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 withTHEY 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 containerthat 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.”
