by Danni Roan
“It’s gorgeous,” she gushed reaching out and squeezing Carlos’s hand. “It looks like a frosted gingerbread house.”
Carlos squeezed Jamie’s hand back not wanting to let it go. Since he’d met her, his world seemed even brighter and a new hope had sprung up in his heart. “Wait till you see the inside,” he said pulling her along with him to a tiny row of bent wood stairs that led to the loft. At the top of the stairs a big window illuminated the small space which held four recessed bunks on either wall. Each bunk was inset matching the slope of the ceiling and blending seamlessly with the space, somehow making it seem bigger than it was.
The whole room was a pale green, almost white and the bed frames and rails were alabaster with a tiny stripe of red running their length.
Jamie gasped as she looked down at the dark wooden floor. The entire center of the loft had been painted like a poinsettia quilt square, in a back drop of white with over lapping red and green making up the petals and leaves.
“You did this?” Jamie asked turning and gazing into his eyes.
Carlos nodded. “Your grandmother asked if I could do something with the floor, and she showed me the quilt you have for the bed downstairs.”
Jamie’s heart seemed to swell filling her chest until she might burst. Throwing her arms wide she wrapped them around Carlos planting a kiss on his smiling lips.
Carlos pulled Jamie close as she fell into him, his lips finding hers in a riot of joy, trepidation, glee, and doubt.
After several seconds Jamie broke the embrace dropping her eyes in embarrassment. It seemed that something about the cottage had completely overwhelmed her as if Christmas had breathed out holiday magic and good will.
“I’m sorry,” Jamie said. She could still taste Carlos’s kiss on her lips and it was sweeter than any dream kiss could ever be. “I’m afraid I was…” she trailed off not knowing what to say.
Carlos reached down tipping her face up with a paint stained finger. “Don’t be sorry,” he said. “I’m not.”
Jamie looked up seeing something new in the recesses of those hazel green eyes, and something seemed to blossom in her chest. Could there actually be something between them? Something sparked by the hint of Christmas that permeated the cottage?
“Now come look out the top window,” Carlos said gently taking her hand and leading her to the little door that led out of the room to the painted railing overlooking the main room.
Jamie looked down taking in the open living area and kitchenette along the far wall. The cabinetry was dark, but the counter tops sparkled in white quartz. “It’s going to be perfect,” she said not sure if she was talking about the cottage or the burgeoning romance between her and the painter.
“Will you go out with me this weekend?” Carlos asked. The words falling over themselves to escape before he changed his mind.
Jamie turned looking up at him. He was handsome, yet somehow vulnerable and uncertain about himself. She’d never seen a man who filled out a pair of white painter’s overalls as well as him either.
Grinning, Jamie nodded. “I think I’d like that,” she said.
Chapter 14
“Are you sure you and Rose will be alright?” Carlos asked for the third time as he drove his little sister to the Rogers’ home. “You’ll call me if anything happens?”
“Carlos, calm down,” Anita said. “I’ve been babysitting for a year already, what could go wrong? Besides, I have my cell phone, and Rose has all of the emergency contacts and stuff. You go and enjoy your date with Miss Walton,” she finished with a giggle.
Carlos blushed slightly at his sister’s teasing. He hadn’t planned on telling her what he was doing that evening, but after he had tried on three different polo shirts, she’d figured out something was up.
“It’s not a real date,” he hedged, but his sister’s glare proved she wasn’t buying that line.
“You really like her don’t you?” Anita asked.
“Yeah,” Carlos admitted. “Dumb right?”
“No, not at all,” the teen replied. “Carlos, have you ever even been on a date before?”
Carlos shrugged, he’d been to a dance with a girl in middle school, but otherwise he hadn’t had time for a girlfriend.
“Just have fun,” Anita said. “I like Jamie, and I think she likes you too.”
They pulled up in front of the Rogers’ home, and Carlos grinned when Mr. Rogers began pushing his wife through the front door and toward the car.
“They’ll be fine, Laura,” the older man chided. “The girls have watched Benny before. Stop fussing.”
