“He said some things that made sense.”
That was one of his gifts. Jarrod could manipulate a situation to suit his own needs better than anyone she knew. And the more he repeated his ‘sensible’ ideas, the more you believed them. Except, sometimes, Jarrod’s way of looking at the world was completely different from yours. And before you knew it, you were accepting his ideas as your own and living a life that was a lie.
“What did he say?” Shelley held her breath while she waited for John to tell her the bad news.
“He told me about the job in New York City.”
Shelley was even more confused. “Is that why you’re upset? Because you think I’m moving to New York?”
“You should at least think about it. It’s a great opportunity.”
“A great opportunity, according to Jarrod. I enjoy living in Sapphire Bay and I love you. Why would I move halfway across the country to work in a city where I don’t know anyone?”
“It would be a great career move, and your salary would be a lot more than you’d earn in Sapphire Bay.”
Now she really knew that Jarrod had gotten under John’s skin. Money wasn’t the reason John did anything, and he was the last person who would think it could make you happy. “That’s all true, but I don’t want work to consume my life. And that’s what happens when you work in a big city. No one gives you thousands of dollars without expecting something in return. And that price is too high.”
“You might say that now, but what about in three or four years’ time? Sapphire Bay is a small town. Do you really think you could be happy here?”
Before she answered him, Shelley did something she rarely did. She counted to ten and took a deep breath. “If your question comes from something Jarrod said, remember that he’s basing his thoughts on the person I used to be. And for twelve months, I was overshadowed by his personality. For the first time in a long while, I feel like I’m me. Instead of living in constant stress and having a ninety-minute commute into town, I get out of bed and have breakfast with my sister. When the snow melts, I’ll be able to go for walks without breathing in toxic pollution or dodging overflowing trash cans. Living in Sapphire Bay is worth more than any amount of money.”
John sighed. “It’s not as easy as that—”
“Yes, it is.”
“You can’t give up everything you’ve worked toward to live here.”
Shelley frowned. Maybe she had this wrong. Maybe John regretted his move to Sapphire Bay and he didn’t want her to make the same mistake. “Do you think you gave up everything to live here?”
The bleak expression in John’s eyes worried her. “I had nothing to start with. I was a broken man who desperately needed something to cling onto.”
“And you found it in Sapphire Bay?”
John shook his head. “I found it in here.” He placed his hand against his heart. “Sapphire Bay gave me the chance to see what was still inside of me. When I hiked in the mountains, I found peace. When I spoke to someone from the community, I found acceptance. And when I spoke to God, I found love. Everything I’ve done since then has been because I want to make a difference in someone else’s life.”
Shelley’s eyebrows rose. “And you think I don’t want to make a difference?”
“I don’t want you to make a mistake.”
“It’s not your responsibility to look after me. Everything I’ve done is because I wanted to do it. Even coming here was my decision. I could have gone anywhere to get away from Jarrod, but I came here. Not because of you, not because of Jarrod, but because this is a special place to me.”
She stood up and looked around the chapel. “You found a different kind of peace in Sapphire Bay. That doesn’t make either of our decisions better or worse than the other. They’re just different. Whether or not you like it, I’m staying in Sapphire Bay.”
Shelley stuck her hands in her pockets and walked out of the chapel. It probably wasn’t the most mature thing to do, or the best thing to do. But right now, she didn’t care.
Bailey wrapped her arms around Shelley. “I can’t believe he said that. What’s wrong with the man?”
“I don’t know. Yesterday, John was okay and everything was great. Today, he spoke to Jarrod and everything’s changed. Maybe I wasn’t seeing what was really going on before Jarrod arrived.”
“Jarrod doesn’t want you to be happy. He couldn’t manipulate you anymore, so he visited John. But John should have seen what Jarrod was doing. And as for that job,” Bailey ground her teeth together, “he probably found it on the Internet before he came to Sapphire Bay. What a low-down weasel.”
