Donovan's Barn - Part Seven

The story continues! Donovan's Barn is now in its seventh part. Please enjoy! Here are links to the other parts, in the event you would like to read how the story got to this point: part one, part two, part three, part four, part five, and part six.

*****

The cooler temperatures of November enveloped Taftsville and the Mitchell’s new home and property. Winter was a certainty; the winters here were cold, just not extremely so. One Sunday afternoon as the family sat around the fireplace in their home, Rachel jumped to her feet and directed a question to a startled Trenton. “Do you think our pond is frozen over yet? I mean, is it frozen enough to walk on, or skate on?”

“I’m not sure, to be honest. I guess I would have to check. What are you thinking, Rachel?” Trenton’s question was more rhetorical that serious. He knew his wife well enough to know that by the time she asked a seemingly innocent question, her mind already had a full action plan that was waiting to be set in motion.

Rachel giggled. “Nothing too much,” she said with a crooked little grin. “I just thought that maybe, as long as the pond is solidly frozen, we could have a pre-Christmas skating party on the pond and then host cookies and hot chocolate in Donovan’s Barn afterward.” She took a sip out of the mug she held with two hands and then added, “Maybe Santa could make an appearance?”

The twins, Kylee and Ashlee, cheered at her last statement and began dancing around singing ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Our Barn.’ They fell onto the floor in a heap of laughter and fleecy pajamas. “Okay, girls. This isn’t a done deal yet,” said Trenton. Even louder laughter and squeals erupted from the pile and Rachel joined. Everyone, including Trenton, knew that if it was an idea vocalized by Rachel it was indeed a “done deal.”

Rachel spent all of her free time planning and organizing the pre-Christmas skating party. The winter weather in Taftsville made it ideal for an outdoor activity and Christmas was just the holiday to highlight. The date had been set for December 17th, far enough from Christmas to not impede on Santa’s busy schedule but close enough to the holiday so that the magical feelings would be in the air. There was already a buzz throughout Taftsville about the skating party with Santa in attendance; another successful event sat poised on the horizon.

When asked if she would like to help plan this second event at the barn, Mrs. Donovan was eager to assist. She was a wealth of information and ideas. Rachel not only enjoyed, but also depended on them. Today they sat in Rachel’s kitchen baking and decorating sugar cookies from Mrs. Donovan’s own tried and true recipe. These cookies were quick, easy and delicious, and lent themselves to being cut out into festive shapes. While the caterers were creating simple chocolate chip cookies for the event, Rachel wanted handmade cookies for each child to receive as a special treat from Santa.

Sitting side by side now, the two women skillfully outlined elaborate decorations in royal icing and flooded them with bright, festive colours. “Rachel, dear,” said Mrs. Donovan, not lifting her eyes off the cookie she was decorating. “You and Trenton are such creative people! It warms my heart to see the success you are already having with the barn!” She set aside the perfectly decorated snowflake and reached for another cookie, this time a reindeer.

“Awww, thank you, Mrs. Donovan,” responded Rachel. “I am happy that Trenton lets me do my own thing. And he’s the best helpmate a girl could ask for. He’s the main manpower getting all the decorations up.” She stood up from the table. “How about we take a little break and have a nice cup of tea? The rest of the cookies can wait a little while.” The older lady nodded in agreement and also rose to her feet. Rachel walked to the sink and filled the kettle to heat water for a nice Earl Grey.

***

Trenton worked equally as hard as Rachel to get ready for the skating party. It was important to Rachel that everything was perfect, and that made it important to him too. Just as soon as the ice could bear weight, he was out on the frozen pond clearing the snow off the surface and adding the thinnest layers of well water every few days to ensure a smooth and level skating surface. Removing the snow also helped ensure that the ice layer would become thicker as the days passed.

One day as they made their way home to Taftsville after a day at their jobs, Rachel looked over at Trenton and asked, “Now that the pond is completely frozen over and you’ve made it nice and smooth, can we concentrate on getting the barn decorated?”

Trenton glanced over at Rachel and smiled. He had been waiting for this request especially since the party was now less than two weeks away. “Of course,” he replied. “But what makes you think I haven’t already started?”

“Well, I just assumed –” Rachel started.

“It’s okay,” Trenton said. “I know you’ve been all consumed with your cookies. When we get home, we’ll go out to the barn to let you have a look at what’s been going on there the last little while.” He reached over and gave Rachel’s hand a squeeze as they continued their drive.

“So, you’ve also been working on the loft?” Rachel was pleasantly surprised to hear this. It had never occurred to her that he would initiate doing a Christmas-themed décor since she was usually in charge of holiday decorating.

“Yes,” he answered. “I have been a silent observer for the last 15 years and a few things have rubbed off over the years.” Trenton dropped a casual chuckle as he pulled into their driveway. He parked the car in its spot then said, “Come on. I have something to show you.”

