“I was driving an old Chevy sedan.” Her laugh was hearty. “Floors rusted out. Sucked gasoline like a kid with a Slurpee on a summer day. I’d about spent all my money on gas by the time I made it to Chestnut Ridge, and darn if my car just decided it wouldn’t go one more mile.”
“Oh no. On top of losing your home. That’s horrible. So you just stayed.”
“Well, it was a little more than that. I was stranded in this town, and that was the day I met Jesse and Paul. I cooked for Paul to earn some money to get my car back on the road.”
“That worked out for you.”
“It did, and before I knew it, Grandstaff offered me a little house on Main Street to live in as part of my pay. Then, he suggested I reopen the lunch counter at the hardware store. With his help, and Jesse’s carpentry skills, we did, and the rest is history.”
“And you’ve never regretted staying in Chestnut Ridge?”
“Never. This town might be small, but it’s big in heart. You haven’t figured that out yet?”
“I kind ofhavenoticed that.”
“Not like anyplace else I’ve ever known.” Nelle leaned in. “Everyone acts like this is such a big deal for Grandstaff to be offering up this place for that family, but between you and me, he’s been helping others for years. People before me too. I’m just saying. He doesn’t do it for the recognition. He does it because it’s right.”
“Really?” Sheila wondered if Natalie knew that about him. “That’s interesting.”
“He’s a very good man.”
“Well, I’m glad to hear that, because my best friend needs good people around her.”
“Then you should move yourself up here and join in the fun, girl,” Nelle said with a lift of her brow.
“I’m not the small-town type.”
“You might find that there are opportunities here that you don’t have in the city.” Nelle went back over to the pot and gave it a big old stir.
Sheila had turned to walk out of the kitchen, her mind still processing everything Nelle had just said, when she heard Tucker come in the through the front door with the Jacob family.
She couldn’t wait to see their reaction, but for now just listening was going to have to do. Her heart pounded, excited for them to have some good news.
“We’re going to stop right here for a minute,” Sheila could hear Tucker say from the hallway outside the kitchen. “We’re missing one person.”
Natalie scooted into the kitchen and grabbed Sheila’s hand. “This is so exciting.” She could hear Diane asking her mother, Betty Jo, who was missing.
At that moment, another vehicle pulled up out front. Natalie looked out the kitchen window. “It’s a construction company truck,” she stage whispered to Nelle and Sheila. They all gathered closer to the window. On the passenger side, Jack stepped out of the car.
Sheila’s heart lifted. “I bet Tucker arranged that.”
“Be just like him,” Nelle said.
Sheila eased over to where she could catch a peek of the doorway just as Jack ran into the house.
“I didn’t miss it, did I?” Jack asked.
“We wouldn’t have let you,” Tucker said.
Diane wrapped her arms around Jack. “Honey, I’m so glad you could be here. I can’t even believe all of this.”
“Wait until you see what your neighbors have pulled together for you,” Tucker said. “As you know, Paul Grandstaff has generously offered this place for your family to use as your home for the next six months.”
“It’s so peaceful,” Jack said.
“It won’t be for long.” Diane nodded while mouthing a headcount. “Between my littles and Bananas, there’s rarely a peaceful moment.”
“Maybe it will be different here,” Tucker said. “A few days ago this was a chapel. Empty except for a few pews up front, but a swift and adept team made up from members of our community turned this place into one of those ‘move that bus’ home-improvement moments. I was shocked when I came to see it last night. Welcome to your new temporary home.”
