Once Upon a Christmas by Holly Jacobs

Author:Holly Jacobs [Jacobs, Holly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2008-07-18T16:00:00+00:00

“I’m a little spider.

No matter where I roam,

I’m lucky, for you see

I’m never far from home.

So put me in your Christmas tree,

I’ll make a pretty guest.

My web will shine and sparkle there

Along with all the rest.”

She pulled another stack of papers from her bag. “And here’s a great legend, The Christmas Spider. I stapled the pages together into a booklet form. The kids will each get one when they buy the spider ornament, and they can color the pictures in it and give it along with the ornaments.”

“You are a crafty goddess,” Samantha said in awe and gave a mock bow.

“I like making things.” Carly shrugged. “I don’t know what it is about me that makes people think I’m not very domestic. I love to cook, and crochet.”

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s the arson charge?” Samantha teased.

“Hey, accidental arson, if you please?” Carly insisted with a grin. “And before you ask, yes, everything’s still fine with that. Henry Rizzo called and my hearing’s the same day as the Christmas Fair.”

“I wanted to be there for you—” Michelle was desperately trying to decide how she could manage the Christmas Fair from a distance, even as Samantha said, “I’ll be there.”

Carly shook her head. “I appreciate that, both of you. But Michelle, you’re running the fair, and Samantha, we’re a committee. Someone needs to be here helping Michelle. Henry assures me this is a formality. The judge just has to rubber-stamp the plea deal. I’ve already paid restitution, and if I don’t commit any more accidental arsons, they’ll eventually erase the conviction. Since I never plan to marry again, there’s no worries about being cheated on and needing to burn another couch.” She was trying to make a joke of the incident, but Michelle knew how badly Carly had been hurt by her ex and her heart ached for her friend.

“It’s first thing Christmas Fair morning,” Carly continued. “So, I’ll get that out of the way, then be here in time to help with lunch.”

Every year, volunteers working the Christmas Fair were treated to a potluck lunch. In addition, Michelle had called Urbaniak’s a couple weeks ago, and they were very generously donating a meat-and-cheese platter. The neighborhood meat market had always been willing to help out Erie Elementary. As for the potluck part, the mothers would each bring a dish. She’d already sent a sheet around.

So, what do you want to start on?” Carly apparently wanted to change the subject. “Spiders or punch-tin ornaments?”

Michelle didn’t press her, but simply said, “Why don’t we do the spiders? I think the ornaments are pretty straightforward. Punching holes. Even I can do that. The spiderweb thing sounds more complex.”

Carly ran them through the very basic design. Black pipe cleaners made the spokes, and the glittery thread was the webbing itself. The spider was a black foam half-ball with little googly eyes glued on, and pipe cleaner legs.

After a couple attempts, Michelle and Samantha got the hang of it, though their spiders for some reason didn’t look as good as Carly’s.

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