Sheila drove through the open gates of Paul’s property. “Home again, home again!”
Natalie twisted around in her seat to talk to Paul. “We’re going to check in at the chapel house and see what we need to get done. Would you like to stop in with us?”
“I’d like that very much.” Paul looked pleased.
When they pulled up, Randy was walking out to his truck with empty boxes stacked four high.
“Are y’all done?” Natalie said as she got out of the car.
“Everything except for the thumbs-up from you, but I think it looks pretty good. Plus, Daisy had the idea of leaving it a little undone by leaving a box of plastic ornaments for the kids to hang, ya know, at kid height.”
“That’s a great idea. A way to make it their own.”
“That’s exactly what she said.”
“Missed you at church.” Natalie pecked him on the cheek.
“Missed you too. Good morning, Paul, Sheila,” said Randy.
“Come on, let’s see how they did.” Natalie led the way. This once-stark building was now warm and inviting. In the corner, the Christmas tree looked even taller with the big star on top.
Randy said, “The star has colored lights too.”
“Wow, over-the-top is perfect for kids.”
The tree topper was huge, bedazzled, and a little hideous. Sheila hoped Randy wasn’t going to be an awful help on Natalie’s decorating team. They might have to vote him off the island to win. “Yeah, I’d pass on that, but you’re right, perfect for the kids.”
“It’ll look pretty at night,” Natalie said.
Randy rushed over to the cord. “It looks pretty now.” With one touch it lit up. “Look!”
That star cast about a hundred colored dots across the white walls.
Even Sheila had to admit it was fun.
“Doris and her husband brought a dresser full of stuff earlier. I had them put it next to the bed. It fit perfectly.” Randy led them over to check it out.
“Oh gosh, it’s so cute,” Sheila said.
Doris came from around the corner with Tucker on her heels. “I thought I heard voices when we came in,” Doris said. “I think it turned out real cute too.”
Sheila opened the drawer with the hand-painted sign on which “Annabelle” was surrounded by colorful ladybugs. “Oh my goodness, Doris. Look at these pajamas. They are so cute. I want a pair.”
“I had so much fun shopping for each of them. The little ones are my favorite, though.” She walked over and opened the blue drawer. “I painted this one myself with the little trucks for little Johnny. That little guy is gonna be all boy.”
Little Johnny was the little boy Sheila had held in her arms that night.
“I couldn’t resist.” Doris held up the cutest blue onesie with THEY CALL ME NO! on the front of it. “I haven’t bought baby clothes in way too long. Doesn’t look like my son is going to give me any grandchildren, so I went wild. They have the cutest stuff now.”
“This is great,” Natalie said. “They will be able to settle right in.”
“This is amazing. I didn’t see it before, but wow. It’s a home run.” Tucker nodded with approval.
“Here. I have before pictures,” Sheila said.
Tucker walked over and leaned over her shoulder to look at the pictures on her phone. Sheila slid through the befores, and then to the afters. “Holy cow. That’s a huge transformation. I can’t believe you did all this in just two days.”
Sheila shrugged, smiling back at him. “It’s my superpower. I’m in real estate, remember? Staging houses is what brings in the big bucks.”
“Clearly, you’re the wizard of them all. Now, if they can figure out how to get the money for their insurance deductible.” His arm brushed hers as he turned to join the conversation with the others.
Sheila hitched a breath, touching where his strong hand had just brushed her, and the comment about the insurance deductible registered. “It’s heartbreaking.”
Doris was rattling on. “As part of my checklist, I also leave a clipboard for the family so they can jot down things they need as they realize it.”
“Great idea. You are so organized. Tucker is lucky to have you to handle this stuff.”
“Oh, I know how lucky I am,” Tucker said.
“Well, you know every great fire chief knows how to pick a diverse team of people to fill all the gaps. As a whole, there’s pretty much nothing our firehouse can’t handle. It’s a team effort.”
