Savannah adjusted the large wreaths on the wooden doors of The Enchanted Land of Claus. They looked slightly askew, and in this Christmas wonderland, she wanted everything perfect. Within the wreaths she had placed a small chalkboard, with a countdown to Christmas, starting at the two-week mark. Savannah erased the number six and wrote the number five in bright green chalk. She drew a little spruce tree above the 5. A blue spruce in honor of The Blue Spruce Inn.
“Five more days until Christmas. It’s unbelievable, isn’t it, Fern?” The two women were the only ones in the employee lounge. All other elves and sheriffs reported to duty, ensuring everything was in working order within The Enchanted Land of Claus.
“All good things must come to an end,” Fern replied matter-of-factly, draining her cup. ”Like this cup of tea! Showtime in ten minutes, girlfriend!” Fern rinsed her cup and her fleet feet danced her out the door.
“Showtime,” Savannah said solemnly. She was giving herself the once over in the full-length mirror, adjusting her blue stocking hat so the snowball of a pompom was right above her left shoulder. All too soon the beautiful dress will go in storage for the next year, she solemnly thought, flouncing the skirt and turning halfway around to make sure it billowed when she moved. There were five days until Christmas, but that meant only three days for The Enchanted Land of Claus, as it officially closed the day before Christmas Eve, and December 23rd loomed like a threatening snowstorm. But Mrs. Claus still had one last gift to deliver, and a few minutes was all she needed to put her plan into action.
“The Blue Spruce Inn. This is Ginny. How may I help you?”
Savannah’s Blue Spruce Inn Christmas reservation now belonged to Jolene and Sylvene.
“I will send you an email confirmation immediately, with the details. I will make arrangements for my son to pick them up at the train station as well.”
“Yes, an email confirmation would be appreciated. Thank you so much for accommodating me.”
“The pleasure is all mine, Ms. Brady. Merry Christmas, my dear. And I can assure you your friends will have a wonderful holiday.”
“I have no doubt they will,” Savannah said.”Merry Christmas.”
Savannah put her phone into her bag. She had it on excellent authority from Molly that Jolene and Sylvene would not be venturing out for Christmas, nor would anyone be visiting. Jolene’s mother was scheduled to come but Jolene’s sister gave birth prematurely, and her mother was going to help. Sylvene’s grandmother postponed her visit with her older daughter and granddaughter until Sylvene’s February vacation.
“Those two need this more than I do,” Savannah whispered, glancing once more into the mirror. A sudden lightness of mood lifted her spirits which were down moments before she phoned the inn to change the reservation. Granting a little girl’s Christmas wish was the consummate Mrs. Claus finale. Savannah had not felt this happy in a long time. She was thoroughly delighted by the children who visited The Enchanted Land of Claus, as she was with the parents and the older folks who simply wanted to stroll down a happy Christmas memory lane. She felt privileged to be a part of this magical Christmas world that brought not only Christmas back into her life, but some very special people as well, elves and sheriffs she would never have met had it not been for being Mrs. Claus.
Savannah and Fern’s friendship wouldn’t go into storage like the Christmas decorations. People come and go in life, and they certainly did for Savannah, but she knew Fern Rhodes would be a part of hers forever. The bond they created over endless cups of peppermint tea, soothing crying children, having frosting squirted in the eye, and simply being a part of something so special was cemented in cookie icing for decades to come.
Yes, she thought before hitting the floor in her penultimate appearance as Mrs. Claus, I have one more Christmas wish left to grant and it is probably the most important one of all. Savannah then heard the jingle of the opening bell and like Fern, she danced onto the floor of The Enchanted Land of Claus with Christmas magic in each step.