Chapter Three #3
Except for her shrewd blue eyes, Maybelle could pass for an older version Grace Kelly lookalike.
No doubt the woman had been a knockout in her glory days as she was still a gorgeous woman.
Personality-wise, Maybelle was the Butterfly Maggie most related to.
Maybelle had a keenness about her that hinted she saw more than she let on.
Not that she was shy about letting on, either.
If such a rank existed, Maybelle was the leader of the Butterfly pack.
Er, swarm, or whatever a group of butterflies were called.
“Personally, I like simple and to the point,” Claudia spoke up.
Claudia’s appearance was simple and to the point. If Maggie had to picture a real-life version of a storybook granny, with her gray bun and sweet disposition, Claudia would forever be who popped into mind.
“As unbelievable as this is,” Maybelle continued. “I agree with Rosie on this one.”
Rosie feigned a gasp. Ruby’s eyes widened. Claudia’s jaw dropped. Sarah smiled. Maggie stared at the women, wondering what she’d missed.
“If you’re wanting to up interest in the Christmas On-the-Square Festival to boost our local businesses between Thanksgiving and Christmas,” Maybelle explained, “you must create something outside of the same ole thing that every other town is doing. Pine Hill’s festival needs to be unique, fun, catchy. ”
Not liking that she didn’t have an answer to her group of Butterflies’ label question, Maggie picked up her cellphone and did a quick search.
A flutter. A group of butterflies was called a flutter.
Glancing at the women around the table, Maggie concurred that a flutter fit.
These women were in constant, colorful motion.
“What about Pine Hill Christmas Chaos?” Claudia’s kind eyes sparkled. “That would be different.”
“Christmas Chaos isn’t the tone Sarah is going for,” Maybelle corrected with a stern look.
Maggie liked the name, though. It fit her own thoughts of Christmas in Pine Hill.
The women tossed around ideas, pausing to ooh and ahh at Jeannie’s snowman block stacking or to redirect the toddler if she became bored.
Taking in their back-and-forth comments, Maggie bit into a homemade cinnamon spice cookie.
The smell had been taunting her nostrils from the moment Sarah had popped the pan into the oven, filling the entire house with fresh-baked goodness.
Maggie had never been one to imbibe much in sweets.
Food had been a bland, forced necessity since she’d gotten out of the military.
But Sarah baked like a dream and, with Sarah selling her wares at Harvey Farms, there were also some fresh delectable goodies available at the bed and breakfast. If Maggie wasn’t careful, she’d pack on the pounds during her Hamilton House stay.
Then again, she’d lost so much weight last year that she should have another cookie.
Two more cookies would probably be even better.
Just as Maggie reached for another cookie, Sarah asked, “What about you, Maggie? What would you recommend as a name for our Christmas festival’s contest?”
Not wanting to be involved with the event but knowing she’d do whatever she needed to stay close to Sarah, Maggie took a bite, savoring the sugary spice goodness melting in her mouth. “I’d need to know more before I could make a decent suggestion.”
“We’re highlighting businesses on our town square,” Maybelle informed.
“The money raised benefits the Pine Hill animal shelter,” Ruby said proudly.
“We want a name that’s bright, bold, attention grabbing,” Rosie added, all of those things herself with her colorful hair, blingy gold top and stretchy red pants that made her look as if she should be part of Sarah’s foyer décor.
“The contest kicks off at our Christmas festival and I’m thinking it will run in some form through Christmas Eve,” Sarah continued. “Or at least for a few weeks into December.”
Maggie arched a brow. “Isn’t the festival on the weekend after Thanksgiving Day?”
“Yes. It’s the same day as Shop Local Saturday and will be here soon, which is why we’ve got to move quickly with whatever is decided.
” Sarah paused to praise Jeannie’s latest snowman block tower, then continued.
“As surrounding towns and big cities offer more and more Christmas events and shopping, Pine Hill wants to keep our locals interested in and supporting our town rather than spending their shopping dollars elsewhere. We’ve had decent participation the past few years, but keeping things fresh is vital if Pine Hill wants to compete with bigger areas that have more funds to draw bigger attractions. ”
Popping another bite of her cookie into her mouth and savoring the morsel, Maggie mulled over what Sarah had said.
“So,” Sarah continued. “We’re combining all that with raising money and awareness for the animal shelter, plus the usual beneficiaries of the different vendors and such.
