The Santa Express Read online

  Andy held the scarf and hat in his hands. “These would be okay. What one do you want, Charlie?”

  Charlie bit his bottom lip as his eyes darted between the two items. “The hat.”

  John held his breath when Charlie pulled it on. “It looks great. Try the scarf, Andy.”

  “Flick it over your shoulder like Mom showed us,” Charlie urged his brother.

  Andy flicked one end over his shoulder and smiled. “It’s soft like Mr. Whiskers.”

  John closed the flaps on the box. “If you want something different, come and see me.”

  Charlie took off the hat and held it against his chest. “When will Mom come home?”

  “I’m not sure, but she has some wonderful people looking after her.”

  Andy held his brother’s hand. “That’s what Miss Jones told us. She said we can talk to her anytime we want.”

  “And that we didn’t do anything to make Mom feel sad,” Charlie added.

  John looked into the boys’ worried faces. “Miss Jones is right. You didn’t make her sad. Would you like to say a prayer for your mom?”

  Charlie frowned. “What if God isn’t listening?”

  “He’s always listening. Even when you’re miles from home and feeling lost, God is with you.”

  “I guess that would be okay,” Andy said. “What do we say?”

  “Say what’s in your heart.” John closed his eyes and bowed his head. He felt Charlie move closer, felt the pull of the unknown, of waiting for what would come next.

  Andy cleared his throat. “Dear God. It’s Andy Smith here. My brother Charlie and me were wondering if you could look after Mom and help her get better. She feels real sad and it makes us sad, too. And please bless Mr. Jessop and Tabby. They’re looking after us while Mom’s away.”

  “Amen,” John said softly.

  “What about Pastor John?” Charlie whispered. “You forgot him.”

  “And Pastor John,” Andy said in a loud voice. “Amen.”

  John opened his eyes and smiled. “That was a wonderful prayer.”

  “I hope it helps,” Andy said with a sigh.

  “It already has. Do you want to come to story time with me?”

  Andy looked at his little brother, waiting for his nod before speaking. “Yes, please.”

  John was proud of them. It took courage to sit with a group of children when they were feeling so sad. “We could sit together, if you like?”

  The relief on their faces touched something deep inside of him.

  “That would be great,” Andy said.

  Charlie pulled on his mom’s hat and held his brother’s hand. “Do you think Mr. Whiskers will be there?”

  John smiled. “He goes to most story times. He’s probably sitting in the sleigh beside the Christmas tree.” And with the boys beside him, John locked the storage room door and walked toward the living room.

  As the first notes of the story time music filled the corridor, John said a silent prayer. He prayed for Andrea, for her two boys, and for the man who had hurt them.

  God worked in mysterious ways. All you could do was look after each other and trust that everything would work out the way it was supposed to.

  Even if you didn’t know what that was.

  Chapter 8

  Shelley climbed out of her sister’s truck and looked at the cottage in front of her.

  An hour ago, she’d had a call from Helen O’Neill, the local realtor who came highly recommended. A small house, close to Bailey’s fiancé’s home, had come on the market.

  “It’s a little run down,” Bailey said generously. “But it has potential.”

  Shelley didn’t know what was under the snow but, from what she could see, the cottage needed a lot of work. Even from here, the front veranda looked as though it had a saggy middle. The paint under the eaves was chipped and blistered, and the windows were covered in dirt and goodness knows what else.

  Helen walked toward them. “I know what you’re thinking, but keep an open mind. This house is a little gem. It has two bedrooms, one of which would make a great office. There’s one bathroom, and a small kitchen, living room, and dining room. But, with a little imagination and lots of work, it could look lovely.”

  Shelley wasn’t afraid of hard work but she’d never remodeled a home. When she told Helen she didn’t mind a fixer-upper, she was talking about painting. Not a total rebuild.