“Yes, but never for so long,” Mrs. Rogers countered.
“Laura, we’re only going to be ten miles away. Have a little faith in Rose and Anita.”
Laura looked up at her husband pushing a strand of brown hair behind her ear and nodding as he hefted their bags into the trunk.
“Hello, Carlos,” she greeted. “Thanks for bringing Anita and for everything,” she finished lamely.
“I can’t believe the girls did this,” Ben Rogers said laying a hand on his wife’s back. “It was very thoughtful.”
“They’re good kids,” Carlos said. “You two have a good time now, and don’t worry I’ll be in town all evening.”
***
Waving at everyone Carlos put his car in gear and made the turn back toward the Old Inn to pick up Jamie. He knew she wouldn’t want to leave until Mr. and Mrs. Rogers were settled. He admired her attention to detail, and her dedication to the Old Inn.
An hour later he was seated across a booth from Jamie over pizza and cola. A fancy restaurant wasn’t in his budget, but Miss Walton didn’t seem to mind. She was so down to earth and open. It was easy to get comfortable around her.
“You should have seen them,” Jamie enthused taking a bread stick from the basket and dipping it in sauce. “Mrs. Rogers couldn’t stop gushing about the place. Mr. Rogers just looked tired.”
Carlos chuckled, a warm happy sound that seemed to thrum through Jamie in a cascade of joy. “I think they are tired,” he said. “They really needed this get away.”
“Mrs. Rogers said she was going to sleep for a day,” Jamie giggled. “It will be wonderful to hear what they think after being there for the whole weekend. “It should give me valuable feedback on how to make everything better. You do think they’ll let me know don’t you. I mean they won’t just leave a good review, or say everything was fine because of the discount?”
“I don’t think they’ll do that,” Carlos agreed. “Besides Rose will tell Anita everything they say, and I’ll tell you.”
Jamie smiled. “You’d do that for me?”
“You bet,” Carlos grinned. Now that he was sitting across from the pretty young woman, he wondered what he had been so nervous about earlier. She was down to earth and interesting, and they had so much in common.
“Do you think the girls will be alright over the weekend? I know they have both had experience babysitting, but keeping a baby all weekend is a little different.”
“I think they’ll be fine. If they need anything, they’ll call me or Rose’s parents.”
Jamie nodded. “So what do you usually do over the weekend?” she asked.
“Work,” Carlos admitted with a grin. “I’ll be back over at your place tomorrow starting on Big Bear. Even having a Friday evening free is a treat.”
“I forgot to tell you that I’m having Mr. Wissen put those lights up behind the icicle trim on the Christmas Cottage,” Jamie said. “The place seems to be dripping with the winter wonderland vibe.”
“I like the way it came out,” Carlos admitted. “Are you starting to get bookings already?”
“Oh yes, and now that the pictures of the Fourth of July cottage are up, it is booked all the way through October.”
For a few moments they sat there enjoying their pizza and conversation as both of them wondered where this whole thing would lead. Neither of them had much dating experience, but to Carlos the who
le point of dating was to find out if you were compatible, and then take it to the next level, which was marriage. Could things get serious with Jamie?
Jamie still had hints of red, white and blue in her hair from their first encounter, but it seemed to suit her in an odd sort of way.
“Carlos,” she said wanting to ask him about his plans for the future, but the sound of his phone ringing made them both jump.
“What?” Carlos said. “Wait, Anita slow down what happened?” Carlos looked up meeting Jamie’s worried gaze. “We’ll be right there.”
Chapter 15
Carlos tossed enough money to cover the bill and a tip on the table then grabbed Jamie’s hand hurrying them to the car.
“What’s wrong?” Jamie asked slipping into the passenger’s seat and buckling up. “Did something happen?”
“I didn’t get it all,” Carlos said. “Anita kept saying Benny was stuck in a vent, but it doesn’t make sense.”
Jamie looked at the man her eyes going wide as he turned out of the parking lot and headed toward the Rogers’ home.
“Oh Carlos, thank goodness,” Anita said when her brother walked through the door. “We didn’t know what to do.”