The contest will include a five-kilometer race, decorating a float for the parade, a Dress your Pet for Christmas contest, a Christmas cookie contest, a Christmas hat decorating contest, and we may add more so that we have events each Saturday between Thanksgiving and Christmas. ”
“That seems like a lot of work,” Maggie mused. So far, that fit her entire impression of Christmas in Pine Hill. These people put in a lot of time and effort for a holiday.
Sarah shook her head. “It’s not as much work as you’d think.
Each individual component of the contest is being sponsored and run by a local business on the square.
Carrie’s Pet Pawties is sponsoring the Dress your Pet for Christmas.
The Threaded Needle, that’s Sophie’s shop, is sponsoring the Christmas hat making contest. Pine Hill Hospital is sponsoring the 5K.
You get the idea. Everything brings awareness to the town’s local businesses and provides something fun for the festival too.
With so many involved, it’s not been an issue except coming up with a name for a fun, overriding theme. ”
A catchy name for a month-long Christmas contest? Maggie thought more along the lines of Claudia’s original suggestion of a simple and to the point title. Christmas Craziness fit, but as she knew that, like Claudia’s suggestion, the women would disagree.
“Sorry, I’m no help. I’ve not celebrated Christmas much since I was a kid.” Maggie stuck the rest of her cookie in her mouth, then brushed her hands together. She hadn’t celebrated Christmas much even as a kid. For her, foster care hadn’t lent itself to merry yuletides.
“I’m so glad that you’re going to be in Pine Hill this year so we can change that.” Christmas lights twinkled in Sarah’s eyes. “You need to be immersed in the magic of Christmas and see that all this work is nothing compared to the wonderfulness of the holidays.”
As far as the magic of Christmas, Maggie didn’t believe such a thing existed.
Her childhood Christmases had been so-so, and her adult ones had consisted of a fancy meal if on base and survival if she were out in the field.
But since she needed to be involved in Sarah’s plans, she nodded and made a one hundred percent truthful statement.
“Christmas in Pine Hill is definitely going to be unlike anything I’ve experienced in the past.”
Maybelle made a clicking noise that had Maggie glancing her way.
She held the woman’s blue gaze, refusing to squirm although she felt as if she should.
Fortunately, the contest conversation resumed.
Maggie sat quietly, munching on a third cookie, while the women brainstormed name ideas, but nothing stuck.
The Christmas music playing in the background changed songs.
Jeannie glanced up, bounced a little, then grinned at the tune.
“Grandma,” the toddler singsonged, collecting adoring sighs as her due.
Shaking her head at how the toddler had the whole room admiring her, Maggie joked, “You could call your contest the Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer games. Maybe shorten it to the Grandma Games.” She chuckled. “That name would definitely snag people’s attention.”
Rather than laugh off the outlandish suggestion, Sarah’s eyes brightened and the other women all grinned as if they’d just stumbled upon something fabulous.
“It’s so … unique. And fun. I love it.” Rosie clapped her hand together.
“Me too,” Ruby agreed excitedly. “My Charlie will be all for the Grandma Games.”
“It sounds like a good time. Just what we’re hoping for.” Sarah looked pleased.
“Well, unless you’re a grandma.” Claudia’s grandmotherly face twisted in consternation. “Then, it might not sound like such a good time.”
Stifling a snort, Maggie coughed to clear cookie from her throat.
Everyone looked at Maybelle, waiting for her yea or nay. Surely the woman would shoot down such a silly suggestion. Maggie had not been serious and couldn’t believe the others were. Instead of speaking the sanity Maggie expected, Maybelle nodded.
“The name will garner lots of curious interest. I’ll talk with the mayor, then Sarah can take the idea to the local businesses and let them tweak how they want to participate should they want to make changes to what’s already planned.
” She tapped her perfectly manicured nails against the tabletop. “Sarah can definitely work with this.”
“Just so long as there aren’t any real reindeer running over grandmas,” Claudia reiterated, looking serious enough that Maggie bit back another snort. “We can’t have any grandmas getting hurt.”
Rosie rolled her eyes. “Of course, there won’t be real reindeer.
Although we could see if Harvey Farms wants to sponsor something involving their reindeer.
Maybe we could do a Reindeer Run sort of like that thing they do in Spain with the bulls.
” Rosie chuckled. “That would be a fun addition. We could call it Yuletide O-le!”