Noel, Alabama

by Susan Sands

  This was the first time they’d had a last-minute kerfuffle where the location changed in the middle of filming. Thankfully the change happened after they’d finished the interior scenes. All the exterior scenes would be shot here in Ministry. At least Bailey would be touted as the hero here and not the cause of the problems. If things went smoothly.

  “Are we gonna wash all these sheets before putting them on the beds?” Alexis asked.

  Bailey stared at Alexis, and then all the packages of sheets bagged in the back of the rental van. Normally the answer would have been, of course. But even if she did have access to several industrial-sized washers and dryers, there wasn’t time or womanpower. “Not this time.”

  Alexis made a little sign across her heart and pulled her fingers across her lips. “Nobody’s hearing it from these lips.”

  “That’s why we make a good team. By the way, do you mind staying in the apartment with me? We’re running a little tight on space here.” Typically, Alexis had a room to herself for the duration of filming.

  “Do you snore?” she asked.

  “Not that I know of.”

  “Do you hog the bathroom?” she asked.

  “I try not to.”

  “Which news channel do you watch?” she asked.

  “Let’s stay away from that,” I replied.

  “Deal.”

  “Great. We’re staying over there.” I pointed to Mrs. Wiggins’s house across the street from the inn.

  “Get out. Is it haunted?” Alexis whispered. “It’s so big and so old.”

  Bailey didn’t answer so as not to perjure herself—just in case. “Let’s get your stuff unloaded and you can freshen up from the trip. Then we can grab something to eat—if Mrs. Wiggins doesn’t sense hunger and feed us before we get out the door.”

  “What is this enchanted place where people feed you?”

  “I’ll just say, you’re not in California anymore.” They grabbed Alexis’s rolling suitcase and smaller carry-on and made their way to the front door of the large Victorian. Bailey could’ve used the private side entrance, but she wanted to introduce Alexis to her landlord. Then Bailey remembered the cats—the stuffed ones—just as Alexis caught sight of the two sentinels.

  “What in the holy—” Bailey shushed her as Mrs. Wiggins opened the door.

  “Well, who have we here, dear?” Mrs. Wiggins asked in her kindly way.

  Alexis wasn’t having it. “Are there bats inside too? Oh, heck no.” She took several steps back.

  “Oh, no. You didn’t warn her about my babies, did you?” Mrs. Wiggins’s eyebrows knit in concern and understanding. She didn’t seem to take offense.

  “Unfortunately, no. Give us a second, Mrs. Wiggins, will you?”

  “Certainly.”

  “The House of Horrors in the middle of Alabama. That’s where you’ve got me staying? I like you, Bailey. I even called you a friend. But what kind of person doesn’t give a girl the heads-up about those cats?” Alexis was clearly bothered by the dearly departed animals.

  “Calm down. I’m sorry. I should have. I forget that not everyone grew up with this sort of thing.”

  “This sort of thing?”

  “Yes. And I’ll gladly admit, the cats surprised me as well. But I grew up with a father who was a wildlife and fisheries agent. You can imagine.” I put an arm around her shoulders and realized she was actually shaking.

  “Y’all are a special kind of weird in this town, aren’t you?” she asked.

  “Tell you what. I’ll put your suitcases inside and we’ll go up the side entrance after we stop by the local pizza joint. You’ll never have to see them again. I swear it’s not as bad as it seems.”

  “One night. One night and if I can’t sleep in that haunted mansion, I’m taking my things and sleeping in the van.”

  “It’s a deal. But I’ll make sure you don’t sleep in the van. We’ll find another place for you. I promise.”

  “You ladies need help with anything?” Seth appeared out of nowhere. Well, probably not nowhere. More likely, he sauntered over from his office across the street after watching the fiasco.

  “Alexis caught sight of Mrs. Wiggins’s sentinels.”

  He nodded. “Ah.”

  He turned to Alexis, who seemed to forget her upset and was staring at him. “Nice to meet you, ma’am. I’m Seth McKay, sheriff of Ministry.”

