The Airman's E-Mail Order Bride (Heroes of Chance Creek Book 5) (15 page)

“Can I make another suggestion?” Allison asked.

“Sure.” Heather braced herself. She didn’t think she could keep up with her newest hire.

“Change the store’s name. You aren’t Renfree. You’re Heather. You have to let people know that.” Allison waved a hand. “While you’re at it, change the décor, as well. Update the place.”

“You might be right,” Heather said, wondering why she hadn’t thought of changing the name. Maybe she hadn’t given herself permission to actually own the store yet. Maybe she’d been so afraid she’d lose it again she hadn’t been ready to invest her soul into it when she’d invested her money.

She was ready now.

The minute Colt
walked into the Chance Creek Reformed Church, its plain white walls and peaceful atmosphere transported him back to childhood Sundays when his parents would herd their four children through the crowd down to their pew. Back then church had seemed designed to keep him from what he really wanted to do—head to the fishing hole in summers, or out to build forts in the snow in wintertime. For the first time in his life he appreciated the building’s clean lines and promise of solid answers to the soul’s difficult questions. He hadn’t thought much about his faith in years, but as he sat down on a hard wooden bench he remembered the clear, shadowy night in Afghanistan when his father had whispered into his ear it was time to go home.

Was his father’s spirit in some heavenly realm? If Aaron was looking down on him now, what did he think of the path Colt had chosen? It sure involved a lot of twists and turns.

“Colt! I’d heard you were back in town. Good to see you home safe and sound!”

“Reverend.” Colt stood up and met Halpern halfway down the aisle. The Reverend was a hearty man in his sixties with grey in his hair and a friendly smile.

“What brings you to church today? I’ve enjoyed seeing more of your family on Sundays recently.”

Colt found that interesting. His brothers had become regular church goers? His mom would be pleased. “I hope you’ll help me get hitched the week after next. Sunday afternoon. After your service is done, of course.”

“Of course.” Halpern’s smile told him he knew Colt hadn’t even thought about the services when he’d planned his wedding. “I think you’re in luck, but let’s check just to be sure. You Halls don’t believe in long engagements, do you?”

“No, sir.” He left it at that. He didn’t know how much Halpern knew about Heloise’s conditions for them to inherit Crescent Hall, and he didn’t want to get into that with the reverend. Halpern led the way to his small office, sat down at his desk and checked a calendar.

“If you can make it for about four o’clock, I can officiate.”

“That’ll work just fine.”

“And the young lady in question is?”

“Heather Ward.”

Reverend Halpern closed his eyes. “Hallelujah.” He opened them again. “That’s a prayer answered. I’m happier than I can say that you two found your way back to each other.”

Colt reminded himself this was a small town. He shouldn’t be surprised that Halpern knew all about him and Heather. “I’m happy, too.”

“Here are some forms to fill out. You can take them home and discuss them with Heather. Bring them back as soon as possible so we can make sure to set everything up the way you want it.”

“Sounds good.” He took the folder Halpern handed him. “Reverend, do you believe—” He cut off, unsure if he really wanted to talk about what had happened in Afghanistan.

Halpern waited for him to finish.

“Do you believe in messages from… the beyond?” Colt finished lamely, wishing he’d never started the conversation.

The reverend sat back in his chair. “What was the message?” He gave Colt his full attention and to his relief, Colt didn’t feel judged. Instead he thought Halpern was genuinely interested.

“To come home.” He shifted uncomfortably. Halpern was taking him seriously but he still felt foolish even bringing it up.

“Sounds like it was a helpful message for you to get. Do you mind if I ask who gave it to you?”

“My dad.”

“Ah.” Halpern smiled. “Aaron Hall always did have a powerful spirit. I have a feeling if anyone would stick around to see his boys settled and happy, it would be him.”

“Yeah, well…” Hell, he was making a fool of himself.

