Shelley sipped the cup of hot chocolate John had made her in The Welcome Center’s cafeteria. “How many tiny homes will you have ready by Christmas?”
“Twenty-two. It would have been great to have the entire twenty-five completed, but we had a few issues along the way.”
Shelley looked through the window at the tiny home village. Her sister had told her that, when the properties beside the parking lot became available, John convinced the bank that this was the best place for the village. After some major fundraising, the land was purchased and the groundworks completed.
“Sometimes, I can’t believe how much we’ve achieved in the last year.” John placed his mug on the table. “A lot of families are safe and happy because of everyone working together.”
One of the things Shelley liked about John was the way he always shared the credit for what he’d achieved. Most of the men she knew were only too happy to tell everyone how wonderful they were. “Bailey said you went to Polson to secure funding for a budgeting and counseling service. How did it go?”
“Better than I thought, but we’ll have to wait a few weeks to see if the county can subsidize the program. What are your plans?”
“After The Santa Express?”
John nodded.
“Well, I still have to organize the flower fundraiser for the Christmas wish program. Then there’s Bailey and Steven’s wedding. I’m hoping to have a list of options for them in the next week. If they decide they want a Valentine’s Day wedding, booking everything will be my next job.”
“Will you stay in Sapphire Bay?”
Shelley leaned her elbows on the table. “I hope so, but I need to find a job first. I thought about opening my own accounting business, but I haven’t found anywhere to live, let alone start a business.”
“Would you work from home?”
“Probably. It would be a lot cheaper than renting office space. If I could find an affordable two-bedroom home, it would be perfect.”
“Do you want to rent or buy?”
“Preferably buy. I have a huge aversion to paying someone else’s mortgage. What about you? Does the church provide you with a house or have you found your own?”
“There was an apartment attached to the church, but I gave it to a family to use. I live in a small cottage not far from here.”
“That was good of you.”
John shrugged. “It didn’t make sense to stay in a three-bedroom apartment when their needs were greater than mine.”
Shelley picked up one of the cookies John had left on a plate between them. “How does the pastor thing work? Do you have to move to different towns or can you stay in Sapphire Bay?”
“The Connect Church is part of a wider network of churches. I could move to another town, but as long as I can do something positive for the community, I’ll stay here.”
“Do you have family who live in Sapphire Bay?”
John smiled. “No. Why?”
“I’m trying to work out why you chose to live in a small town.”
“I found Sapphire Bay by accident and decided to stay. It’s no different from most of the stories you’ll hear around town. We’ve become a melting pot of cultures and experiences. That’s one of the reasons why everyone supports what we’re doing. People understand how difficult life can be.”
Shelley fiddled with the handle of her mug. She was lucky. She had a big, boisterous Italian-American family who loved her and, until recently, a high-paying job. “I’ve never had to worry about not having somewhere to live or enough food to eat. My parents and sisters have always been there for me and I had a good education. It’s hard to imagine what it must be like if you don’t have those things.”
“That’s why The Welcome Center and the tiny home village are so important. Most people want to feel as though they belong, that their lives matter. By giving people a chance to enjoy the basic rights of every human being, we’re telling them they matter and that we care about them. For some people in the center, this is the first time anyone has said that to them.”
“That’s sad and wonderful at the same time.”
“It’s the wonderful part that I want everyone to experience. Who have you talked to about buying a house?”
“Bailey gave me the name of a realtor but, apart from looking at their website, I haven’t had a chance to view any of the properties.”
“You’ll need to move fast if you see something you like. Houses sell quickly in Sapphire Bay.”
“That’s what Bailey and Sam told me. Do you rent your cottage or did you buy it?”
John smiled. “I bought it along with two others. Sapphire Bay wasn’t as popular when I moved here, so the prices were a lot cheaper.”
“Do you rent the other two houses?”
“Sort of.”
“You let people live in them for free?”
“Not quite. I bought them as a social investment, not a financial one. The only profit I’ll make is when I sell them.”