“Yes, that’s for sure,” Tucker agreed.
“And humble too.” Sheila found herself admiring that about her new friend Tucker.
Color rose in Tucker’s cheeks. “I’m going to see if anyone needs some help.”
As he walked out, Doris didn’t hesitate. “I’ve never met anyone like him. He really has his stuff together. He’s a kind, giving man. Wise beyond his years, or maybe an old soul. I don’t know, but this town couldn’t do without him.”
“That’s quite a compliment,” Sheila said.
“Call ’em like I see ’em.” Doris tucked the little outfit back in the drawer and held up the tiniest little Christmas socks Sheila had ever seen.
“Oh my gosh!” Sheila could feel her biological clock ticking. Too bad she’d never have the chance to have her own family. She’d never go through all that again. She still felt that all the energy she and Dan had put into the temperature-taking and baby-making rituals was part of the downward spiral of their marriage. “Precious. Absolutely precious.”
People from the fire station and church were dropping in and out, and everything was coming together quickly.
Someone had completely outfitted the bathroom. They’d added a fun shower curtain, and clearly it was someone with kids because they’d even put down safety strips and added a container that could hold towels. Even a little step stool in front of the sink, painted like a turtle, that had padded steps that lifted for storage without the risk of pinching tiny fingers. Maybe this is why I’m not a mom. I have no common mom sense. I hadn’t even thought of that stuff.
Nelle had single-handedly taken on getting the kitchen ready, and what she didn’t already have, she was able to get people from church to chip in for or donate.
When Sheila walked back into the living room, Randy was telling Natalie that he and Jesse would be hanging the television tonight.
Natalie turned to Doris. “We’ll be ready for them tomorrow morning. Whenever you’re ready, I think anything else can be a work in progress.”
“Not many people had ever been up on this hill, though,” Doris said. “I hope that won’t scare them a little.”
“It turned out the Jacob family goes to the same church as Paul. They came up and spoke to him this morning. It’s true he’s been a recluse for years, but you know he had his problems too. Living behind those iron gates up in the castle house was his way of protecting his heart, but he’s getting out more. I think this will be a really good thing for all of them.”
“I’m sure you’re right,” Doris said. “This is exciting in so many ways. I’ll coordinate bringing the whole family over at once. I think Jack is trying to go back to work tomorrow, but we can get the family over and settled and help them put together a nice family meal for when he gets home from work.”
“I’ll text you.” Natalie walked Doris out to her car.
“Sheila, can you come help me with this?” Tucker scooted a big chalkboard to the door.
“Coming!” She ran over and held up the other end.
“It’s not heavy, it’s just so wide it’s awkward to pick up and get through the doorway.”
“I see that. I’ll get this end and we can come in sideways.” Sheila shimmied through the doorway first, and then Tucker took the weight and set it on the ground.
“You’re a good partner. Ever consider joining the fire department? I’m always looking for people who think fast on their feet.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment, but I don’t think I’m cut out to be a fireman.”
“We call everyone a firefighter these days,” he said. “And some of my best are women.”
“Really, well alrighty then. I don’t like to get dirty.”
“I guess I could see that about you.” He lifted her hands, turning them over. “Those nails would be history in a hurry, and your hands … they are softer than a child’s. Very nice.”
“Thank you.” She retracted her hand, curling her fingers in. “I guess when you were a little boy, you always wanted to be a fireman.”
“No. Not at all.” Tucker crossed one long, lean leg over the other. “I grew up in a small mountain town, kind of like this one. Pine Creek. Nature and wilderness are what captured my imagination. As a kid, I dreamed of being a lumberjack.”
“I can honestly say I’ve never known anyone who wanted to be a lumberjack.”
“What? Not a Paul Bunyan fan?”
“Never yearned for a blue ox either.”
He laughed. “I’d roam the woods exploring and climbing trees. Cutting dead limbs. Made my mom a wreck. She just knew I was going to fall to my death by climbing trees. She kept encouraging me to think of something safer.”
