Christmas in Sugar Rush Point

“Hear ye, hear ye.” Mayor Mint clears his throat and unnecessarily bangs his gavel on the podium. “I now call this meeting to order.”
The quirky Mayor of Sugar Rush Point assesses the assembled crowd to be sure there are enough eligible members present to conduct business before he welcomes everyone and reminds the town of the purpose of the meeting and the procedures that need to be followed.
The formality makes most of the townspeople roll their eyes at the person sitting next to them.
Then, everyone stands and places their right hands over their hearts to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in unison.
“You may all take your seats,” Mayor Mint states. “And may I remind you, public comments are next, and we will politely share our views with the governing body. It is not a time for debate.” His eyes scan the room, then he adds, “Did you hear me, Cole?” when they land on his son, the owner of the garden center.
Cole gives his father a thumbs-up. “Loud and clear, Dad.”
Mayor Mint clears his throat for what feels like the hundredth time before continuing. “The council will listen and may consider your input, but we will not engage in back-and-forth discussion during this period.” He leans forward, looking at the members of the council, then addresses one in particular. “Ms. Wren, did I make myself clear?”
Joy Wren owns and operates the Gingerbread Family Diner, which is better known as Gossip Central in the small, Christmas-themed town.
She sends him an enthusiastic wave. “All good over here, Mayor.”
“Excellent. Then, do we have any comments?” the mayor asks. “If not, we can move on to approve our minutes from the last meeting. All in favor of the minutes from—”
“I have a comment,” Carol Stitch, heir of The Woolen Scarf Yarn & Craft Shop, says as she stands and makes her way to the front of the room.
“Oh, dear lord!” Mayor Mint groans.
“Yes, my liege,” Lord Oliver answers as he stands from his seat in the second row on the right, where he is sandwiched between Cindy and Melanie Sweetmyer.
Cindy and Melanie are cousins in a misguided competition to win the affection of Lord Oliver. It’s misguided because the man who works for them at Frosted Peaks Ice Cream Shop is gay and has been trying to win the attention of Chris Pringles from the Snowplow Boutique since he arrived in town claiming to have been ousted by his “royal” family for his sexual preferences.
“Sit down, Oliver,” Mayor Mint demands. “Carol, make it fast. The Curse of Danger Island is on tonight and I don’t want to miss the beginning.”
“I want to talk about yarn bombing.”
The room groans audibly.
“With the tourist season coming soon, the streets could use a little colorful art.”
Cyrus Smelt, one of the triplets from The Crackling Log Fire Department, says, “Yeah, that’s just what we need. Lamp posts and trees wrapped in kindling.”
Carol gasps when Cyrus grunts from the elbow to his gut from his brother, Blaze. “My art is not kindling, you behemoth! Yarn bombing has an international day dedicated to it.”
“There’s a National Kiss a Ginger Day, too,” Cyrus, the blonde triplet, says. “But I don’t see you slipping Blaze the tongue.” Blaze is the redheaded triplet, leaving the brunette, Phoenix, the only one not involved.
“I wouldn’t put it past any of you Smelt brothers,” Snow Berry, owner of Snow Berry Tow Truck & Garage and Phoenix’s sworn enemy, says, involving the last of the triplets.
Mayor Mint pounds his gavel on the podium. “Be quiet,” he demands. “Enough with this nonsense. I have a show to watch. Carol, I’m warning you for at least the tenth time. You can get into trouble for yarn bombing public property. Yarn bomb your house if your fingers are itching for some knitting.”
Carol grumbles her way back to her seat as Mayor Mint asks for a show of hands to accept the minutes from the last town meeting.
Surprisingly, no one opposes them, and the mayor moves on to the main discussion of the meeting.
Clearing his throat yet again, Mayor Mint says, “We all know Patty Presser from The Jolly Reindeer Cleaners is now in a better place and her storefront is empty.”
“She’s not dead, Mike,” Nana Ginger Truebee, a friendly senior who makes the best gingersnaps and runs a book club for seniors who read dirty romance out of her grandson’s shop, Plum Tree Bookstore, says. “Patty is getting out of the hospital with a new hip next week.”
Rowan Frost, Ginger’s grandson, puts a calming hand on his grandmother’s shoulder.
“I know that, Ginger,” Mayor Mint responds. “But her shop is empty all the same. She’s already confirmed she can no longer operate the store on her own. With no children to take over, it would default to her next of kin. Patty only has one niece, and the town ordinances state she needs to claim the property by next week or the town will put the shop up for auction.”
“Patty needs the money for her hospital bills,” Neve Flurry from Snow Drop Snow Removal shares.
Gloria Crispderbilt, Neve’s best friend and co-owner of the business, nods her head. “I saw Patty yesterday, and she said she’s not able to come home yet. She’s going to the rehabilitation center for two weeks. She’s still trying to find Phoebe, but she’s on the Cayman Islands, and Patty’s having a hard time reaching her.”
“Be that as it may,” Mayor Mint sympathizes, “we have laws to follow. If Phoebe isn’t in Sugar Rush Point and ready to accept ownership by the end of next week, I’m afraid the store will have to go up for auction. Patty can’t manage the store on her own any longer.”
He bangs his gavel again. “Moving on. Meeting adjourned. I have a show to—”
The door to Town Hall flies open, and everyone turns in their seats to see who the latecomer could be.
Flying through the door comes a bride with a white lace veil hanging from the side of her head and a short white dress covering her tan skin. She pulls a piece of luggage in each hand with a backpack on her body and an oversized purse slung over her shoulder.
“Who on earth is that?” Candee Harte from Candee Harte’s Candy, Bakery & Coffee Shop asks her Auntie Meg, who sits next to her with her cat named Cupcake inside a baby body carrier strapped to her front.
Auntie Meg smirks. “Trouble.”
The bride rushes to the front of the room where Mayor Mint stands looking agitated and in a hurry to get home for his program.
“Am I too late?” the bride inquires. “Aunt Patty told me to turn left at Silver Bells Electric.”
Atlas Sage chuckles. “Patty has never been good with directions.” Atlas is a forest ranger and runs the market at Gumdrop Mountains.
“Anyway,” the bride continues, shoving her veil out of her line of vision, then she rips it clear off her head with a grumble. “I’m here now.”
“Young lady,” Mayor Mint questions. “Who exactly are you?”
Standing straighter, she says, “Phoebe Presser. I’m Patty’s niece. I’m here to take over the store.”
The room expels a collective gasp.
“Aunt Patty mentioned something about a pipe in need of whatever servicing pipes need, and someone by the name of Logan Flame. Is he here?”
She looks around the room as the rest of the townspeople turn to look at Keegan Flame, owner of North Wind Heat Company and town widower, sitting at the back of the room by himself.
Without a word, Keegan stands and walks out and a few people gasp while others whisper to one another.
Keegan’s wife was found unresponsive in the bridal suite on the day of their wedding. In her wedding gown.
Mayor Mint slams his gavel for the last time. “Silence! Phoebe, come to my office first thing in the morning. If you have proper identification and Patty confirms you’re her next of kin, the store is all yours. Meeting is officially adjourned.”