Shelley frowned. Wanting to make a difference was one thing, but making a loss didn’t make sense. “Does your accountant claim all of the rental property deductions each year?”
“I don’t have an accountant, but I claim for things like insurance premiums, property taxes, and cleaning and maintenance.”
“What about mortgage interest, advertising, and travel expenses?”
“I don’t have any advertising costs and the houses are only around the corner from where I live, so that doesn’t amount to much travel. I had no idea I could claim back the interest on my mortgage.”
Shelley pulled her notebook out of her backpack. “Here’s a list of all the things you can claim. If you’d like some help, I can come to The Welcome Center and show you what to do.”
“You don’t need to do that.”
“It sounds as though someone should. Otherwise, you aren’t making the most of your investments.”
John’s slow smile made Shelley’s breath catch. “I didn’t buy them to make a profit.”
“I know—you want to help people. So, what does a single pastor who wants to help people do for fun?”
“He trains for a half marathon with his friends and disappears into the mountains whenever he can get away.”
Shelley grinned. “That sounds positively riveting.”
“It helps remind me about what’s important. Do you run or hike?”
Shelley shook her head. “The only exercise I do is slip down icy banks beside old barns.”
“As long as you have a single pastor beside you, you’ll be okay.”
Shelley’s smile faded. John didn’t know how wrong he was.
Two days after taking Shelley to the Colemans’ ranch, John sat at his desk and sighed. He’d just finished a phone conversation with a woman at the county offices and the news wasn’t good. The church’s funding application for more social services was turning into a red-tape nightmare.
Over the last month, he’d spent a lot of time filling out the paperwork. Now he needed to show that the church could supply the ongoing financial reporting the county required.
That wouldn’t have been a problem if the accountant the church used hadn’t retired. John knew how much time it took to prepare the church’s annual statements. But providing future projections of their financial status and cost benefit ratios was something entirely different.
“Can I interrupt you for a few minutes?”
John looked up and smiled at Shelley. The blue sweater, black skirt, and knee-high boots she was wearing were completely different from the trousers and jackets she usually wore. Maybe Sapphire Bay was taking the corporate edge off her already.
“How can I help?”
“I put together a document showing everything you can claim on your rental properties. Some of the expenses can be backdated for five years.”
John took the folder she gave him. “Thanks. I’ll read it tonight. What have you been doing?”
“The realtor Bailey told me about took me to a couple of properties. One of them was okay, but the other was too small. At least I’ve met her and she’ll let me know if any other properties come on the market.”
“That sounds promising.”
Shelley pulled out her cell phone. “And I bought a truck. It’s not the newest model but, it has all the safety features I wanted, and it’s red.”
She said the last part of her sentence with such pride that John smiled. “Was the color important?”
“Extremely. Red makes me happy.”
John looked at the photo she showed him. For someone who was so detail-focused, Shelley’s emotional reaction to a color surprised him. “It’s a reliable model.”
“And it’s red,” Shelley said with a grin. “What have you been doing?”
“Talking to someone from the county offices about our funding application.”
“From the frown on your face, it doesn’t look as though it was a good conversation.”
John sighed. “I’m not sure I’ll be able to provide them with the ongoing documents they need.”
“What type of documentation?”
“Have a seat. This could take a while.” John printed off the list the county had emailed him and handed it to Shelley. “An accountant who retired to Sapphire Bay used to pay all our bills and do our monthly and annual financial statements. Nine months ago, he moved to Fort Wayne to be closer to his family. Since then, a team of local business owners have helped me keep our bills paid and our monthly statements up to date. But with Christmas just around the corner, everyone’s so busy that I’m doing most of the work.”
Shelley’s eyebrows rose. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I get the impression that preparing financial statements isn’t something you enjoy.”
“Is it that obvious?”
“Only to someone who lives and breathes numbers.” She read the list John had given her. “The documents the county requires are fairly standard for funding support. Have you looked for another accountant?”
