By Saturday afternoon Shelby had managed to bring some order to her dining room despite the damage brought on by the smoke and fire. The dehumidifiers and fans had helped with the smell, making it possible for her to stay in the upstairs of her home.
She could kick herself for being so irresponsible with the glue gun. She sighed. No use going there now. Fortunately, Griffen would be coming on Monday, and it wouldn’t take too long to get the repairs finished. She hadn’t been able to get in touch with Nick since he set everything up for her.
Sitting at her sewing machine, she put the finishing touches on Penelope’s Christmas outfit. Penelope resembled a cream puff with button eyes, and would look beyond adorable in the red cotton T-shirt adorned with boa and tulle.
“Come here, Penelope,” Shelby called. The dog pranced over to Shelby and lifted her head in eager expectation. Shelby pulled the outfit onto her dog and looked on with amusement as Penelope circled about like a doggy ballerina.
The doorbell rang then, and Shelby and Penelope went downstairs to answer it. Rose stood on the front step.
“I wanted to talk over some recipes with you. Do you have time?” she asked.
“Sure. Let’s go upstairs.”
They went to the living room and settled on the plump sofa cushions facing one another.
“How lovely. You have a fire going already.”
“Yes. This big old house is drafty and I’m always cold—the damp air from fighting the fire doesn’t help.”
“Or the fans and open windows.”
“Right. Though I confess the thought of starting a fire bothered me a bit.”
Rose grinned. “I can understand why.”
“Would you like something to drink?”
“No, thank you.” The logs crackled in the flames. “I thought I’d make little finger sandwiches for the high tea.”
“You don’t need to do that, Rose. You’ll be busy playing your violin for the occasion.”
“But I want to do both. I enjoy helping the girls.”
“You don’t know how much I appreciate that.”
Penelope jumped up on the sofa between the two women, tutu in place. Shelby watched the older woman interact with Penelope and whispered a prayer of thanks to God for bringing Rose into her life. They had met one night at the town square, right after Shelby had moved into town. The Garner Sisters had played, and Shelby thanked them for their performance and struck up a conversation. Shelby hit it off with all of them, but especially Rose. She supposed it was because Rose had a kind voice—like Shelby’s mother.
“Well, I must say it’s very exciting to see what you girls are up to with the town. I do believe you’re sprucing things up.”
Rose smiled her approval.
“Yes, it is exciting. Have you been to Julia’s spa yet?”
Rose shook her head. “Oh no. That’s for you young things.”
“You have to go. It’s amazing.” Shelby explained the ins and outs of a spa experience and pretty much convinced her friend to go. “I wish everyone was as excited about the changes in town as you, Rose.”
“What? Oh, you mean the handful of men who are grumbling about it?” Rose waved her hand in dismissal. “They’re nothing to worry about. They haven’t done anything to make a go of it—why not give someone else a chance? Besides, that noise seems to be dying down.”
“Well, Nick Majors sure hasn’t lost his grumble.”
“Is he back yet?” Rose asked.
“Back? Where did he go?”
Rose frowned. “You haven’t heard? His ex-wife died, and he went to pick up his daughter.”
“Oh my.” Shelby took a moment to digest the news. “I’m so sorry to hear that.” Nick didn’t talk much about his daughter.
“Sweet little thing. Pretty too. About twelve years old, I would say. She lives in Boston with her mother—well, she did. The way I understand it, she’ll be moving back here with Nick. It will be an adjustment for both of them, to say the least.”
“How do you know all this?”
“I’ve been a friend of the family for years. Knew Nick when he was just a little tyke.”
For some reason, the idea of Nick as a little boy warmed her. Shelby hoped he and his daughter would have a better relationship than she had with her father.
“Twelve years old is a tough time to switch families,” Rose said.
“Twelve years old,” Shelby whispered, with a clench in her heart. She knew another child who would have been twelve this year . . . if the child had survived.
Once Willow’s belongings were safely anchored down with bungee cables in the back of Nick’s truck, he and Willow said their good-byes to her grandparents and climbed in. He turned the key in the ignition and glanced at Willow.
“You need to buckle up,” he said.
She rolled her eyes and made a dramatic sweep of the belt across her chest.
Willow hardly spoke a word the entire trip home. Nick didn’t know if she was grieving over her mother, worried about her new life with him, or just pouting about something. Her one-word answers to his attempts at conversation left little room for bonding, and he eventually gave up.
The moon hung low over Sugarcreek Mountain by the time he pulled the truck up to his cabin. The steel truck door protested when he climbed out and stretched his long legs on the hard ground. He let out a sigh. His heart squeezed for his only child. The future would offer challenges for both of them.
