by Valerie Tate
She was itching to get out the boxes of decorations and get started but she couldn’t think about that now. Saanvi was waiting. She’d have to hurry if she was going to shower and change and get to the Town Hall by ten.
And then she had a horrible thought. She was going to have to congratulate the mayor on her brilliant plan. What a way to ruin a day.
Chapter 2
The brief snowsquall had stopped and the sun had started to peak through the clouds when Alicia drove down Dunbarton’s main street where, in July and August, the Dunbarton Scottish Pipe Band paraded every Saturday evening. But now it would soon be winter and the Christmas decorations had been up for a couple of weeks. The sight filled her to the brim with the Christmas spirit.
Wreaths with red bows graced the Victorian style lampposts, garland stretched across the street and mini-lights crisscrossed the empty branches of the trees that lined the road. The small panes of the store windows were frosted and glittering with lights. And best of all, Santa’s castle had been set up in the park in front of the bandshell. Next Saturday, the Santa Claus parade would wend its way down this very street and Santa would be coming to take up residence in the castle, to the delight of the town’s children.
Momentarily forgetting her worries about what Saanvi wanted, Alicia pulled her truck into a parking space behind the town hall and then walked briskly to the front door. The wind off the lake tugged at her hair and she wished she hadn’t left her wool hat in the truck but if she happened to run into the mayor, she didn’t want it to be with hat head.
Skipping the elevator, she climbed the stairs to the second floor and found her way to Saanvi’s office. The deputy mayor was waiting for her in the open doorway.
“Thank you so much for coming,” she said, her voice sounding anxious. “Come and sit down. Would you like some coffee? Or tea? Or water? Anything?”
Alicia had never seen her friend so rattled. She took one of the chairs in front of the desk and sat down saying, “No, thanks Saanvi, I just had breakfast.”
Instead of sitting behind the desk, Saanvi sat down in the chair beside Alicia’s. Her ebony hair was long, sleek and shining. It turned under a little at the ends and framed a face with delicate features and large, brown eyes. Her suit was a deep rose colour and it elegantly fitted her slim figure. Alicia thought, as she always did, how beautiful and exotic Saanvi looked. She would have been the perfect picture of a successful local politician if it weren’t for her haggard expression.
“Did you see the morning paper?” the deputy mayor began.
Alicia nodded.
“So, you know about the gingerbread competition?”
Alicia nodded again, but this time a little warily. “Yes, Chris and I were discussing it over breakfast. Quite a coup for the mayor.”
“Yes, it is and she’s very excited about it. In fact,” she added thoughtfully, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen her quite this excited about anything.”
Alicia decided to take the bull by the horns. “And am I assuming correctly that she’s given the whole thing to you to organize?”
Saanvi gave a deep sigh and nodded, her face the picture of misery. “Yes. I have just two and a half weeks.” She reached behind her and grabbed a binder from the desk, opening it to a printed list. “It’s to have three separate categories: gingerbread houses, cookies and cake. There are monetary prizes in each of the three categories: three hundred dollars and an engraved plate for first, two hundred dollars and a small trophy for second and one hundred and a trophy for third. People will sign up here in the lobby. They will do the baking at home and bring it on the day before the competition. It will be held in the rotunda at the new community centre which has to be decorated, as does the entrance. The mayor also wants a life-sized, wooden gingerbread house built and decorated, to stand in front of the rotunda, where people can have their pictures taken. The television show will be shot in the banquet hall kitchen as well as the rotunda and I expect they’ll want to include the large gingerbread house in it in some way. If it’s not too cold it would be a good place to hold the opening ceremony where the mayor welcomes Miss Dove to the town.” Saanvi glanced around nervously and then lowered her voice to say, “The mayor just threw this at me and the time is really short. I wondered if you could help me organize it. I thought, since the theatre’s closed for the winter, you’d have the time.”
Why did everyone assume she did nothing from November to May? When did they think the plays were chosen and cast? When were the sets built and the costumes made? And then there were the horses and the barn to be looked after. Who did they think did that? Alicia was fuming but tried not to show it.
“If I agree, what will the mayor say when she finds out I’m helping you? You know she and I are not best buddies.” That was an understatement.
“It was actually her idea,” Saanvi admitted, looking a little shamefaced. “When I told her I didn’t think I could get everything done in such a short time, she said I should ask you since you wouldn’t have anything much to do until spring.”
Alicia could feel a slow burn rising. Of all the nerve! She had a good mind to tell them to forget it but seeing Saanvi’s woeful expression she didn’t have the heart to say no.
Taking a deep, calming breath she said, “Okay, I’ll help out but on one condition.”
“Anything!” Saanvi exclaimed, willing to dance with the Devil if that’s what it took to get Alicia on board.
“My mom makes great gingerbread, in fact we call her ‘The Queen of Gingerbread’. I know she will want to enter the competition and I don’t want her to be disqualified because I’m helping organize it.”
Before Saanvi could reply, her phone rang and she hurried to answer. “Yes, she’s here… Yes, I’ve asked her…She has one condition…We’ll be right in.”
