Chapter Eight #3
“And slice that banana so we can add fruit to our guests’ plates. I’ve already washed the berries and made whipped cream to put a dollop on the side.”
Maggie did as Sarah instructed. Her final products didn’t appear as aesthetically pleasing as if Sarah herself had arranged the food on the plates, but they weren’t bad. After a month of trying to be useful while staying close to her hostess, Maggie was improving.
Sarah must have thought so too as she said, “Great job.”
Crazy how much her praise pleased Maggie when they were talking about food, which was meant to nourish the body rather than be arranged as if artwork. “You know this would taste just as good to your guests if you just threw it on a plate and let them dig in.”
Sarah made a horrified look. “Everyone’s checking out this morning. I want them to leave with the perfect last impression of their stay so that when they think of Hamilton House their thoughts will be happy ones.”
Maggie got that. Sarah had told her that beyond the bed and breakfast being the fruition of her aunt’s dream, the income was necessary to keep up with the expenses of such a large home.
“With the way you dote on your guests, I can’t imagine them not having positive lasting impressions.
I heard you introducing them to everyone last night. ”
“Wasn’t it great that all three couples stopped by the festival? They even bought ornaments and one of the couples said they’d like to come to church this morning too. Isn’t that great? Church is at ten, by the way.” Sarah gave her a pointed look. “Would you like to come too?”
Maybe Maggie should tell Sarah some of the things she’d done so her hostess would quit inviting her to attend worship services.
“How about I set the table with the plates the way you prefer so you can go ahead and get ready before Jeannie wakes up?”
Disappointment shone on Sarah’s face. “I was hoping you’d go with me.
Bodie got called into work this morning to cover for one of the guys who is out sick.
Sheriff Roscoe said it may have been that fourth bowl of Lou’s chili at the festival that did Mack in.
Another officer is covering from one until the end of the shift, but couldn’t this morning, so Bodie did.
Having another person at church would have made things so much easier with Jeannie, especially with the guests coming too.
I want to make sure I’ll be able to make them feel welcomed and not be distracted if Jeannie has a rough morning. ”
Maggie might have bought that if she thought Sarah and Bodie didn’t have tons of help at the church.
They did in the Butterflies alone and Pine Hill was the most welcoming place Maggie had ever been.
The whole town rolled out the red carpet.
But Bodie, not being there, meant Sarah might be vulnerable.
Maggie didn’t want to go to church, but she wouldn’t risk Sarah’s safety.
That was her real job in Pine Hill, not working at Harvey Farms or hanging with Sarah at the bed and breakfast. Maybe she wouldn’t be struck by lightning for daring to enter a church building.
“If you need my help, then I will go.”
“You will?” Clearly surprised after a month of Maggie remaining steadfast with her refusal, Sarah’s eyes widened. “Oh, that’s wonderful. Did any of the dresses I gave you fit?”
When Sarah had seen how few things Maggie had brought with her, she’d insisted upon giving her some of her old things that she never wore anymore.
Later that week, she’d brought in more items that she’d picked up from the church clothing room.
For the most part, Maggie had stuck with her jeans and T-shirts.
On a few occasions, Sarah had pushed her to wear something more festive, such as at Claudia’s for Thanksgiving.
Maggie had chosen the plainest, simplest of the wares Sarah had brought her.
“I’ve not tried any of the dresses,” she admitted. She wasn’t a dress kind of girl.
“What?” Sarah shooed her from the kitchen island. “Go try them so we have time to come up with something different if you don’t like any of them.”
“I’m sure one of them will be fine. I don’t really care what I wear,” she assured.
Sarah’s hands went to her apron covered hips. “Well, I care for you. You can’t wear the same thing every single day.”
Most of Maggie’s adult life she’d worn a uniform and looked much the same day in and day out. A uniform she’d gladly worn and ached at no longer wearing.
“Clothes are an expression of who you are.”
Maggie eyed her hostess who had on her I love Christmas apron and smiled. “Okay, thank you. I’ll try one on and see what you think.”
Three hours later, Maggie walked into Pine Hill church.
Self-conscious didn’t begin to cover how she felt.
