Page 2 of Decked Out with Ivy
The driver bellowed out a laugh that would put Santa to shame. Cody waited for him to say something else, but he just kept laughing as if he’d heard the funniest joke in his life.
Maybe he did. Cody’s life seemed to play out like one big joke these days.
He settled into the seat and glanced out the window, watching trees fly by. Finally, a house appeared. Then two. Then three. Cody rubbed his eyes, trying to determine if he was actually awake or somehow fell into the ninth ring of hell.
Every house, every lawn, was decked out in Christmas décor. Light up reindeers and sleds, blowup snowmen and polar bears, lights strung from every tree branch, and was that a life size Santa and workshop?
“What the hell is this place?” he mumbled.
“Welcome to Red Maple Falls!” the driver announced.
“Are all the houses like this?” he asked.
“Some prefer the more traditional décor. Garland and candles in the window and the likes. But a few years ago, the town started a holiday lights competition like that show on TV. Have you seen it?”
“No.”
“Of course not. You hate Christmas. Anyway, the mayor of the town loves the show, and she wanted to make her own competition. The local businesses already have a window contest, but she had a bigger vision. Her house was the one with Santa and his workshop.”
“So she used her position in power to live out her personal fantasy.”
The driver laughed again. “I think whoever you were talking to was right. You need to find yourself some Christmas spirit.”
“The only Christmas spirit I want is in the form of a glass, but I can’t have that, because apparently, I have a problem.”
“Me too. Or at least I did. Twenty years sober. Best decision I’ve ever made.”
“So far it’s theworstdecision I’ve ever made, but it was that or give up my career. Since that’s the only thing I have worth anything to me, I had no choice.”
“It gets easier, especially when you find something or someone that fills that need in you.”
“It’s what I’ve heard, but so far I’ve been shit out of luck.”
“Who knows? Maybe your Christmas miracle is just around the corner.”
“Yeah sure.”
The driver eased to a stop in front of a store displaying snowboarding mannequins dressed in god-awful Christmas sweaters and—to complete the ridiculous ensemble—a Santa hat.
“What the hell is this place?”
“The address you gave me.”
Cody glanced out the window again, eyes roaming the other store fronts, confident the store he was looking for was next door. But their display of a winter wonderland log cabin and the sign ‘Let Us Find Your Home Sweet Home’ made it abundantly clear they did not sell clothing.
“Great,” he muttered.
“Take your time,” the driver said. “I’m not going anywhere.” He reached behind him for a newspaper and settled into the seat.
Cody nodded and eased out of the vehicle. He walked across the sidewalk and pushed open the door, only to be blasted in the face with heat, the smell of cinnamon, and the sound of Mariah Carey belting out her infamous song.
This might very well be the ninth circle of hell. His body involuntarily cringed as his eyes took in the overload ofChristmas clothing and décor. He’d heard the phrase,Christmas threw up in here, and if that was the case, this was violent.
On the other side were displays of… tuxedos.
“Hi! Can I help you?” a perky voice said from his left.
He cut his eyes toward the blonde-haired, light, brown-eyed woman who was wearing the same ridiculous sweaters as the mannequin in the window. Something that beautiful should not be wearing something so hideous.