Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Felicity felt… right. She couldn’t explain it. As she and Jackson made their way into town, she just had a feeling that she was exactly where she was supposed to be, with the person she was supposed to be with, doing the thing she was supposed to be doing.
Did that mean they were going to resolve the issue with the lien that day? Goddess above, she hoped so. A tingle of anticipation bloomed in her gut, and she pressed into the gas, making the Jeep go that much faster.
She swung into the lot where the train-shaped coffee trailer was and headed for the drive-thru.
Jackson was right. The day called for copious amounts of caffeine.
Of course, that meant that the line was ten cars deep when she pulled in behind a truck, and she let out an irritated sigh.
“I should have just let you make coffee at the cabin.”
“It probably would have been faster, but then we wouldn’t have been able to get donuts, so I suppose it’s a trade-off.” He reached over and took her hand in his.
Felicity stared down at their entwined fingers as he stroked his thumb over the back of her hand and decided it was worth stopping for both the donuts and the quiet moment they were sharing.
She shook her head at herself. Since when had she become a complete sap? Probably sometime between their intimate shower that had been all about caring for each other and when Jackson had carried her to bed. Never in her life had she felt safer with someone. More loved. More cherished.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Jackson said.
She raised both eyebrows at him. “You think so? Go ahead, tell me.”
“You’re thinking you better get two maple bars. One for now and one for after we talk to Doris.”
Felicity tilted her head back and laughed. “Is that your way of saying that you want more than one donut?”
“Maybe,” he said, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Did it work?”
“Yes.” The line inched forward and Felicity let up on the brake, letting the Jeep roll forward.
“Oh, good. Maybe we should get a half dozen and bring a couple to Doris,” he said.
“I’m sensing that you might be a little bit of a donut addict,” she mused.
“An addict who likes to share.” He grinned at her.
“You’re too much,” she said, but when they got to the window, not only did she order extra donuts, she also got a peppermint latte for Doris as a thank you for helping them out.
Five minutes later, they walked into the assessor’s office with two donuts and the latte.
Doris looked up from her spot at her desk and said wistfully, “Good morning. Looks like someone’s a lucky elf today. That coffee and whatever’s in that bag is making my mouth water.”
“We’re glad you think so,” Felicity said, putting the white bag of donuts on her desk and handing her the latte. “Because these are for you.”
“Me?” She pressed her hand to her chest. “Are you serious?” Her eyes misted with joyful tears as she peeked into the bag. “This was so kind of you.”
“I just wanted to show my appreciation for you looking for that paperwork for me. You have no idea how important it is.”
“I was just doing my job,” Doris said as she let out an embarrassed chuckle.
“Look at me, crying over donuts. You’d think no one had ever done anything nice for me before.
It’s just that ever since my Bobby passed a few years ago, I haven’t exactly had anyone to dote on me, and it’s nice to be thought of every once in a while. ”
Felicity and Jackson shared a quick glance, and Felicity wondered when the last time was that anyone had taken a second to think about or appreciate Doris. She reached over and squeezed the older woman’s hand. “I’m sorry about your husband.”
“You’re so sweet. Thank you.” Doris wiped at her eyes and laughed. “I’m sorry. Let me get you that paperwork. I made copies for you.”
“Thank you,” Felicity said.
Jackson pressed his hand to the small of her back and whispered, “See. Everyone likes donuts.”
She nodded but knew that the gesture was what had been important to Doris, and the fact that this man had thought to brighten someone else’s day made Felicity wonder why she’d been pushing him away for so long.
You know why, the voice in her head said.
But she ignored it, determined not to self-sabotage the moment.
“Here you go,” Doris said, placing a manila folder on the counter. “I hope this helps.”
Jackson took the envelope, pulled one of the papers halfway out, and then grinned at Doris. “My dear, you’re a miracle worker. This is exactly what we needed. Thank you.”
Felicity stared at him, anticipation nearly eating her alive. “It really has the information we need?”
“It does.” He tugged her toward the door. Just as they reached the exit, Jackson glanced over his shoulder. “Thank you, Doris. Have a wonderful holiday, okay?”
Doris held up the donut she’d just taken a bite of and mumbled something that sounded a lot like, “I will now.”