Jamie could hear a muffled baby giggle as she stepped into the house and followed Anita and Carlos to the living room.
“We were watching T.V. and Benny was on the blanket right there,” Anita said pointing to where Rose knelt on a blanket peering down at something.
“Oh please help,” the girl cried as Carlos and Jamie entered. “Benny was having a wonderful time just rolling around but he dropped his bippy, and it fell in the vent,” she pointed at the gaping register space in the floor. “I took the cover off to get it and,” she trailed off looking up with horror filled eyes as everyone gazed around the open grate. “He rolled right in,” the girl finished in horror.
The sound of baby coos and giggles drifted up to everyone and Jamie let out a breath. “He doesn’t seem to be hurt,” she said looking at Carlos.
“I’ll grab my tools,” the man said dashing back out to the truck. “Make sure the furnace is off.”
Jamie hurried to the thermostat on the wall noting that the whole thing read off with a sigh. “Did you try to pull him out?” she asked the girls.
“Yes, that’s how he ended up rolling further in. Every time I tried to grab him he slipped further down.”
Jamie reached out patting Rose on the shoulder. “Don’t’ worry I’m sure everything will be fine,” she said as more baby giggles drifted into the room.
“Basement?” Carlos asked hurrying back into the room his tool belt jingling on his narrow hips.
“This way,” Anita said turning toward the kitchen.
“Jamie, I might need your help,” Carlos called. “Rose stay there and keep and ear out. If he starts to cry, make sure we know.”
“Alright,” the teen said her eyes wide.
In only seconds Carlos and Jamie stood under the living room floor looking at a wide set of duct work. They could still hear Benny cooing and breathed a little easier.
“I got a ladder,” Anita said coming up behind them with a step ladder. “I didn’t know if you’d need it.”
Carlos nodded setting the ladder under the metal vent then pulled a screw driver from his belt. “Jamie, stand right there,” he said pointing to a spot right under the seam in the square edged ducting.
Jamie nodded looking up and watching as Carlos began to loosen the screws. Inch by inch the little metal shaft began to loosen sagging toward the floor.
With one hand braced on the venting Carlos removed the last screw and a bundled Benny tumbled out straight into Jamie’s arms.
Carlos looked down at the young woman holding the baby as she smiled down at him, and his heart did a flip. There was no doubt in his mind that Jamie Walton was the perfect girl for him. He just needed to figure out how to convince her of the fact.
Jamie looked up at Carlos with a grin. He had rescued the tiny mite in her arms, and she smiled, her heart filled with a warm glow of pride and admiration. The way Carlos was looking her gave her lovely shivers as she dusted of the baby’s face and turned for the stairs.
“Is he alright?” Rose cried as Jamie carried the baby back up stairs. He had wrapped a pudgy hand in her long blonde locks and was blowing bubbles from a dusty face.
“He’s just fine,” Jamie said handing the baby to his big sister. “Perhaps a bath is in order though.”
Rose pulled her baby brother tight as tears spilled from her eyes. “Thank you so much,” she gushed. “You won’t tell mom will you? She’ll never forgive me.”
“We won’t tell, at least not until she’s sure he’s fine.” Jamie agreed.
“You did great,” Carlos said with a grin. “You sure you don’t want a new job as a baby catcher?” he teased as they headed back into the living room to put the grate back in place.
Jamie laughed. “I was a little worried there for a minute,” she admitted looking at him seriously. “You didn’t even get scared.”
Carlos chuckled. “I might just have shoved Pablo in a vent when I was little,” he said. “Apparently I wasn’t always a good big brother.”
“You didn’t?” Jamie gasped.
“I did.” Carlos assured. “I was eleven when Pablo was born, and I’d been an only child for a long time. I didn’t want a little brother, so I pulled out the vent and stuck him inside.”
“What did your parents do?” Jamie asked shocked.
“Mom was doing laundry and she heard him crying. She called dad and he made me help get him out. He didn’t yell or anything. He just explained that someday my baby brother would be here for me, and that I needed to remember that and be there for him too.”