“The nearest accounting firm is in Polson. Apart from the distance, they’ll charge a lot of money to prepare the documents the county needs. I’m beginning to wonder if it’s all worth it.”
Shelley placed the sheet of paper on his desk. “Bailey told me what you want to do. The budgeting and counseling services will change people’s lives. You can’t let a list of requirements stop you from making a difference.”
“We already have some services in place.”
“Aren’t they run by volunteers?”
John knew what Shelley meant. “I know that relying on volunteers isn’t a good long-term strategy. But unless I want to pay a company thousands of dollars to provide these documents and do our day-to-day finances, it’s the only choice I have.”
“You won’t have to pay anyone thousands of dollars. How many hours each week does it take to keep your financial records up to date?”
“On average, it probably takes five hours. I’m not sure how long it took our accountant to complete the end-of-year statements.”
“Are your accounts audited?”
John nodded. “Everything is sent to a chartered accountant.”
Shelley took a deep breath. “What if we make a deal? You said there are spare rooms in The Welcome Center that could be used as office space. What if I prepare the documents the county needs and keep your books in order? In return, I can use one of the spare rooms for as long as I stay in Sapphire Bay. You’ll have to ask another chartered accountant to audit your accounts, but I know a person who charges really low fees.”
“That doesn’t sound like much of a deal. All you get is an unused room.”
“Hopefully, the church’s accounts aren’t the only ones I’ll be doing. I couldn’t set up a business from Bailey’s cottage. It’s too small. But, after Christmas, The Welcome Center would be perfect. If you don’t mind my clients meeting me here, I’m happy to help you.”
John was worried that Shelley wouldn’t have enough time to do everything. “Are you sure you can put together everything the county needs? The Santa Express will take a lot of your time and Christmas isn’t far away.”
“When do they need the documents?”
“In the next two weeks.”
Shelley sat taller in the chair. “In that case, I’d better work fast. How do you feel about your new accountant starting work tomorrow?”
John breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s the best news I’ve heard all day. Do you want to choose an office now?”
“That sounds good to me.” Shelley picked up her bag. “If I need any extra furniture, I’ll pick it up this afternoon.”
John hoped she wasn’t disappointed when she saw the rooms. The wooden tables and black metal chairs wouldn’t impress many people. Especially when they were used to working with companies who had a lot more money than the church.
Shelley opened the front door to Bailey’s cottage and nearly leaped out of her skin. Silver streamers and purple balloons were draped across the entranceway.
“Surprise!” Bailey yelled as she raced out of the living room and hugged Shelley. “I’m so glad you’ve decided to live in Sapphire Bay. Mom and dad will be thrilled.”
“How did you know I’m staying here?”
“Mabel was at The Welcome Center when John showed you the spare rooms. I don’t know whether she’s more excited about having another Jones sister join the fundraising team or happy that she doesn’t have to pester John about the invoices.”
Shelley sighed. “Mabel’s read too much into what she saw. I might not stay forever.”
Bailey’s smile disappeared. “What do you mean? I thought you were starting your own accounting firm? Mabel’s telling all her friends to see you about their tax forms.”
“I need to buy some new furniture, design a website, and let everyone know how they can contact me before I start my business.”
“Don’t worry about any of that. After Mabel posts something on the community Facebook page, you’ll have customers lining up to speak to you. No one will care if you don’t have an ergonomic desk and chair, or the decor is a little dated.”
Shelley’s eyes widened. “Please tell me she hasn’t added anything to the Facebook page.”
“I don’t think so. But if you’re super certain you don’t want any clients waiting to see you tomorrow, I’d give her a call. You know what Mabel’s like. Any sign of a story and she’s straight on the Internet, telling the world about what’s happening.”
Before Shelley spoke to Mabel, she needed to take a deep, calming breath. She looked at the decorations and frowned. “The streamers and balloons look lovely. Are they from Mom and Dad’s anniversary party?”
“We had a few decorations left over. I thought they were perfect to celebrate your almost forever move to Sapphire Bay.”