Self-conscious and unworthy. It wasn’t even how awkward she felt in the long-sleeved blue dress and shoes that Sarah had given her that had her insides twisted.
She shouldn’t be there, not after the things she’d done.
“Maggie?”
She winced. Yet another reason she really shouldn’t be there.
Turning, she looked up into honey-colored eyes she’d missed.
No, she had not missed Walker’s eyes. She’d seen them less than twenty-four hours before when he’d bought her ornaments, seen them again when they’d judged the Christmas floats, and yet again when the firefighters had helped with the breakdown of various tents.
She’d stayed to help, too, because Sarah had.
He’d lingered, possibly to ask her about the tree decorating, but Cole and Zach, Isabelle’s boyfriend, had needed him to help with something before he’d gotten the chance.
“Walker?” she countered, triggering a smile from him that launched a new wave of stomach twisting. His dimples deepened and so did her breathiness.
“Wow. You look great,” he said, making her cheeks heat.
He looked great, too, in his dark slacks and light-colored shirt that matched Zoie’s dress. The baby girl was happy in her father’s arms, staring at Maggie with big eyes that were amazingly similar to her father’s.
“Not that you don’t always,” he added. “It’s just … yeah, well, the last time I saw you in a dress was as a princess. It’s a good look.”
“Noted, but I’ve no plans to take up wearing dresses.” She couldn’t wait to get back to Hamilton House to get out of this one.
“About later today, would you want to grab lunch with us prior to tree decorating?”
She’d hoped he’d forgotten about her inviting herself to his home. Not that she’d been able to. “I—”
“I just wanted you to know that my sister and Zoie will be there, too, so you don’t have to worry about feeling safe.”
That depended upon his definition of safe.
She wasn’t physically worried about her safety, but he did do funny things to her insides.
But spending the afternoon with him gave Sarah and Bodie alone time with Jeannie.
She’d just have to suck up her desire to back out of what she’d said and go with it. What could a few hours hurt?
“Hello, you two brilliant judges!” Rosie greeted them, placing her white glove-covered hand on Walker’s shoulder. “And you, too, little sweetie.” She made a cutesy face toward Zoie.
The baby girl gave a toothy smile.
“I want to thank you again for voting our float as the best. It was, of course.” Pulling off her gloves, she gave an exaggerated wave of her hand, drawing Maggie’s gaze to her glittery snowman decorated fingernails.
“All the floats were great.”
“They were,” Rosie agreed. “But ours captured the Christmas sparkle, didn’t it?
I can’t wait for the next Grandma Games event.
We’re a shoo-in for that one, too.” She giggled and put her fingers over her lips as if she were revealing something she shouldn’t.
“Just wait until you see what we have for that one.”
Maggie and Walker exchanged looks. Where was Sarah? She’d said she’d be right back and for Maggie to wait where she was. Where Maggie was, seemed to be right in the line of fire because she was in direct view of everyone who came into the building.
“Rosie, are you bothering Walker and Maggie?” That came from Maybelle who’d entered the church.
The distinguished white-haired gentleman from the 5K was with her and, when he glanced Maybelle’s way, pure adoration shone in his eyes.
Recalling what Walker had said about them being just friends, Maggie had to wonder if that had changed at some point or if John had always had a thing for Maybelle.
“Hello, Maybelle. John,” Walker addressed them.
Zoie gave Maybelle a big smile, which had the older woman beaming. “She’s adorable, Walker.”
“I think so, ma’am.”
While they chatted, Maggie glanced around the foyer. “I should go find Sarah. I’m supposed to be helping her. I think she got sidetracked.” Or maybe her hostess had purposely left her in the foyer in hopes she’d bump into Walker?
Maggie wouldn’t put it past Sarah. The woman was a master planner.
Walker’s brow arched. “You’re helping in Sarah’s class?”
“She asked me to.” Maggie had said yes because if not in Sarah’s class, then where would she have been? “I’m not sure how much help I’ll be, though. I don’t know much about church.”
“You’re at the right place to learn.” Walker brandished a bright smile her way. “I’m headed that way now to bring Zoie and can show you.”