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 clientsas 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.