  Bailey placed her hand on Shelley’s elbow and nudged her forward. “Let’s have a look before someone else arrives. If you’re worried about the amount of work, don’t be. Between all of us, we’ll have this house looking fabulous in next to no time.”

  Helen smiled. “I like your enthusiasm. Let’s go.”

  They didn’t have to worry about opening the front gate. With only one hinge connecting it to the rest of the wobbly fence, it was already open, welcoming unsuspecting visitors at their peril.

  “No one has lived in the cottage for five years. Unfortunately, the property hasn’t been well-maintained, so there’s a bit of work to do.”

  As Shelley waited for Helen to open the front door, she looked around the yard. The most positive thing she could say was that it was small but manageable.

  “And here we are,” Helen said as she shoved the door open. “The door is a little warped, but after a sand it will be as good as new.”

  Shelley admired Helen’s optimism, but she still wasn’t convinced this was the house for her.

  As they walked through the cottage, Shelley listened to Helen and Bailey discuss what they’d do with the interior. With each room they stepped into, dollar signs flashed in front of Shelley’s eyes. It would cost a fortune to remodel the house. She didn’t know much about building, but even she could see the water stains on the ceiling and walls. Depending on where the water had come from, she may need a new roof or new pipes, or both.

  The small bathroom looked as though it still had the original fixtures—and she refused to go anywhere near the toilet.

  “For a house of its age, the cottage is in reasonable condition.”

  Shelley studied an old power socket. She wouldn’t plug anything into it until an electrician looked at it. “How old is the house?”

  “It will be 100 years old next year.”

  A spark of interest lit inside Shelley. For some reason, living in a house that was 100 years old made her feel more kindly toward the unloved building. What she didn’t like was the list of things she’d need to fix if she wanted to live here.

  She looked around the dining room. Even if the bathroom was a health hazard and the red Formica kitchen counter was from a 1950s remodel, the cottage still had some of the original features.

  No one had removed the wide skirting boards and door frames or the pretty ceiling rose. The fireplace might be original, but it needed some serious work to make it safe.

  The house had character and, with a lot of hard work, could become something special.

  “For Sapphire Bay, the purchase price is reasonable, even considering the condition of the house.” Helen pointed to a wall between the dining room and living room. “Opening up the living area into one space would give you more room and increase the cottage’s value. The bathroom is small, but if you used some of the floor area of the bedroom beside it, you could have a lovely family bathroom.”

  Shelley wiped the grime off a window and peered outside. Next door was another cottage, almost identical to this one. Like this house, it looked as though it hadn’t been touched in years. “Who owns the property next door?” she asked Helen.

  “The same family. They’re definitely the worst two houses on the street.”

  A totally outrageous, impractical, and exciting thought popped into her brain. “Is it for sale?”

  “Not at the moment,” Helen said. “The owners want to wait until summer before they put it on the market.”

  Bailey’s eyes widened. “You’re not thinking of buying both houses, are you?”

  Shelley knew ho
w much the bank was prepared to lend her. It would be tight, but with a little luck and a good contractor, she might be able to make it work. Taking a deep breath, she turned to Helen. “Could you call the owners and see if they’d sell both properties?”

  Even Helen looked shocked. “Are you sure?”

  The more she thought about it, the more right it felt. “I’m positive.”

  Helen pulled out her cell phone. “I’ll call them now.”

  While the realtor was on the phone, Bailey stood beside Shelley. “Two houses?”

  Shelley took her phone out of her bag and called Patrick, the man who managed the construction team at the tiny home village. “I have an idea,” she said to Bailey.

  “I hope it’s a good one,” Bailey muttered as Shelley spoke to Patrick.

  Before he’d retired, Patrick owned a large construction company. If anyone could tell her what it would cost to make these cottages into beautiful homes, he could.

  She just hoped he was able to meet them this afternoon. Because Shelley was about to make the most spontaneous decision of her life—and she wanted to make sure she could afford it.

  John was standing beside the reception desk in The Welcome Center when Bailey rushed past him.

