The Perfect Gift

C H A P T E R 🎄12

L I S A

After the night of our first, real, official date, Rosie and I reached a kind of truce.We still needed to figure out my visitation schedule with Miles, but the relationship felt stable enough for us to concentrate on other things first—namely, the Christmas festival.

We spent the next two days in a frenzy of preparations. The construction on the town square was wrapping up, vendors were busy setting up, entries for the gingerbread house contest arrived, and the gallery was cleaned and decorated.

Meanwhile, the official website for the Greenfield Christmas Festival was launched. Rosie suggested allowing moderated comments on the social media pages. I agreed it was a fantastic idea.

Rosie had set up online advertising, and she was busy managing the ads. With the social media engagement, plus the advertising through Bacchus Deli, tourists were starting to filter into town.

It was only a trickle at first, but over several days, the newly renovated Dew Drop Inn started to fill up.

Janie was beside herself with excitement—both because of the updated rooms and the increase in paying guests.

I had to admit, a few sleepless nights were worth getting the inn renovations done on time.

As so often happens when one invests in a small business, the effect blossomed out far beyond Janie and her husband.

All those rooms being filled needed more housekeepers to clean them, more laundry staff to wash the linens, and more kitchen staff to prepare the morning meals.

A few private homeowners had cleaned up their guesthouses and spare rooms and listed them online as rentals so that even more guests could visit Greenfield—and spend money here. Several retail stores around town had hired new employees to meet the new demand and prepare for the festival. Those locals were working and spending money, too.

It was the domino effect of economic growth that I loved to see. Greenfield was already starting to perk up thanks to my investments and Rosie's tireless work. With a stroke of luck, the changes around town would be permanent.

Two mornings before Christmas Eve, I stepped out the front door of the Dew Drop Inn and nearly gasped at the high volume of tourist traffic.

The streets were bustling with visitors who were all looking for that authentic hometown Christmas experience. Judging from the smiles on their faces, they were getting it in spades.

It was cold out, but the sun was shining as I walked to the gallery. I reached it in the best of spirits.

Then, I noticed a silver Porsche with the vanity plates IMRICH parked out front.

I had a sick feeling in my gut that I knew exactly to whom that car belonged.

When I pulled open the door and saw Randolph, speaking hotly with Rosie, I learned I was right.

"Don't think that I'm going to take this lying down, missy," Randolph sputtered.

"Take what lying down? The fact that Greenfield did a good job promoting its Christmas festival?"

He sneered at her.

My instinct was to jump in, but I decided to hang back and let her handle the situation. Roseanne always seemed upset when I charged in to take things over.

I would jump in if I had to, but for the time being, I was content to watch. Besides, she was doing a fine job handling it on her own. I pretended to be extremely interested in an exhibit off to the side.

"Yeah, a Christmas festival that didn't exist until a few days ago." Randolph reached into his pocket and drew out his phone. "Since you're so intent upon pretending ignorance, young lady, I'll just show you what I'm talking about."'