Saanvi hung up the phone and looked nervously at Alicia. “The mayor wants to see us.”
Alicia’s stomach lurched, much as it had on the few occasions when she’d been called to the principal’s office as a student at school. But she wasn’t at school any more and the mayor wasn’t the principal or even her boss, well, not technically her boss. She took a deep breath and stood up.
“Then let’s go see the mayor,” she said, sounding much more confident than she felt.
She followed Saanvi into the next office where Mayor Marion Wright was standing behind a large, mahogany desk looking out the window at the spectacular view of bold, blustery Lake Huron with its whitecaps and soaring seabirds. Hearing the door close, she turned and looked stonily at Alicia. As always, she was dressed in a designer suit – this one navy with a pencil skirt and a jacket which flared out below a fitted waist. Seeing this, Alicia wished she’d dressed less casually than jeans and a wool sweater. It put her at a distinct disadvantage when dealing with the Dragon Lady.
Mayor Wright motioned for her to sit. As was her habit, Saanvi moved to stand a little behind the mayor, out of sight being, hopefully, out of mind.
“You have a condition on helping us with an activity that will greatly benefit the town?” The Mayor said it slowly, looking down her long, thin, pinched nose at Alicia from behind her black-rimmed glasses.
Alicia refused to be intimidated. “Yes, a small one,” she said firmly and then explained about her mother and the gingerbread.
The mayor considered for a moment and then nodded. “I don’t see that being a problem. In your capacity, you won’t be spending time with our judge so would have no opportunity to influence her decision.” She nodded condescendingly and added, “We will allow your mother’s entry if she wishes to make one.”
Since no one else appeared to have any say in the matter, Alicia assumed the mayor was using the ‘Royal We’.
“In that case, I would be happy to help,” she said with as much grace as she could muster. It was for the good of the town and would save Saanvi from a breakdown. She would just have to keep reminding herself of that.
“Good, that’s settled. Saanvi
knows what needs to be done and what our timeline is. The competition and show will take place in a little over two and a half weeks so you will need to work quickly. Thankfully, the decorations on the main street are already up, although I’ve ordered about a hundred white doves to be placed on the wreaths and garland as a tribute to our celebrity judge, Miss Davina Dove.” She paused for a moment before adding cattily, “Imagine calling yourself ‘The Divine Miss Dove’! What an ego that woman has.” The mayor smiled scornfully. “But her show is great publicity for the town so she can do whatever she wants. Let’s hope she doesn’t decide to kill someone.” The mayor snickered at her own joke.
Alicia just continued to bite her tongue.
Chapter 3
Dunbarton fairly crackled with excitement as news of the competition and television show spread and the next day all of the town’s best bakers rushed to line up in the town hall to fill out entries. One of the first to sign up was Betty Campbell, owner of Betty’s Baked Goods. There was some complaining about it not being fair to have a professional baker enter, but it was an open competition and the rules clearly stated that all were welcome so, while they might grumble about it, the people of Dunbarton continued to sign up.
It didn’t take long for Alicia’s mother, Alice, to call that morning. When she was younger, Alicia used to complain about having been named after her mom but then it had been pointed out that if she had been named after her father, James, her name could have been Jamesina or Jemima, so she thought better of it.
“I’ve entered the gingerbread contest!” Alice announced without preamble. “You know I make gingerbread to die for.”
Alicia couldn’t help laughing as she replied truthfully, “Yes, you do, Mom. Yours is the best I’ve ever tasted. Which category did you enter?”
“Gingerbread House. ” She paused and then announced with dramatic flair, “I’m going to make Dunbar House out of gingerbread!”
Thinking of the three-storey Victorian with its bay windows, tower and wrap-around verandah, Alicia exclaimed, “Wow, that’s going to be a challenge!”
“It is, but if I can pull it off, I know I can win. I’ve already done the paper templates. I just have to decide which gingerbread recipes to use for the different parts.”
“And you know you have to have something that isn’t part of the house for the judge to taste,” Alicia reminded her.
“I know and I’ve had a brilliant idea.” Alice was practically crowing. “Besides the house, I’m going to bake some fir trees to put on the lawn and a nest with cookies in it.” She waited for one breathless second before going on, “Dove-shaped cookies in honour of Davina Dove.”
“It’s a great idea, Mom. If you can pull that off, I’m sure you’ll win.”
“Thanks, dear. And I hear that you’re helping organize it all,” she added, trying to sound nonchalant but failing miserably.
“Yes, Mother, I am, but I won’t have any influence with the judge,” Alicia replied sternly.
“Oh, I don’t need any influence with the judge. My gingerbread will speak for itself. Now I’d better get to work on it. Bye, dear, love to Chris.”
“Bye, Mom.”
It was going to be a long few weeks, Alicia decided. She was already getting sick of hearing about gingerbread.
