Page 11 of Brewing Up Christmas
Eli grinned, a sense of warmth spreading through him. “That sounds perfect. Margot’s good at that kind of thing. I’m sure she’s already got half the event planned out.”
Nolan chuckled. “You’re probably right. She loves stuff like this. The more festive, the better. I figured you wouldn’t mind having some extra hands on deck.”
“Are you kidding?” Eli said, shaking his head. “That’s exactly what we need. I want this to be something special, something people remember.”
The truck rumbled over a small hill, and as they crested the top, Nolan pointed ahead. “There it is.”
Eli leaned forward, squinting at the sight before him. In the distance stood a massive pine tree, towering above the others like a sentinel watching over the forest. It was tall—easily twenty feet, just like they’d planned—and its branches stretched wide, thick with green needles dusted in snow. The perfect Christmas tree.
Nolan slowed the truck to a stop, and they both climbed out, the cold biting at their cheeks as they approached the tree.
“What do you think?” Nolan asked, hands on his hips.
Eli circled the tree, admiring its size and shape. It was even better than he’d imagined—full, symmetrical, and absolutely perfect for the center square.
“I think we’ve found it,” Eli said, grinning from ear to ear.
Nolan nodded, clearly satisfied. “We’ll need to get some guys to help transport it, but I’ll make some calls. We’ll have this beauty in town by the end of the week.”
Eli couldn’t help but feel a swell of pride as he stared up at the towering tree. The meter flickered at the edgeof his vision, but this time, he didn’t need to see it to know that things were moving in the right direction. The Christmas spirit was building, little by little, and soon, the whole town would feel it.
“We’ll make this something special,” Eli said, more to himself than to Nolan. “Something the whole town will remember.”
Nolan smiled, clapping him on the back. “That’s the plan. Now let’s get this tree ready for its big debut.”
The Lighting Ceremony
The air was crisp, filled with the scent of pine and fresh snow as the entire town of Bayshore gathered in the square, their breath rising in small clouds as they chatted excitedly. Children zipped around in brightly colored coats and scarves, laughter echoing through the streets. The square had been transformed into a winter wonderland, with twinkling lights strung up across every building, wreaths hanging from the shop doors, and garlands draped over the lampposts. But the centerpiece, the true showstopper, was the massive twenty-foot tree standing proudly in the middle, its branches full and lush, waiting for the moment to shine.
Eli stood near the base of the tree, bundled up in his winter jacket, his breath coming out in visible puffs as he took in the scene around him. The sense of anticipation in the air was almost palpable, everyone buzzing with excitement for the big moment. Margot had really outdoneherself, roping in just about everyone in town to make the night perfect.
Kayla wove through the crowd with practiced ease, balancing a tray of hot chocolate and a basket of freshly baked cookies. She handed them out to the children with a soft smile. “Be careful, it’s hot,” she said to a little girl whose cheeks were flushed from the cold as she reached eagerly for a cup.
Over by the bar set up near the tree, Nolan was pouring mugs of hard apple cider and his signature spiced beer for the adults. The scent of cinnamon and cloves mingled with the crisp air, adding to the festive atmosphere. “This stuff’s stronger than it looks,” Nolan quipped as he handed a mug to a regular, a grin tugging at his lips. “You might need another once the lights are on.”
Eli smiled as he watched, the warmth of the scene spreading through him. This was exactly what the town needed—a reason to come together, to forget about the stresses of daily life and just enjoy the moment. The children were running around, chasing each other through the snow, while their parents chatted, mugs in hand, their laughter mingling with the festive music that played softly in the background.
Margot appeared beside Eli, her cheeks flushed with excitement as she surveyed the scene. “It’s perfect, isn’tit?” she said, her voice full of pride. “I knew this tree lighting would be a hit.”
Eli nodded, his gaze still fixed on the towering tree. “Yeah, it’s pretty amazing. The whole town showed up.”
Margot grinned. “Of course they did. This is the event of the season. Now, are you ready to flip that switch?”
Eli glanced at the crowd again, his eyes scanning the faces. He couldn’t help but feel a small pang of... something. Something that had to do with Angelina. She hadn’t shown up yet, and as much as he tried to push the thought away, he couldn’t help but wonder where she was and what she was doing.
“Yeah,” Eli said, snapping back to the moment. “Let’s do this.”
Margot gave him an encouraging pat on the back before moving off to help Kayla pass out more hot chocolate, leaving Eli standing by the switch. He stared up at the tree for a moment, feeling the weight of the moment settle over him. This was it—the culmination of all the work, the decorations, the holiday spirit building in the town over the last few weeks.
“Alright, folks!” Nolan’s voice rang out through the square, silencing the chatter as the crowd turned their attention to Eli. “It’s time for the main event! Let’s give a big hand to Eli, the guy who made all of this possible.”
The crowd erupted into applause, the sound of clapping and cheers echoing through the square. Eli felt a rush of pride, his heart swelling as he looked out at the smiling faces around him. He gave a small wave, feeling slightly awkward but also deeply grateful for the moment.
“Okay, Eli!” Nolan called out, a wide grin on his face. “Whenever you’re ready, flip that switch and light this place up!”
With one last look at the tree, Eli stepped forward and wrapped his hand around the switch. The whole town seemed to hold its breath as he paused, letting the anticipation build for just a moment longer. Then, with a grin, he threw the switch.
In an instant, the entire square was bathed in a warm, golden glow as the tree sprang to life. The lights twinkled across its branches, casting a soft, magical light over the snow-covered ground. The ornaments sparkled, reflecting the glow in a thousand different directions, and the star on top shone like a beacon, its light reaching out over the crowd. Gasps of awe and delight rippled through the townspeople as they stared up at the magnificent tree.
