Winter Falls (Evergreen Lake: Under the Mistletoe)

Chapter 5

five

I was running late, with no time to grab breakfast, so I stopped at Sips on Main and grabbed something to take to work. The days were rushing by and the main events were this weekend. The whole month of December culminated in the grand festival which would begin Friday night. I'd been watching my weather app and there was still a pretty significant chance the winter storm was going to descend upon us.

I pulled into the angle park in front of the café and jumped out, right into a pile of slush. "Ugh," I muttered and tiptoed out of it to climb over the snow bank pushed up by the plow overnight. I was reminded how easily Amos stepped over it the other day.

Damn, I was trying to not think about him. I had too much on the go to be distracted by that man. I rushed into the café, which of course was packed as usual and went to the back of the line. Thank goodness it was just down the street from the Chamber of Commerce office, so I didn't have to go far once I got my order. I pulled out my phone to see if I had any messages. Nothing.

I felt the buzz in the cafe. Most of the chatter was about the festival. And wouldn't you know it, people were talking about the impending storm of doom.

I pressed my lips together and kept my focus on the counter. I had a feeling that if I was noticed--and why I kept my hood up--I'd be cornered about the weather and what would happen. The line was moving slower than molasses in January and I was getting antsy. Finally, it was my turn and I ordered something quick--premade croissant breakfast sandwiches would be just perfect so I grabbed one of those, two extra-large coffees with lots of cream, and an oatmeal raisin cookie. I paid, said thanks, and rushed out the door.

I decided to leave the truck there because parking spots were filling up and walked the short distance to the office. The fresh air would do me some good. Pauline had arrived before me so the door was unlocked. I shouldered my way in and surprised her. Usually I parked around the back and used the rear entrance.

"What happened? You never come in the front door," she asked.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you, but I had to get something to eat. I didn't have time at home, running late." I said and put my bag and coffees down on my desk in the office.

Pauline had followed me in. "It's not like you to be late. What's going on?"

I pulled a frown and shook my head. "Nothing, just stuff." I wasn't about to tell her that I had the crappiest of the crappiest sleeps ever. I dreamed of Amos, which felt like a complete betrayal to myself. Because I didn't want to think of him, let alone dream about him, for crying out loud! I couldn’t share that with her because she'd be all over it, telling me my subconscious had a thing for him. And perhaps I should open myself to the possibility.

So, no. I couldn't tell her that.

I opened a coffee and gulped down the liquid. Burnt my tongue and nearly spilled on myself. "Ow, hot!"

"Came from hot place," Paulie said.

I shook my head. "You and your sayings. First was caterpillars, now a hot place. I can't keep up with them all.”

She giggled. "Mmm, that smells good." Pauline sniffed the air. "Did you bring me something?"

I pushed the other coffee towards her. "Here ya go." I had planned to drink both and felt bad not bringing her something. I didn't like it when I got distracted and forgot things like that.

"Okay, so today is checklist day.” I pulled out the project worksheet. It was ledger size and everything that was happening was on it by date and organized to a T.

I liked to be able to find things at a glance and not have to shuffle through reams of paper or spreadsheets. I was an old-fashioned paper planning kinda girl. And this ledger was the master key. I knew Paulie had transcribed it into a Google Sheet, and she updated it daily. But for me, I needed the visual on paper.

I ran my finger down the event list, till I found sleigh rides then moved across and checked final approval--complete.

Pauline was rubbernecking to see what I had marked off.

"Oh, you did phone him then."

I looked up at her and she waggled her eyebrows at me. I simply shook my head and checked the complete column to see if anything was missing.

"Of course, I had to call him. I had to do the final check. And it's all good." Thankfully she didn't ask me any other questions.

"Alright then, so what else do we need to finalize today? But you do realize, if it hasn't been checked off earlier, then doing it today is rather last-minute," she warned.

"I know, and based on my ledger, everything except just a few stragglers need to be contacted.” I pulled the bag towards me and took out the breakfast sandwich. My stomach was growling and I wouldn't be able to focus until I filled that hole and drank my coffee.

"Here, this is for you too." I handed her the cookie.

"Oh, thanks. I do like their cookies." She took a bite and nodded, then said, "I talked to Granddad about this storm."

I sighed and shook my head.

She looked at me pointedly. "He said, he can feel it in his bones." Pauline opened the sippy part of the lid.

"Oh, I see ... now he feels it in his bones. What happened to the caterpillars?" I took a bite of the sandwich and closed my eyes in ecstasy. It was delicious.

"That's in the summer and fall. Right now, it's winter. It's not good to make light of his predictions. They worked well for him all his life." Pauline was dead serious and who was I to question eons of wives’ tales?

"Okay, I'm sorry. I'm not making light of it, I guess I'm just worried I'll jinx the weather if I acknowledge it."

"See! You're superstitious too!"

"I am not. I believe in evidence, fact, science, not superstitions. That's ridiculous. Besides, no matter how hard I wish it away, we can't predict Mother Nature...or Grumpy Old Man Winter."

"Now that's a double entendre if I've ever heard one." Paulie raised her eyebrows and smirked.

"How's that?" I had no clue what she was referring to.

"Grumpy Old Man Winter. Think about it." She took a bit of cookie and munched.

I puffed out a breath and realizing what she meant. "Right, back to the festival. I just hope that everybody's ready in case it's really bad. What if people are stranded?" I chewed my lower lip.

"More business for the town." Sometimes she said the most sensible things mixed in with all her superstitious nonsense. "And there's nothing we can do if they're not prepared."

She was right. But still, I felt I had to do something!

"You know what? I think I'll send out a quick email to everyone. Just to bring an awareness about the potential storm. Not to give orders on what to do, more along the lines of suggesting they bear it in mind." I turned on my computer and opened my email program. "I'm the one that will worry for them," I muttered to myself.

"You're such a worrywart. No matter what I say, you'll still be hovering all over everyone. Helicoptering and making people crazy. And that's why we all love you."

I gave her cheeky smile and quickly composed an email, selected the Festival list, and fired it off.

"There I feel better now. You're right though, they know how to run their businesses. But I'd just feel better to gently bring awareness about the potential weather change." I stood. "Now then, I think we need to get cracking."