Christmas in Candle Cove

by Mary L. Briggs

  “Yes, I purchased it at the auction. I use it in my office.”

  “And how much do you want for it?” he asked, as he pulled his wallet from inside the long coat he wore.

  She grit her teeth for a moment. What a stubborn man. “I don’t want anything for it. It’s not for sale.”

  Impatience filled his words. “Now look here, young woman, I don’t have a lot of time, so if you’ll just name a price for the desk, and then give me the names of—”

  The legs of Gabe’s chair screeched across the old plank boards as he stood. “I think Mrs. Courtland told you ‘no’,” he said, now facing Bart Sinclair.

  The man’s bushy eyebrows rose and his eyes swept over Gabe, as if he hadn’t noticed him in the room before that moment. “And just who are you, sir?”

  Gabe took a step toward him and held out his hand. “My name is Gabe Chandler.”

  Sinclair ignored the offer of a handshake. “Unless you’re a relative or married to this young woman, there’s no need for you to interfere in any of her business transactions.”

  Gabe withdrew his hand. “I’m neither of those things, Mr. Sinclair. But I am a friend of Ellie’s, and your business doesn’t sound very friendly to me.”

  Ellie shuddered as the man’s throat turned a deep red. “I see.” His eyes went to Ellie. “Perhaps we could discuss all of this later.”

  Ellie licked her lips in a nervous gesture. “I’m not sure I understand, sir. I thought you were tearing the house down. Why do you need the furniture?”

  He glared at Gabe, before turning to her. “There’s a possibility I might reconsider that option. But only if I can restore the house to its original beauty and furnishings. The way it was before my uncle started selling off all of the original pieces.” He turned and headed toward the door, stopping to give a brooding glance at them before stepping outside. He slammed the door behind him, once he stepped through.

  Ellie jumped at the sound. “What a strange man.” She glanced at Gabe.

  Gabe shrugged. “He sure is. If he comes in here again and you’re alone, or just you and Willa, I think maybe you ought to call Cal.”

  Ellie felt her shoulders relax. Cal Burns, the local police chief, was an old school friend. “No. I’m sure that he doesn’t mean to be so daunting.” She was silly to have been so upset. This was Candle Cove. Nothing bad ever happened here. Gabe was used to the city.

  “I think you’re forgetting where you are, Gabe. If I called Cal every time one of my customers seemed a little bit odd, he would have to hire more deputies. Lots of people have their little idiosyncrasies. This is Candle Cove, not Memphis. And besides, I’m in the business of buying and selling.”

  He looked at her a moment, then seemed to relax. “Whatever you say.” He grinned as he stepped to the door. He turned and shook his head. “I don’t know about you, Ellie. You’ve passed up two good sales since I’ve been here—a doll and a desk. I’m not sure just what sort of businesswoman you are.”

  She laughed and shook her head. “The doll is completely out, but I might give the desk another thought. And, by the way, tell your mom I said hello.”

  “I will,” he nodded. “And Ellie, I mean it—be careful if Sinclair comes back.”

  Chapter 5

  Gabe watched as Marisa took the ticket from the woman behind the airline counter. Would she come back? Her attitude had been hard to gage the last few days. She and his mother had spent a lot of time talking. About nothing, it seemed, whenever he’d caught a snatch of their conversation. Colors for decorating, the newest hairstyles, what pattern of carpet his mother ought to put in her living room, endless words of no importance.

  “I guess this is it,” Marisa’s voice spoke through the fog in his brain.

  He blinked and smiled at her. “Yes. For a few days, anyway. You’ll be flying back in on Wednesday, won’t you?” She had to know how much he was hoping for Thanksgiving Day with him and his mother. Not to mention the fact that the expensive engagement ring he’d purchased was all but burning a hole in his coat pocket. But every time he had questioned her about the holiday over the weekend, she had avoided a commitment. And now, the moment was here.

  Marisa sighed. “Gabe, you know I love, love, love you, sweetie,” she cooed, blinking her eyes in her best Southern Belle imitation. “But you can’t really expect a girl to give up her Black Friday shopping to spend it in Hicksville, can you?”

