The Santa Express

by Leeanna Morgan

“It was no problem. The roads were icy, but we got here in the end.” Zac moved out of the way as Andy and Charlie pulled their mom to the craft table. “I saw Gordon this afternoon. He has a bad case of the flu, so I suggested I take Andrea and the boys home with me for the weekend. Willow’s happy to have the company.”

  “That would be great. If it makes your life easier, I’ll take Charlie and Andy to school on Monday morning.”

  “Don’t worry. I’m driving Andrea back to Polson, anyway. We can take the boys to school before we leave.”

  “Do they need any clothes?”

  Zac shook his head. “Mabel grabbed a few things when she picked them up for the train ride.”

  John watched Andrea laugh at something Charlie said. “Do you think they’ll be okay?”

  “They’ll be fine. I’m more worried about you.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Willow told me you’re dating Shelley. When did that happen?”

  “A few days ago.” John’s cell phone beeped and he read the text. “I have to go. Shelley needs my help in the kitchen.”

  “Come for dinner next week. Bring Shelley. I’ll tell her all your secrets.”

  John smiled. “As long as they’re good ones, we’ll be there. See you soon.” And before Zac could ask any more questions about his relationship with Shelley, John hurried toward the kitchen.

  Two hours later, Shelley poured eggnog into another glass and handed it to a Christmas elf. After saying goodbye to the last family who’d joined them on The Santa Express, everyone who’d helped with the event had driven to the church to celebrate what they’d achieved.

  “This was such a great night,” Bailey said excitedly to Shelley. “We should have another Santa Express next year.”

  “Let me enjoy tonight before you start planning next year’s event. It was a lot of work.”

  “But look at how much money we raised. By next December, the church won’t need any more tiny homes, but there’ll be other projects that need funding.”

  John stood behind Shelley and wrapped his hands around her waist. “Before we start anything else, we need to make sure the budgeting, health, and employment services we’re providing are working. Then we can look at other projects.”

  “What about the fundraiser we were going to do with the flowers?” Bailey said with a pleading look in her eyes. “It’s such a wonderful idea and would give us a lot more money for the Christmas wish program.”

  “It’s a little late for Christmas.”

  “We could do it for Valentine’s Day,” Bailey said quickly.

  John sighed. “Because it was already planned, I guess it’s okay. But we need to regroup before we add anything else to our fundraising plan.”

  Shelley turned around. She was shocked by John’s caution. “Are you the same pastor who gave the committee a list of ideas you thought would make great fundraising events?”

  John raised his eyebrows. “I was.”

  “And did that list include hosting the Miss Universe pageant in Sapphire Bay?”

  Bailey chuckled.

  “Maybe. But in my defense, I was thinking of events that would bring a lot of people into town.”

  “The national candy making conference would have done that,” Shelley replied dryly.

  “But it wouldn’t have had the same appeal.”

  Shelley smiled sweetly. “Of course not.”

  Emma stood beside them and sighed. “What an evening. I’ve never been covered in so much glitter in my life.”

  “But it was worth it,” Bailey said with a smile. “The picture frames the children made are adorable.”

  “And the photos look amazing inside the frames,” Shelley added. Their friend Willow had taken each child’s photo in front of the Christmas tree. With some IT help from Caleb, they’d printed each photo at the barn.

  Just thinking about the tree sent goose bumps along Shelley’s skin. At night, with the lights twinkling and the decorations glowing, the tree was beyond anything she’d expected. Next year, she was determined to have a tree just as beautiful in her new home.

  Emma picked up a cup of eggnog. “I can’t wait to see what the tree will look like at the end of Main Street. I wonder if the Business Association is organizing a tree-lighting ceremony?”

  Shelley held her hands over Bailey’s ears. “Don’t mention another event in front of my sister. She’ll suggest it to the Business Association, then end up organizing it.”

  “I can’t help it if I love everything Christmassy.”

