Christmas in Eternity Springs (9 page)

“Oh.” Concern washed through her. “My market orders must have arrived.”

“You obviously made lots of salespeople happy.”

Claire recalled her spending spree at Market Hall in Dallas in March when she'd returned to town to deal with the sale of her house. She'd made a lot of salespeople delirious during her frenzied, emotionally fueled shopping spree.

The delivery driver went to work hauling in boxes and Claire tackled making room in her stockroom. It quickly became obvious that no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't find a place for everything.

Will pulled the plate of the dolly from beneath a stack of boxes taller than he was and surveyed the stockroom. “Sorry, Claire. That's about all that's going to fit back here. Is there somewhere else you want me to drop stuff off?”

She didn't have anywhere else. She bit at her bottom lip as she shook her head in dismay at the mountain of boxes yet to find a home. What in the world had she been thinking?

She hadn't been thinking. She'd been fury shopping.

What was she going to do with all of this stuff?

“I don't have anywhere else, Will,” she told the deliveryman. “Just stick boxes wherever you can find a spot. I'll figure something out.”

“I'll do what I can, Claire. Maybe if we stack them to the ceiling, you'll at least have clear aisles.”

“Thanks, Will. I have faith you can make them all fit. You did a masterful job fitting as much into the storeroom as you did. You're a geometrical genius.”

“Thanks.” The twenty-something deliveryman shot her a grin. “I'm gonna tell my wife you said that. Just this morning she called me an idiot.”

He spoke in a tone that combined offense and sheepishness. Claire took his measure and asked, “What did you do?”

“Accidentally left the milk out after my middle-of-the-night kitchen raid. I tried to tell her it was her fault for baking such a delicious cake that lured me out of our bed.”

“Good try.”

“It's true. Now I can't wait to get home and tell her I'm a genius. Of course, I darn well better not forget to stop and buy a gallon of milk on my way.” He handed her his signature pad to sign, then wheeled his dolly toward the door, saying, “See you soon, I imagine.”

“Yes, I'm afraid this is only part of my order.” Claire sighed as her gaze returned to the boxes. She braced her hands on her hips and tried to figure out what to do with them. She'd bought enough stock to fill a store twice this size.
Real bright, Branham.

Her first mistake had been going by the house. She could have—she should have—hired somebody to empty the house in preparation for the sale, but she'd had a few mementoes she'd wanted to be sure didn't get lost. If she ever found out just which of her busybody neighbors had ratted her out to Landon in time for him to show up as she loaded the last box into her rental car, she'd take up voodoo and name a doll after them.

The scene still haunted her.

“Claire, honey. Where have you been? I've been so worried. We have to talk. I know it looked bad but—”

“No! Don't go there. Do
not
go there.”

She would need to read her positive-thoughts journal for two days straight to shake off the funk of that particular memory.

She turned around intending to head to her checkout counter and tripped over a stack of boxes, catching one just before it crashed onto the floor.

“Stupid. Stupid. Stupid, Claire.”

She'd have to rent a warehouse for all this stuff. Did Eternity Springs even have a warehouse?

She started to laugh, a small giggle that rose in volume and pitch that bordered on hysteria. Seriously, was there anything in Market Hall that day that she hadn't purchased for Forever Christmas?

Um, yes. You didn't spend a penny on Starlina, now did you?

Claire had enough self-awareness to recognize that her run-in with Landon wasn't the only reason she'd overbought. Oh, no. She'd gone more than a little crazy at Dallas Market Hall because every time she'd turned around, angels had accosted her.

Live, costumed “angels.” Angels in every shape, size, and style imaginable.

Claire had learned firsthand that it was one thing to tell herself she was taking back her Christmas joy and another thing to actually confront the angels and do it.

One certain pink-cheeked, blond-haired, sparkling and courageous and faithful angel, in particular.

She'd responded by whipping out her credit card and buying anything and everything that appealed to her. Now her sins had come home to roost in the aisles of Forever Christmas. Heaven knows it would take forever to sell all this stuff.

