“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.
Chapter Fifteen
The next morning, Sheila and Natalie caught up on the latest goings-on in Chestnut Ridge over tea with Orene. Orene told them about the upcoming Christmas pageant and all the hullabaloo over the school play. Apparently, the school forbid live sheep in the auditorium. The director was up in arms and threatening to cancel.
