“Who’s the gorgeous woman sitting behind the desk?”
Shelley smiled at her sister, Sam. “I thought you were driving to Bozeman this afternoon?”
“My boss decided to have our meeting online. That way, the whole team can be involved.” She handed Shelley a bouquet of pale yellow roses. “I brought you an office-warming present.”
“They’re beautiful. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I thought they might brighten up the room. What’s with the fancy shirt and jacket?”
“This is what I normally wear to work.” Shelley looked down at her black skirt, cream blouse, and deep blue tailored jacket. “What’s wrong with it?”
“Nothing if you live in a big city. But this is Sapphire Bay.”
“That doesn’t make a difference. I want to look as though I know what I’m doing.”
Sam dropped into the nearest chair. “Everyone knows that you know what you’re doing.”
Shelley frowned. “I haven’t spent a lot of time in Sapphire Bay. Most of the community don’t even know I’m an accountant.”
“You’re underestimating the power of social media.” Sam studied Shelley’s face. “You haven’t seen the Facebook post, have you?”
“Has Mabel told everyone I’m here?”
“You guessed it. But she didn’t stop there. Mabel must have spoken to Bailey. Everyone knows your entire life story.”
Shelley’s mouth dropped open. “I hope you’re joking?”
“I wish I was. Thankfully, she didn’t mention anything about Jarrod.”
Instead of asking her sister to repeat what Mabel had written, Shelley reached for her cell phone. Pinned to the top of the community Facebook page was a summary of her life. It wasn’t as bad as it could have been. But she didn’t want everyone knowing she was addicted to the chocolate fudge from Sweet Treats or that her first pet rabbit was called Carrots.
Sam cleared her throat. “At least the photo’s cute.”
Bailey had taken the photo on Shelley’s last trip to Sapphire Bay. She was standing beside Flathead Lake, laughing at something her sister had said.
“Don’t blame Bailey. Mabel could work for the FBI. She has a way of finding out information that would impress any interrogation expert.”
“I wish she hadn’t focused on me.”
“It’s because you’re new. Once the novelty of having our very own accountant wears off, you’ll be just like the rest of us.”
A soft tap on the door made both of them turn around.
“Am I interrupting something?”
Shelley smiled at the potted plant in John’s hands. “It’s okay. Sam and I were just catching up.”
He left the green-leafed plant on the shelves beside the door. “I thought this might make you feel more at home, but it looks as though someone else had the same idea.”
“That was me,” Sam said with a grin. “Shelley loves yellow roses. I thought they’d brighten her day.”
Shelley could have sworn John relaxed.
“I have something else that might brighten her day, too.” Opening his jacket, John pulled out a bag of chocolate fudge. “Welcome to The Welcome Center.”
With a groan, Shelley accepted the bag. “You read the Facebook post?”
“It’s hard not to when it’s pinned to the top of the news feed. If the number of likes is anything to go by, most of Sapphire Bay now knows who you are.”
With a deep sigh, Shelley opened the bag. Normally, she saved this decadent treat for after dinner. But desperate times called for desperate measures. “Thank you for the plant and the fudge. You’d both better help me eat this treat. Otherwise, I’ll be bouncing around the center on a sugar rush.”
Sam dipped her hand inside the bag. “And we can’t have that.”
John helped himself to a piece of candy, too. “It’s just as well we’re saving you from your addiction. This was made yesterday.”
Shelley bit into her piece of fudge. The rich, chocolatey smell was divine and the silky, smooth texture was incredible. “I feel better already.”
John grinned. “We aim to please.”
John slid a box along the back of Mabel and Allan Terry’s delivery truck.
“You didn’t need to come out here,” Shelley insisted. “I could have moved the decorations into the barn by myself.”
“I’ve already taken twelve boxes into the barn. You would have been here for half the night if you were doing this on your own.”
“That’s not the point. You had appointments this afternoon that you postponed.”
Until now, he’d never realized how stubborn Shelley could be. “There was nothing that couldn’t wait until tomorrow. How did you convince the Terrys to let you borrow their truck?”
A bright red blush filled Shelley’s cheeks. “Allan’s still recovering from his leg injury and Mabel needed to look after the store. It made sense for me to bring the Christmas decorations to the Colemans’ ranch. Otherwise, I’d have had to wait until Friday.”
John’s eyes narrowed. “You aren’t telling me the whole story. Allan only lets a few people drive his truck.”
Shelley squirmed under his scrutiny. “I might have mentioned something about the Facebook post. But I was very nice and didn’t say anything about the people who have asked me for financial advice. Mabel was sorry and promised to talk to me before she posts any other stories about me.”
John picked up a box and followed Shelley inside. “Do you mean there’s more to your life than what Mabel said?”
“Of course, there’s more.”
“Like what?”