But gingerbread was on everybody’s lips, metaphorically speaking, when she arrived at The Coffee Bean, a popular spot on the main street for strong coffee, light lunches and sweet treats, to meet Saanvi for a planning lunch. The coffee shop had been opened a couple of years before and had immediately become a favourite with townsfolk and tourists alike. Located in one of the Victorian era buildings at the corner of King Street and Lakeview, a road that led up from the lake, it had retained its old-world charm with exposed bricks and beams. The addition of modern tables and light fixtures gave it a modern, trendy look.
The air in the café was buzzing with talk of the competition and of Davina Dove and her television show. All eyes turned to Alicia as she headed for the only empty table and sat down. Word had spread quickly, she thought with a sigh, as she smiled and nodded to people she knew. Then she turned to the chalk menu behind the counter and spent some minutes studiously considering the day’s offerings. She had just decided on ham, swiss cheese, lettuce and tomato on a baguette when the door opened and a gusty wind blew in. Looking back she saw Saanvi rushing towards her.
“Hi, sorry I’m late. Have you been waiting long?” she asked as she removed her cherry red coat and laid it across the back of an empty chair. “I got waylaid by people with questions about the competition and couldn’t get away.”
“Don’t worry, I just got here myself. Why don’t we order and then we can get to work while we’re waiting for the food.” Then, glancing at the neighbouring tables where people were shamelessly eavesdropping, she said, “On second thought, it might be better if we get our food for take-out.”
“That’s fine with me so long as we don’t take it to my office. Every time the mayor sees me, she adds something to my list of things to do.” Saanvi scowled, something she rarely did.
“Even on Saturday?”
“Well, maybe not,” Saanvi conceded, although not looking completely convinced. “Okay, let’s take it there and hope for the best.”
Loaded down with sandwiches, luscious desserts and hot coffee, they crossed the street and walked briskly to the Town Hall. The lobby was still full of people entering the competition so they ran quickly up the stairs and down the hall to Saanvi’s office where they laid the food out on her desk and then pulled up the leather tub chairs and sat down.
“So far, so good,” Saanvi said, relieved. “It would be nice to be able to enjoy my lunch without worrying that she’ll come in with another job to do.”
Privately, Alicia thought that Saanvi needed to take a firm stand with the mayor. She wasn’t her secretary. She was the deputy mayor with duties of her own which didn’t include constantly being at Marion Wright’s beck and call. But she would never say that to her friend. Saanvi would have to work things out for herself.
They ate their lunch in peace, chatting about this and that. Alicia asked after Saanvi’s husband, Ramesh, and was told that he was well and his accounting firm was doing nicely. Alicia had known Saanvi since elementary school. The deputy mayor had been a few years ahead of her but a mover and a shaker even then – student council president, valedictorian of her graduating class ˗ her political career had started early. Alicia had met her parents often over the years but she didn’t know Ramesh very well. What she did know, she liked. He was kind and very sociable, not too mention handsome with black hair and brown eyes and very finely sculpted features. She decided that, after the holidays, she’d invite them for dinner at the farm.
“What are you doing for Christmas?” she asked as she packed up the packaging from her lunch.
“It will just be Ramesh and me this year. My parents are going to India to visit with family there.” Saanvi sighed and then went on, “I don’t mind, really. It saves me from the constant questions about when Ramesh and I will be starting a family. We’ve been married for three years and my mother is getting impatient.”
“Chris and I have been asked that same question but I just told my mom that we’re not ready for children yet and I don’t know when we will be.” Alicia said it in the same, firm manner that she had used with her mother.
Saanvi looked at her friend in admiration. “I wish I could be that forthright with my mother. The truth is, Ramesh and I have been trying, but without success, for the past year. I’m starting to get worried.”
“Have you discussed it with your doctor?” Alicia felt a little uncomfortable asking the question but her friend seemed to want to talk.
“Yes, he said there is no reason to panic. It might just be stress and that I need to relax more, but how can I do that working with…” she jerked her head in the direction of the mayor’s office.
Squeezing her friend’s hand in sympathy, Alicia th
ought it best to change the subject. “Do you have much family in India?”
“A few aunts and uncles and a lot of cousins. My parents try to get there at least once a year. They wanted Ramesh and me to go with them, even offered to pay for the flight, but I couldn’t be away for that long.”
Alicia looked at her in surprise. “Why not? The council doesn’t meet over the holidays.”
“I know, but the mayor would have a fit if I was away that long. I’d feel like Bob Cratchit asking for Christmas day off.”
Alicia took a breath, stifled what she really wanted to say and asked, “When did your parents come here?”
“In the seventies, right after they were married. Both of them had learned English in school so they had no difficulty getting work in Toronto. My dad is an accountant. He answered an ad to look after the books at the old wool mill and he got the job so they moved here. When the wool mill closed, he started his own accountancy firm. That’s how I met Ramesh. He started working for my dad’s firm. Now my parents are pretty much retired and Ramesh is running things.”
“Where is your brother spending Christmas?” Alicia hadn’t known him in school, since he was older than Saanvi, but she knew he was a doctor in town.
