Free We Need a Little Christmas by Sierra Donovan

the Christmas tree boxes on top of the check-in counter in the hotel lobby.
    Lobby didn’t really describe the front area of The Snowed Inn.
    With everything that had happened this week, Christmas had only peripherally entered Liv’s mind. That changed when she walked through the door. The scents of pine, cinnamon, and crackling logs embraced her. Pine garland, red berries, and white lights served as accents on every available surface, from the mantel of the fireplace on the left wall to the banister of the curved staircase in the center of the room. A big Christmas tree stood next to the stairs, tinsel shimmering from every branch. Strung popcorn wrapped around the tree from top to bottom. Without thinking, Liv reached out and fingered one of the puffs of popcorn. Sure enough, it was real. She couldn’t help but smile.
    â€œI think she likes it.” Scotty’s voice pulled her attention past the tree, where he and Jake still stood by the gleaming dark wood check-in counter.
    Liv stepped forward to join them, but she had trouble keeping her eyes still. A six-foot nutcracker figure stood guard on the other side of the stairs, and the half of the lobby to the soldier’s right was filled with cozy-looking chairs and sofas, as well as a second fireplace. Reluctantly, Liv dragged her eyes away from the unexplored half of the inviting room, joining Scotty and Jake by the counter.
    â€œThanks for the trees,” Jake was saying. “How did we luck into two?”
    She tried to think of the simplest way to condense the story. “We were going through my grandmother’s things. Scotty said this would be a good home for them.”
    â€œThis is Liv Tomblyn,” Scott said belatedly. “She’s—”
    â€œOlivia Neuenschwander’s granddaughter. Of course,” Jake said, as if he should have known all along.
    â€œYou knew Nammy, too?” She was just about positive she’d never seen him before. And somehow, as friendly as he seemed, he didn’t quite feel like a Tall Pine native.
    â€œMandy did. Mrs. Neuenschwander was one of her best customers at the Christmas store.”
    The Christmas store. Mandy Claus. Memories started to take shape in Liv’s mind.
    â€œI’m sorry about your grandma,” Jake was saying. “I know she was over eighty, but things like this are never easy.”
    Yesterday so many people at the memorial had told her how nice it was that Nammy had stayed active up to the end, that she hadn’t been sick. Other than her family, Jake and Scotty were the only people who hadn’t tried to gloss over her grandmother’s death with a well-meaning platitude.
    â€œThanks,” Liv said, and meant it.
    â€œSo,” Scott said. “About that nickel tour.”
    A door behind the counter opened, and a pretty dark-haired woman came in through it.
    â€œMandy,” Jake called across the counter. “Two more trees.”
    The woman’s face lit up in a ready smile, and Liv recognized her. Yes, it was that Mandy. They’d been in the same grade all through school. Somewhere around third or fourth grade, Mandy had made the local news when she told everyone she’d seen Santa Claus in her living room. Years of teasing had followed, and Liv remembered her as sweet but shy.
    Mandy still looked sweet, and she might still be shy, but her smile was warm and easy as she came around the counter to join Jake. “Are these from you?” She looked from Liv to the boxes. Then back to Liv as recognition filled her eyes.
    Liv said, “Hi, Mandy.”
    â€œLiv.” Mandy abandoned the boxes and headed straight for Liv. “I’m so sorry about your grandma. I would have been there yesterday, but Mrs. Swanson asked me to fill in for her at the Christmas store. She didn’t want to miss the memorial.”
    Mandy reached Liv, and they had that awkward moment of Do-we-hug-or-don’t-we?
    â€œThanks,”