Shelley lifted her chin. “Like lots of things. I enjoy spending time with my family. I’ve always wanted a dog, and my favorite meal is lasagna.”
“Why didn’t you get a dog?”
“Mom had a bad experience with one when she was younger. It didn’t matter how often we pleaded for a dog, she wouldn’t budge.”
John leaned against the barn door, holding it open for Shelley. “You could get a dog now that you’re living in Sapphire Bay.”
“If I was staying, I would. But I don’t know how long I’ll be here.”
His heart sank. Each time Shelley talked about leaving, he had an overwhelming urge to tell her all the reasons she should stay. “If you’re concerned about starting your own business, I don’t think you have anything to worry about.”
Since yesterday afternoon, whenever John walked into the corridor, there was a line of people outside Shelley’s office, wanting to talk about their finances. Mabel’s post had turned into a logistical nightmare. It was so bad, that Shelley had arrived at The Welcome Center at six o’clock this morning to work on the funding information for the county.
“I suppose that’s the silver lining to everyone in Sapphire Bay knowing about my life. I’m still not sure whether people are visiting me because I’m an accountant or because they want to see the new person in town.” She looked around the barn. “It’s just as well you were reasonably up to date with the church’s invoices. I’ve been able to make a lot of progress on the financial forecasts.”
John smiled. “You can thank Mabel for that. Even though I’d sooner be working in the community or teaching our hospitality students, she kept reminding me to pay the bills.”
Shelley placed the box she was holding on top of another. “Where did you learn to cook?”
His smile faded. “In the army.”
“Bailey told me about the hospitality program the church runs, but I never realized you tutored the class.”
“The hospitality industry is one of our region’s biggest employers, but there weren’t a lot of in-depth training opportunities available. The church has a large commercial kitchen that was only used for events or meetings. Instead of students having to travel away from the area for training, it made sense to start a hospitality course in Sapphire Bay.”
“It must have taken a lot of time and energy to get the class up and running.”
John placed the box he was holding with the other ones. “It took about six months to develop a program that was recognized internationally. When students graduate from our hospitality course, they have a certificate that will give them the best possible opportunity for getting a job.”
“I’m impressed. How did you go from being in the army to becoming a pastor who knows his way around the kitchen?”
He didn’t like talking about his life in the military. But after countless therapy sessions, he knew he had to tell Shelley something. “I joined the army when I was twenty-two. I’d left college with a degree and couldn’t find a job. So, I thought I’d serve my country for three years, then look for another job. Those three years turned into twelve. By the time I left the army, I was a Dining Facility Manager at Fort Bragg in North Carolina and I’d almost completed a Master’s Degree in Theology.”
“That’s an interesting combination.”
“They aren’t mutually exclusive. If there’s one thing the army taught me, it’s the value of human life. Even a small act of kindness can have a huge impact on someone. And that includes making delicious food, even in the middle of a war zone.” Taking a deep breath, he walked out of the barn, needing the cold mountain air to clear his head.
Shelley followed him. “Are you okay?”
“I’ll be fine.” He glanced at Shelley’s worried face and frowned. “I have PTSD. My symptoms aren’t as bad as they are for some soldiers, but I need to take things slowly when I talk about my time in the military.”
“I understand.” Shelley jumped onto the back of the truck and picked up a box.
“That doesn’t mean you can’t ask me other questions.” He smiled at the confusion on her face. “Go on. I won’t bite.”
A blush streaked along Shelley’s cheeks. “How old are the students who join your hospitality course?”
John slid another box out of the truck. “It varies depending on the time of the year. The class that starts in July has a lot of eighteen- and nineteen-year-olds. They’ve usually come to us straight from high school. Last year, we started another course in January. That one attracted older students who have either moved to Sapphire Bay or who were looking for a different career.”
“Do you have other people who help you?”
“Brooke and Megan from Sweet Treats take the confectionery and cake decorating modules. Emma takes the small business and technology modules. It frees up my time to focus on the church and The Welcome Center.”
“And the tiny home village,” Shelley said over her shoulder.
“That, too.” They were down to the last six boxes to move. He grabbed two and followed Shelley. “Do you have plenty of volunteers to decorate the barn?”
“Ten people from the church are happy to help, but I didn’t think that would be enough. Yesterday, I spoke to Patrick Devlin. He’s lending me one of the construction teams he manages. They’ll bring two cherry pickers with them to hang the decorations from the walls and ceiling.”
“Is there anyone in Sapphire Bay you haven’t asked to help?”
Shelley considered his question. “I don’t think so. Does that make me as bad as Mabel?”
“I’m happy to say that you could never be as bad as Mabel.”
Shelley’s dimpled grin made his heart clench. “You might change your mind after you get to know me a little better.”
John sighed. He was looking forward to that.
