A Bristol Pines Christmas

By Bob Mandala

Book #2 in the Bristol Pines Series. Bryan Sotherby helps his dad run a Christmas Tree Farm in Bristol Pines, Massachusetts but his dream is to sing and have a career in music. A chance opportunity to sing at a high-profile Humane Society fund-raiser brings his talent to the attention of some influential people in the audience. Bryan's family is excited for him and he meets the love of his life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jul 11, 2019
• ISBN: 9780359784677

Book preview

A Bristol Pines Christmas

A Bristol Pines Christmas

Bob Mandala

Table of Contents

A Bristol Pines Christmas

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

In the months that passed…

Copyright 2019 © by Bob Mandala All rights reserved 2019

Bob Mandala [e-mail]

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, business, events and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Some celebrity names are used in this work only in the context of the storyline. No intent on the author’s part to neither exploit these celebrities nor use them as a means to additional sales. These names are not known to the reader until well into the story.

ISBN # 978-0-359-78467-7

Chapter 1

We live in a world that is as diverse as it is beautiful and fragile. Take risks and dare to become role models for those who come after. Listen to the sounds and the voices around you. Live long and prosper.

Jenny Eggleton listened to the final words of encouragement by the commencement speaker at her Boston University graduation and polite applause that followed, and couldn’t believe that her college days were actually over. She had spent the last five years huddled in the library or her dorm room or eventually her shared apartment’s bedroom, studying, prepping, debating, and ultimately testing.

She was extremely proud of her being able to complete her BA and then her MA in preparation for either an elite research position or consultant firm team member. Her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Political Science had prepared her for a career in Law, politics, education, and many

other areas. She was ready to take on significant responsibility as a junior associate and was eager to continue the interview process.

Jenny had applied to 13 firms and had received requests for five preliminary interviews. She got past the scariness of the first interview with the first company and she was enthusiastically optimistic that one of the interviewers was going to recognize her worth and hire her immediately. She was ready!

After several weeks of interviews and ultimate rejection, she decided that the first job opportunity she received would be the most current best option and appropriate for her.

Jenny was now living with her aunt, Molly Watson.

Molly’s small home was located in Bristol Pines, a gem in the mountains above Boston. BP offered a small, more intimate ski resort atmosphere nestled among some of the best ski and snowboarding runs available to skiers for several miles around. The city was old but was now enjoying a downtown renaissance with several businesses upgrading their premises and a few new businesses starting up and doing well.

One of those businesses was The Flower Petal – owned by Aunt Molly. Molly had a real flair for decorating and made displays very appealing. Visitors to the shop could envision the flower displays in their home, which encouraged sales and return visits. Her skills were becoming well known not only with individuals but with corporate clients as well. She had convinced several office managers that flowers were a wonderfully fragrant welcome for new and established clients. Arrangements were almost always noticed; giving the business a softer side even while challenging negotiations were going on.

If you can’t get them with the interest rate, maybe the smell of Jasmine or Roses will appeal to their softer side, Molly said confidently in almost every potential client meeting. It more than often worked and she had multiple contracts to provide live flowers throughout the offices every week. She had to hire additional designers to fill their weekly orders on occasion.

The other business that seemed to be doing well was the Shelly K Gallery owned and operated by Shelley Knowles. In addition to the wonderful art displayed for sale in the gallery,

they offered several classes that appealed to both experienced and brand new artists. Shelley was considered a true community partner because of the events that were held there as well as the support that the gallery provided to new artists, school art programs, and positions for college interns.

Jenny knew that her position at The Flower Petal wasn’t exactly what her Political Science degrees prepared her for. She also was learning that the jobs she really wanted to have were few and far between. The career counselors at school failed to emphasize that part of the equation – or – maybe she had missed that day when they talked about it. Regardless, she would work at the Flower Petal but continue to scour the want ads and see what else was out there she might qualify for. As a well- educated, independent woman she was eager to assist her government and/or big business in their assistance for developing the country’s use of their natural resources and

socio-economic growth.

But The Flower Petal will have to do for now. She needed a job and Aunt Molly came through for her. She would do everything she could to return the favor – not just take up space. She would look for ways to expand the business. Jenny

was very proud of her newly found skills and she wanted to use what she learned in college any way she could. She didn’t have any student loans to worry about which was great and very unlike most of her friends. Her expenses were minimal really, so she didn’t need a high paying job at this point in her life while staying with Aunt Molly.

The holidays were approaching and the shop would be extremely busy for the next several months. Jenny loved Christmas in Bristol Pines. The streets were always decorated and most people you met had a true holiday spirit. Shops welcomed visitors and locals alike; the city came alive at this time of year. Jenny oftentimes felt like a kid again!

