That night after Lisa and Oliver went back to the inn, Kevin was in such a good mood that he returned to the store and finished painting the floors. He wasn’t usually a fan of painting old wood floors, but he had to admit it was a good remedy for the short haul. Besides, there was no way he was going to be able to sleep, so having this to work on was a gift.
He was happy with how it had turned out. He was sure she would be, too. Maybe they were cutting corners a little, but there would be time after the festival to put topcoats on and finish the job. He was starting to learn how to make compromises, and that wasn’t a bad thing.
It would look perfect when Lisa got to the store in the morning, even though the last step wouldn’t be complete. He couldn’t wait for her to see it.
In the morning, he got there early and got coffee. He was standing there waiting on her when she showed up at nine. They only had a few minutes to enjoy their coffee before a steady stream of townsfolk started showing up, dropping off more things that they’d been storing for their booths.
They now had more than enough merchandise to use in the staging for Polly’s visit in two days when she showed up for the Christmas Eve festival. People seemed excited to have their wares displayed before the festival even began.
Kevin stood at the back of the store watching Lisa greet people with true enthusiasm over their handiwork. Her positive spirit lifted his. For the first time, maybe ever, he looked around enjoying the accomplishment, not making a list of what was left to do. It was a bit freeing.
Lisa helped a woman set up her collection of soft sculpture snowmen on one row of shelving. Floor to ceiling, those jolly stuffed snowmen filled up the whole column. All different sizes and colors, each one brought a little more life to the store.
He directed people to different areas based on the layout Lisa had shared with him. That way, the boxes would be in the right general location for unloading. Oliver stood on a ladder moving some of the items they’d found in the back of Daisy’s up to the top row to make room for the local artisans’ more attractive items.
“Coming through,” Hannah said, her arms full, as the bells rang on the door. David came dragging in behind her with two bags in each hand. “I have the rest of my hats here.”
“Great!” Lisa jogged around the far counter where she’d begun setting up a Nativity, hand-carved by an elderly man on the outskirts of town. She ran over and helped Hannah set her box on the counter. “At least they’re light.”
“Yeah, I don’t know what I was thinking, putting them in a box this big. It was awkward to carry.”
David lifted his bags. “I tried to tell her to put them in bags. This was easy.” He lifted them in the air.
“You’re a good helper, David,” Lisa complimented him. “I found something that I think might work pretty well for your hats. Come with me.” Lisa and Hannah walked back to the storage room. A countertop spinning rack with a tall pole on top sat in the corner. “I thought we could use some of the bright wrapping paper and kind of wad it into a half circle and then tug the hats on top of that so they’d sit on each of these spindles. They’d look pretty and people could spin the display around to find the one they liked best.”
“Perfect,” Hannah said. “How do you think of this stuff?”
“I don’t know. It’s what I do,” she said with a modest lift of her shoulder. “Plus these are great. I want to show them off.” She grabbed one side of the display. “Help me carry it. We’ll put it on the counter near the door. The bright colors will draw people’s attention and pull them right into the store.”
“You know all the tricks,” Hannah said.
They carried the display out front and set it up. It didn’t take long to get the hats all floofed and situated. Where Hannah had multiples of the same style and color, they staggered them in the glass display case below. It looked like a high-end boutique arrangement.
“I’ve got pretty price cards, too.” Hannah reached for a manila envelope in the bottom of the box. The tags were glossy white card stock. She’d whip-stitched yarn around the edge for a unique border with “Hats by Hannah” stamped in pretty script in the middle.
“Oh my gosh. These price tags are as awesome as the hats. Don’t tell me you’re one of those people that can make those cool cards with the cutouts and stamps and stuff.”
Hannah rolled her eyes. “Guilty.”
“I wish I could do that.” Lisa shook her head. “I’ve never tried, but it looks so detailed. I’m not sure if I’m patient enough to sit that still.”
“I’ll show you sometime.”
“I’d love that.” Lisa placed the price tag tents in the case, then helped Hannah tuck the individual price tags into each hat.
Hannah pulled a soft pink cap onto her head. It had a wide band and a loose top, giving it kind of a French beret look. “This is a new pattern this year. What do you think?”
“I love it.” Lisa sorted through the box, finally picking out a red one to try on. “How does mine look? Oui?”
“It looks great on you.”
Lisa snapped her fingers. “We need a mirror here for when people are trying on the hats.”
“You’re right.” Hannah squinted her eyes a little. “I might I have an old mirror in my garage. I’ll check tonight.”
“Perfect. If it’s small, we can put it up on the counter. If it’s tall, then we might be able to get Kevin to hang it over there for us. Either would work fine.”
Kevin helped the maple syrup folks set up their display on the second level, next to displays of mason jar food gifts with everything from dried beans and organic pet treats to cookie mixes and soup ingredients. The store was filling up fast. When he finished with the maple syrup display, he walked across the street and ordered lunch to bring back for him and Lisa.
As he waited at the counter to place his to-go order, he overheard a couple of people talking about how excited they were that Daisy’s might reopen. He was proud to be a part of that.
“What can I get for you, Kevin?” Carol asked.
