Friday night, Bobbie had Jamie and Jarrod came over for dinner so they could meet Maddy. After Maddy went to bed; Johnny arrived with a gluten free dessert and they talked about the Saturday market show. Jarrod needed to stay at the jewellery shop Saturday morning when Jamie joined them on stage and was going to miss it this week. Bobbie was bringing Maddy to the market and if the rest of her family didn’t come, was bowing out of singing to stay with her. She hoped Maddy would like the show. Johnny suggested that He and Jamie could do a few numbers and then if Maddy was okay with it, he could sit with her while Bobbie sang with Jamie. They agreed this would work. They would only do a one-hour show.

“When the market closes at 1 PM. Will is holding a Christmas planning meeting, I was hoping you could take Maddy back to your house Johnny.”

“Sorry Bobbie, Will wants me at that meeting too because we have a little building stuff to sort out with the plans. Will and I have been working on them too.”

In the end, Bobbie called Charlie and asked him to come to the market with the kids and could they take Maddy with them when they go and keep her all night. Then, Bobbie could go to Mink and Chase’s housewarming party that started later in the afternoon. Bobbie was worried on a few levels. She feared it was too soon for Maddy to go to a sleepover and she didn’t want to take advantage of Charlie and his family. Charlie said they had to have a chat about it.

Saturday morning Bobbie was having her coffee and Maddy was all packed and deciding which stuffie she was going to take.

Johnny arrived to carry the bags and the guitars down to the cars. They took Bobbie’s car because it had Maddy’s seat in it. She wasn’t sure if Charlie had two seats or not.

They arrived and Bobbie took Maddy over to their regular table and pulled her on her lap with a blanket. It was chilly and Bobbie gave them all fingerless gloves so they would all be a little warmer when they played.

Eddie arrived with his Boys and Laura and Maddy was quiet when she met them.

“We’re you’re cousins Maddy. Niko and Suzy are your other cousins. We’re all going to be best friends.”

Maddy nodded and sipped on the water bottle Bobbie gave her. Then Charlie and June and Niko and Suzy and even Joanne arrived. Maddy slid off of Bobbies lap and the two older girls grabbed Suzy’s and Maddy’s hands and started to walk around the market.

“Remember our two rules girls; no running and no yelling.” Joanne turned to Bobbie. “Those are my only rules for those girls. It’s easy for them to remember. It’s cute to see Suzy start to run in the living room and then check herself and slow down a bit.”

Bobbie nodded. “I’ll remember that but I have to add don’t touch the kitty littler.” Then she thought about moving the kitty litter altogether as she made her way to the stage.

The kids were all back with little sticks of cotton candy. Bobbie saw them and waved. Since Charlie had Maddy, Bobbie, Jamie and Johnny could all play the set together. Bobbie was relieved to see Maddy that seemed to be fitting right in. They finished up and Bobbie hurried to stow her gear in her car.

She went back to the family and sat beside Charlie. “I can’t thank you enough for taking Maddy. I hope it’s not too much that she’s staying overnight. I’ll be able to pick her up early tomorrow.”

“Mom, you do realize that you give me the money to pay for our live in babysitter every week. You said it was the best solution for after school care and wanted to help. Eddie and I appreciate it. It means that now that you have a baby to look after, the babysitter is for your kid too. There is no taking advantage. We want to support you the way you have always supported us.”

Bobbie smiled and handed him Maddy’s bag. “I have a meeting to get ready for. I’m going to say goodbye to Maddy. Be sure and call me if you need me.”

She found the 4 girl cousins sitting around a table where Laura was trying to get them to say the alphabet. “Were playing school.”

“Bobbie sat beside Maddy. “It looks fun. Maddy, remember how we talked about you going home with Suzy and Niko…”

“And me” chimed in Laura. “Dad and uncle Charlie said I can stay.”

“That’s going to be great. Maddy, you ask Uncle Charlie to call me if you need to talk to me; if you feel scared or sad or anything.”

Maddy nodded.

Bobbie hugged them all one more time and headed for the car. She drove home and reflexively looked in the backseat. Darn, the car seat was there. She forgot to check and see if Charlie needed it. She texted him and he replied right away that Eddie had a spare one and he already had it. She sighed and put her phone away. She ran upstairs and changed into a more business casual for the Christmas meeting. They were having over at the building at the market that had the Rocky River Rafting business and the Market office. She normally would have walked but she was running a little late.

She walked into the meeting. Johnny was there, Will was there and Chuck, the lot owner was there with his business partners Beau and Dorey who there grinning. Dorey scooted over to Bobbie when she sat down. “Hi Bobbie, I just want to say how much I enjoy your market performances. I’m sure you help draw the public.”

“We’ve got lots of Christmas music we’ll be singing over the next few weeks; you’ll probably be sick of us.”

Dorey insisted they’d all love the Christmas music. The rest of the meeting went well. Bobbie and Johnny were on both the decorating and entertainment committees.

The 2 main roof structures were going to have white fairy lights installed all along the edges that were actually become permanent and stay after Christmas. Chuck had those in the office already and he just never got around to it. Bobbie would supply natural garland over the white lights and multi colour lights in the garland that they’d take down after Christmas. Johnny wanted to put a big Christmas tree on each roof. Bobbie wanted to make Santa’s workshop in the stage.

Dorey raised her hand. “Won’t excited kids maybe fall off the stage. I’ll help with a railing made of candy canes.”

The people who rented the market stand were going to decorate their own stands and Will was organizing that because the Motel had a double stall with their chili, bread beans and now pizzas.

Bobbie went over to Wills meeting to see how things were going. They agreed to with putting white lights around each stall first and then multi coloured lights in garland swagged across the front.  Bobbie agreed to help with the cost of the lights. She’d ask her friend George, who ran a hardware store, if he knew where to bulk order lights.

Power shouldn’t be a problem. In early days they used generators but now they were wired and had power service. Chuck said he’d have a generator on stand by just in case.

In the end they needed 4 big Christmas trees, one extra big tree and hundreds of feet of garland and more lights than Bobbie could count. She was worried she wouldn’t find enough.

“We’ll decorate the extra big tree but why don’t we approach some community groups to decorate the Santa workshop trees and the roof trees.”

Will nodded. “That’s a good idea Bobbie. I guess you will contact the groups as part of the entertainment committee.”

Bobbie nodded and added to her notebook.

Johnny came over. “Did you see Chuck’s uncle Tofer? Have you ever seen someone who looks more like Santa? Wouldn’t it be great if next Saturday we had a little play where he’s dressed in work clothes and directing the elves to build stuff and then he says that he’ll be at the market the 2 weekend before Christmas.”

“That’s a cool idea Johnny but what if we made a little movie and could put it on the market website, on the motel website and play it on the screen on stage next week?”

“That’s a better idea. I bet Quinn can help me and I have my sound stage up and running to edit the video. This will be sooo good.”

They All left with their marching orders and Bobbie and Johnny were heading to Chase and Mink’s housewarming. It was an afternoon/evening affair because Chase was still on chemo and would go to bed early.