“So you chose to be a firefighter.”
His laugh came out like a rattle of small stones. “Hardly. I think she was hoping I’d be a doctor or an accountant or something like that.”
“Oh yeah, not exactly the outdoorsman type of career.”
“Not at all.” He crossed his arms, taking in a breath. “A raging fire swept through the area, destroying acres and acres of land near our house. We had to evacuate, and I remember begging my mom to let me stay and help put out that fire. Watching it burn my trees, that forest. It was part of my home. Part of me.”
“How old were you?”
“Twelve. I watched the brave firefighters as we left with what we could grab. I remembered being struck by their courage and selflessness. They put their lives on the line to save our house. They didn’t even know us. Seeing them so fearless and with no hesitation…” He tapped his fist on his chest. “It changed my outlook on life forever. I knew I wanted to be like them and help my community.”
“That’s an inspiring story.”
“I joined the junior firefighters’ program, but then we moved. I think my mom hoped I’d forget it about when we moved here and they didn’t have a junior program.”
“But you didn’t?”
“I didn’t. I read every book I could get my hands on and as the information became available on the internet, I’d print out reams of paper at school and bring them home to study at night.”
“It was burning inside of you.”
“I see what you did there. Funny.” His eyes twinkled.
She touched her face, self-conscious.
“Yeah, so I convinced the fire chief to let me apprentice, and eventually I spent so much time around there they let me be a part of the team.”
“Clearly, this is your calling. Everyone speaks very highly of you.”
“Even you?” Tucker narrowed his eyes.
“Me?” Sheila swallowed visibly and shook her head. “No, all I know is you make a great turkey jerky.”
“You tried it? My jerky?”
“Of course, it was a Christmas gift,” she said.
Tucker lifted his chin. “Technically, it was only a Holiday Warmup gift.”
“Oh goody.” Sheila clapped her hands. “Am I on the real Christmas list too?”
He looked doubtful. “Have you been good?”
“Very good,” she insisted, with wide eyes, and maybe a little bit of a pout.
“You said that with quite a naughty look.”
“I’d never.” She fluttered her eyelashes. “How dare you?”
That cracked them both up, and they were still laughing when Natalie and Randy walked in.
“Looks like you two are getting along,” he said, teasing Tucker.
Natalie looked like she was already planning their wedding.
“We’re just talking,” Sheila insisted.
“Sure you are,” Natalie said.
“I’ve got to run,” Tucker said. Thanks for all y’all have done. The place looks great.”
“You’re welcome, but we couldn’t have done it without Doris,” said Sheila.
“I thank my lucky stars she came out of retirement to help me. You don’t have to remind me.”
Sheila stood there as Tucker walked out. Maybe a moment too long, because Natalie nudged her to get her attention and then gave her a snarky laugh while muttering “We’re just talking.”
“We were. What?” Sheila grabbed a broom and tidied up the leaves and dirt that had been tracked in, while Natalie put a batch of slice-and-bake cookies in the oven.
An hour later, everything was in place. She had to admit it was one of the best staging jobs she’d been a part of, and it was all childproof. No breakables. Plenty of places to tuck things away.
A play area was created by putting down a whimsical colorful rug with a road and town pattern on it that the kids could congregate on. And to help keep the small place uncluttered, a huge basket in which to hide all the toys away in a hurry.
Randy had come up with the idea of adding hanging rods made out of half-inch metal pipe to the end of the bunk beds for makeshift closet space. It had really turned out cute.
By nine o’clock on Sunday evening, everything was as done as it could be in the temporary housing on Paul Grandstaff’s property.
Natalie closed the door behind them and left the single key on a “J” key chain hanging in the door for the family. An extra set was on the kitchen counter with a welcome note and a plate of cookies they’d just taken out of the oven.
With any luck, there’d still be a sweet, welcoming hint of home in the air when they arrived.