Chapter 6 #2
Everyone stood together and counted down from twenty-five.
When Laney flipped the switch off at zero, a collective gasp floated through the air above where the ice cycle lights glistened like snow falling through the breath of winter.
Each set of eyes in the room followed the strands from the front of the candy shop to the back where the brightly lit and decorated Christmas tree took center stage.
The room glowed majestically thanks to the thousands of tiny bulbs flickering like a field of fireflies dancing in the night sky.
Although the store required more light for enhanced displays and customer safety, the current illumination throughout the maze of aisles flowing around the barrels, baskets, and stands made walking through while basking in the beauty of the Christmas scene they created feasible.
A few years ago Noel’s father installed electrical lighting that allowed every hardwired light in the store to be dimmed and raised by the movement of a switch.
Noel adjusted the small lever to where they would keep it set during business hours, but at nighttime all the lights except for the Christmas ones would be shut off, so people wandering the sidewalks would be drawn to the scene.
Many stopped and cuffed their hands over the windows for peeks inside, especially the children.
Noel’s family learned to keep extra window cleaner in stock for just that reason.
After finishing this first major step, Noel announced that it was almost time for the kids to fill the bins with Christmas candy under the direction of Mrs. Madelyn while she, Chelsea, and Rainey hung lighted wreaths on the walls and decorated the fireplace with green garland and Christmas trinkets to go along with the stockings.
First, however, Noel retrieved from the refrigerator pre-made Christmas fruit bowls filled with red and green fruits, including strawberries, kiwi, raspberries, and pomegranate, as well as grapes and apple slices in both colors.
She mixed in local honey which the shop sold year round.
Years of experience proved that this light dinner worked much better than leftovers after such a heavy Thanksgiving lunch.
It didn’t take long for her to remember that the kids and adults needed extra napkins as fingers became sticky and little faces decorated with fruit juice lit up the room as brightly as the assortment of lights.
“This is so yummy,” Laney announced after sucking on a strawberry.
“The hot chocolate is the best,” Levi added.
“Chocolate and fruit work well together, so why not hot chocolate and fruit?” Chelsea queried pretty sure this marked the first time she tried the unexpected combination.
Rainey licked his fingers. “We need to make this an annual tradition,” he insisted.
“It is,” Levi and Laney answered simultaneously.
“Jinx,” they both shouted hurriedly, and everyone laughed out loud.
“What?” Rainey replied. “Why haven’t you invited me before?” he asked the kids.
“You’ve probably been busy arresting bad guys,” Levi assumed.
Another round of laughter filled the air as the Christmas lights continued to glow like stars in the night’s sky.
“Is my daddy a bad guy?” Laney asked Rainey.
Rainey pondered the question as he chewed on an apple slice. Meanwhile Noel and Mrs. Madelyn glanced at each other wondering if they should provide the answer. As they waited Noel held a grape near her mouth while Mrs. Madelyn lowered her ceramic snowman cup.
“Sometimes people make bad decisions, but that doesn’t necessarily make them bad people,” Rainey articulated. “Your dad has made way more good decisions in his life than he has bad ones.”
Noel felt tears bubbling behind her eyes and instantly knew she made the right decision to keep her mouth shut.
“Mama said I was the best decision she and Daddy ever made,” Laney shared.
A fresh batch of tears formed in every adult’s eyes.
“You sure were,” Noel agreed without hesitation.
“Your daddy will always remember that,” Mrs. Madelyn added.
“I hope so, especially at Christmastime,” Laney proclaimed.
“Mommy, was I the best decision you and Daddy made?” Levi checked.
Noel nestled herself between Levi and Laney, pulling each of them close. “Yes, you are the best decision ever. Both of you are,” she confirmed.
Levi and Laney grinned, and then Levi broke the silence as everyone smeared tears across their faces. “I thought we were going to put out candy,” he reminded them as the idea suddenly hopped into his mind.
Red, green, and gold packaged candy quickly took over the barrels, bins, and baskets as Levi and Laney poured piece after piece from boxes like milk into a cereal bowl.
All the while smiles and laughter erupted from their faces.
The wreaths went up quickly thanks to the pre-hung nails, but lining the fireplace with garland took a little longer.
Noel wanted everything to look just right for the big day.
The final two projects allowed the kids to roam around carrying gift boxes wrapped with bows.
They placed an assortment under the tree and then added some on the shelves and in any other empty spaces found in the store.
Mrs. Madelyn followed behind adjusting things where needed, but overall, the kids’ placements pleased her.
Noel and Chelsea worked on the window displays while Rainey ran back and forth fetching supplies.
By the time the ladies stepped out of the windows, each area showcased the most inviting gingerbread house village anyone ever set eyes on, and the giant candy canes and lollipops in large glass jars really stood out.
Noel couldn’t wait to see people’s faces light up and hear their responses.
Lastly, Noel asked Levi and Laney to update the numbers on the countdown to Christmas signs—one they kept on the sidewalk and the other just inside the front door.
The outdoor chalkboard always drew attention, and indoors, a candy cane-themed pole held a red octagon similar to a stop sign at which nearly every child stopped upon entering.
When Levi and Laney fixed the numbers, the signs read Only 27 Days Until Christmas!
However, Noel knew those days would fly by as quickly as Santa’s reindeer.
After today the kids would take turns flipping the numbers on each sign which they often ran to first thing in the mornings.
“I think that’s a wrap,” Noel announced as the cuckoo clock sounded ten times. “You two kiddos need to get some sleep because tomorrow is another big day,” she added as they ran for one last round of candy.
“Black Friday,” Chelsea announced excitedly. “Every shopper’s dream.”
“Let’s hope those shoppers dream of candy tonight,” Noel replied with a smirk.
“These two sure will,” Mrs. Madelyn noted, rubbing the tops of Levi’s and Laney’s Santa hats.
“I think I had way too much sugar today,” Rainey claimed, holding his stomach.
“You have too much candy every day,” Chelsea responded. “It sure must be nice to have a high metabolism. Some of us have to eat healthy and work out.”
“What’s a mabolism?” Laney questioned.
“Metabolism,” Noel corrected. “It is our body’s ability to burn off what it takes in.”
“Our bodies are on fire?” Levi questioned with bulging eyes.
“No, silly, it’s just a saying,” Mrs. Madelyn answered. “But my eyes feel like they are on fire because they’ve been open way too long. I’m going home to Mr. Jack.”
Noel let everyone who didn’t live upstairs out the front door then put Levi and Laney to bed. Although they seemed wired until the moment their little heads hit the pillows, that soft touch did the trick. Within moments as she prayed for them like she did every night, their eyelids collapsed.
Noel wished she could join the kids in sleepyland, but instead she spent nearly two hours downstairs tidying up.
When the clock struck midnight, she knew it was time for bed.
Whatever hadn’t been accomplished today would have to wait until tomorrow or whenever the first free moment of the busiest shopping day of the year occurred which would probably be at closing time.