Shelley wiped her eyes and sent her sister a watery smile. “Have I ever told you you’ve got a wonderful way with words?”
Bailey grinned. “It took a psychology degree to bring out the best in me.”
“It was worth every dollar. What will I do next?”
“What would you have done if you hadn’t talked to John?”
Shelley frowned. “I would have come back here, had a hot shower, and watched Netflix before going to bed.”
“And tomorrow?”
“Gone to The Welcome Center and worked on the flower fundraiser for Valentine’s Day. After that, I would have booked the final things we talked about for your wedding and started planning the remodel of my houses.”
Bailey picked up the remote control. “They sound like good plans to me. While you’re having a shower, I’ll find something for us to watch on Netflix. And tomorrow, you’ll go to work and do everything you said you would. Because, believe it or not, the world doesn’t begin and end with a man. If John can’t see how wonderful you are, then that’s his problem, not yours.”
Shelley hugged her sister again. “I love you.”
A mischievous smile filled Bailey’s face. “I love you, too. Especially when I know where your stash of chocolate fudge is hidden. Do you think it’s worth breaking into your emergency rations?”
“Definitely. Especially when Sweet Treats is open tomorrow. But don’t come looking for any candy at The Welcome Center. My bottom drawer will probably be empty before lunchtime.”
“If that happens, John had better watch out. You’ll be on such a sugar rush that you won’t care what you say.”
Shelley’s smile faded. “I’ll always care,” she whispered. “Maybe too much.”
Chapter 14
John increased the speed on Caleb’s treadmill and pounded uphill.
“You’ll set a world record if you carry on like that,” Caleb said. “Are you going to tell us what’s wrong?”
“Not yet.”
Steven slid back and forth on the rowing machine. “It must involve a woman,” he wheezed. “John hasn’t run this hard since we started training.”
“You should be thankful I’m here,” John said. “The Welcome Center is full of guests, Christmas is around the corner, and we’re providing four times the usual number of food parcels.” He sucked in a lungful of air. Either he needed to stop talking or slow down.
“Why are you giving out more food parcels?” Caleb asked.
“It’s cold and people are hungry.” John hit the speed button and slowed the treadmill. Even for him, the pace he’d set was grueling. “We might have to provide some temporary beds. We don’t usually get this many people coming to Sapphire Bay in December.”
Caleb stepped off the cross trainer. “It still doesn’t account for your death wish on the treadmill. Wait a minute. It doesn’t have anything to do with Shelley’s ex-boyfriend, does it?”
“Ex-fiancé,” John muttered.
Caleb’s eyebrows rose. “Touchy, irritable, and pedantic. I think John has been bitten by the regret bug.”
John glared at the laughter on his friend’s face. “There’s no such thing.”
Steven slowed the rowing machine to a crawl. “Sure, there is.” He grabbed his towel and wiped the sweat off his brow. “The regret bug is a first cousin of the love bug. They both have the same sting
, but one makes you feel better than the other.”
“And I know which one I’d prefer,” Caleb said.
John didn’t want to know about either of the bugs. He was tired, grumpy, and annoyed that he hadn’t apologized to Shelley.
Caleb threw John a towel. “Spill the beans. It will make you feel better.”
John had said the same thing to Shelley before she told them about Jarrod. And look at the mess that had created. “It won’t make me feel better. It will just make me realize I’m more of an idiot than I thought I was.”
Steven shrugged. “Don’t worry about it. I feel that way at least once a week around Bailey.”
John took a deep breath. “Shelley and I had a disagreement.”
Caleb snorted. “You don’t have a disagreement with a Jones sister. They’re full-throttle, guilt-producing arguments. And take it from me, you’re always wrong.”
“What did you say to Shelley?” Steven asked.
“I didn’t say anything that wasn’t true.”
Caleb sighed. “When has the truth ever mattered? Sometimes, all I have to do is sneeze the wrong way and Sam sends me an evil glare.”