  “Hi, John. Can’t speak now.” Without breaking stride, she hurtled toward Shelley’s office.

  With a frown, he turned back to the mail he was sorting. When a high-pitched squeal filled the center, he dropped what he was doing and rushed down one of the corridors.

  Bailey and Shelley were jumping up and down and hugging each other. At least no one was hurt.

  “Is everything all right?”

  Tears filled Shelley’s eyes. “I’ve done it. I’ve bought a house.”

  “Not one house,” Bailey said with a grin. “But two. Two houses right beside each other.”

  John’s eyes widened. “Two?”

  “I had to have them both. They need a lot of work and the bathrooms look like something you’d find in a horror movie, but they’re perfect. Patrick said there’s no structural damage, but the roof on one house needs to be replaced, along with the wiring and the plumbing and heating.”

  “And the kitchens,” Bailey said with a groan. “The cabinets are falling apart and both ovens had so much grease in them that they’re a fire hazard. But the floors will look amazing after we sand them back to the original wood.”

  “And don’t forget the walls,” Shelley added. “I loved your ideas about opening up the living areas.”

  John stared at them. “You bought two old houses that need to be completely remodeled?” For the life of him, he couldn’t imagine Shelley covered in plaster dust and swinging a sledgehammer. “Do you know anything about remodeling houses?”

  Shelley grinned. “I painted an apartment once. But that’s not the point. Patrick wants to use my houses as a training opportunity for the youth construction program he manages. I’ll pay for the materials, but the labor cost will be minimal. All I have to do is talk to an architect about any changes I want to make and apply for the building permits.”

  Bailey grinned at her sister. “I’m so proud of you. Even Patrick thought what you’re doing is amazing.”

  John got the impression that they were talking about more than remodeling the houses.

  “It will take time, but it will be worth it.”

  “Can someone tell me what you’re talking about?”

  Shelley stood in front of John and gave him a hug. “I’ll live in one house and rent the second cottage to someone who’s on the church’s wait-list for emergency accommodation. I’ll charge the tenant the same rent as if they were living in a tiny home. Even with the remodeling costs, I’m still within the limit of what the bank will lend me.”

  John’s heart pounded, and it had nothing to do with Shelley’s kind heart. “Does this mean you’re staying in Sapphire Bay?”

  “I guess it does,” she said with a grin. “Do you want to look at the houses after you’ve finished work?”

  “No one’s living in them,” Bailey added. “And once the money goes through from the bank, the homes are officially Shelley’s.”

  “That was quick.”

  Shelley kissed his cheek. “I was spontaneous and it feels wonderful.”

  There was something else that felt wonderful—and that was Shelley’s decision to stay in Sapphire Bay.

  Bailey cleared her throat. “Excuse me. Is there something you forgot to tell me?”

  Shelley turned in John’s arms and frowned. “I don’t think so.”

  Rolling her eyes, Bailey pointed to John’s arms wrapped around her sister. “It’s a little unusual for someone’s boss to hold them like that.”

  Shelley bit her bottom lip. “I might have forgotten to mention that John is my boyfriend. But don’t tell Mom. She’ll send me copies of the bridal brochures that you threw away.”

  Bailey clapped her hands. “I knew something was happening between the two of you. And don’t worry—my lips are sealed.”

  After meeting Elena, Shelley and Bailey’s mom, John knew it was only a matter of time before she found out they were dating. And then there was Mabel. If she even caught a whiff of romance, the community Facebook page would be full of messages for the happy couple.

  “Do you think we need a ‘no touching’ policy at work?” John asked her half-seriously.

  Shelley shook her head. “We can do better than that. I’ll call Mom and Dad tonight and let them know we’re dating.”

  Bailey sighed. “You know what that means, don’t you?”

  Shelley grinned. “Another emergency visit to Sapphire Bay? But look at the bright side. If they arrive on Thursday or Friday, they can help get everything ready for The Santa Express.”