“Someone should invite Doris to the Christmas ball,” Felicity said as they climbed back into her Jeep.
“If you mean me,” Jackson joked, “I’ve already got a date.”
Felicity rolled her eyes but still chuckled. “No, I didn’t mean you. I have plans for you, sir. But it would be nice to see her all dressed up and having fun, don’t you think? We should work on it.”
“You really want to set up Doris?” he asked. “How do you know she doesn’t already have a date?”
Felicity gave him a slightly exasperated look.
“You heard her. She said she hasn’t had anyone paying her attention since her husband passed.
If she had a beau, she wouldn’t have said that.
And honestly, if she does, she needs to trade him in on a new model, because he’s not worth the hassle if he’s not doting on her. ”
“Can’t argue there.” Jackson took the paperwork out of the manila envelope and said, “I have the name of the original lienholder. Hold on. Let me search the internet for his current address.” Jackson pulled out his phone, tapped the screen a few times, and then said, “Got it. Head north. He’s a few miles out of town up in the hills. ”
Felicity put the Jeep in gear and eased out onto the road as Jackson programmed her GPS. “What’s his name?” she asked.
“Ernie Sinclair. Does that ring any bells?”
“Ernie Sinclair,” Felicity repeated. “You know, I think my grandmother had a friend named Ernie. I never met him, but she used to talk about him coming over to help her split wood after my grandfather died.”
“Sounds promising,” Jackson said and then gave his full attention to his phone as he researched the man in question.
Just as they pulled up to a set of wrought iron gates, Jackson said, “This Ernie guy has had quite the career.”
“Really? What is he, a loan shark?” Felicity asked, tapping into that dark place inside of herself that always went for the worst-case scenario first.
Jackson smirked. “You think that loaning your grandmother money for the orchard was just the start of a long and sordid career that resulted in busted kneecaps? Here in Christmas Grove?”
“You never know,” she said with a sniff. “There are shady people everywhere, Jackson.”
“True,” he agreed. “But if he was that bad, I doubt this would be the first time you’d heard of him.”
Felicity shrugged. He was probably right, but she’d always found it better to be prepared for just about anything.
She lowered her window and pressed a button on the security panel.
Almost immediately, the buzzer sounded and the gate started to open without anyone asking them who they were or why they were there.
She glanced over at Jackson. “Doesn’t look like he takes security too seriously. ”
Jackson looked up and said, “There are at least three cameras recording who comes and goes from this place. I’d say he takes it seriously enough.”
Felicity wasn’t sure what to make of the security, but all she cared about was the fact that they’d gotten past the gates. If they’d finally found the person they were looking for and couldn’t get in, she’d have gone out of her mind.
They parked in front of a gorgeous mountain retreat that was made of wood and stone with plenty of picture windows.
They walked up onto the massive front porch, and Felicity smiled at the wooden swing that held both a folded blanket and a pillow, indicating that it wasn’t just for decoration.
Someone regularly sat out there enjoying the beauty that the mountain retreat had to offer.
Jackson pressed the doorbell, and not a moment later, the door opened to an older gentleman in a sweater and slacks smiling at them.
“Well, hello there,” he said, his watery eyes welcoming.
“Hello, sir. You wouldn’t happen to be Ernie Sinclair, would you?” Jackson asked.
The man chuckled softly. “Yes, but I don’t know why that’s a surprise when you’re standing on my doorstep.” He turned to Felicity and gave her a kind smile. “It’s not often I get visitors. Especially when one of those visitors is Kitty’s granddaughter.”
Felicity blinked at him. “You know who I am?”
“Of course. Come on in. I’ll get the Christmas cookies out.” He held the door open for them, waiving them into the large foyer. “This way.”
Jackson took Felicity’s hand, and the warmth of his touch calmed her. She couldn’t recall ever meeting Ernie Sinclair, and it was disconcerting that he knew her while she knew nothing about him other than the few facts that Jackson had found online.
Ernie led them into a cozy living room where a fire was crackling in the fireplace. “Have a seat. I’ll find some refreshments.”
Felicity didn’t think there was any way she could put anything in her stomach. Not with the way her nerves were jumping around, but she supposed it would be nice to have something to keep her hands busy.