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“Yeah, just move along, Tracy,” Maye whispered.
“Sorry,” Tracy said. “But you have done everything I’ve asked of you, and you have made me so proud. Tonight, it is my privilege and my honor to anoint you as a Santa Senior.” Tracy tapped Maye on each shoulder with the top of the tree’s star topper. “And now, you get the responsibility of putting this star atop the Christmas tree.”
Maye accepted the star and held it close to her heart. “It would be my pleasure to commemorate the occasion.”
Chris pulled a chair close for her to step up on and he stood by holding it steady while Maye reached up to place the star on top of the tree. It was a good thing Chris was nearby because the dang chair finally gave out and Maye fell backward and landed right in Chris’s arms. She turned to look at him, inches from his face.
“I got you,” he said.
“Thank you,” she whispered
“Whoa, let’s keep it TV-PG, you guys,” Tracy said.
Chris helped Maye get safely to her feet and then the three stepped back to admire their work.
Maye was entranced. It felt like so long ago that she and Chris were celebrating Halloween together. A new season had definitely arrived.
By the next morning, the town de-Autumnatizing was under way, and the Christmatizing was in full swing. Maye and Chris made plans to meet downtown so they could take in some of the holiday traditions. They began their morning at Tay’s Choffee Shop, where the jingle bells were strung above the door and the holiday music was pumping.
“Two peppermint mochas, please,” Maye said as she stepped up to the counter.
“Oo,” Chris said. “How about one of those pumpkin spice cinnamon rolls? I’ve been craving one since I’ve been away.”
Tabby cringed a bit behind the counter. “Those have been swapped out for Snickerdoodle cinnamon rolls.”
“Gone are the apple cider cookies,” Maye said, “‘tis the season for gingerbread cookies.”
“And orange-glazed pumpkin donuts have made way for our snowflake donuts and hot chocolate donut holes,” Tabby added.
Chris looked through the glass display case. “What’s the seasonal loaf?”
Tabby reached for a slice. “This is our cranberry orange loaf with egg nog icing. It’s delightful.”
“Yum, that does sound great. Have you had it, Maye?”
Maye shook her head and frowned. “Egg nog? Ew. No thank you.”
“You don’t like egg nog?” Chris said so loudly that customers nearby looked their way. “How can you not like egg nog?”
“I hear it’s great. Everyone who likes it tells me how great it is,” Maye said. “It’s just…” she hated this part of defending her disdain for egg nog. The only thing worse than drinking egg nog for Maye was having to describe how yolky and eggy and… “it’s just not for me,” she said.
“Well, we have to do an egg nog tasting,” Chris said as he carried a plate with his loaf on it to a table. “Maybe you like it now? When’s the last time you tried it?”
“It’s been a few years,” she admitted.
Thankfully, Tay interrupted with their drinks. “Two peppermint mochas?” She said as she placed them on the table. “Hey, Chris, I wanted to ask you about something. Do you think you’d be up for another screening event at the theater?”
“Heck ya,” he said. “What kind? And when?”
“Near the end of November. I want to do some classic well-known holiday movies and pair them with the films that came before them and inspired them. Like a film and a movie, you know?”
“I love that,” Chris said. “Unfortunately,” he turned to look at Maye. “I don’t think I’ll be here. I need to leave again. I told Jayce I would help with editing the show and do some promotional tie-ins and appearances and stuff like that. Sadly, that means I will have to meet you at the Christmas convention at the beginning of December.”
“Aw, oh well, maybe next time,” Tay said as she turned to walk away.
“Hey,” Chris stopped her. “I love that idea though. You should do it.”
“So when do you need to leave?” Maye asked.
