Kent’s happy expression morphed into concern. “I certainly hope they aren’t having trouble. But I don’t think we need to worry about hurting the Woodwards by winning the pond contest. I think maybe both of us can win.”
“Really? How?”
“I guess you didn’t notice the porch when you came in.”
“No. I came right in the garage.”
Kent put his mug down and slung his arm around Mason’s shoulders. “Then come out front, son. I want to show you something.”
Mason stared at their front porch. His father had put up more decorations, but not all of them were from the Christmas store. Real pine garland with twinkling white lights was wrapped around the spindles, and fresh mistletoe hung at the top of the stairs. Evergreen wreaths with colorful bows hung in every window.
He turned to his father. “You bought things from the Woodward farm?”
“Even better.” His father jutted his chin toward the Woodward house.
Mason’s jaw dropped when he noticed what Dorothy had added to her porch—a silver-tinsel Christmas tree loaded with ornaments. “Is that from our store?”
Kent laughed. “Yep. Dorothy and I got together and decided we could work together. You know, promote each other’s businesses. And if we can do that with our porches, maybe you and Kristen can do that with the skating pond.”
“But Irene was expecting a contest, and I already handed my drawing in before I went to work.”
“Well now, that doesn’t sound like a problem that’s not fixable. I’m sure you can come up with something to make Irene see that the two businesses working together is better than them being adversaries.”
Mason stood for a few minutes, his gaze switching between the two houses. He wanted to rush over and talk to Kristen to see if she wanted to work with him, but what if she thought he was just trying to horn in on her territory because he didn’t think his plan would win? No, he had a better idea, a way to show her that he wanted to team up for both their benefits.
If he hurried, he could submit new plans before the deadline and before Irene looked at the ones he’d already given her.
Chapter 27
The skating-pond plans were as done as they were ever going to get. Kristen had had to practically sneak out of the house to avoid her mother, who had been interrupting her every half hour to ask her to come see something on the porch. She didn’t have time and was too nervous about getting the plans in on time.
She rushed out to the car and zipped off toward the town hall with only moments to spare before the deadline.
Now, she stood in front of the door to Irene’s office and took a deep breath before knocking.
“Come in!”
Kristen open the door and stepped in. “I made it just in time.” She thrust the plans out toward Irene.
Irene looked confused. “What’s that?”
“The skating-pond plans.” Kristen’s heart dropped. “I’m not too late, am I?”
“No, but I thought you were working with the Hales.” Irene’s gaze darted to a rolled-up paper on the side of her desk.
Now Kristen was the one who was confused. “Together? You said we were supposed to have a contest, and whoever came up with the best plan would win.”
Irene gave her a funny look. “Mason came by earlier and dropped these off.” She picked up the roll. “It incorporates decorations from both of your businesses, so I assumed you decided to make it a group effort.” She stood and unrolled the paper.
Kristen stepped closer. “I don’t understand.”
“See? He’s got evergreen trees from your tree farm all around the pond.” She pointed to various spots on the drawing. “Then he accentuates it with a few of the white artificial trees from his shop. And the whole thing is done in white and silver with white lights. I think it will be gorgeous.”
Kristen stared at the drawing, visualizing what it would look like in real life. Mason had done an excellent job of blending the real and fake trees. And he’d used the decorating scheme of white and silver she’d mentioned when they’d talked at the firepit. Was he trying to steal her design idea?”
“He’s using our trees in his design?”
Irene shook her head. “No, he said it was from both of you. Not just Tinseltown. He asked about sharing the billboard with the tree farm.”
