“And what about the budget?” Winston asked. “I strongly recommend we delay any abatement until the end of this fiscal period. Wait until March or even later.”

  “But you were the one concerned over the office spaces sitting vacant,” Krista reminded him. “Why would you want to delay it longer than necessary?”

  “Because it’s prudent.”

  “What about Christmasville?” the mayor demanded. “Are we going to let everyone down? Our volunteers planned to start working on the spaces in the upcoming weekend and throughout next week. What do we tell them?”

  “Tell them there’s been a change in plans.” Krista pointed to Byron. “Would you please give your legal opinion on this?”

  Byron explained his concerns and findings, finally reminding everyone that for the time being, the information was to be kept confidential.

  “This is bad, bad, bad.” The mayor shook his head. He frowned at Krista. “Couldn’t you have waited to discover this until after Christmas?”

  “You’d let innocent children into those dangerous spaces?” she asked. “Just to celebrate Christmasville?”

  “Well, no, of course not. It’s just that it’s so disappointing.”

  “I understand.” She tried to appear more concerned than she felt. It wasn’t that she wanted to shut down Christmasville completely, but she still had concerns about how this event appeared to dominate the town. It showed up everywhere she looked. Was that healthy? She attempted a smile. “Would you mind informing the Christmasville Committee? I think it would be easier to hear coming from you.”

  “Isn’t that a bit like Santa Claus canceling Christmas?” he said.

  “It’s not as if all of Christmasville is canceled,” she reminded him. “Just the part that was going to take place downstairs.”

  “I think we should cancel the whole thing,” Winston declared. “Think of the revenue the city would save.”

  Mayor Barry glared at Winston, looking as if he wanted to take him to task, but to Krista’s relief, he kept his thoughts to himself.

  “Well, unless anyone has any other questions or suggestions, let’s adjourn this meeting. Pauline will get a copy of the abatement bid to you as soon as we have it.” She stood, taking in the glum faces around the table. Well, except for Winston, who wore a smug look. “I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news,” she said. “But it is what it is.” She quickly gathered her paperwork and exited the room. Her fourth day on the job and she was already the bad guy. Winston might be Scrooge, but she was the Grinch . . . stealing Christmas.

  7

  Instead of returning to her office, Krista went downstairs to speak to Owen Payne. Something had occurred to her at the end of that unpleasant meeting. But she didn’t want to tell the others her idea yet, especially since she didn’t know whether it was even viable.

  “We’re nearly done with our measurements,” Owen told her as they stood outside of the elevator. “I’ll crunch the numbers as soon as we’re done, and hopefully have something for you. Perhaps by tomorrow. I know this is a rush job.”

  She thanked him then waved her hand to the foyer around them. “What about this space?” she asked. “Any asbestos or lead in here?”

  “Thankfully, no. And the elevator is clean too.”

  “That’s a relief. So staffers and visitors to the library and city are safe to pass through here?”

  “Probably. But it would be a good idea to have asbestos-free areas thoroughly cleaned by my team. Just in case any particles have gone airborne from an affected area. The hallways and front bathrooms are asbestos and lead free too. And the break room and kitchen are okay, as well as the offices that were remodeled. Again, I think they’ll all need a thorough cleaning, but that can happen when the abatement is complete.”

  “So, on your report, can you specifically list the spaces in need of abatement and the spaces that are clean and safe?”

  “Sure. That’s not a problem.”

  “Because I’m wondering . . . what if there were a way to temporarily contain the contaminated spaces and still be able to utilize the others—the ones that are clean? That way we could still host Christmasville in here—and do the abatement afterward. Do you think that’s feasible? Or am I crazy?”

  “That’s an interesting idea, but I’m not sure it’s possible.” He rubbed his chin. “Let me do some research and get back to you. Between the state and the feds, there are a lot of regulations for abatement procedures. I don’t want to give you false hopes.”

  “Well, if you discover it’s doable, can you give me a separate bid for that?” she asked. “Like stage one and stage two?”

