Three Days of Christmas

By Brandy Woldstad

Shannon used to love Christmas. The materialism of the holiday tainted her joy.

Her business partner challenges her to find the joy of Christmas in a different way.

The result is life changing.

Enjoy this playful tale of giving.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brandy Woldstad
• Release date: Nov 7, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201096335

Book preview

Chapter 1

Everything sparkled with perfection at the Anderson’s estate. A balsam fir, purchased after Shannon and her business partner Rick previewed trees at every tree farm in Minnesota, showcased hand blown ornaments collected from all over the world. Silver garlands wrapped around handrails, nostalgic Christmas paintings hung on the walls, and rich red draperies flowed around the windows that showed a snowy landscape with a skating pond outside. Classic Christmas carols performed by an orchestra flowed through the sound system.

Her team had executed the transformation of the Anderson’s estate with precision and efficiency. Everywhere someone looked, the comfort of Christmas greeted them as planned.

Shannon hated it.

She didn’t consider herself a Scrooge, and vaguely remembered a time when she anticipated Christmas as a season of joy. Somewhere between then and now, stress, pressure, and perfection had made her jaded.

As the owner of A Special Touch Decorating, Christmas started in June when clients contacted her with requests for proposals for decorating their homes for Christmas. Shannon and her staff spent weeks taking photos of gorgeous houses, pulling together items that fit the theme requests, and using an augmented reality program to show her clients what their house would look like for Christmas. The computer-generated images helped her clients visualize the end result.

The physical work started in October when the Minnesota temperatures dropped and frost appeared with regularity. Her team spent days going from one house to the next, setting up outside light displays that eventually tied into the theme inside.

Shannon reviewed the checklist for the Anderson’s estate on her phone while her crew hauled the leftover supplies back to the vans. Glitter covered the black sleeves of her company’s standard shirt. Smudges from leaning over the van bumper to grab supplies covered the thighs of her khakis. She guessed that her brown hair also contained traces of glitter and flocked snow.

Every decorating item on the list checked out. She complimented her team for a job well done and sent them back to the office to unload the vans. She slipped her phone into her jacket pocket as Rick stepped into the kitchen. His face held a look of wonder as he admired their work.

Among her crew, Rick earned the nickname Father Christmas. His tall, slender build and twinkling eyes made Shannon’s team smile. He grew animated at the mention of Christmas.

This place looks incredible, he said with a bright smile. I swear, we get better with every house we decorate.

Somehow, Rick’s black shirt remained glitter free, a detail that always baffled Shannon. She put on her coat and zipped the front.

It’s nice, she said in a neutral tone. She didn’t voice how happy she was that this was their