Steven’s eyes widened in surprise. “Maybe that’s where Bailey gets it from. It must be a family trait.”
John slipped off the end of the treadmill and bounced off the wall.
“Are you all right?” Caleb asked.
Rubbing the back of his head, he sent his friends a rueful grin. “It’s just as well Shelley isn’t talking to me. If I’d married her, we would have been brothers-in-law.”
Steven stopped rowing. “And you only just figured that out?”
“I had other things on my mind,” John muttered. He stretched his calf muscles before they turned into iron bars.
“Yeah,” Caleb laughed. “And I bet those things had nothing to do with Elena’s risotto. So, what’s with the disagreement?”
“Shelley wants to stay in Sapphire Bay.”
Caleb and Steven looked at each other.
“That’s it?” Caleb asked.
“Isn’t that enough? She could apply for a job that’s everything she’s ever wanted. But she doesn’t even want to consider it.”
“None of us are doing what we planned on doing when we moved here,” Caleb said logically. “I was going to spend my days hiking in the mountains and creating computer applications that would blow everyone’s mind. Now look at me. I’m married to a woman who designs top secret surveillance systems and throws up every time I make coffee.”
Steven smiled. “I guess that’s why you don’t offer us coffee, anymore.”
“You’ve got that right. Sam can’t afford to lose any more weight. Being sick doesn’t help her or the baby.” Caleb frowned at John. “Be thankful you’ve only got Shelley to worry about.”
Steven started a set of push-ups. “Why do you want Shelley to go away?”
“I don’t want her to go away, that’s the problem.”
Caleb scratched his head. “Now I’m really confused. You have an argument because Shelley wants to stay in Sapphire Bay, but you don’t want her to leave? You really are crazy.”
Steven rolled onto his back. “Sounds to me like the guy who visited you had more on his mind than saying goodbye.”
“I don’t know what Shelley saw in him.”
“He probably thought the same thing about you.” Steven counted out the next set of push-ups.
“Who cares about the ex-fiancé, anyway?” Caleb asked.
“Looks as though John does.”
“I don’t care about him,” John muttered. “I care about Shelley.”
Steven collapsed on the floor. “You could have fooled me. It sounds like you’re trying to get rid of Shelley before she decides she’s had enough of you.”
Caleb frowned. “Huh?”
“That’s not true.”
Steven’s eyebrows rose. “Are you sure?”
John wasn’t sure about anything.
“I got lost at the getting rid of Shelley part. What’s happening tomorrow?” Caleb asked. “Is she working from The Welcome Center or staying at Bailey’s?”
“She said she’s coming into the center.”
“That will be awkward,” Steven said unnecessarily.
John sighed. It didn’t take Einstein to figure out that he was in serious trouble.
Caleb stretched his hamstrings. “Do you want Shelley to be part of your life?”
That was the easiest question John had answered all morning. “Yes.”
“Well, then,” Steven said with a grin. “You’ll have to eat a big helping of humble pie. Because, regardless of what you might think, the Jones sisters aren’t pushovers.”
John had never thought they were. He just didn’t know what he would do about it.
By eleven o’clock the next day, Shelley had eaten her way through two bags of chocolate fudge, paid all the final invoices for The Santa Express event, and talked to Kylie from Blooming Lovely about hosting the Valentine’s Day fundraiser on her flower shop’s website.
After creating a draft project plan and organizing the next Santa’s Secret Helpers committee meeting, she was ready to have lunch. Thankfully, John had stayed away from her office. She didn’t know whether he was doing other things or avoiding her. But, either way, she was grateful.
Bailey had suggested treating John like her boss. And she would. But that didn’t stop her heart from pounding when she heard footsteps in the corridor. Or sighing when she smelled the faint scent of his aftershave.
“Someone must be hungry,” Mabel said as Shelley walked into the kitchen.