  Not even with the man you love? But it would be best not to voice that question. So there it was. The girl had probably been born with a shopping bag in her hand. And there was no way that northwest Arkansas was going to compete with her annual weekend trip to Nashville with her best friend, Natasha. There was nothing he could say.

  “Now, don’t look like that,” she scolded. “You know I’ll come for the next weekend. Promise,” she smiled, blinking those eyelids again.

  It would do no good to argue. “I know.” He leaned down and kissed her lips. Probably with less passion than she would like.

  “You’re going to sulk until I get back, aren’t you,” she accused, as he drew back from her.

  “I promise. No sulking,” he grinned. “Mom will be keeping me busy.”

  “That’s right,” she nodded as she turned to walk toward the gate. She stopped. “And stay away from that little farmhouse girl. Your mother told me she used to be your fiancé.”

  And with that, she was gone. He shook his head and turned toward the sliding doors that led to the parking lot. Thanks, Mom. Not that his mother had any idea how jealous Marisa could be.

  ***

  “Oh, yes, I’m sure he would love to be a shepherd,” Ellie replied to Reverend Wilder. The Sunday night service had been long, due to several special songs by a guest, and she was doing her best not to yawn.

  “I just know he’ll be perfect,” the elderly man beamed. “And what about you? Can we count on you to help with the practices?”

  “Of course. I mean, if I’m not working. What about the refreshments after the play? I could help with that instead, if you’d like.”

  “Oh, that would be very nice, Mrs. Courtland. Your sugar cookies are always a hit with the crowd.”

  “C’mon, Mom,” a small hand tugged at her own.

  She looked down at her son, busy blinking his sleepy eyes. “I guess I’d better go home and get this little one to bed.”

  “Of course,” he agreed. “See you at Wednesday services.”

  ***

  “Now, you get to sleep, mister,” she kissed his face, feeling his little hands pushing against her. Since when was an almost six year old too old to kiss? “Only two more days of school before you’re off the rest of the week for Thanksgiving.” She pulled the quilt up under his chin.

  “Are we having a turkey? A big one, I mean.”

  She sat back on the edge of the bed. Maybe the little turkey breast she made in the slow cooker was starting to sound not so good to a growing boy. “I’m not sure the two of us could eat a big turkey.”

  He chewed his lip for a moment. “Well, Willa could come and bring Kendra and Kenna. Maybe Rory could come over and help us eat, too,” he suggested.

  “Hmm. . .I think maybe Willa and her sisters are going to Willa’s aunt’s house to eat, and Rory has his family, too. I think he said they are going to his grandmother’s house.”

  His expression was sadder than before. She put on a bright smile. “I thought we could go to the big dinner at church on Thanksgiving night, and eat there. You know, help cook, and then serve, too. A lot of people we know will be going.”

  He shrugged. “I guess. But someday, I hope we have a real family to eat with.”

  “We are a real family, Danny. Me and you. And you know I love you.” She’d better stop talking before she started blubbering. How had Danny’s wish been so much like her own? If only Harry was still with them. Life would never be a Norman Rockwell painting, but at least they would all be together.

  “I know we are. It’s OK, Mom.
”

  “Now get to sleep,” she said. “The whistle on my tea kettle is about to start singing.”

  ***

  She watched as bits of mint swirled round in her cup of tea. A teardrop splashed the surface. She put down the cup and grabbed a tissue from the holder on the table beside her bed. She would not cry. It would do nothing for the situation. Please help me deal with this, Lord. Help me be strong for Danny. And someday, if it’s Your will, let us have the family that Danny is dreaming of.

  Chapter 6

  “Watch out for all that steam,” Gladys Ridge warned, as Ellie took another turkey from the oven. Ellie grit her teeth. The woman was a walking instruction book. Do this, do that, be careful where you put that, etc., etc. etc. She bit her tongue. The woman was all alone in this world. At least she and Danny had each other. “Thanks, Gladys,” she said, setting the turkey on top of the stove.

