Holiday Hostage (Zoe Donovan Cozy Mystery Book 31) by Kathi Daley

Author:Kathi Daley [Daley, Kathi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kathi Daley Books
Published: 2018-12-17T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

After we left Salinger’s office, we headed back toward the shops in search of the additional stocking stuffers I’d decided I needed. I received a text from my mother just as we were leaving the candy store. She needed my help with something and had called the house. Alex had told her Zak and I were in town, and she hoped if we still were nearby, we could stop by the kitchen at the community center. The facility wasn’t all that far from where we were, so I texted back to say we were on our way.

“Did she say what the problem was?” Zak asked as we walked past the rink, where kids of all ages were ice-skating to holiday tunes.

“No. She’s been having more than her share of problems with the event this year. And the worst thing is that none of them are her fault or could have been prevented. It’s almost like Hometown Christmas is cursed.”

Zak took my hand in his. “I don’t think the event is cursed, but there does seem to have been a lot more glitches than usual. And the event doesn’t even start for a few more days. I hope for your mother’s sake that things begin to fall into place.”

When we arrived at the community center we found my mother pacing back and forth as she talked to someone on the phone. I could see she was more than just a little harassed, but until she got off the phone and explained the situation I couldn’t help. After a moment she hung up and looked at me.

“Do you have extra tree lights?” Mom asked.

I glanced at Zak.

“A few,” he answered.

“Someone ran into the big tree in the town square with their car. The tree is totally destroyed and the lights and ornaments are broken into a million pieces. I have a photographer from the Bryton Lake Courier coming this evening to take publicity photos. He specifically wanted one of the Victorian carolers in front of the tree. I called Levi, and he’s bringing over the biggest tree he has left on the lot, but we need lights. The holiday store sold out of tree lights this morning. They offered to order some, but it will take a few days to get them. I could send someone to Bryton Lake, but I don’t know if we have time for that before the photographer arrives.”

“I have lights,” Zak promised. “I’ll go get them.”

Mom put her hand on his arm. “Thank you, dear.”

“And I’ll go over to the town square to help Levi with the tree,” I offered.

Mom smiled at me.

“Don’t worry,” I assured the woman who had given me life and finally become part of my world only recently. “We’ll have everything looking great before the photographer arrives.”

As it turned out, Levi managed to get his football team to cut and transport a huge thirty-foot tree for the town. It was a bit tricky getting it secured, but with the help of the fire department, we got it in place.

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