“I’m telling you,” Sam told Bailey with a mischievous smile. “John likes Shelley. Why else would he buy her a plant and a bag of fudge?”
Shelley placed a bowl of soup in front of her sister. “Your happy hormones are working overtime. John was being nice, that’s all.”
Bailey nibbled on a slice of toast. “Sam’s got a point. John’s forty-two years old. Until now, he hasn’t bought fudge for anyone.”
“That’s because he’s a pastor,” Shelley said as she sat at the table. “He has to be careful in case someone in the church thinks he likes them when he’s just being friendly.”
Sam frowned. “Why would he have to be careful?”
“Because he’s a pastor.” When her sisters stared at her blankly, Shelley continued, “It’s like the worst type of workplace romance you could imagine. Taking a church service when he’s broken half the hearts in the room would be a disaster.”
“John wouldn’t break a woman’s heart intentionally,” Bailey said as she reached for the salt and pepper. “He’s such a softy that it would probably be his heart that was broken.”
“Either way, it wouldn’t be very professional.”
Sam choked on her soup. “You sound like someone from the eighteenth century. Maybe John needs someone to lead him astray. From what Mabel said, he hasn’t dated anyone since he moved to Sapphire Bay.”
Shelley groaned. “You can’t believe everything Mabel says. Look at what happened to me.”
Bailey waved her spoon in the air. “It wasn’t the publicity you wanted, but the Facebook post kick-started your new business. By the time you’re ready to number crunch someone’s finances, you’ll have a month’s worth of clients waiting to see you.”
“And any publicity is good publicity,” Sam said confidently. “At least that’s what Caleb tells me.”
Bailey laughed. “He’s the most publicity-shy person I know.”
Sam smiled. “He probably read a marketing book about how to promote his business. Not that it would have helped. His clients prefer him to operate out of the spotlight.”
Shelley guessed that came with the industry he was involved in. Creating state-of-the-art computer code would make most people hide from the media. Caleb was so worried about online security that he didn’t even have a Facebook page. After her brush with Mabel’s fast fingers, Shelley thought that was a great idea.
“If you want to impress John, you should do something for him,” Bailey said thoughtfully. “You know, bake him a cake or buy him a coffee.”
“I’m here to do a job, not fraternize with my boss.”
Bailey turned to Sam. “I can’t believe what Shelley’s saying. Do you think the cold mountain air is freezing her brain?”
“Beats me. If I was single and had a sexy, six-foot pastor bringing me chocolate fudge, I’d do more than process his invoices. I think we need to have a serious talk with her.”
Shelley’s cheeks burned. “Forget about John. He isn’t the reason we’re having dinner together. I need some direction on Bailey’s dream wedding.”
“Are you sure you wouldn’t prefer to plot the path to your own happy ever after?” Sam asked. “You should make the most of my happy hormones while I’m pregnant.”
Bailey nodded. “That’s a great idea. Shelley’s love life needs a little work. It’s almost as exciting as John’s.”
Shelley looked at her two sisters. “Don’t even think about it. For now,”—she opened the sketchpad in front of her and frowned—“I have a wedding to plan and not much time to do it.”
Bailey studied the picture that Shelley had stuck inside the large book. “I love the look of that wedding reception. Where did you find the photo?”
Sam looked across the table at the picture. “It’s not a real wedding reception. Shelley asked me to combine two different images to create a French country romance theme. I scanned each element, then created a new image.”
Bailey studied the photo. “I can’t believe it isn’t a real wedding. There are even crystal glasses on the tables.”
“If your wedding reception looked like this, would you be happy?” Shelley asked.
“I’d be so happy that I’d tell everyone you’re my favorite sister.”
“Hey,” Sam said. “That’s favoritism.”
Shelley sent her sister a smug smile. “I don’t mind.”
Sam rolled her eyes. “You’d better show Bailey the dresses and wedding invitations. In case you’re wondering, I designed the wedding invitation options. And if you want me to be your favorite sister, I would happily take the title off Shelley.”
As soon as Bailey saw the pictures of the bridal gowns, her mouth dropped open.
Shelley had to admit that they were stunning. “All the dresses are available from a boutique in Bozeman. Emily creates her own gowns and sends them to clients around the world. I chose three of her latest designs that I thought you’d like.”
Bailey pointed to the dress that was Shelley’s favorite. “This is gorgeous. What type of lace is on the skirt?”
“I don’t know what it’s called, but it’s made in Italy. Tiny sequins are sewn into each lace panel. You can’t see it from the photo, but when the bride moves, the entire dress twinkles.” That wasn’t the only thing that made it special. With its sweetheart neckline, capped sleeves, and wide satin sash, it belonged in a fairytale instead of a boutique in downtown Bozeman.