Jamie reached out wrapping her arms around Carlos and pulling him tight. “So you weren’t always the responsible painter type, I take it.”
“No,” Carlos said listening to the splashing sounds from the bathroom and tipping his head to steal a kiss.
Chapter 16
“Jamie, stop dawdling,” Lavinia said hurrying her granddaughter out the door the next day. “I want that Christmas shed put together before Monday. I’m not missing my Red Hats meeting, because you can’t get out of bed.”
“I’m up Gram. See I’m right here,” Jamie called grabbing a second cup of coffee and heading for the door. She had gotten up and dressed as soon as her grandmother had called the first time, but apparently, she wasn’t moving fast enough today. Her grandmother already had the cart full of boxes, linens, and nick-knacks to take to the Christmas Cottage.
Jamie had crept into the house late the night before like a teen sneaking in after curfew, but she had had a wonderful evening. After the excitement at the Rogers’ home, she and Carlos had gone for a walk along the lake talking about their families, goals, and even concerns. She felt that she could truly share her vision with him about the inn, and that he truly cared about her success.
Walking her back to the inn Carlos had lifted her face in his hands and kissed her gently. “I’m sorry I can’t seem to stop doing that,” he said with a soft smile.
“It’s fine by me,” Jamie had said “I like it when you do that.”
“Really?” Carlos teased. “Unfortunately we both have work in the morning,” he said, once again the voice of reason. “Will I see you in the morning?”
“I think Gram and I will be moving things in to the Christmas Cottage,” Jamie said laying her head on his shoulder and wrapping her arms around his waist.
She couldn’t believe how fast things were happening with Carlos, or how much she already cared. It seemed like a tiny miracle had pried open her heart from the moment she had collided with him.
“We’d better say good-night,” Carlos said placing a kiss on her hair and leaning back. “Good night,” he added kissing her one more time before heading for his truck.
“Jamie, Whoo hoo, earth to Jamie,” Jamie’s grandmother’s voice invaded her thoughts snappi
ng her back to the present. “Are we going to get this done or not?”
Jamie nodded forcing her thoughts back to the job at hand. “Sorry Gram.”
“You know if you like that young man so much, why don’t you just tell him and be done with it?” Lavinia asked.
“Gram, we barely know each other,” Jamie protested lifting a box of dishes from the cart.
“Phewy,” Lavinia said. “Sometimes when you find something nice, you just need to take a chance and go for it. I’m not getting any younger you know, and I’d like to see some great grandchildren before I’m gone.”
“Gram, you have six great grandchildren already.”
“Yes,” Lavinia said, “but none of them are yours.” She walked to her youngest granddaughter taking her face in her hands, the way she had as a child. “You are a wonderful, smart, and very clever girl,” Lavinia said. “Don’t let something good slip through your fingers because you think it’s too soon.”
Jamie hugged her grandmother tight, wondering what she would ever do when she was gone. Jamie loved her parents, but they didn’t share the same vision she did. She felt like Lavinia was a kindred spirit somehow. “I love you Gram,” she said kissing her grandmother’s wither brow. “We’ll just have to see what happens with everything else.”
Lavinia pulled a small decorative pillow from a box and smacked her granddaughter with it. “Get back to work,” she grumbled as a tear spilled from her eye.
“I’m going in to make lunch,” Lavinia called almost three hours later. “I’ll call you when it’s ready.” She turned walking out the door and leaving Jamie to her own devices.
So far the kitchen had been sorted and the cupboards filled with white dishes covered in Christmas trees and holly.
A red and green plaid table cloth with gold thread struck through it graced the small table, and snowflake napkins sparkled like their namesake next to red stemmed glass wear.
In the bedroom set under the loft, Mr. Wissen and one of his helpers had put together the ivory sleigh bed, and Jamie hurried to the room to make it up with new linen and the poinsettia quilt. She knew it was going to look spectacular. Cheating just a little, she had purchased deep forest green sheets for the photo shoot and in no time she had the ends tucked under and the linens smoothed.