Chapter 6
CHAPTER 6
E vie followed Randy into his cottage and was immediately struck by the cozy atmosphere. The interior was filled with warm, inviting colors and well-loved furniture. It felt lived-in and comfortable, much like Nana’s place next door. As she glanced around the room, her gaze landed on a series of framed photographs displayed on a nearby shelf.
She stepped closer and examined the images more carefully. To her surprise, many of the photos featured Randy and Nana together, smiling and laughing in various island locations. In one picture, they were seated on a bench near the lighthouse, the sun setting behind them. Another showed them at the annual Belle Island Christmas Festival, both wearing festive—and ridiculous-looking—sweaters and holding steaming mugs of cocoa.
“I had no idea you and Nana were so close,” she said softly, turning to face him.
He smiled, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes. “Your grandmother was an extraordinary woman. She welcomed me with open arms when I first moved in here, back when I was going through a rough patch in my life. I’d known her before that, but… well, we became good friends after becoming neighbors.”
She settled onto the couch, her curiosity aroused. “What do you mean?”
He sank into a nearby armchair, leaning forward slightly. “I moved to this cottage…” He paused for a moment, and a flicker of something flitted through his eyes. He cleared his throat. “I moved here after my wife left me. I admit, I was lost, and I was angry. Miss G saw I was struggling and took me under her wing. Assured me I’d get through everything and I’d be all right.”
He chuckled softly, shaking his head. “She’d invite me over for coffee and homemade croissants with honey drizzled over them, or sometimes, sweet tea and cookies. We’d spend hours talking about everything under the sun. The weather, the news, town gossip.” He shrugged. “She had a way of making me feel like I belonged, and like everything was going to be okay. And you know what? After a while… it was.”
A lump formed in her throat as she listened to his story. She’d always known that Nana was a kind and generous person, but hearing about this side of her life—the way she had been there for Randy during a difficult time—reaffirmed everything she believed about what a good person Nana was.
It was a surprise, of course, to learn about this unexpected friendship that she never knew existed. But there was also a growing sense of connection to Randy, a feeling that they shared something special through their love for Nana.
“She never mentioned any of this to me,” she said quietly, glancing back at the photographs. “I had no idea you two were so close, but I’m happy you were. That you were there for her, and she was there for you.”
He nodded slowly. “Your grandmother was a private person in many ways. She didn’t like to burden others with her own troubles or the struggles of those she cared about. But she was always there, always ready to lend an ear or a helping hand.”
She nodded, understanding dawning on her. It was just like Nana to keep something like this to herself, to offer support and love without seeking recognition or praise. “I’m glad you two became friends,” she said, meeting his gaze. “It means a lot to know that Nana had someone like you in her life, someone who appreciated her as much as I did.”
He reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder. “She loved you more than anything, Evie. Never doubt that. And I know she’d be so proud of the woman you’ve become.”
She blinked back tears, the warmth of his words washing over her. In that moment, sitting in his cozy living room surrounded by memories of Nana, she felt a sense of peace that she hadn’t experienced in a long time.
Randy laughed and broke the seriousness of the moment. “I don’t suppose you were buying that honey at the market because you know how to make those croissants that Miss G was so famous for.”
“It might have been the very reason I allowed you to be so gracious and let me have that jar I wanted.”
He gave her an impish grin. “Good decision on my part, then, wasn’t it?”
“I could probably make it worth your while.” She laughed. “If I still remember how to make them.”
He stood. “How about I make us some hot cocoa? I know it’s warm here on the island, but the Christmas season just seems to call for hot cocoa.”
“I wouldn’t say no to that.”
He returned after a few minutes with two steaming mugs of hot cocoa. She took a sip of the rich, creamy hot chocolate, savoring the warmth and comfort it provided. The sweet aroma mingled with the scent of Randy’s cottage, creating a cozy atmosphere that felt both familiar and new.
“How about we look at this box now, shall we?” Randy set his mug down and reached for the box, carefully lifting the lid. Inside, an assortment of items were nestled in tissue paper, each one wrapped with care. He handed her the first package, a small, delicately wrapped bundle.
She gently peeled back the layers of tissue, revealing a stunning Christmas ornament. The hand-blown glass caught the light, sending shimmering reflections dancing across the room. The ornament was a work of art, with intricate swirls of color and delicate patterns etched into the surface.
“This is beautiful,” she breathed, holding it up to admire the craftsmanship.
Randy leaned closer, studying the ornament with a thoughtful expression. “You know, I remember this one. Miss G had it hanging on her Christmas tree every year. She told me it was made by a local artisan, someone named Sam. I can’t quite recall his last name, though.”
Evie turned the ornament over in her hands, marveling at the attention to detail. The fact that Nana had cherished this piece, displaying it prominently on her tree, made it all the more special. She could almost picture her grandmother carefully unwrapping the ornament each year, a smile on her face as she found the perfect spot for it among the branches.
“I wonder who this Sam person was,” she mused, gently placing the ornament back into its wrapping. “Nana never mentioned him to me.”
He shrugged, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “There’s a lot about your grandmother’s life that I think we’re both discovering. She had a way of keeping certain things close to her heart.”
“I wonder if we could find out who he was and why Nana had the ornament.”
“We could do some digging. See if we can find out anything about a glass blower who might have lived on the island. Let me grab my laptop.” He returned with it and opened it, his fingers grazing the keys as he typed on the keyboard.
She leaned over his shoulder, watching the words appear on the screen. “Look.” She pointed. “A Sam Waterman used to have a glass-blowing company. Click on that link.”
He clicked on it and a large article came up about the man. “It says he had the business back in the 1920s. Almost lost it during the Great Depression. But someone in town showed his ornaments to a buyer at Macy’s department store. Macy’s placed a large order and his business was saved.”
“I wonder who did that?”
“I don’t know, but I’m not surprised. People on Belle Island take care of one another.”
“So we know who made this and why it’s important to Belle Island history. You think that’s why she had it?”
“Probably. Miss G did like to learn about the local history.”
He nodded toward the box. “Want to see what else is in here?”
“You know, I think I’d rather wait until tomorrow. Open one each day. One at a time.”
“Oh, kind of like Miss G’s advent calendar. She gave me one. I loved it. She refilled it every year.”
“She gave you one too? She gave me one when I was a little girl.” Her heart warmed at the memory. “And each Christmas I couldn’t wait to get here for the holidays and open one drawer a day. She’d put in little charms, or a special seashell, or a piece of candy. Every day was a new surprise.”
He tilted his head, watching her closely. “So, we’ll do that with this box? Open one each day?”
“Absolutely. What a great idea. I bet Nana would approve.”
“I have the feeling she would, too.” He nodded his head slowly and smiled.
She returned his smile. Randy seemed to understand her in ways that no one except Nana ever had.