  “Sure.” He made a note of this. “I’ll try to have it ready by the end of the day tomorrow.”

  “And, again, I want to remind you of our confidentiality agreement. We don’t want the whole town to hear about what’s going on down here. Might put a real damper on Christmasville.”

  “I’ve already told my team that mum’s the word.”

  She thanked him then headed back up to her office. Although she felt encouraged, she knew it was too soon to celebrate. She did share her news with Pauline though. “As soon as Owen sends that report, I want to see it,” she told her.

  “The mayor scheduled the Christmasville Committee for an emergency meeting tomorrow morning at ten. He expects you to be there, Krista, to give your report.”

  “You mean to deliver the bad news.” Krista frowned. “So I can be the Grinch.”

  Pauline patted her on the back. “Like you said, it is what it is. And, one more thing.” She glanced to Krista’s closed door. “Winston wants to talk to you in private. He asked me to let him know when you got back. Do you want to see him?”

  “Do I have a choice?”

  Pauline shrugged.

  “Go ahead and call him.”

  Pauline left and within minutes, Winston appeared at her door. She politely invited him in, waiting for him to sit. “What can I do for you?”

  “You can recommend to the Christmasville Committee that it’s time to put the brakes on their celebration.”

  “You know that’s not going to happen. All the festivities they usually have outside can still take place as planned. It’s only the first floor that—”

  “That means we’ll have to put out funds for new kiosks and all sorts of other expenses. One of the positives about using the first floor was to save money.” He scowled. “Although it makes more sense to lease those spaces.”

  “Except for the asbestos issue.”

  “Yes, well, that’s another problem. But I really do feel that you, as city manager, can exercise the authority to recommend that Christmasville take the year off. It’s the prudent thing to do.”

  “I don’t see that as my job,” she informed him. “If this were only a city function, maybe . . . but don’t forget there are others involved. The Chamber, the newspaper, the philanthropic groups.” She held up her hands. “It’s a community affair.”

  “But as city manager, aren’t you supposed to advise the city? Why don’t you recommend that it’s time the city removes our support of this money-pit celebration? Let the community own it if they want to, but let the city step out. The liabilities alone are reason enough to put the brakes on. What if someone got hurt? And imagine if you hadn’t discovered about the asbestos—what kind of lawsuit could occur when folks got wind of that?”

  “The truth is I’m not a big fan of Christmasville either,” she admitted, hoping that she could win him over by this confession. “I do understand what you’re saying. Perhaps it would be wise for the city to step aside and allow the community to own Christmasville. But I haven’t even been here a week. I can’t very well recommend pulling the plug. Maybe next year.”

  “I see.” Winston looked thoroughly disgruntled now. Had he really expected to convince her to take his side? “Well, perhaps when you see the numbers . . . just how much Christmasville costs us each year. Maybe that will change your mind.” He shook a fist. “I’m telling you, Ms. Galloway, it’s like pouring water down a rat hole. The city can’t afford it year after year. You’ll see.”

  “Great.” She forced a smile. “I can’t wait to see your financial report. And while we’re on the subject, didn’t Pauline request a copy of last year’s budget?”

  “Yes. I’m, uh, working on it.” He focused on removing what looked like an imaginary piece of lint from his tie.

  “Working on it?” She frowned. “Isn’t it just a matter of printing it out? I want last year’s budget, Winston. Not this year’s.”

  “I’m well aware of that.” He looked up with narrowed eyes.

  “Or tell me how I can access it on the computer,” she said pleasantly. “I haven’t seen any financial group docs, but you must have them.”

  “The City of Winter Hill isn’t quite that electronically evolved yet.”

  “Maybe that should be a goal,” she suggested. “It wouldn’t just save time, it would save paper. And ultimately it would save money too.”

  “Right.” He sounded seriously irritated.

  “Or you could just email me a digital doc. I prefer working on paper, but I can have Pauline print it for—”

  “You’ll get your hard copy,” he snapped. “I’ll ask my assistant again.”