Chapter 2

"Dad, how many times do I have to remind you that this tree farm is your dream, not mine? I’ve spent the last 5 years in college studying for the day when I can move on to organic farming. I want to work the land and provide new ways for farmers to provide farm-to-table alternatives for restaurants, and individuals who can use the value of non-fertilized produce.

Bryan Sotherby had this conversation with his Dad multiple times over the last five years. He had just graduated from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with a BA and MA in Agriculture and Ecology respectively. He missed his graduation ceremony because his Dad needed help cutting the trees down in the upper portion of their property that were to be sold as Christmas Trees on their two remaining lots; one in Bristol Pines, and one in Cambridge. The family used to own several acres and multiple lots but through the years had to sell them off because of some bad business decisions and the commitment made to send Bryan to college. The idea was to have him take over the business, but he was becoming less and

less interested and didn’t know how to have the conversation with his Dad that broke the news. Bryan felt a tremendous amount of guilt because of the money that had been spent on him. He had qualified for a scholarship to help with tuition but it didn’t cover everything so his Dad decided to sell some property. Little did he know that the business would take a dramatic turn for the worse after the economic downturn that changed the lives of many business owners dramatically and live Christmas trees were no longer as high on the family holiday shopping list as they once had been. The business had suffered a significant downhill spiral and was only lately seeing somewhat of an improvement.

Chuck Sotherby, Bryan’s Dad, had been offered quite a bit for his farmland and downtown lots by developers who wanted to build ski chalets and business rental property.

Although the farmland was continually used for growing trees, the lots in town sat empty for eleven months of the year.

Bryan’s college education taught him that farming today had to be smarter and some of the old ways of doing things were no longer as lucrative as they once were. He and his Dad argued frequently about this and Bryan was about to give up and move on to find his own way away from Bristol Pines. He loved this

area, and really didn’t want to leave, but this constant standoff with his Dad wasn’t doing either of them any good.

And the arguments seemed to increase when the stress of the holidays started to build. Bryan had almost gotten to the point where he hated the Christmas season. Sure, it was the optimum time of year for their tree business, but it was also the reason Bryan and his Dad were at odds most of the time.

Vendors frequently changed their minds about the number of trees they wanted which put a wrinkle in the cash flow they were expecting.

They often heard, We just aren’t getting the requests like we used to, Chuck, or I can’t take over the whole lot this year, Chuck. I just can’t afford it. Sorry for the last minute notice. Or the very worst response, Chuck, I am so sorry. We just can’t take any trees from you this year. We can’t afford to spend the money and just have them sit there, never being sold. I’m sorry Chuck.

Dad, we can’t go on like this. We have to make a change before we totally go under and end up with nothing.

Maybe this will be a better year for us, son.

Bryan thought, From your lips to God’s ears, Dad.

Chapter 3

The Bristol Pines Humane Society had always been busy and because it’s a non-profit organization, the staff is very light. They need volunteers continually and Bryan went over to the shelter every chance he got. Oddly enough, in addition to just loving dogs, he felt they had a common bond with him. The dogs were in a situation they would rather not be in but didn’t have much of a choice.

When Bryan went to visit, after he had helped clean cages and stalls for the larger animals, he took one of the dogs for a longer walk and along the way they would talk. Well, Bryan would do most of the talking but he was sure the friend that walked alongside him knew exactly what he was talking about and felt the same way.

Hey, buddy. I’m Bryan. Let’s go for a walk. That’s right, just you and me, and we can head over to that tree over there and sit for a while. How about that?

Ben, the golden retriever that Bryan had on a leash today, had been in the shelter for about a month now. He had several visitors but had yet to find the right family. A lot of visitors come up from Boston and are often looking for smaller dogs because they don’t have large enough back yards for dogs like Ben, who loves to run.

Nobody interested yet, huh, boy? That’s OK, the right family will be visiting any day now. I wish I could take you home, but my dad doesn’t want the added responsibility of an animal on the property – Why you ask? That’s a great question. I don’t really know. When I say that I would take care of a dog, he just doesn’t want to talk about it.

Ben and Bryan sat for a while and enjoyed the fresh air. This was a great time of year for Bristol Pines. The leaves had turned several weeks ago and the autumn spray of reds, oranges, yellows, and greens, would soon fade away to the reds and greens of Christmas.  Shops would exchange their pumpkins and horns of plenty for wreaths, garlands, lighted trees, and poinsettias. That transition took place over a period of time during which Chuck and Bryan