  He’d stuck his hand out and Alexis hadn’t moved. Bailey nudged her into the present. “O-oh. Hi, I’m Alexis Dupont, coworker to Bailey here.”

  “A pleasure.” He’d sized up the situation, apparently, and decided it required action on his part.

  “How can I help?” Now, he was addressing Bailey.

  “Do you mind bringing in Alexis’s luggage and leaving it outside my apartment upstairs? She’s a little agitated at the moment, so we’re gonna head over to the Pizza Pie and grab a slice or two.”

  “Happy to. Maybe I’ll catch up with you ladies after my shift.”

  “Thanks, Seth. I’ll owe you one.” She already owed him several, if she were honest. He’d helped her in so many little and big ways since she’d been in town, her debt was growing hugely by the day.

  “It’s my pleasure.”

  Alexis continued to stare at him, mouth slightly open. “Are you drooling?” Bailey asked.

  “What? No. Of course not. Well, maybe. Aren’t you? That man is fine, do you hear?” Alexis continued until they opened the door to the heavenly smells of handmade crust and garlic. Then she stopped and her stomach growled loudly enough for them both to hear.

  “Well that changed the subject, I hope.”

  “Hi, girls, pick your table and I’ll be right with you,” Joella said with a smile.

  “I’ve landed in weird heaven,” Alexis said.

  “You’re right and you’re starving, and now, so am I.”

  “Hey, honey, what can I get y’all to drink?” Joella was wearing a tie-dyed T-shirt over jeans. She had her blond hair in a messy bun. Still such an attractive woman. No wonder Daddy had a thing for her.

  “I’ll have water,” Bailey said.

  “Do you have San Benedetto?” Alexis asked.

  “Sweetie, I’m not sure what that is, but I’m sure we don’t have it. Sorry,” Joella said.

  Alexis frowned and consulted the menu. “Water from a bottle then.”

  “Coming right up.”

  Bailey understood the limitations here. “It’s tap on ice or basic bottled here as far as water goes until the others arrive. You’ll have to make a trip back to Huntsville to the Whole Foods if you want anything specific. Or place an order online and have it delivered,” Bailey said. This wasn’t the first time they’d filmed in a small town, but it was the shortest notice they’d had. Previously, they’d been able to either bring in the specialty items or order them ahead of time.

  “We’re in a weird barren wasteland,” Alexis said.

  “I thought it was weird heaven,” Bailey reminded her.

  “I don’t know, but that pizza better deliver on how amazing it smells.”

  “You’re hangry, and don’t worry, it will.”

  “So when are you going to fill me in about Sheriff Hottie?” Alexis asked, but it was more a demand.

  Bailey hesitated a second. Only because she wasn’t quite sure how to frame her response. “Seth is an old friend.” It sounded cliché even to Bailey’s ears.

  “Oh. My. God. He was your freaking boyfriend. I’ve never seen your face like that.” Alexis hooted with laughter then. “This is when being brown comes in handy. We don’t blush. Well, we do but you don’t notice.”

  Bailey leaned in and spoke in a hushed tone, “Keep your voice down. Our waiter is his mom.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me. This keeps getting better and better.” Joella showed up at that moment with their pizza. It was an odd time for pizza; too late for the lunch crowd and early for the dinner folks, so the place was nearly empty. Bailey guessed that’s why Joella
didn’t have someone else waiting tables.

  “This smells amazing,” Alexis said, hopefully forgetting about everything else for the moment besides her hunger.

  They both dug into the veggie pizza with extra banana peppers. Fortunately for Bailey, Alexis wasn’t vegan, so they could share. The vegan bunch coming from California would need to stick to eating all their meals from the set’s catering truck. Or they wouldn’t likely find much to eat in Ministry.

  “All set.” While they were distracted by the pizza, somehow Seth slipped in. Both Alexis and Bailey were startled mid-chew by his sudden appearance.

  Bailey wiped her mouth with one of the large white napkins. “Thanks, Seth. Want a slice?” she offered.

  He eyeballed the veggies and grimaced. “Um, no thanks.”

  Bailey could see Alexis’s gaze ping-ponging back and forth between Seth and Bailey, carefully watching for—what?