She turned at the sound of her door chime. Sneakers squeaked against the wood floor, and Claire heard Celeste Blessing laugh. “Oh, my.”

“I sure hope nobody cancels Christmas anytime soon,” Claire said glumly. “Not in the next three years, at least.”

“Three years? More like five.”

“It's pitiful. I knew I went a little crazy at market, but this…”

“In my experience, show specials are irresistible,” Celeste said. “Sometimes I just lose control.”

“Oh, I do know that feeling. What am I going to do with all of this stuff, Celeste?”

“Well, that's easy. You should convert your apartment to retail space and find somewhere else to live.”

Claire shot her an intent look. Now, there was an idea. Considering the battle she'd been fighting with her Grinch lately, it might do her good to get away from Christmas 24/7. She couldn't deny that her determination to hold on to her Christmas joy was flagging. She'd just about had her fill of the holiday—and that's before she tackled any of today's arrivals.

“I recently did something similar at Angel's Rest,” Celeste continued. “We built the little cottage where I live now last year after demand for rooms in the main house grew so fierce. I must say I do enjoy having a nest that is completely separate from my work space.”

“I don't know,” Claire said, despite the immediate appeal of the idea. Wouldn't decamping from her apartment be running away? Hadn't she sworn she was done with letting the Lying Lizard Louse send her scurrying? Wouldn't moving away from the shop be letting him win again?

No, stupid. He wins if you let him steal your joy.

Celeste took a seat on one of the boxes and crossed her legs. Claire noted that her canvas shoes were decorated with angel wings. “Correct me if I'm wrong, but last summer when we were discussing the Twelve Dogs of Christmas, didn't you mention that you'd like to have a dog, but that having one while you lived in an apartment wasn't your cuppa? If you lived in a house, you'd have a yard. You could get that dog you want.”

Yearning washed through Claire. She had lost her beloved collie, Buttercup, the week before she'd discovered the truth about the Lying Lizard Louse. She did miss having a pet, but they were a commitment. Did she feel settled enough now to adopt a dog?

Maybe. And if she moved in order to have a yard for a dog, that took care of the whole running argument, didn't it?

You're arguing with yourself, Claire. Get over it.

Yet, she felt compelled to make one final argument. “Buying a house and getting a dog are big steps. I don't know if I'm ready for that.”

“Actually, I know of a place you could rent short-term that would be perfect for you—plus, having you there would do my friend a big favor. Bob Hamilton owns three wonderful cabins in a fabulous little private valley a short drive from Eternity Springs. He's named them the Three Bears, and the valley is meant to be a family retreat. Bob lives in New Mexico and his family is spread all over.

“He called me just yesterday to ask if I knew of anyone looking for a place to live until spring break. Apparently babies due to be born and a family wedding mean the cabins won't get any use from now until then. He'd like to have a caretaker there over the winter. I suspect he won't even charge you rent.”

“I can pay rent,” Claire murmured. It sounded wonderful. It sounded like a perfect solution. “Maybe Lori Murphy can help me find a dog.”

Celeste's blue eyes twinkled. “What do you think about a collie? I believe that the Mellingers still have one puppy available from the litter their Primrose gave birth to nine weeks ago.”

A collie? “You are unbelievable, Celeste.”

Celeste put her hand on her chest and drawled, “Me? But I try so hard to be believable.”

Believe. That comment triggered the memory of the journal she'd given to Jax with its embossed “Believe.” She wondered if he ever used it. She wondered what his handwriting looked like.

And why in the world was he on her mind so much today?

Because he's the fantasy and you don't feel quite so Scrooged when you're fantasizing, that's why.

Celeste patted her arm. “Tell you what. Why don't you humor an old woman and drive out to Three Bears with me this afternoon and take a look. I have a set of keys in case of emergency. No sense fretting over your delivery today if it's not necessary. If the Three Bears appeals to you, we can stop by the Mellingers' house and look at the puppy.”

The temptation of a puppy sold her. “That sounds like an excellent idea.”

“It's a nice, sunny day today. Would you like to ride out on my Gold Wing or should we take my Jeep?”

