been a manifestation? Had the universe shown her that it worked? Would that mean if she continued to wish and say out loud that Kathryn Lancaster was going to be a part of the show, it would happen?
Considering the man sitting next to her was proof that flyaway thoughts could lead to him helping her, then she was going to say it a hundred times a day.
The only reason Zach could be in the office with Chelsea was that he was her assistant.
“Hi there, Zach.” How she managed to sound calm and in control when her heart was thumping a million beats a minute was surprising.
“You two know each other? That’s excellent,” Chelsea gushed, her eyes sparkling, but Tilly couldn’t place the underlying emotion in them.
“Yes, we had dinner a few nights ago, but I’m not sure I’m the right person for the job,” Zach said, shifting in his seat, clearly uncomfortable with the situation. At least she hoped it was the task and not the fact that he had to work with her.
“As a firefighter you play an important role in the safety of our citizens. What Tilly has planned is a big event that will incorporate a lot of people, and I want to make sure that we have every avenue covered in terms of risks to the participants and the audience.” Chelsea paused and pointed to a map of Marietta on the wall.
“We will need to look at road closures and crowd numbers in terms of fire safety inside the businesses that will be frequented. What permits will be required. The request may seem unnecessary to you, but it’s very necessary to me.
As mayor, it’s my responsibility to ensure the event is not only successful but also a safe one. ”
Tilly had to admit she hadn’t considered the logistical aspects of what would need to be done to ensure the event went off without a hitch.
She hadn’t even considered that she might need various permits.
What those permits would be, she had no idea, but she didn’t want to ask because they were things she should’ve thought about.
Her concern had been about getting people to play the roles as well as getting the businesses excited enough that they would want to take part.
“I’m not doubting the reasons for your request, ma’am,” Zach said. “If all you want me to attend to is marking out all the necessary permits, road closures, and ensuring fire codes are met—that I can do. Anything else, I’m not sure I can be of too much help.”
“Those are huge things that I hadn’t thought about,” Tilly admitted, even though she’d planned not to. “I’d really appreciate it if you could handle all of that. As for the other aspects, I’m sure I can get them all done.”
“Do you have a list of things that need to be attended to, Tilly?” the mayor asked.
“Not yet, but I’m working on it,” Tilly responded. “I have a fair idea of what I need to do to make it successful.”
“Well, perhaps Zach can help you with that. Sometimes an outside person can help you see things you wouldn’t normally.
Why don’t you both use one of our conference rooms to go over things now?
Get a head start on it all, considering time is of the essence.
I’m assuming you’ve completed the entry form?
” The mayor looked at Tilly, one of her eyebrows quirked.
“Yes, I’ve got a copy here. I thought you might need it for an official record, and now, for permits.” Tilly pulled out the printed copy and handed it over.
“Excellent. Follow me and you can get started.”
Tilly rose from the chair with a quick look at Zach. Why did he look like the world was about to end?