  “Thanks so much for bailing me out with that situation, Sheriff. But again, who stuffs their cats, honestly? I get that country folks hunt and stuff. I even get that they like to keep some of their animals to look at and hang on the wall, though I’ll never understand any of it, but cats?” Alexis shuddered again.

  Seth gave a laugh. “It’s not your everyday thing. We happen to have a taxidermist here in Ministry who believes that domestic pets should be given equal consideration to hunting prey when it comes to being preserved in perpetuity. At least that’s his motto. It’s caught on here and there.”

  The horror on Alexis’s face was almost laughable. Almost. “How gothic,” she said and put her hand to her heart.

  “Yes. But try not to hold it against Mrs. Wiggins. She’s a real sweetheart,” Bailey said.

  “I’ll give her a chance,” Alexis said, and picked up another slice of pizza. “So when are you going to tell me why we need fifty single sheets?”

  “It’s probably better as a show instead of tell, really. But since it’ll be dark soon, I guess I’ll do my best to describe the situation,” Bailey said.

  Alexis frowned as Bailey tried to describe her plan for housing the crew.

  “Like summer camp?” Alexis asked, visibly horrified.

  Seth and Bailey both nodded in unison. “Exactly like summer camp,” Bailey said.

  “Let’s meet out there tomorrow if you’re available. We can discuss some of the details regarding the permits, and I could use some recommendations for a cleaning crew and a few other things,” Bailey suggested to Seth.

  He nodded. “I have to be in court in the morning but I could meet y’all around noon.”

  Chapter Nine

  Seth got out of court just before noon. Thankfully, his testimony regarding a fireworks debacle off County Road 12 last Independence Day aligned with the other witnesses. Seth had made the arrest for the wildfire started by a group of college kids who’d drank way too much and decided shooting fireworks during a drought would be a hoot.

  Ignorance didn’t prevent the dozens of acres from burning or stop a local first responder’s injuries. God save the youth from themselves. The judge wasn’t unsympathetic to their stupidity but wanted to send a message all the same. Seth would likely have a part in the students’ community service in the near future.

  Right now, he wished he had that kind of young, strong labor to help to assist as Bailey’s clean-up crew. But maybe they would be able to do alright by enlisting some local help. She wasn’t without supporters around town, whether or not she realized it.

  Last night he’d loaded up some cleaning supplies and a shop vac in the back of his SUV. And he’d sent out a well-placed email. Hopefully, they could make some progress in getting the cabins habitable to a near-Hollywood standard in time for the arrival of the crew.

  As he headed out toward Aames’s place, it was like old times. His family had lived right down the road growing up, and raised horses. Momma’s recent move closer to town had been a solid decision. Plus, the ranch required full-time help, and now that she ran the pizza place, she couldn’t keep up with it.

  And there was fact that Bailey was back home, even for a little while. He couldn’t put words exactly to how waking up knowing he would see her today brightened his spirit. Of course he told himself she would be out of here right after Christmas, but the idea that he would share the holidays with her made the lights on all the trees around here sparkle a little brighter.

  So he was an idiot. He could admit to it. But Bailey Boone was still undeniably the love of his life. California had not ruined her to the degree he’d feared. Spending the small amount of time with her he had so far, Seth could tell she was the same old Bailey, minus the braids and freckles.

  His plan was to help her achieve her goals, whatever they were, because that’s how he showed love. And he could shamelessly spend time with her.

  *

  “Have you told Jem?” Alexis asked as they shared a cup of coffee in Mrs. Wiggins’s kitchen and indulged on shortbread. She’d invited them to coffee this morning but had to go out soon after.

  “Not yet. Not exactly,” Bailey answered. Alexis was referring to the camp and the bunks they were going to house the crew in. “I will as soon as I get things a little further along.”

  “I can’t picture it. I mean, I can, but I don’t think I’ve got it right. I keep seeing the movie version of a kids’ summer camp. And that can’t be where you’re going to put our crew.”

  Bailey wanted to laugh at her words. Alexis was in denial. “It’s the closest thing to the stereotypical movie set for a summer camp you’ll ever find,” Bailey said.