They walked toward the barn, the crisp winter snow crunching under their feet. They made their way up the stairs to the loft. Trenton opened the door and reached in to turn on the interior lights. He held open the door and Rachel took a step in.

Her eyes immediately travelled to the far end of the loft to the band riser. It the spot where a drum kit might sit was a large cast iron wood-burning stove. Its black exhaust pipe extending upward and then out through a skillfully crafted hole out the wall. “Trenton! This is just what we needed! I was going to ask you about getting a heater for our skating party.” Rachel gushed at the sight and then reached up and gave Trenton a big hug. “You really are amazing, you know!”

“I know,” they both laughed. “And before you ask, you can thank Charlie O’Brien for that stove.”

“But we still need –” Rachel began thinking out loud.

“Shhh, just listen, Love,” Trenton interrupted her thought. “My vision is that there will be a tree over here,” he said motioning to the left, “and some evergreen swags along the wall beams. Oh, and of course Santa needs a chair to sit in. That can go over here.” His hands illustrated his vision for the decor and Rachel nodded in agreement.

Rachel was in awe of what she saw and what she was hearing. She paused to take it all in. “Well,” she finally said, “I don’t think you even need my help. It seems you have learned a few things from me over the years.” A satisfied smiled crossed her face as they exited the loft and walked hand in hand to their house.

***

The Mitchell’s were up early on December 17th. Trenton built a cozy fire in the family room which was next to the kitchen where Rachel stood at a counter creating them a quick and hearty breakfast of cinnamon raisin oatmeal. As she worked, she looked out the window to a bright and sunny scene. The hoar frost glistened off the trees and the eaves of the barn some distance away. She glanced toward the garden and the pond beyond it and saw yet more sparkle and shine as the sun danced off the frosty beauty. “Come and get it while it’s hot,” she called to Trenton and the twins. “We still have a lot to do before 1:00 p.m.”

As they were sitting down to the table there was a knock at the door and Rachel’s dad, Lyle, entered the kitchen. “It’s just a tad brisk out there today,” he said. He removed his coat and hat. “Thought I would come and give you a hand this morning since I can’t be here this afternoon,” he announced with a little wink toward Rachel. He had agreed to be Santa for the cookies and hot chocolate later but it was a secret from the twins.

Rachel went along with his little story. “We’re going to miss having you here, dad. Can I give Santa a message from you?”

“You sure can,” Lyle answered. “Tell him I said thanks for taking the time to visit with the families of Taftsville and that I will have an extra special treat for him at my house on Christmas Eve!” Lyle sat down between the twins at the large table. “Now I think I’d like a cup of coffee, Rachel.”

When breakfast was over and the kitchen cleaned up, everyone went their separate ways. Lyle and Trenton headed for the pond, taking with them the sound system and speakers that would provide a Christmas atmosphere for the skaters. They also took a backpack leaf blower to blow the snow off the benches around the pond making them accessible for people to sit throughout the day. They marveled at the beautiful scene nature had provided them, a combination of the moist air and cold temperatures that created the thick and sparkling hoar frost. It was a breathtaking scene and Trenton could not wait until Rachel could see it in its glory.

Rachel headed to the barn with the baskets of individually wrapped cookies for Santa to give away. She made her way up the loft stairs and entered. She hadn’t seen the décor since the night Trenton took her to see the stove he had Charlie O’Brien install. Rachel looked around and smiled broadly. Trenton’s vision was flawless. The stove was the centerpiece of the space, flanked on one side with a huge, real Christmas tree, and an ornate Santa chair and beautifully wrapped packages around it. The evergreen swags were inter-laced with brightly coloured Christmas balls and decorated the beams around the barn; big red bows adorned the chairs around the tables. It all looked like something out of a storybook and Rachel thought it was absolutely perfect.

“It’s a beautiful sight.” A voice spoke behind her and Rachel turned around. Before her stood the most perfect Santa she had every seen. “Dad, you look amazing and yes, this is a beautiful sight. I let Trenton decorate the space and it turned out perfectly!”

“It really did, dear.” A female voice spoke out of the shadows and the most authentic Mrs. Claus appeared.

“Mrs. Donovan? Is that you?” Rachel asked, a little bit puzzled as she hadn’t planned on a Mrs. Claus.

The woman laughed heartily, “yes, it is, dear. Your dad asked me weeks ago and we thought we would surprise you. Santa really does need a helper with all those cookies, you know!” She came and stood beside Santa and they exchanged a look.

The day was perfect and the event yet another bright spot for Taftsville. In all there were over two hundred people that came out to skate on the frozen pond and then visit with Santa up in Donovan’s Barn. After the visitors had dispersed, Rachel and Trenton stood looking across the pond and reflected on their success. Trenton pulled Rachel close and looked at her admiringly. “I believe you have found your calling, Rachel. I can’t wait to see what you come up with for all of next year.”

*****

Part eight is now available here. Please check it out!

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