“I don’t know what the hospitality class is cooking today,” Shelley said. “But it smells delicious.”
“John added four Italian recipes to this week’s schedule. I wonder why he did that?”
Shelley had no idea. Assuming it was because of her mom’s cooking, or because he wanted to make an impression on Shelley, was foolish. “It could have something to do with the herbs that are growing in Mr. Jessop’s greenhouses. He told me that basil, oregano, and rosemary are wonderful additions to any Italian meal.”
Mabel smiled. “Whenever you’re ready for some cooking lessons, just let me know. Or is John going to teach you the basics?”
“John won’t be teaching me anything.” Shelley poured a hot cup of coffee into a mug.
“Do I detect a little disagreement between the two of you?”
Shelley sighed. “Sorry, Mabel. I didn’t mean to be so negative. I’d enjoy learning how to cook with you. But it will have to wait until after Christmas. I’m too busy at the moment. Would you like a cup of coffee?”
“That would be lovely.” Mabel opened a box and stacked some groceries inside a cupboard. “You know, when I was your age, I had a wonderful life. I was single and I had a good job and amazing friends. But then I met Allan and everything changed. Because we were older when we fell in love, we brought a lot of different things into our relationship. Both of us had loved other people. Allan had been married and, goodness me, what a lot of expectations he had about us after we got married. But the one thing that kept us together was knowing that we’d found someone special.”
“What if that’s not enough?”
Mabel took the cup of coffee that Shelley handed to her. “Special is always enough. It’s everything else that gets in the way. Allan and I aren’t perfect, but we muddle on and have more good times than bad.”
“Do you ever wonder what your life would have been like if you’d left Sapphire Bay?”
“I didn’t want to leave. If I had, I would have missed everything about our small Montana town. Allan and I raised four beautiful girls in Sapphire Bay. We’ve joined nearly every social group and organized more fundraisers and parties than you could count. If anything, Sapphire Bay made our relationship easier.”
“How did it do that?”
Mabel took a plate of sandwiches out of the refrigerator and handed them to Shelley. “We don’
t have the same distractions that you find in a city. Everyone is warm and friendly and, if something happens that you don’t like, you tell the person. Most people are very forgiving.”
Shelley wished some of Mabel’s positivity could rub off on her. “How do you stay so cheerful all the time?”
“You have two choices in life. You can be happy or sad. I choose to be happy. That doesn’t mean that I’m always smiling or I don’t get grumpy. It means that I’ve made a choice to make the most of each day. Even with my mom being so sick, I try to make her smile each time I visit.”
“I’m sorry, Mabel. I didn’t realize your mom’s sick. Will she be okay?”
“She’s ninety years old and broke her hip a few months ago. As mom says, her spirit is strong, but her bones are weak. Our daughters call her each day.” Mabel smiled. “Penny has even taught her how to use video chat. They play cards together each night.”
“It sounds like you have a wonderful family.”
“I don’t know what I’d do without them. Can I give you some advice?”
Shelley nodded.
“No one comes into a relationship without knowing heartache, loss, and fear. Those experiences shape how we react to other situations. Unfortunately, some people have experienced more tragedy and loss than others. That makes them even more unsure of the world. And that’s one of the reasons I enjoy volunteering at The Welcome Center. We’re people’s soft place to fall. Never forget that.”
“I won’t.” Shelley’s cell phone beeped. She read the text and smiled. “I’ve been speaking to an architect about some changes I want to make to the houses I bought. They can meet me at the properties in fifteen minutes.”
“That sounds wonderful.”
“It is.” Shelley rinsed her coffee mug and hugged Mabel tight. “Thank you for your words of wisdom. And I hope your mom stays positive. She’s lucky to have you as her daughter.”
Mabel’s arms tightened around Shelley. “I’m the lucky one.” She leaned back and looked Shelley in the eyes. “Don’t be too hard on John. He cares about you.”
The Santa Express Page 17