  Alexis stared at Bailey. “Good thing you’re saving Epic’s movie from ruin.”

  “I’ve kept that in mind as I’ve tried to work all this out.” While Bailey hoped for a promotion, she wondered how it would go for her if things didn’t come off smoothly. Surely the studio wouldn’t hold it against her if things weren’t perfect.

  “And it’s a good thing this place practically tastes like Christmas. It’s the most Christmas-y town I’ve ever seen without actual snow on the ground.” That was a fixable problem at least. Faux foam snow was used often and it showed perfectly in a completed film. But Bailey hadn’t completely given up on the real stuff yet. Christmas miracles did happen.

  Mrs. Wiggins reentered the kitchen as they cleared their plates. “Sorry about leaving you girls. I had to deliver my shortbread to the café across the street.”

  Alexis seemed to have forgotten all about the preserved creatures here and there throughout the house once she’d tasted Mrs. W’s shortbread and fresh brew. “Thank you for feeding us this morning, Mrs. Wiggins. I can’t believe how well I slept last night.”

  Alexis had experienced the same weirdly wonderful sleep that Bailey had starting her first night here. They’d discovered last night that part of the sofa sectional folded out into a bed. A comfortable one, apparently, because Alexis wouldn’t hear of taking the bedroom, though Bailey tried her best to give it to her. Alexis convinced Bailey by insisting she stayed up late every night watching television.

  They thanked their landlady again and began the day. They’d both dressed for cleanup this morning after discussing what the goals for the next few days looked like. Bailey and Alexis were to accomplish the job before Mr. Stone arrived to inspect. Alexis was to help Bailey figure out the minutiae of the objective step by step. Alexis worked in spreadsheets, numbers, and details, breaking things down in specifics.

  But she wasn’t above helping Bailey take down cobwebs and get rid of some dust, should that be today’s objective. That was why they were such a great team.

  “Remember to watch for deer and other animals that might dash out in front of your van once we get on the dirt road. This time of the day it shouldn’t be too bad, but it can get dicey at dusk,” Bailey reminded Alexis. “Oh, and stay on the tracks on the road. Your vehicle doesn’t have four-wheel drive.” But at least the van was a heavy vehicle. It would do alright as long as Alexis took it slow.

&nbs
p; “Will I make it out there alive?” Alexis asked, all snark.

  Bailey rolled her eyes. “I sure hope so.”

  *

  Bailey and Alexis arrived safe and sound at Camp Grandview to find that both Seth and Daddy had beaten them there. Seth appeared to be unloading equipment and supplies from his sheriff’s vehicle. Bailey nearly hit the tree watching as she pulled up.

  It looked like Daddy came prepared to work as well. His small flatbed trailer was hitched to his truck. On it was a small tractor he used to mow and haul things, pressure washer, a blower, and several other power tools. He wasn’t wearing his usual county-issued uniform shirt with his jeans. Had he taken a day off work to help her?

  “Hi there. Thanks for coming out to lend a hand,” Bailey said to them both as she neared.

  “Don’t mention it, baby. Who’s this?”

  “Daddy, this is Alexis, my coworker, and friend, of course.”

  They shook hands. “Great to meet you, Alexis. Welcome to Ministry.”

  Alexis grinned. “I think I love this place.”

  “This place’ll be in four-star shape in no time flat.” Daddy grinned at them both. “But it’s Seth you’ve got to thank for this.”

  Bailey met Seth’s eyes then. “I do appreciate your going out of the way to help me. This is more than you signed up for.”

  He leaned toward her and answered softly enough so the others didn’t hear. “I didn’t sign up for anything. It’s an opportunity to show you what you’ve missed all these years.” Close enough for her to feel his breath on her cheek as he spoke the words. Each one gave her tiny goose bumps down her spine.

  When he pulled away, her face was on fire. She knew this because she could feel the burning of the blood that had rushed quickly to light her up like the Christmas trees all around town.

  Bailey hadn’t experienced anything like this in so long it took her a minute to recognize it for what it was. And it took her another minute to recover. But his words—