  Gladys beamed and moved on to help someone else. Forgive me, Lord. Help me to remember I’m not the only one with problems. She picked up another oven ready turkey. This one was smaller and would be done about the time they hoped to start serving. Glad it was the last one to bake, she gently shut the door and set the timer.

  “Come sit down and have some coffee, Ellie.”

  She turned to see Gabe’s mother standing behind her, two cups of coffee in her hands. “Mrs. Chandler! I thought you would be home cooking a big dinner for Gabe,” she smiled, following the woman to the small table in the corner of the church kitchen.

  They settled at the table. “First off, please call me Cora. Mrs. Chandler makes me feel old, and you’re not a teenager anymore,” she laughed.

  Ellie nodded and took a sip of the hot, strong coffee.

  “I thought about all that cooking, but it seemed wasteful to make such a large dinner for just the two of us. We both thought this would be better. This is Gabe’s first Thanksgiving home without his father. I think maybe it’s harder for him than he had imagined it would be.”

  Ellie nodded and let her eyesight wander through the doorway to the large dining area, but all she saw was a group of children, Danny included, playing board games on one of the tables. Gladys Ridge had taken a seat at the table and appeared to be showing them how to properly move their game pieces.

  “Gladys is good with children,” Mrs. Chandler said, taking a sip of her coffee.

  Ellie turned her attention back to her coffee partner. “I know you’ve enjoyed having Gabe at home. I guess you’re keeping him busy,” she smiled.

  “Yes, I have. He’s helped with so many things. Just little things, you know, that need fixing, but seem too silly to call in a handyman.”

  Ellie set her cup on the table. “For things like that, when you need them repaired after Gabe goes back to Memphis, just call me. I have a great handyman at the store. Rory is only twenty, but he’s very good. Of course, he’ll talk your ears off while he’s there,” she laughed.

  “I’ll remember,” Cora nodded. She gave a glance at the timer on the back oven, then turned back to Ellie. “So, I understand that you met Marisa.”

  She was sure the subject of Gabe’s girlfriend would come up, eventually. She took a deep breath. “Yes, I did. She came into the store. I didn’t realize who she was, though. She seemed nice.”

  Cora gave a small shrug. “I don’t know her very well.”

  “I’m surprised that she’s not here for the holiday.” She winced a little at her own words. It was really none of her business. “But I guess her family probably wanted her at home. I mean, I know it’s hard to sort out which family everyone is going to be celebrating with,” she added, lest her comment sound like a criticism of the woman.

  Cora shook her head. “Shopping. She’s gone to Nashville to shop. That’s how she spends every Thanksgiving holiday. But Gabe seems OK with it,” she added.

  Ellie nodded and took another sip from her cup. “That’s good.” What else could she add? Cora seemed to be leading the conversation somewhere, but she wasn’t sure what it was she wanted to talk about.

  Cora sighed and stared at the table of children. “I just want him to be happy. Like he was when he was a child. You understand, don’t you? That’s all a mother really wants,” she said, turning her dusky eyes to Ellie.

  “Of course it is. I want the same for Danny. ” Ellie replied.

  Cora sighed. “I’m not sure how you do it—taking care of Danny and running that store. I wasn’t a widow until my son was grown. I know it must be hard for you.”

  Ellie stared into her coffee. She should have put creamer into the strong drink. Talking about raising Danny would likely bring tears to her eyes. And there was no need for anyone to misunderstand. She wasn’t unhappy, but things were tough right now.

  “It is hard. It takes a lot of prayer and many cups of coffee,” she smiled, pushing back her chair as one of the timers went off. “I think that might be the pumpkin pies in the back oven.”

  ***

  “Have another slice of pie, Ellie. You deserve it. I think you made all of them, didn’t you?” He handed a small plate to her.

  She nodded and accepted the plate from Gabe. Her feet were ready for a rest, so she sat in the nearest chair. “Thank you. You and your mom deserve a lot of credit, too. I think this is the biggest crowd we’ve ever had.”