She was a beautiful girl, if he did say so himself. Long wavy brown hair, soft blue eyes, and a definite flair with fashion, just like her mother. Even he could see that. There was a certain gracefulness in the way she walked—not like a gawky kid.
With Willow’s suitcases in hand, Nick led the way to the front door. The chilled air was sweet with the smell of balsam and Fraser firs. He drank it in. One of the many reasons he loved living here. He unlocked the door and flung it wide open and reached for the light switch.
His laptop was on the sofa. Shoes and socks littered the hardwood floor, along with a potato chip bag and chip crumbs. Beyond the living room, the kitchen sink was full of soiled dishes, and a couple of opened cans sat on the counter, their jagged-edged metal lids sticking straight up.
Willow looked around, wide-eyed—in fear or surprise, he couldn’t say.
Nick cleared his throat. “I didn’t have a lot of time to clean things up before I left.”
She didn’t answer.
“Well, I know it’s late, so I’ll just show you your room and we can talk some tomorrow.”
Willow nodded.
No sooner had he closed the front door than someone rapped on it. Nick frowned. Who would be calling tonight?
He walked over and opened the door.
“Shelby.”
She held out a plate of cookies. “Hi, Nick. I’m sorry to call so late. I stopped by earlier, but you weren’t home yet.”
He opened his mouth to invite her in, but Willow’s voice stopped him.
“That’s because it took forever to get here. Dad wouldn’t go over fifty on the interstate.”
Clearly amused, Shelby looked at Nick. “No kidding?”
“I couldn’t go much faster and still be safe, what with all her stuff tied down in the back of the truck.” He glanced at Willow. “What is all that stuff anyway?”
“Just my life, that’s all.”
Willow rolled her eyes again—a gesture that Nick suspected was going to grow old quickly. But she’d just spoken more words in the last minute than she had the entire trip home.
“I’m so sorry about your mother, Willow.” Shelby stepped inside and handed the plate of goodies to Willow. “I’m Shelby Evans. Your dad is a good friend of mine.”
Willow nodded.
“Can I get you something to drink, Shelby?” Nick said.
“Oh, no thanks. I need to get home.” She pulled her sweater tighter around her. “It’s chilly tonight.”
“Cold weather will be upon us before you know it,” he said. “That reminds me, I noticed the seal around your door frame was pulling loose, and also you have some air coming through the bottom. You’ll need that caulked before winter.
I’ll take care of it. It will save on your heating bill.”
“Thanks, Nick. You take good care of me.”
“That’s what friends do,” he said with a smile, pointing to the plate of cookies.
Just then Shelby’s cell phone rang. With a glance at the caller ID, she said, “I’m sorry, I’d better get this.” She clicked on the phone. “Hi, Rose. Everything okay? . . . Oh dear . . .
No, of course, I understand. Don’t worry about it. I’ll figure out something. We’ll talk tomorrow.” She clicked off.
“Something wrong?” Nick asked.
“The pipe to Rose’s water filter was corroded and burst while she was in Stowe today. Her kitchen floor and hallway are flooded. She has to clean it up and get new flooring. She was going to host my classes while the repairs were made to my house. Looks like I’ll have to find another place.”
Nick rubbed the back of his neck. “You could hold your classes in my outbuilding.”
Shelby brightened. “Really?”
“Why not? It’s pretty good-sized, and it’s heated. It’s the one I use to display candles, lights, ornaments—Christmas decorations for sale. Remember?”
“Of course.”
“I’m not using it at the moment. Probably about the time I’ll need it, your place will be up and running again.”
“That’s so sweet of you to offer, Nick.” Shelby thought a moment. “I’ll agree to it if you let me help you on the tree farm when things get busy. At that point, my classes will be over till January, and I’ll be available.”
“Deal,” he said with a wide smile. “But just so you know, if you work on the farm, you might have to get dirty.”
Shelby gave a mock shudder. “I think I can manage.”
“You’ll have to wear jeans.”
“I don’t wear jeans.”
“You can’t go around the farm with nice clothes on, Shelby. You’ll ruin them,” he said.
Shelby glanced at Willow, who just stood there staring at both of the adults. “I think we have time to talk about that one, don’t we?” Shelby turned her attention to Willow.
“Anyway, the school bus stop is right down from my house, if you ever want to get off and visit me. My house is the one that has a sign out front that says Social Graces.”
“Thanks.”
Nick thought he saw a flicker of interest in Willow’s eyes.
“Well, that’s all. Just wanted to introduce myself and bring a welcoming gift. Again, I’m so sorry for your loss. Both of you.”