  “Talking about loving everything Christmassy,” John said. “I’d like to make a toast.” He picked up a spoon and tapped the side of his glass. When everyone had stopped talking, he cleared his throat. “I’d like to thank everyone for volunteering for tonight’s event as well as any of the other fundraising events. Without your help, the tiny home village would have been no more than an idea. So far, sixty-five people have a safe, warm home because of the time you’ve given to the community. Tonight, thanks to ticket sales, donations, and the raffles that Mabel organized, we’ve raised another nine thousand dollars towards a tiny home.”

  Everyone in the room clapped and cheered.

  John smiled. “I’d particularly like to thank Shelley for organizing tonight’s event. Her eternal optimism and hard work made everything happen.”

  A blush crept across Shelley’s face as everyone clapped and cheered again.

  “And last but not least, I’d like to thank Jebediah Coleman. If he hadn’t stepped in as Santa, we would have had a lot of disappointed children in the barn.” John looked around the crowded room. “So Jebediah, wherever you are, thank you.”

  From the far side of the room, Jebediah stood up and waved at everyone. Another round of claps and shrill whistles made Shelley smile.

  “And from me personally,” John said. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you do to make Sapphire Bay a special town. God bless and safe travels home.”

  When John sat down, Shelley held his hand. “That was lovely.”

  “I meant what I said. This wouldn’t have happened without you.”

  “It was a team effort.” As soon as she’d said the words, Shelley scrunched up her nose. “Oh, no. I’m sounding more like you every day.”

  John brushed a lock of hair off her face. “I don’t mind.”

  Bailey sat beside them. “Mr. Coleman has become a local celebrity. I’ve never seen him smile so much.”

  Shelley looked across the room. She didn’t blame Bailey for being surprised. Jebediah had been ambushed by the Christmas elves. Everyone wanted their photo taken with the merry man in red, and he was more than happy to oblige.

  Bailey sighed. “I wish there was a way of collecting all the happiness in the room. We could put it into little bottles and sell it to people to make them feel better.”

  Shelley looked at her sister. “That’s a great idea. We could create fancy labels for the outside of the bottles. It would make a great fundraiser.”

  “Write it down,” Bailey whispered. “John listens to you. You might be able to convince him to add it to next year’s program.”

  “I heard that,” John said. “And just so everyone knows, I’m totally open to bribery and corruption, especially when it comes from Shelley.”

  Bailey groaned. “You should just get married and save us all from another year of lovey-dovey talk.”

  Shelley’s cheeks flamed hotter than Santa’s red suit. “Ignore my sister,” she told John. “She’s got romance on her brain.”

  John’s eyes crinkled at the corners. “There’s nothing wrong with that.”

  Shelley sighed. She couldn’t agree more.

  Chapter 11

  The next morning, John stood inside the main doors to The Connect Church, welcoming the community to the Sunday church service. After a late night, he wasn’t the only person who looked as though they would have appreciated another couple of hours in bed.

  And his busy
day wouldn’t end after this morning’s service. After church, he was heading to the Colemans’ ranch with fifteen other people to clean the barn and remove the temporary fencing.

  His eyebrows rose when he saw who was walking through the main doors. “Shelley?”

  “Good morning. I thought it was about time I came to one of your services.”

  Bailey, Steven, and Mila were beside her.

  “Hi, Pastor John,” Mila said. “I really enjoyed last night.”

  “That’s great. Did you get your photo taken with Santa?”

  Mila nodded. “He was really nice, but Charlie said he was a pretend Santa. I don’t mind ’cos the real Santa will be coming to our house soon. Does Santa visit you?”

  “I hope so.”

  Steven placed his hand on his daughter’s shoulder. “Come on. Pastor John has a lot of people he wants to welcome to the church.”

  “I’ll see you after the service,” he promised Mila.

  “Okay. You could see Shelley, too.” Mila leaned close and whispered, “She likes you.”

  John knelt beside his little friend. “I hope so, because I like her, too.”

