Their town square hosted such scenes as the Ghost of Christmas Present’s journey through London and the final celebration after Scrooge’s transformation. The Christmas Company spared no expense or labor in making it a dreamscape of holiday fantasy. Paintings on Christmas cards and backdrops in Bing Crosby movies couldn’t compare. Lush green garlands wrapped in red ribbons adorned the storefronts covered in fake snow and frost. Countless fairy lights illuminated wreaths and holly, ornaments and decorations of every size and description. Outdoor lanterns and lampposts blazed. No matter where a visitor turned to look, the town simply glowed. It was the perfect backdrop for Tiny Tim to sit on Scrooge’s shoulder and shout, “God bless us, everyone,” and no matter how hard she tried to remain professional, Kate always cried when they got to that part.

When she finally set her feet on solid ground, Kate braced herself for an earful from Miss Carolyn. After volunteering with the festival since she was seven years old, Kate graduated to full-time employee status at nineteen, the youngest person ever hired by The Christmas Company, and as Assistant of Festival Operations, her list of duties was as extensive as it was satisfying. She ran into trouble, though, with her enthusiasm. As a volunteer, she scrambled to make herself useful, invaluable. Now, as an employee, she always found herself trying to do everything, a habit her boss hated. Miss Carolyn wanted her at her side, not off fixing the hem of Mrs. Cratchit’s costume or refilling the mulled wine in Fred’s apartment scene.

“What have I told you about getting up on that ladder?” Miss Carolyn asked, hands firmly on her hips, silver eyebrow firmly raised. Kate avoided her gaze. She focused instead on breaking down the ladder for storage, no easy task considering the ladder’s height.

“Tomorrow’s the big day and everything has to be perfect.”

“There’ve got to be a thousand lights on that tree. How in Heaven’s name did you spot the broken one?”

There were actually 12,460 lights on the Main Street Christmas tree, but Kate didn’t want to correct her boss. Or look like the biggest festival nerd in town, though everyone probably already suspected as much. She shrugged.

“It’s a gift.”