Sam pointed to a veil. “We didn’t know if you’d want a veil, but Emily designed this one for the gown you like.”
The veil was floor-length, embroidered with silk thread, and sprinkled with the same sequins that were on the dress. “What do you think?” Shelley asked.
When Bailey looked at her sisters, she had tears in her eyes. “This is amazing. I love the reception ideas and the dress and veil. Kylie could make a beautiful bouquet and Mila would look gorgeous in the Cinderella dress she wants to wear. But none of your options are for a bride and groom on a limited budget.”
“Apart from the dress, everything is super affordable. If you decide you’d like to wear one of Emily’s gowns, she said she’d work something out with the price.”
Sam turned to the next page in the scrapbook. “Don’t forget about the wedding invitations. And don’t worry about the price. I designed everything from scratch and they can be printed from my computer.”
Shelley’s eyes widened. “You aren’t trying to score extra points in the favorite sister stakes, are you?”
Sam grinned. “Who me? I wouldn’t stoop to anything so lowdown and corrupt. But I’d like to add that any of the invitations can have embellishments added. If you want sparkles to match the dress, I’ll add them for nothing.”
Bailey dabbed her eyes. “I don’t know what I’d do without my two favorite sisters. Group hug time.”
Shelley wrapped her arms around her sisters. It felt good to be here, to be part of something bigger than any one of them.
Maybe, just maybe, moving to Sapphire Bay was the best thing that had ever happened to her.
And if she could find a venue for Bailey’s wedding, it might just top Sam’s glittery invitations.
Most of the time, John enjoyed working at The Welcome Center. The space they had created was so much more than an accommodation and program center. This was where some of their guests felt safe for the first time in their lives. It provided shelter, food, and good company for everyone regardless of their circumstances.
But it was days like this that John found the most difficult.
Since their arrival, Andy and Charlie had fitted into Sapphire Bay reasonably well. After a short delay, they were enrolled at the local elementary school. They enjoyed The Welcome Center’s after-school program and were regulars at the evening story times. But their mom, Andrea, wasn’t coping with the new environment or the reason that had brought them to Sapphire Bay.
An hour ago, he’d met with Andrea to work out if there was anything the center could do to help her. He’d asked Bailey to join them. As a registered family therapist, Bailey knew how difficult transitioning to a new kind of normal could be. Especially when Andrea’s family had been torn apart by domestic violence.
The meeting hadn’t gone well.
“Don’t be discouraged,” Bailey said softly. “Andrea feels overwhelmed. She’s gone from living in an affluent area with a husband who’s highly regarded, to a battered wife hiding from her ex-husband. It hasn’t been an easy journey for her.”
“Do you think she has PTSD?” Many of Andrea’s reactions to what was happening around her were so similar to those of the men and women he counseled that he was sure she had PTSD.
“We need to get her assessed but, from my observations, I’d say that’s a strong possibility. While she’s here, her sons are safe. But my main concern is what happens if she leaves. You can’t keep her here against her will.”
Coming into their meeting, Andrea had thought the worst. She’d expected him to tell her she needed to leave. When he hadn’t, she burst into tears. They’d spent the next half hour trying to calm her down and reassure her that nothing would happen to her or her sons.
Bailey closed her notebook. “We need to keep everyone safe. If Andrea can’t provide a healthy environment for her sons, I have no choice but to call child and family services.”
Taking Andrea’s children away from her could tip her into a place no one wanted her to go. Especially if Andy and Charlie ended up in foster care.
John picked up the file they’d compiled about Andrea’s life. “Andrea needs more help than I can give her at The Welcome Center.”
“I could call the emergency mental health center in Polson. If they have a spare bed, they’ll look after her. She’ll get a full assessment of her health but, at this stage, her boys can’t go with her. They’d have to be placed in foster care or some other arrangement found.”
John knew as well as Bailey that they had to carefully consider what they’d do. But the options open to them were slim. When Andrea divorced her husband, his family wanted nothing to do with her or the boys. Andrea’s parents had both died and she had no siblings to look after her children.
“What if I look after Andy and Charlie for a few months? That would give Andrea a chance to get help. The boys could spend their after-school time here in familiar surroundings while their mom’s away.”
Bailey frowned. “You’re already incredibly busy. I have another suggestion. Before I left the medical center, I spoke to Zac. He said to call him if we’d like him to talk to Andrea. Why don’t we do that and see what he thinks? After that, we’ll talk about the boys.”
Zac was the only doctor in Sapphire Bay. He was a good person and would do everything he could to make sure Andrea and her sons had the best possible care.
“Okay,” John said. “Calling Zac makes sense. I’ll speak to Andrea once we know when he can see her.”
Bailey pulled out her phone. “It’s lucky Andrea came to Sapphire Bay. At least we can help her and the boys have a brighter future.”
John hoped so, too.