  The smile Mila sent Shelley was sweet. “Pastor John likes you.”

  Shelley blushed. “Come on, short stuff. We’d better find somewhere to sit.” She looked at John and smiled. “Good luck with your service.”

  At the rate he was going, he’d need it. “If you don’t want to be blasted out of the room by the sound system, sit on the left-hand side of the room.”

  “Okay.”

  And before he could say anything else, she joined the line of people walking into the large meeting room. He wished Shelley had warned him she was coming. What if she didn’t like what he said or didn’t appreciate his sense of humor? What if she decided that having a relationship with a pastor was like swallowing the worst-tasting medicine you could imagine?

  “Cheer up,” Caleb said from beside him. “It can’t be as bad as that.”

  “You’re here, too? Is this some kind of family conspiracy?”

  “What are you talking about? I just do as my wife tells me.”

  Sam poked him in the ribs. “You only do what I tell you when it’s in your best interests.”

  John frowned. “Don’t take this the wrong way, Sam, but you hardly ever come to church. What made you change your mind?”

  “You. If my sister is falling in love with the only pastor in town, I want to make sure you’re good at your job.”

  Caleb sighed. “See what I have to put up with? And it’s been worse since Sam found out she’s pregnant.”

  Sam pushed her husband forward. “Come on. We won’t get a seat beside the rest of our family if we don’t move.” She smiled at John. “Mom and Dad are coming, too.”

  John didn’t know whether to be worried or humbled. After six years of preaching about God’s love and kindness, he was having his worst case of pre-service nerves—and there wasn’t a thing he could do about it.

  Shelley sat on the left-hand side of the room and the rest of her family joined her. She wasn’t sure what they would think of the service.

  Whenever their mom had taken them to church in Bozeman, Sam fidgeted like crazy. Bailey’s mind tended to drift into other worlds, and Shelley got through the sermon by imagining what she’d do with a complicated income and expenditure statement.

  Unlike her stepmom-to-be and aunts-to-be, Mila didn’t have the same problem. Although that was probably more to do with John than being in the church. She listened attentively to what he said and sang all the songs, proudly telling everyone she’d learned them at The Welcome Center.

  Shelley hadn’t thought of one financial document during the entire service. John’s jokes made everyone laugh, and his sermon about being kind to each other brought tears to people’s eyes.

  When he talked about the Christmas fundraising events, Shelley felt a tingle of excitement. She’d been part of something amazing, and it felt wonderful. She glanced at her parents, wondering if they’d enjoyed being here.

  Before she could speak to her mom and dad, someone opened two sets of large bifold windows at the back of the room. Hot drinks, cake, and cookies were set on the sparkling stainless steel counter. At least that would be a familiar ending to the service for her family.

  Shelley looked at her parents. “Would you like a cup of coffee?”

  “That would be lovely,” Elena said.

  “I’ll go with you,” her dad said. “What about everyone else? Would anyone like a drink?”

  Bailey nudged Sam. “You sit here, dad. We’ll bring something back for everyone.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Sam nodded. “Positive. We won’t be long.”

  Halfway across the room, Bailey pulled Shelley to one side. “This might be the only chance we get to speak to you.”

  Shelley sighed. “What do you want to know?”

  “Nothing,” Sam said as she looked over her shoulder. “This isn’t about you and John. It’s about Jarrod.”

  “What are you talking about?” Shelley frowned at her sisters. “I haven’t heard from him in weeks. It’s been great.”

  Sam looked nervously at Bailey. “You’d better tell her.”

  Bailey frowned. “Jarrod called me yesterday.

  “Why did he do that?”

  “He said he’s been calling and texting you, but you haven’t replied. I told him there was a reason for that, but he wasn’t listening. He wants to apologize.”

  Shelley snorted. “I don’t believe him.”

  Sam pulled Shelley even closer. “It doesn’t matter what you believe. He’s coming to Sapphire Bay.”

  “He’s what!”