“A couple ham and cheese sandwiches on whole wheat toast, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and your delicious house dressing, and two waters to go.”
“Got it. Just give me a minute and I’ll have it right up for you.”
“Sounds good.” He leaned against the counter, waiting and watching the activity in the store across the street. Lisa never stopped. One minute she was arranging merchandise, the next she was greeting someone coming into the store or saying goodbye. It was like she’d been a part of this community the whole time.
Carol swept around the counter with a bag. “That’ll be ten dollars even.” She leaned forward and winked. “Contractor discount.”
“Thanks, Carol.” He paid her and then walked back across the street. When Kevin opened the door to Daisy’s, Hannah was getting ready to leave. He held the door for her, and Lisa caught it as she said goodbye to Hannah.
“Bye, Hannah.” He held up the bag and motioned to Lisa. “I got lunch for us.”
“I’m starving. Thank you.” Lisa fell in step behind him as he led the way to the vintage porcelain top table and chairs they’d set up in the food section. It gave the place a real kitchen vibe. Especially now that the shelves were filled with all the colorful products.
He spread out the lunch like a picnic. She plopped down in one of the chairs and took one of the bottles of water.
“Thank you so much,” she said. “For this. For everything.”
“Don’t mention it.” He sat down in the chair next to her. “I’m really enjoying it.”
“I’m glad.” She looked a little tired, but happy.
“I hope you like ham and cheese.”
“Love it. That sounds perfect.” She unwrapped her sandwich and took a bite. “So good.” For a little while, they ate in comfortable silence.
“It’s been a good day,” he said.
“Yeah. It’s really coming together. I think Polly is going to love what we’ve done.”
“What you’ve done.”
“No. It’s been a team effort.” She finished her sandwich and wadded up the paper wrapping. “You know what? I was wondering…”
“Uh-oh. No telling what’s going on in that non-stop brain of yours.”
“Funny. I was wondering if your dad would have enough clippings at the tree lot for us to make a couple more wreaths. We could hang one right over there.” She pointed to the middle beam in the shelving unit. “And one opposite, to draw the eye up to some of the items on the higher shelves. Plus, the fresh scent would be so nice.”
“Sure. I can make that happen. Why don’t I go get them while you’re working on this stuff? We can work on the wreaths together later. It would save some time, and we can multi-task.”
She stabbed a finger in the air. “I like the way you think.”
“I’ll see you back here in a little while.”
“You’ve got a date,” she said playfully, then rushed over to help Michelle with a box of ceramics someone had just brought in.
Kevin gathered their lunch wrappers and tossed them in the trash, then walked out of the store and got into his truck. As he rounded the corner, he noticed his father’s truck in front of the church. In a hurry, he was tempted to ride on past, but he knew needed to make time. He pulled behind Dad’s truck and shut down his engine. The least he could do was take a minute to see how things were going. He lifted the door handle and got out. Besides, it was only right to ask Dad if it was okay to take the pine scraps.
Inside the church was quiet. He walked downstairs to the basement.
“Dad?”
Henry popped up from the far side of the bell mechanism. His glasses sat low on his nose, a flashlight in one hand. “I didn’t hear you come in.”
“Didn’t mean to startle you. How’s it going?”
“Just like it did every other time I tried to figure this out. I just can’t seem to pinpoint what’s wrong.” His voice was filled with frustration.
“It’s not often there’s something you can’t fix.” Kevin realized he was as guilty as his father in not offering kind words often enough. He regretted that now.
Henry’s expression softened. “Thanks, son.” He lowered his eyes. “I used to believe that was true. These bells have had me stumped for way too long.”
“I was hoping maybe the long break would make it like a new start, and you’d figure it out right off.” With only two days before Christmas Eve, they were running out of time.
“That would’ve been nice.”
Kevin was so tempted to jump in and start tracing the cogs and cables to see where the breakdown was, but as hard as it was, he refrained from doing so. He didn’t want to insult him. Dad wanted these bells to work more than anyone. Of that, he was certain.
“So,” Kevin said. “I was wondering if you mind if I run by the farm and pick up some of the tree clippings. Lisa wants to make some fresh wreaths for Daisy’s.”
“Sure. I’m just going to burn it all.”
“That’s what I figured. Thanks.”
“Have all you want. Or, if you’d rather, you could just take her there and make them. I’ve got the wire and tools all right there handy. The forms are still in place for the different sizes too. It might be a lot quicker with everything all set up already.”
He hadn’t considered that. “That’s a good idea, Dad. Thanks. I might do that.”
Dad leaned over the equipment again. Kevin started to leave, then stopped. “Would you mind if I picked up another tree too?”
“You don’t like that other one? They all probably have a flat spot on them.”
Kevin regretted judging the tree that his dad had helped Lisa pick out. “No sir. You were right. That one looks great. You should stop by and see it. It’s on the front porch. I was going to get her one for inside the store. She really wanted two trees to begin with and I talked her out of it.”
Dad’s expression softened. “Sure, son. You take whatever you’d like. That Lisa, she’s a nice gal. I like her.”
“Yeah. Very nice.” Kevin walked off, realizing for the first time how much his dad’s approval really meant to him.