“I have a question,” Ms. Patty announced once Nick pointed at her. “Are you all going to give preferential treatment to tree placement this year? Last year, our tree was off in a corner and no one could see it, so no one voted for it.”
“Sounds like a complaint, not a question,” Ms. Pearl said loudly. The crowd snickered.
Ms. Patty twisted around in her chair and narrowed her eyes at Ms. Pearl. “It’s an honest question. Who decides where each tree is placed? If our tree is stuck in the section with all the reference books, no one will ever see it because no one even goes back there!”
Nick held up his hands. “Okay, great point, Ms. Patty. I’ll work with the library staff to make sure everyone’s trees are in high traffic areas of the library. Just remember, though, families visit the library, so if you’re tree isn’t family friendly, it will end up in the staff break room.”
“What?” William whispered.
I leaned over and whispered back, “One year someone did a Santa Serial Killer themed tree inspired by the TV showDexter.”
“Wow.” William turned to me with an amused wide-eyed look. I couldn’t help but smile. Something about his smile wasdifferent at that moment. He looked more genuine, sincere, and incredibly handsome.
He leaned forward and whispered another question. “So, your workplace is just covered in Christmas trees for two weeks?”
“Well, it’s longer than two weeks. We leave the trees up until January,” I responded.
William’s eyes grew wider.
“I love it!” I said, trying not to sound defensive. “Christmas is really the most magical time of the year.”
“Sure, yeah,” William said, nodding. I could tell he was trying to be agreeable. “I’m not a Grinch or anything, but that’s a lot of Christmas spirit.”
I felt a little self-conscious about how much I loved Christmas, so I further explained. “Well, it’s for a good cause. The money raised from the entry and voting fees all benefit the Girl’s House and the Boy’s Lodge in Creekstone.”
William’s eyebrows raised as if surprised and his big smile faded back to his softer, more genuine one.
Nick’s voice had raised to a polite shout as people started to talk amongst themselves. “If you’re interested in registering for the competition, I’ll be at the back table with Ms. Kit’s famous cookies.”
We both stood up. “I’d like to try one of your cookies.” William stretched as he stood. I was eye-level with his chest, and I couldn’t help but notice how his shirt was snug around his pecs as he stretched.
“Excuse me?” I asked.
“Your famous cookies,” William said, pointing at the table. “I hope they don’t run out. There are a ton of people here.”
“Well, you can taste my cookies back at the house,” I said and then immediately stammered and tried to hide my blush. “I—uh…meant that I made extra and put them in a Christmascookie tin on the counter by the fridge. You can have some. That’s what I meant.”
William raised one eyebrow and one side of his lip curled into a slight smile. He shoved one hand into his pocket.
“I have to go and give my assistant manager a break from the circulation desk.” I practically squeaked as I turned and scurried out of the room.
As soon as I arrived at the circulation desk, Trent looked relieved. “Boss Lady, I am so glad to see you. I have got to eat something. I’m getting hangry.” He made prayer hands and bowed as he backed away from the circulation desk and disappeared behind a door that read “Staff Only.”
I let out a puff of air as I collapsed into the chair. I felt a sense of relief, but I couldn’t quite explain why. Maybe I was just anxious about the Christmas Tree Competition kicking off. Before I could give it too much more thought, a library patron appeared in front of me with a stack of books, and I got to work. There was a steady stream of library visitors until finally Trent returned.
“You look refreshed,” I said as Trent took a seat next to me.
“That I am,” Trent said as he logged into his computer next to mine.
“Are you participating in the Christmas Tree Contest this year?” I asked, spinning around in my chair to face him.
“That I am,” Trent said again. I chuckled. Trent and I were the only full-time employees at the library. We had a handful of part-time employees and volunteers. Trent was a few years younger than me, in his mid-twenties. When we went to library conferences, we were the youngest library team in the state by far. Trent had also been a Creekstone Library teen volunteer. Trent stayed in Creekstone, though, and worked at the library while he commuted to a nearby community college. I think hisdegree was in literature or history, but Trent’s real love was his alternative bluegrass and folk-rock band.
“That’s exciting,” I said, leaning back in my chair. “What team are you working with?”
“I’m going to work with the afterschool music program. I think we’re going to do a ‘Rockin’ Christmas’ theme,” Trent said and immediately went shredding on an air guitar.
“I like it,” I said. “Good theme!”
