Sheila sat in the passenger seat of Natalie’s truck trying not to watch as Natalie tiptoed at the window of Randy’s vehicle, kissing him goodbye again. Hopefully, this third kiss would be the last. She was ready to shop.
The weather had warmed up to the forties, so it wasn’t nearly as bitter cold as it had been. She closed her eyes, letting the sun warm her face through the windshield, wishing she’d hurry up.
Finally, Natalie hopped into the driver’s seat. “Let’s do this.”
“I’m ready. I was just thinking about what else we might need to get.” Sheila picked up a pen from the console and added pillows and a boot tray for next to the door to the list.
And they were off. Thank goodness, at each stop, they were able to strike off something else on the list. At the Habitat Restore they were able to get a huge area rug to create a family living space, and a couch and fun coffee table too. Even a set of nightstands and small lamps for the sleeping area.
As the guys loaded the pickup with the furniture, the owner overheard Natalie talking about the Jacob family’s loss and walked over.
“Sounds like you two ladies are doing the work of elves and angels today.”
“Labor of love. A generous neighbor donated a building, so we’re trying to get it all set up.”
“Well, just so happens someone brought in one of those electric fireplaces today. The kind that looks like a mantel. What do you think about me donating that to you? It would make for a homey Christmas with someplace to hang the stockings. My treat.”
“You’re kidding!” Natalie could barely contain her excitement. “That would be amazing.”
“And if they find they don’t need it, just bring it on back. No harm, but it sure seems like a fun addition with little ones around, so Santa has a fireplace to come down. Unless you think it might scare those toddlers after seeing their house burn down.”
“I hadn’t thought about that. Let’s see how it goes. I think it’s a grand idea. At least through Christmas.” Natalie threw her arms around his neck. “Thank you!”
He instructed the guys to load up the fireplace too.
While they waited, Sheila sketched out another floor plan on how they might arrange the furniture, only this time instead of putting the bunk beds in the front corner she put the full-size bed with the nightstands on each side on one wall, and then set up the bunks as sort of a faux wall. It truly would separate the living area from the sleeping quarters.
“That’s a great idea,” Natalie said, “and it will give them some privacy after the kids go to sleep.”
“I’ll buy two matching lightweight bedspreads to nail to the back side of the bunk bed frames. What color do you think? Blue maybe?”
“Sure. Everything is pretty much white or wood in the chapel, so anything with a little color would warm it up and make it more inviting. Blue would go nice with the rug and the couch we picked out.”
“The truck is full, but if we can stop somewhere on the way back, I can fit that stuff under my feet.”
They stopped at the big box store and found the perfect matelassé bedspreads in a cozy winter blue.
“I think that is the fastest shopping trip and most stuff I’ve ever bought in half of a day.”
“Look at all this stuff!” Sheila still couldn’t believe how lucky they’d gotten. “This feels like Christmas.”
“You’re telling me. Better than buying a bunch of gifts that you know are just going to end up in a drawer somewhere. I’d rather help a family every year.” Her phone pinged. “Oh wait. It’s Randy. He has the bunk beds. He’s heading back now.”
“We better get a move on then,” Sheila said. “I bet we can get this stuff staged before he gets back to Chestnut Ridge. Ask him if he needs us to pick up any tools to put them together.”
Natalie texted Randy back. “Nope, he has what he needs in his truck.”
“Perfect.”
“Oh, and he’s bringing coffee and pastries from Giddy-Up and Go,” Natalie added. “His sister is sending them for us.”
“The one in the horse trailer, right?”
“Yes. She has the best pastries and coffee.”
“I know. I’m addicted to her place. I follow her on Facebook so I know where she’s parked. In fact, text him and see if he’s still there. Is he still there with her? If he could get me ten twenty-dollar gift cards from her, I’ll give them to my December clients as New Year’s presents. That would be fun and would help her get the word out.”
“On it.” She typed out the message. “He’ll get them while he’s there.”
“All of my shopping is officially done now.” Sheila smacked her hands together and leaned back in the seat, singing to the holiday songs playing on the radio.
It was starting to get dark by the time they drove up to the security gates in front of Paul’s property. For the first time since she’d met him, the gates were wide open. She looked over at Sheila. “He never leaves his gate open. I hope everything is all right.”
“Let’s go check on him first.”
Natalie gunned the engine up the steep driveway and followed the road up and around to Paul’s house, the one with the faux castle exterior. “Wait here. I’ll run and check.”
“No way. I’m coming too.”
They raced to the front door and Natalie knocked, then opened the door and listened. Hearing nothing, she called his name. “Paul? Are you okay?”
It was quiet.
“He doesn’t hear that well,” Natalie admitted. “I hate to scare him.”
“Paul? Are you here? I noticed the gate was open. I wanted to be sure you’re okay.” She walked back to his office. The light was on, but the room was empty. As were the kitchen and his bedroom.
“I don’t think he’s here, Nat.”
“That’s odd. He doesn’t really go anywhere. Did you notice his golf cart out front when we came up?”