  “Thank you.” She studied him as he left her office. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but something about his demeanor felt somewhat sneaky, or slippery, or untrustworthy. Did Winston have something to hide? Or was she just being overly suspicious?

  By noon on Friday, Krista was ready for a break. As she walked to Dasher’s Deli to meet Beth for lunch, she replayed her frustrating morning. She’d barely hung up her coat when Winston Palmer stepped into her office, making her wonder if she should rethink her open-door policy. Although Winston still hadn’t given her a budget report doc, he did have some new excuses. But the real purpose of his visit was to win her over to his side. Relentless in his opposition to the city’s involvement in Christmasville, Winston had created a list of ten reasons why it was time to pull the plug.

  Although she actually agreed with some of his logic, she diplomatically told him she’d think about it. But later, when she’d met with the Christmasville Committee, she wondered if Winston wasn’t actually on the right track. Naturally, Mayor Barry—who was acting quite chilly—insisted that Krista be the one to inform the committee that they’d have to find another location for Christmasville. And Martha Morgan, previously the congenial children’s librarian, was very upset by the news. She’d grown even more angry when Krista offered no explanation. In fact, the whole committee was upset. They acted as if Krista were personally responsible for their disappointment and changed plans. She couldn’t get out of there fast enough.

  As much as Krista had wanted to give the committee a smidgeon of hope, she still hadn’t heard back from Owen Payne on the possibility of using the clean part of the first floor. And she didn’t want to elevate their hopes only to dash them later. Even her own online research had yielded no firm answers. Although some websites described how to temporarily confine an asbestos area, others warned that occupancy in attached areas was dangerous—which made her wonder about the safety of City Hall in general. Perhaps they were all at risk.

  “You look perplexed,” Beth said as she joined Krista at a table in back. “Hard week?”

  “It’s had its ups and downs. That’s for sure.” Krista sighed as she set down her phone. “If you don’t mind, I’d rather not talk about work right now. I could use a break.”

  “Absolutely.” Beth smiled as she sat down. “So how is Emily doing? Is she getting settled in?”

  Relieved for a distraction, Krista gave Beth the lowdown on her daughter, telling her how much Emily loved her new school and new teacher and new best friend. “The only negative is the after-school care. Emily is not a fan.” She shook her head. “I don’t know what to do about that. Fortunately, she’s been invited to her friend’s house for the afternoon today. I just met Laurel Myers’ mother yesterday. She seemed very nice.”

  “Jessie Myers is a good friend of mine. She’s a delight. I’m so glad Emily has made friends with Laurel. That’s perfect.”

  “And I’m hoping with a couple days off during the weekend, she’ll be ready for the after-school care again by Monday. I honestly don’t know what else to do.”

  “I know what you mean. But there are a couple of options to occupy kids after school. Like dance lessons or karate or art class. And there’s the park and rec’s swim team—my boys are involved in that. Although Emily’s probably a little young. Or you could always look for a babysitter.”

  “Good ideas. I asked Emily to hang in there until winter break, but that’s almost a month away. And then I’ll need to find full-time care for her.”

  “It’s such a hassle being a single parent.” Beth paused as their orders were set down. “Believe me I know.”

  “You’re single too?”

  “Yep. Divorced about six years ago. He’s remarried with two step-kids and a new baby on the way. Fortunately, he lives less than a mile away and still likes spending time with his own sons. And my boys get along pretty well with their step-sibs.” She shrugged. “So I guess it could be worse. How about your ex? Does he stay involved with Emily?”

  “He and his new wife live in Atlanta. He keeps promising to help with child support and to see Emily when he can, but it never seems to happen. Not like he says it will anyway. I try not to get her hopes up.”

  “Poor Emily. That must be hard on her.”

  “She’s pretty resilient.” Krista sighed. “To be honest, I don’t really mind that he’s out of the picture. In a way, it makes life simpler. Although I’m concerned it could hurt Emily in the long run. If he ever gets to the place where he wants a relationship with his daughter, I won’t stand in the way. But for now, it’s easier to just be on our own.”