“Thanks, Shelby.” Nick walked her to the door. “I appreciate it.”
Shelby stepped outside. “See you later. And thanks again for the use of your building.”
Nick waved and watched her go.
“I’m going to bed now,” Willow said as he closed the front door.
He said good night and noted the firewood in the basket was low. “I’m going to cut some wood. I’ll be outside if you need me.”
“Have you talked with Nick since he brought his daughter home?” Natalie asked as she, Julia, Reese, and Shelby took a walk around Timber Lake.
“Poor kid. That’s tough to lose your mom and your home all at the same time,” Reese said.
The others struggled to catch up to her.
“Yeah. Maybe you can ‘mother’ her, Shelby. After all, you have no real risk of involvement with Nick. You’ve said so yourself,” Julia said with a wink.
“Nick is a good friend. That’s all he’ll ever be,” Shelby said.
“No matter how much the three of you want it to be otherwise.”
“But you’re perfect for each other,” Reese said.
Shelby stepped over a stick. “You can’t base a marriage on a mutual fixation on Christmas.”
“It’s a start,” Natalie said. “Besides, he’s so cute.”
“Come on, you guys. The man has chin stubble. You know I can’t handle that. And he probably eats from a can.”
The girls laughed.
“He’s just a friend,” Shelby said.
“Whatever,” Julia said. “Still, friendship is a pretty good place to start. Who’s to say what will happen once you start working on his property?”
“Now, cut that out. Our goal is to save the town, not get me married off,” Shelby said.
“You do look cute together,” Reese said.
They all laughed, the laughter of good friends sharing together.
Natalie shrugged. “Oh well, girls, we tried.”
“I have news,” Reese said, changing the subject. “I’ve taken steps toward the purchase of my outfitters shop. I’ve applied for financing to see how much I qualify for.”
Natalie’s eyes grew as wide as chocolate cupcakes, with the same sweet sparkle. “That’s wonderful!”
The women talked excitedly about how they could help.
Their conversation finally dwindled as they attempted to catch their breath while keeping up with Reese’s walking pace.
“My skin is drying out already, and it’s not even winter,”
Julia said, touching her cheeks.
“Mine too. The good news is I’m coming into the spa soon for my facial.” Shelby grinned at Julia.
“Oh, good. When you come, plan on staying for lunch at the grill.”
“Sorry, friend, but I don’t eat goopy hamburgers, even for my best friends.” Shelby laughed.
“You don’t know what you’re missing,” Reese said.
“I’m willing to take my chances.”
Natalie sighed. “Girls, if she won’t risk a hamburger, there’s no hope of her taking a chance on love.”
Laughter rang through the air, and Shelby wondered if they knew just how true that was.
After the morning walk, Shelby showered and dressed. She passed the day finishing her current project, a dress and leggings that a young girl would pick up this evening, then worked on her class plans. Hopefully she’d get a few more students before registration was closed.
She walked into the kitchen to get a glass of iced tea when the phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Shelby. This is Dad.”
Her stomach tightened. “Dad. How are you?”
“I just got the scarf and cap you knitted me for Father’s Day. Thanks.”
“But I sent that months ago.”
“Yeah, it just got to me. You sent it to Minnesota. I’m in Florida now.”
He’d moved . . . again. “Sorry. Guess you won’t have much use for a cap and scarf there.”
He laughed. “Oh, that’s no problem. I’m just tired of this dead-end job,” he said. “I’m thinking of looking for something else.”
She could recite this conversation by heart. “There in Florida?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I have an old army buddy in Tennessee.
He told me they’re hiring where he works.”
Same old, same old.
“Dad, when are you going to settle down?”
Why couldn’t she just let it go? He’d never change.
“Why do I need to, Shelby? I’m not hurting anybody.”
Not now. But what about all those schools you dragged me through?
“You could move here with me, Dad. I have a huge house—” It was the right thing to say. But what would she do if he accepted?
“I won’t mooch off my daughter.”
They both knew it had nothing to do with that. He couldn’t—wouldn’t settle down. It was just as well. It would be like living with a stranger.
“Well, I just wanted to thank you for the gifts. They’re nice.”
“Um, you’re welcome.” Why was it always so awkward to talk to him? “Let me know if you move again,” she said. “We should, you know, stay in touch.” Sad that she had to say that to her own father.
“Will do. Talk to you later, kiddo.”
“Okay. See you, Dad.”
Shelby clicked off the phone and stared at it in her hand.
The one thing she wanted more than anything was a relationship with her dad, but with her mother gone, she doubted it would ever happen.
Her thoughts flew to Nick and Willow. She prayed it would go better for them. Maybe she could help . . .