Claire had never ridden a motorcycle. Well, when in Rome … or Eternity Springs … “Sure. Let's take the Gold Wing.”

“Fabulous!” Celeste's sunbeam smile lit up the morning. “Shall we make it two o'clock?”

“Sounds great.”

So shortly after two
P.M.
, Claire pulled on the helmet the older woman handed to her and climbed on the back of the Gold Wing. Fifteen minutes into the trip at the apex of a hill, Celeste turned onto a road marked
PRIVATE
and drove around a curve. Claire caught her breath.

Wearing a crown of autumn color, the valley was right off the page of a tourist brochure. It was not much bigger than a football field and a frothy, sparkling creek ran through its center. Three log cabins nestled up against the mountain. All they lacked was welcoming light in the windows and smoke rising from the chimneys. “It's gorgeous here,” Claire said when Celeste switched off the motorcycle engine. “Beautiful … but cozy.”

“I know. I adore this valley. I have to tell you I was anything but happy when I discovered that it had been for sale and Bob Hamilton beat me to it. Wait until you see the insides of the cabins. Shannon Garrett did tile mosaics. They're works of art.”

That jogged a memory. “I think I had customers who were guests out here. They talked about the mosaics.”

“Let's start with Papa Bear, shall we?”

They oohed their way through Papa Bear, then aahed as they toured Mama Bear. When Claire began dithering between which kitchen she could most easily picture herself in, she knew she was on the verge of becoming a commuter. If one could call a twenty-minute drive a commute.

Then they walked into Baby Bear. It was a dollhouse, a dream cottage with a luxurious bathroom and a bed fit for a princess. “Oh, wow,” Claire said with a sigh.

“You love it, don't you?”

“To quote Goldilocks, it's just right.”

“So you'll do it?”

“I can't say no.”

Celeste bent her fingers, blew on her knuckles, then rubbed them against her shoulder. “Am I good or what?”

The two women shared a look and laughed.

“I'll call Bob this evening. He'll be so pleased. Shall I tell him you'll move in right away? You can take care of the lease through e-mail. Bob uses the same one that I use for my rental properties. I can assure you that you won't find any surprises.”

Claire thought of the boxes stacked in Forever Christmas and her mind began to spin. “Yes. The sooner the better, I guess. It'll take me a while to decide on a display plan for expanding the shop, but at least I can get the boxes out of way. What will I do with my furniture? I don't have all that much, but what I do have I want to keep.”

“You're welcome to store your things in the Angel's Rest storage room. We have lots of space.”

“Thank you. It won't be much. I imagine I'll use some of it as display space.” As ideas started flowing through her mind, excitement began to hum in her blood. The smile that spread across her face was as bright as one of Celeste's. Impulsively, she reached over and hugged her friend. “Thank you, Celeste. This was a great idea. I'm really excited.”

“Excellent. So, shall we stop by the Mellingers on our way back?”

A dog. A puppy. A collie.

A commitment.

Was she ready?

Claire nibbled at her lower lip. “Do you know if the puppy is a boy or a girl? Is it healthy? Are its parents well behaved?”

“I don't know the answer to any of those questions, but I know someone who does.” She pulled her cell phone from her wallet and scrolled through her contacts list. When the call connected, she said, “Hello, Lori dear. I know you're a busy beaver with the wedding in just a few weeks, but would you have a few minutes to meet us at the Mellingers'? I think Claire is considering adopting their last pup, and she has a few questions.” She paused and listened for a few moments. “Wonderful. Just wonderful. See you shortly.”

When Celeste hung up, Claire spoke with a touch of panic in her tone. “Wait! I didn't say I wanted the dog.”

“You haven't committed to anything. We'll just stop by to visit.”

“The Mellingers might not be home.”

“Barbara Mellinger will be there. Today is her laundry day. Her husband changes shirts twice a day and she still irons. She'll be glad to have an excuse to take a break. Trust me.”

Claire thought that Celeste Blessing might be just about the one person in the world whom she could trust without hesitation.