  “Ssh!” Bailey warned. “There’s more. Mom and Dad aren’t happy with the way he’s been treating you.”

  “How do they know what he’s been doing?”

  Sam blushed. “I might have said something about how he won’t stop calling and texting you.”

  “Why did you do that?” Shelley lowered her voice, hoping no one else heard what they were saying. “You know what Mom and Dad are like.”

  Bailey frowned. “It doesn’t matter why Sam told them. All we need to worry about is keeping Jarrod away from our parents.”

  Shelley moved out of the way so another family could head toward the kitchen. “That won’t be hard. Mom and Dad are going home this afternoon.”

  “Jarrod will be here soon,” Bailey said. “He flew into Kalispell this morning and he’s hiring a car to drive here.”

  “How does he know where I am? I never told him I’d moved to Sapphire Bay.”

  “Don’t look at me,” Sam said indignantly. “I didn’t tell him.”

  “Neither did I,” Bailey said. “I wouldn’t touch him with a barge pole. Anyone who harasses another person has big problems.”

  Sam sighed. “Is that your professional opinion?”

  “It’s as professional as I’ll get with him. Maybe his sister talked to Mom?”

  Shelley looked around the room, half-expecting Jarrod to walk through the door. “I’m surprised Mom’s talking to any of his family.”

  “What can we do?” Bailey asked.

  “If you see him before I do, tell him to go home. I’ll give you a call if he finds me first.”

  “Will you tell John about him?” Sam asked.

  “I already have. When Mom and Dad are ready to leave, we’ll drive to the Colemans’ barn. Even if Jarrod comes here, he’ll never find us in White Bay.”

  “Unless he talks to Mabel,” Sam muttered.

  “Don’t worry about her,” Bailey said. “I’ll speak to Mabel and tell her about Jarrod. She won’t tell him where you’ve gone.”

  Shelley hoped that was the case. Staying in White Bay for the afternoon might keep her parents away from Jarrod, but it was only a small reprieve for her.

  After a month of feeling like a free woman, she was back to feeling trapped by a delusional former fiancé.

 
; John looked around the church meeting room for Shelley. Her mom and dad were sitting with Caleb, Steven, and Mila. But the Jones sisters were nowhere in sight.

  He said hello to another family, then walked across to Elena and Ted.

  “What a wonderful service,” Elena said. “I’m glad we came.”

  “I’m happy you enjoyed it. We try to include as many people from the community as we can in each service.”

  Caleb stood. “Bailey, Sam, and Shelley left ten minutes ago to get coffee for everyone. Can I get you a drink?”

  “I’ll come with you,” John said to his friend.

  Caleb grinned. “If we’re together, we might get preferential treatment and not have to stand in the line.”

  “Don’t count on it. Even the pastor has to wait like everyone else.” With a smile, he stood behind the last person in the line.

  “Ted and Elena were impressed with your sermon,” Caleb said. “If Shelley decides she’s had enough of you, Elena wants to adopt you into the family, anyway.”

  “I’m hoping Shelley wants to keep me around.” John looked over the heads of the people waiting for coffee. “Shelley and her sisters aren’t here.”

  Caleb scanned the crowd before pulling out his phone. “I’ll call Sam. I hope nothing’s happened.”

  John waited beside his friend. Maybe they were using the bathrooms, but it sounded as though they’d been gone for a while.

  When Caleb ended the call, he sighed. “Sam isn’t answering her phone. That isn’t like her.”

  John wondered where they could have gone. “They would have said something if they were leaving. I’ll call Shelley. They must be somewhere around the church.” Even if they were at The Welcome Center or the tiny home village, Shelley would answer her phone.

  John waited for her to answer and frowned when she didn’t. “She isn’t answering, either.”

  Caleb looked as though he was about to stand on a chair and holler across the room for his wife.

  John placed his hand on his friend’s arm. “It will be okay. Shelley and Bailey will look after Sam. They’re probably talking with someone outside and are ignoring their phones.”