“I wasn’t really looking for it. I’ll go check.” Sheila walked outside. The golf cart was parked to the right of the front door.
She went back inside. “Natalie, the cart is here. Someone must have picked him up.”
“I’ll leave him a note to call me when he gets home. I’d hate to think he might have fallen on the property or something.”
“That’s a good idea.”
Natalie and Sheila got back in the truck and cruised back over to the chapel.
As they turned off the main road, they could see the light from the little church. Light shone from every arch-shaped window, and floodlights lit up about twenty feet all around.
Men were moving about the building.
“He’s here,” Natalie said with a sigh of relief.
Paul stood outside wearing a wool peacoat directing Jesse and a bunch of young boys moving things on and off of a flatbed trailer.
“Hello, Natalie.” His bony wrist twisted in the air. “We’ve been getting things ready for the Jacobs.”
Sheila walked inside to see how much they’d done, while Natalie stopped to talk to Paul.
“Sheila?” It was Nelle, standing to the right of Jesse and helping fold lap quilts on a ladder propped against the wall. “This was such a wonderful idea to help the Jacob family. I hope you don’t mind me jumping in. I had a whole cedar chest full of these that I’ve made over the past few years. This is the perfect time to be sure each family member has something to keep them warm. It’s a big space. I hope it gets warm enough for those little babies’ feet.”
“I bought a couple of area rugs. I think that will help. Once we get furniture in, it’ll warm up. Don’t you worry,” Sheila said.
“I told Jesse I’d like to send a meal to the family at the end of each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday after work. I can always make enough to spare.”
“That’s so generous. I know they’ll appreciate that.”
Nelle smiled wide. “I’m like that little drummer boy. My gifts ain’t fancy, but they are from the gift God gave me, and I’m pleased as punch to share them.”
“Y’all have been busy, Jesse.” Sheila noted they’d taken all but three of the pews out, and now in the kitchen space they’d replaced the small dorm-size refrigerator with a full-size one too. “Nelle, did you do all this in the kitchen?”
“I did. Ain’t a home without a kitchen ready to fill those little children’s bellies. It wasn’t anything. I had boxes of mismatched stuff in the back of the kitchen in storage. I’m glad to put it to good use.”
“It was meant to be.” And just then Sheila watched Paul and Natalie walk in and those boys started hauling in those big heavy rugs. “Excuse me,” Sheila said. “Hey boys. Bring that heavy beast over here. Let me show you where to unroll that thing.”
She helped them get it in just the right position, and then she showed them where to put the other two. One for under the table with the two pews they’d use for dining, and the other in the center of the bedroom space.
Once the rugs were in place, the chapel looked cozier already.
They had the electric fireplace set up and running, with the couch in front of it.
“You were right about using the third pew in here,” said Natalie. “It’ll be perfect. Do you think we can sit a television on top of that fireplace? Paul, what do you think? I hate to put holes in your walls.”
Paul walked over and took a look. “Jesse can hang a television on the wall. That’s no problem. There’s nothing that man can’t fix back to new. Don’t worry about it.”
“Are you sure you’re feeling okay about this? I was worried when I saw the gate open. I know how finicky you are about it staying closed,” Natalie said.
“I know I have been painfully aware of that gate, and honestly, I think that’s gone on long enough. If that family is going to be living up here, the last thing we need is to worry about that gate. I think we’ll all be just fine without it closed.”
“Are you sure?”
“I am. It feels much more welcoming with it open.” Paul put his arm around her. “I feel so alive. With you and friends, and now a young family getting on their feet. Helping them feels good. Thank you for inviting me to be a part of this.”
She hugged his neck. “You are the best. I know where Jeremy got every single one of his good qualities.”
Sheila teared up as she listened to her best friend talk about her late husband. Natalie and Jeremy were so in love. It had been heartbreaking to watch her navigate that loss, but the joy in seeing Natalie learn to trust Paul, Jeremy’s grandfather, and accept him as her new family as she built a new life with Randy was heartwarming.
Randy came inside carrying his tools. “I could use some help unloading these bunk beds.”
The young guys didn’t hesitate. A moment later, they were hoisting mattresses and boxes.
In less than an hour with the extra hands, they had the two bunk beds put together. Sheila had worked her magic placement and once they were able to explain it to Randy so that he understood, he used a staple gun to affix the bedspreads along the back side, and just like that, it was a separate sleeping space for the family.
“This looks amazing.” Paul folded his arms. “I never could have pictured it, but it works.”
“Once we get a Christmas tree in the corner and stockings on that mantel, it’s going to be perfect.”
Paul hugged her. “There is a significant difference between a house and a home, and that difference lies in the feeling of belonging. These things you’re doing, they will make them feel like they belong here.” He smiled. “I have to wonder if this wasn’t the real purpose for this place all along. You make me look at things in a new way.”
“Is it too much? Paul, I know you value your privacy.”
“Au contraire, my dear. I thought I did, but this old heart of mine has never felt more alive since you happened into my life. I’m grateful for these changes, although I do feel quite out of step at times.”
“You can lean on me,” she said.
“I do. More than you realize, my dear.”