  He sat across from her and ate the whipped cream from the top of his pie, first, carefully scraping, getting all of the milky goodness.

  She smiled as his eyes met hers. “What?”

  “That’s Danny’s favorite way to eat pie. He doesn’t care much for the pie, but he devours that big dollop of whipped cream, every time.”

  He grinned. “Danny’s a great kid. He showed me the correct way to throw a basketball out in the gym, earlier.”

  “He can be sort of bossy,” she laughed, forking a bite of pie into her mouth.

  He shook his head and swallowed. “Not bossy. Just informative.”

  “His dad would have loved teaching him things like that. But Rory, the kid that works for me is quite fond of him and lets him ‘help’ on a lot of jobs around the store. It’s good for Danny.”

  Gabe nodded. “Good practice for Rory, too. We all need to know how to be good fathers.”

  “You had a good example,” she acknowledged, taking a paper napkin from the stack on the table and wiping her mouth. “Your dad was a good man. Always there for you.”

  His eyes clouded and he looked away. “Yeah. I miss him every day.”

  “I didn’t mean to upset you, Gabe,” she said, her voice not more than a whisper. It never occurred to her that the comment would bother him.

  “You didn’t upset me,” he smiled, turning back to her. “Just scratched over a few old memories I’d shelved in the back of my mind. You know things that make life without him so different.”

  “Gabe! There you are,” Mrs. Ridge called to him from the kitchen door. “Can we get you to carry out some of this trash?”

  “Looks like I’m needed again,” he winked, as he stood. “Great pie, Ellie.”

  ***

  Ellie lay quietly, her thoughts on Gabe. Not that they should be. Cora was of the opinion that he was going to marry Marisa. The woman had never said, but Ellie had the impression that she wasn’t too happy about it, yet, there had been no complaints about the girl. And it seemed strange that Gabe hadn’t mentioned much about her today, or even that afternoon they’d had coffee together in the store.

  Maybe he still had some lingering doubts about Marisa. She could hope so. For his mother’s sake, of course.

  She was barely asleep when late night sirens awakened her. Police or ambulance? She padded in bare feet to the window and looked down on Main Street. The sound of another siren wailed and a police car, blue lights flashing, swept past. Had there been an accident out on the highway? She waited, but no ambulance or fire trucks came by.

  She shivered in her thin flannel pajamas. Dropping the curtain, she walked out of the room and across the hallway to
Danny’s room. She’d left the door ajar, so it was easy to see him. Still sleeping comfortably, the noise hadn’t awakened him. She would love to go in and give him a few kisses and maybe a hug or two, but the boy needed his sleep. And so did she, for that matter. Tomorrow was going to be a busy day.

  Chapter 7

  Ellie closed her eyes and breathed the aroma of pumpkin spices in her latte. “You are the best, Willa,” she smiled, opening her eyes to glance at her employee. “If I’m not careful, someone is going to steal you away from me.”

  Willa grinned. “Just drink your coffee and enjoy the quiet before the rush. I think those candle gift baskets you made are going to be a hit with the shoppers, as well as the new line of Candle Cove candles.”

  Ellie groaned. “Don’t remind me of those candles. You know how much it goes against my ethics to sell them in here. But people expect it. If only they still manufactured them here in town, instead of another country. Being made locally was what made them so special, in my opinion.”

  “I know,” Willa agreed, reaching over and refilling Ellie’s cup. “But you’re a businesswoman now. The customer is always right, and they want those candles.”

  Ellie glanced at the clock. Five more minutes of heavenly pumpkin, and then, time to make a profit. “I guess I’d better get my apron,” she said, ignoring the reluctance to set down her cup.

  “Try not to look so excited,” Willa laughed. “Put on the elf hat, the Mrs. Santa apron, and your best Christmas smile,” she teased. “And while you’re doing that, I’ll go unlock the front door.”

  “Mrs. Santa, here I come,” Ellie grinned, heading to the kitchen.