  They continued to visit as they ate, and before she knew it the lunch hour was over. “That was so nice,” she told Beth as they walked outside. “It’s great getting to know you.”

  “Maybe we should make this a regular thing.” Beth smiled.

  “I’d love to.” Krista paused as Beth checked her phone.

  “Looks like an interesting story breaking at the high school,” Beth told her. “I better go check it out. But let’s be sure to do this again, Krista. Real soon, okay?”

  Krista agreed and then they parted ways. She wasn’t eager to get back to work. It had already been a long week. Not at all what she’d imagined for a small-town city manager. But at least it hadn’t been boring. She stopped by Pauline’s desk on her way into her office. “Any word back from Owen Payne?” she quietly asked.

  “Nothing.”

  “What about the other contractors?” Krista asked. “Have any agreed to come in and give bids?”

  “My son is down there right now.” Pauline shuffled through some mail. “I hope you don’t mind that I asked him. Conner’s pretty busy these days, but he promised to come during his lunch break. He’s been down there about an hour. At the very least, he’ll give us a bid that can compare to Payne’s.”

  “Yes, the more bids, the better. Thank you.”

  “And Conner reminded me that next week is Thanksgiving. He wondered if you and Emily had any plans.”

  “No, I haven’t given it a thought.”

  “Then why don’t you join us out on the farm? I’ll bet Emily would enjoy playing with our kids.”

  “You have other kids? Or do you mean grandkids?”

  Pauline laughed. “Well, Anna will be there, but she doesn’t consider herself a kid anymore. She’s our only grandchild, although my daughter Julia has been talking about it lately. But I was referring to baby goats. Goat kids.”

  “You raise goats?”

  “My husband does. After he retired from the construction business, he turned into a full-time farmer. And for some reason he has a penchant for goats. I must admit the kids are a lot of fun, but a lot of work too. Still, that’s Roy’s problem, not mine. Keeps him out of trouble.”

  “Well, I’m sure Emily would love to see your kids. And we’d love to join you for Thanksgiving. Let me know what we can bring.”

  “Yes, as soon as I figure it out—” She paused for her phone. “Looks like Winston calling again. You want to take this in your office?”

  Krista grimaced. “Or not at all. Tell him I’m out, Pauline. I want to duck down to the first floor to see if Conner can shine any more light on our challenge.” She glanced over her shoulder, realizing she’d have to walk past Winston’s office in order to use the elevator. She held up her phone. “Call me if you hear back from Owen Payne.” And without looking back, she hurried toward the stairwell. Hopefully Winston wouldn’t spot her and follow.

  8

  Krista found Conner emerging from one of the offices with an UNSAFE TO OCCUPY sign on the door. “Don’t you need a mask or something in there?” she demanded.

  “As long as no one’s stirring up dust, it’s relatively safe.” His brow creased slightly. “So, how are you doing, Krista? All settled in? Everything going okay?”

  “Sorry. I guess that wasn’t a very friendly greeting. But I’ve been pretty stressed over the situation down here.” She attempted a smile. “And I really do appreciate you taking time to look around.”

  “Well, I’ve got all the measurements. It’s helpful that Owen Payne marked the rooms in need of abatement. Saves time.” He held up his notepad. “I should be able to get an estimate to you by the end of the day.”

  “Really? That soon?”

  “Well, I know it’s a big deal—what with Christmasville and all. And it’s good you’ve got Payne on it too. He’s dependable. If he’s got time to get right on it, you couldn’t do any better. But I understand the need for comparable bids—and to get it abated quickly.”

  “Yes, absolutely.” She nodded. “Do you have time for a few questions?”

  “Buy me a cup of coffee and I’m all yours.” He checked his watch. “Well, for a while anyway. Got a date with an inspector at two thirty. But we’re meeting here in City Hall. After I’m done with that, I’ll go over my notes. I should have something for you before five.”