Page 15 of A Curvy Carol
“How do you get it perfect every time?” Carolynn asked, clearly frustrated with hers.
I moved over to help her, taking the ribbon in my hands. My fingers ended up brushing hers, and I could’ve sworn I saw her blush a little. “Like this,” I said, making a big bow in no time. “Having parents like mine has its advantages, I guess.”
We’d spent hours upon hours making everything perfect at the lodge, including the bows hanging in every corner. But I liked doing this better, especially getting to do it with Carolynn.
Mrs. Mulberry walked in and brought her hands together in excitement. “Oh, you two have done a wonderful job.”
We grinned.
“What can we help with next?” I asked, my hand on one of the baskets.
“Actually, these baskets need to start going out. Someone’s coming by tomorrow to help me deliver most of them, but I have one that needs to go out today.”
“Okay,” Carolynn said. “Just tell us where.”
Pretty soon, we were on our way.
“That place is pretty neat,” I told Carolynn as we walked. I held the basket in my arms.
“Yeah,” she replied. “Most people think so. The city is able to fund a good part of it, but they’re always looking for donations and volunteers to be able to do more.”
“Well,” I said. “They just got one more volunteer.”
Now I had at least one place I could go when I was bored or lonely. It was great feeling useful and like I could make a difference. I wondered if my parents knew about Santa’s Elves. Maybe they could make an ongoing donation. I made a mental note to ask them about it later.
After walking for twenty minutes or so, we reached an old house on the outskirts of town. The yard was covered in a blanket of snow and the driveway only had a small path shoveled for someone to walk through, but the Christmas tree in the window shone bright and merry.
“This is Mrs. Sanderson’s house,” Carolynn said as we walked up the front steps. “Her husband passed away several years ago, and she doesn’t have any family in town.”
I wasn’t sure what to say to that, especially with the sad feeling in my chest, so I watched her knock on the front door.
A minute later, it opened up to reveal an old lady with short snow-white hair. “Carolynn,” she beamed. “And who’s this? Come on in.”
We went into a home that looked like something out of an old Christmas movie. The walls were covered in wood paneling, and every spare surface had cotton made to look like Christmas fluff, decorated with small figurines, snow globes, and even a nativity set.
“This is amazing,” I said, glancing around. “Do you collect Christmas decorations?”
She gave a hearty chuckle. “I thought that was required of everyone in Garland.”
Carolynn laughed, and the sound warmed me in a way I hadn’t expected. “That’s the truth.”
“Come sit,” she offered us. “Carolynn, I want to hear all about your latest projects and your handsome friend here.”
My cheeks flushed, and Carolynn grinned at me like she was enjoying my embarrassment.
Mrs. Sanderson turned out to be a really nice lady. She talked and talked and talked, and we listened.
She was grateful for the care basket, and she offered us cookies in return. We sat down at her kitchen table to enjoy them.
“Belle dropped these by just yesterday,” she told us.
I turned to Carolynn, wondering if she knew who Belle was. Everyone seemed to know each other here, except for me.
“She’s one of my best friends,” Carolynn explained. “She makes the best cookies in town.”
“More than just the town. These are probably the best cookies I’ve ever had in my life,” I said, taking another bite.
Mrs. Sanderson poured us each a glass of milk, and I was a little sad when my cookies were gone.