  “That’s not much consolation,” Bailey said miserably.

  John was tempted to agree with Shelley’s sister. With Bailey’s wedding venue booked and most of the wedding details arranged, Elena’s romance radar would be buzzing. And it would be directed straight at John and Shelley.

  The next morning, Shelley opened one of the boxes of decorations stacked inside the steam train. An hour ago, with much pomp and ceremony, and clicking of cameras, the steam train had pulled into the old railroad station on the edge of town.

  And now it was time to decorate it.

  For many years, steam trains had transported logs, people, and their belongings around the lake. But when the golden days of railroad travel were over, the railroad tracks and steam trains were left to deteriorate.

  But, as Shelley found out, ten years ago a revival had taken place. Railroad enthusiasts from around the lake saw the potential for providing an old-fashioned steam train experience for tourists. Their goal of refurbishing half the track was achieved last summer.

  Since then, the small towns on the eastern side of Flathead Lake were making the most of the new attraction. And this weekend it was Sapphire Bay’s turn to showcase just how majestic the old steam trains were.

  “It looks as though we’ve got our work cut out for us.” John placed another box beside the one Shelley was emptying.

  “It isn’t as bad as it looks. Did Bailey show Caleb the plan of where the decorations need to be hung?”

  John smiled. “She did. Caleb’s IT brain appreciated the detail you went to. He said if you ever want to work for him, he’d employ you right away.”

  “Caleb’s a sweetie, but I can’t imagine working for my brother-in-law. It’s bad enough having you as my temporary boss.”

  “I’m glad you smiled when you said that,” John muttered. “Otherwise, I might think there’s something wrong with me.”

  Shelley’s smile turned into a grin. “I enjoy working for you, but make the most of having me at your beck and call. In a few weeks, I’ll be starting my very own accounting business.”

  John wrapped his arms around Shelley’s waist. “I’ve appreciated every minute of the time you’ve given the church. I don’t know how I would have made it through t
he last few weeks without you.”

  “I was thinking the same thing, but for completely different reasons.”

  “Oh, my goodness,” Bailey said from the door to the carriage. “Would you two stop canoodling? We’ve got work to do.”

  Shelley kissed John, then turned toward her sister. “We are working. It’s called positive reinforcement.”

  Bailey shook her head. “Whatever you call it, don’t tell Caleb. Sam’s helping to hang the decorations and they’ll take any opportunity for some cuddle time, too. But I’m not here to talk about anyone’s love life. I want to know if you’ve got an extra box of red bows. We don’t have any in the third carriage.”

  Shelley hunted through the boxes that were stacked at the end of her carriage. “Here’s a box. You’ll have about a dozen left over. If you can take them into the last carriage, that would be great.”

  “Shall do.” Bailey held the box in her arms and smiled at John. “I won’t say to carry on. We won’t get any work done that way, but keep up with the positive reinforcement. Everyone needs an incentive to work a little harder.”

  Shelley held her hand to her ear. “I can hear Steven asking someone where you are.”

  “You must have bionic hearing. Good luck with the carriage. I’ll let you know when we’ve finished.”

  After her sister left, John opened another box and Shelley went back to the box she’d left on top of some others. Inside, a beautiful ten-foot long garland was wrapped around a cardboard tube. No one looking at the green pine branches would know it wasn’t real.

  “How will you fasten it to the rail?” John asked.

  “There’s some twine on the first set of seats.”

  “I’ll give you a hand.”

  Shelley was glad to have his help. Most of the decorations could easily be hung by one person. But some of them, like the garland, needed two people to fasten them securely to the train. “Have you heard how Charlie and Andy’s mom is doing?”

  John handed her a length of twine. “Andrea spoke to me yesterday. The doctors have helped a lot. With her new medication, she’s able to sleep through the night and think more clearly. She’s hoping she’ll be back in Sapphire Bay as an outpatient in the next week or two.”