“They are. I’m sorry if I’m grumpy. It’s been a long day.”
“It will be even longer if you don’t catch Mabel before she posts something on Facebook.” Bailey rubbed Shelley’s arm. “You call Mabel while I make each of us a cup of hot chocolate. And if we’re really lucky, there’ll be some chocolate cake in the pantry.”
“That sounds great. I won’t be long.” Shelley opened her bag and pulled out her cell phone. After a quick call to Mabel, she joined her sister in the kitchen. “Is it usually like this?”
“Do you mean about Mabel or the way news travels around Sapphire Bay?”
“Both. At first, Mabel didn’t believe that I might not stay here permanently. But, after telling her what I was doing, she offered to post something else on Facebook.” Shelley shook her head. “One day, Mabel will say something that will get her into trouble.”
“She’s already done that and it hasn’t stopped her. So, what are you officially doing at The Welcome Center?”
“The county wants more financial information for the funding application. In return for using one of the spare rooms as an office, I’ll compile what the county needs and keep the church’s accounts up to date. After Christmas, I’ll look at starting my own accounting business. John’s happy for me to work from the center. If I don’t get enough clients, I’ll find another fixed-term contract.”
Bailey handed Shelley a large mug of hot chocolate. “Would you prefer to stay in Sapphire Bay?”
“I would. Contract work is great and I’ve seen a lot of the country. But, some days, I feel like a nomad. All I want to do is unpack and stay in one place for more than three or four months.”
With a smile, Bailey slid an enormous slice of chocolate cake toward Shelley. “It’s just as well you arrived in town when you did. You can help John, have Christmas with us, and start your own business all in the next few months.”
Shelley sighed as the chocolate cake melted in her mouth. “You forgot about The Santa Express, the Christmas wish fundraiser, and your wedding.”
“I didn’t want you to feel overwhelmed.”
“At least I won’t be bored.”
Bailey grinned. “No one is ever bored in Sapphire Bay.”
The next morning, Shelley stepped into the foyer of The Welcome Center feeling happier than she had in a long time. She didn’t know whether it was because she’d had a great night’s sleep or if, deep in her bones, she knew this was where she needed to be. Either way, she was glad to be working from the center instead of Bailey’s kitchen table.
“You’re here early,” John said as he walked along the corridor.
“I want to spend some time going over your accounts while you’re here.”
“That’s a good idea. My first appointment isn’t until ten o’clock, so if you need anything, just ask.” He held up the cup in his hand. “There’s fresh coffee in the kitchen. Would you like one?”
Shelley shook her head. “Not at the moment.”
“Were you able to get access to the church accounts?”
“Mabel made sure I can log in. After I’ve added any recent invoices to the database, I’ll make a start on the income projections for the county.”
John smiled. “You don’t know how grateful I am. The invoices are on my desk. I’ll get them for you.”
Shelley followed John into his office. “Do you have any written procedures for buying supplies or paying bills?”
“Not really. Most of the time I pay the invoices. I always get a receipt.”
“That’s good, but what happens if you aren’t here or have to go away for a while?”
“I ask someone else to check my email account for any invoices. If a bill comes in, they pay it.” John handed her a folder. “No one would steal money from the church.”
Shelley had heard the same words from a lot of organizations. “When people are desperate, no one is safe. I reread the county’s requirements last night. They want to know what happens when money comes in and goes out of the church accounts. Would you like me to create a draft document that you can review?”
“What if I do the draft document and you check it to make sure it meets whatever standards the county need?”
“Only if you have the time.”
“I’ve got the time now that you’re here.”
Shelley tried to ignore the warmth in John’s eyes. He was friendly to everyone and thankful for what she was doing for the church. But that didn’t slow her pounding heart or make her less aware of his amazing blue eyes.
The only thing that would make her think twice about him were the texts from her ex-fiancée. John didn’t think anyone would steal from the church and she never thought she’d be harassed. Maybe, beneath her cynical exterior, she had more in common with John than she thought.