“I believe that all kinds of things are possible, Colt. That’s why I chose this career.” Halpern stood up and clapped him on the shoulder. “Come on, I’ll walk you out.”

Susan was right;
the following night the break room at Renfree’s was crowded with women eager for a demonstration of how to correctly lay laminate flooring. Heather couldn’t believe how many had come on such short notice. After a busy day that included a preliminary meeting with Mia to plan the wedding, Heather and Susan had emptied the room of everything but chairs, but it was still hard to find enough space to demonstrate the techniques she was trying to show her audience. The juice and brownies soothed the crowd’s rough edges, though, and the women acted as if they were at a party rather than a flooring lesson.

It didn’t surprise Heather that the participants were all female, like the majority of her customers these days. She’d noticed as soon as she took over Renfree’s that Chance Creek’s male contractors stopped coming to the store. It steamed her that they wouldn’t at least give her a chance. She still stocked quality inventory and provided great service, just like Renfree always had.

She forgot her worries as she spoke to the gathered crowd, however. Heather went through all the steps several times and passed around examples of the materials and tools required. She let everyone who wished take a turn fitting the pieces together and using a mallet to bang them into place. By the end of the session the women seemed confident they knew what to do.

“Heather, could you demonstrate how to lay the type of vinyl flooring that looks like wood?” Carly Russell asked.

“I want to learn how to tile my bathroom walls,” another woman said.

“Heather, I saw in a magazine how someone had built a bookcase headboard for their bed and I want to do that. Could you show me how?”

“I want to learn to build a bookcase, too.”

As the women clamored around her, Heather felt overwhelmed. She didn’t know how she was going to keep her store open, let alone plan a bunch of extra demonstrations.

“Here.” Susan waved a piece of paper. “Anyone with a demonstration request, write it down here and include your name and e-mail. Heather is going to put together a calendar. If you want to sign up for a monthly newsletter that will list all the upcoming classes, jot down your e-mail addresses here.” She slapped a second piece of paper down on the counter near the sink.

The women crowded around the pieces of paper, leaving Heather free for the moment.

“Why don’t you go freshen up,” Susan told her. “I’ll start herding everyone out front. It’s time to close up.”

Heather agreed gratefully, but when she emerged from the washroom five minutes later she found the store still full of women. Sidling up to Susan’s till at the front she whispered, “I thought you were going to shoo them out.”

“Look around you,” Susan hissed back. “They’re
shopping
.”

Susan was right. The women pushed carts around the store and were loading up on supplies. A group of them were clustered around the laminate flooring display debating over the different styles.

“Better grab some coffee,” Susan advised. “I think we’ll be here a while.”

“Do you have any brownies left?” Allison asked. Her wide grin told Heather she was enjoying all the activity.

“I’ve got a whole other plate.” Susan beamed. “I knew they’d be a hit. I’ll put them up front.”

“I’ve got an idea,” Allison said. “Take my till, Heather.” Heather opened her mouth to answer this surprising request, but the young woman dashed away into the small front office. A moment later, a catchy song spilled out of the loudspeakers. Heather recognized it from the constant airplay it was receiving on all the country music stations. A few of the shoppers cheered, and Carly yelled, “Now it’s a party!”

Heather laughed. “It’s working,” she whispered to Susan as the other woman passed by.

“Of course it’s working.”

The front door opened and a man stuck his head in. “You open for business tonight?”

“Yes, we are, Tom—come on in!” She’d known Tom for years and was thrilled to see him in her store.

“Looks like you’re celebrating.”

“We’re just having fun,” she told him. “Can I help you with something?”

“You sure can. I’ve got a new project…”

When Heather finally shut the door on the last customer over an hour later, she was exhausted but triumphant. She gathered her small staff together and gave them both a big hug. “You are geniuses. I couldn’t have done it tonight without you. Susan, your brownies and Allison, your music made it so much better!”

“We have to do it again,” Allison said.

