Page 6 of Decked Out with Ivy
It sounded like a total nightmare.
The sheriff, Matt Hayes, started handing out trespassing tickets with very high fees to those jerks. Even threw one unruly bonehead into the single jail cell for harassment and disorderly conduct. News had spread, and Bex had been able to live a simpler life here, but now that it had gotten out that she was shooting her next movie here, unfamiliar faces with professional cameras in hand popped up on the sidewalks of Main Street, hoping to get a snap of Bex.
“My brother should have laid the bastard out, but he has more restraint than me,” Brooke said before taking a sip of her beer.
Ivy imagined the headlines. Those tabloids were ruthless and would twist the truth to get clicks.
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Treebillowed out of the overhead radio. A loud “woot!” came from across the brewery, and Ivy glanced over as Terry, the fiery redheaded owner of the Happy Apple, threw her arm in the air as she danced. She was in a black velour jogging suit lined with leopard print and swapped out her usual heels for a pair of leopard print sneakers, and she put those sneakers to work as she moved.
Louise tapped the table in front of Ivy. “FYI, Shay’s pissed at how good you decorated your shop’s window.”
Shay, Louise’s boss, owner of Sweet Dreams Bakery, cupcake extraordinaire, and wife to the sheriff, took her Christmas window display very seriously.
Ivy retrieved her knitting needles out and the mitten she started working on earlier that day. “She’s won the last two years in a row.”
“And she wants to keep winning.”
Ivy didn’t do it for the win. She did it because she genuinely enjoyed decorating for the holiday. Though, she would never turn down a trophy.
“A little competition never hurt anyone. Besides, there’s no way my display is going to beat hers.” If she had a bigger budget and more help, there might have been a chance. There was always next year.
“You have mannequins snowboarding,” Brooke pointed out.
“Yes, but Shay has a real gingerbread house the size of me, including an entire forest with wildlife and all.”
Louise smiled. “It’s awesome, isn’t it? We’ve been working on the design since July.”
“July?” Ivy let her needle and yarn fall into her lap. “I need to step up my game. I’m supposed to be Queen of Christmas, and I didn’t start planning until October.”
“Don’t admit that,” Brooke said. “The Queen of Christmas would have started planning the day after the last winner was announced.”
Louise pressed her lips together and nodded her agreement.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Ivy took a sip of her beer—a delicious IPA that had won Mason, the owner and brewer, many awards.
“Oh, by the way, bumped into your cousin earlier,” Louise said.
“Which one?” Ivy asked, though by the tone she already knew it was Trey. For whatever reason those two could not handle being in the same room without taking a swipe at one another.
“Trey,” she said with little to no emotion.
“What did he do now?” Ivy asked, though she already knew it was something petty.
“Stole my parking spot. I got here early to pick up some growlers from Mason for Shay’s stout cupcakes, and the jerk pulled right in front of me.
“Why was he here in the middle of the day?”
“He was meeting with Tyler about a potential property,” Brooke said.” Tyler owned a vacation rental business, and Ivy’s cousin was a realtor, so they worked together often.
“Still doesn’t excuse him from stealing my spot.”
“Do you want me to yell at him for you?” Ivy joked.
“Yes, please.” Louise smiled big, flashing her perfectly straight teeth. “Thank you.”
Cassie, Mason’s fiancée, climbed on a chair and held her hand up. “Five minutes until game time!” she announced. Ivy had been waiting to put the Hayes brothers in tuxedos again for Cassie and Mason’s wedding, but it hadn’t happened yet. Everyone had been waiting, but Cassie didn’t want to intrude on all the other engagements and weddings happening in their small town.
Mason came over and grabbed Cassie by her sides, hoisting her to the ground. She rested her hand on his chest and kissed him.