“Definitely. You’re right, Susan, I will make a calendar. We have to do this on a regular basis. I hope Tom Hennessey tells all his friends about the good deal he got out of me tonight. He’s a contractor, you know.”

“I’m sure he will. You did good tonight, boss.” Susan patted her arm. “Now, let’s get out of here. I’m dog tired.”

“Me, too.”

‡

“R
ichard, let’s go!”
Colt called up the stairs the following morning, and realized how normal it felt to do so. It still amazed him he was a father, but it was beginning to feel comfortable, too.

Richard clattered down the stairs. “Gotta grab my lunch.” He kept going through the dining room into the kitchen, where Colt heard him talking with Regan. Heather followed close behind him, looking beautiful but harried. Colt had kept her up late last night and in bed far too long this morning. He couldn’t help it. He felt insatiable around her and apparently she felt the same way. She lifted up on tip-toes to press a kiss to his cheek as she passed him, then hurried to pull her coat on. “I’ll see you tonight. I might be late—I’m supposed to talk to Mia again. Planning a wedding this fast turns out to be a stretch. The poor woman is beside herself.”

Colt tugged her closer. “I’d like you beside me,” he began, but Zane walked through the entryway on his way to the stairs and interrupted them.

“Looks like someone’s coming.” He gestured out the window.

“Who’s that?” Colt didn’t recognize the car he saw bouncing its way up the snowy driveway. It pulled to a halt in front of the Hall.

“It’s a woman, but I don’t recognize her,” Zane said. “Heather, is that one of your friends?”

“I’ve never seen her before in my life.”

Colt’s heart, which a moment ago had hummed with contentment, sank to the pit of his stomach as a tall, beautiful brunette exited the vehicle. He recognized her pretty face and the French braid tucked over one shoulder.

Melanie.

He stepped closer to the window.

Why was she here? He’d told her the deal was off.

She hadn’t written back, though, Colt realized suddenly. Hadn’t she gotten the message?

“Colt, do you know her?” Zane asked.

Colt pushed down the panic beginning to churn in his gut. “It’s Melanie,” he said, his voice tight. He turned to Heather. “The woman I hired to be my fake wife.”

Heather’s mouth dropped open. “You didn’t cancel…?”

“Oh, shit,” Zane said. “Colt—that’s Heloise pulling in behind her.”

Colt looked out the window again. Zane was right. Another truck had entered the driveway and he could see his aunt sitting in the passenger seat. Allen James, an old family friend, was driving. Colt watched in horror as Allen parked the vehicle and Heloise got out with an alacrity that belied her age. She leaned on her cane heavily when she walked, but she caught up to Melanie and the two women climbed the stairs together.

“What do we do?” Heather hissed. “Why didn’t you tell her not to come?”

“I did tell her. She didn’t listen!”

“We don’t have time for this.” Zane gripped the handle when one of the women outside knocked.

“But—”

“Just play along,” Colt told her, but he knew her panic must be reflected in his eyes. He nodded at his brother and Zane opened the door.

“Hi, Heloise, come on in. You’re up early on a cold winter’s morning.”

“I’m no lie-abed if that’s what you mean.” She pushed her way past him into the crowded entryway. “Having a party, are we? I see I wasn’t invited to this one, either. Come along, whoever you are,” she said to Melanie. “Don’t dawdle on the doorstep like an encyclopedia salesman.”

“Isn’t James coming in? Here, let me take your coat.” Zane held out a hand for it, but she waved him off.

“I won’t stay long enough for that. James will wait for me in the truck. I just came to find out why I haven’t been invited to my nephew’s wedding! I had to hear about it in town. What do you have to say for yourself?” She poked Colt in the arm.

Colt didn’t think things could get any worse. His only hope was that Melanie would keep quiet. He couldn’t meet Heather’s eye. “I haven’t sent out any invitations, Heloise.”

“Haven’t sent them out? Two weeks before the wedding?”