Chapter 7 #2
Most people, however, came in for a to-go box or two.
They came every couple of minutes or so, and Hazel, Julia, and Cooper did their best to make them feel welcome and cared for.
Hazel found herself wanting to ask each of them how they were doing, and if they needed any help fixing their homes, but she had to bite her tongue.
Jacob was already stretched thin doing all the repair work he could as fast as possible, and she herself had already been doing everything she knew how to do for the people in her town.
I wish it was more, she thought with a sigh as an elderly couple who said they had been without power ever since the storm began left the restaurant with their arms around each other and two boxes of food tucked into a brown paper bag.
I know this is important, and feeding people is a worthy cause, but I want to be doing even more than this.
She reminded herself that everyone was clearly incredibly thankful for the help they were giving, and that proved how much what they were doing was needed. When tough times hit, food could be a balm to the soul, especially food made by caring hands.
The next person who burst through the front doors of The Lighthouse Grill caused Hazel to grin with delight.
Delilah Bates, one of her favorite movie stars, had struck up a romance with Tom when one of her movies had shot on-location in Rosewood Beach.
The serene, wholesome town had captured the movie star’s heart just as much as Tom had, and she’d decided to live there whenever she wasn’t filming a movie in L.A.
, which was most of the time now that she was an older actress instead of a young star.
Hazel still wasn’t over the fact that someone who she had grown up admiring on the silver screen was now one of her dear friends and neighbors.
Delilah’s face was glowing with excitement, and Hazel immediately got the sense that she had news.
Hazel already knew that Delilah’s cottage had been spared any damage from the storm, so she wasn’t there to get food.
It was clear from the movie star’s bright expression that something good had just happened.
“I was at Harvest Market helping them sort food items into bags for people to take home,” Delilah said, slightly out of breath but smiling broadly.
“And then Veronica got a call that they’ve placed the first six displaced families with hosts on the list. More people are signing up all the time, but these first six are all set to move into the homes of the people who are opening their doors to them. ”
“Oh, that’s wonderful news,” Julia said. “That happened so quickly.”
“Isn’t it thrilling?” Delilah said. “I’ve got an elderly couple coming to live with me, and, Hazel, you and Jacob have been assigned a family as well. As soon as we got the word, the team there sent me here to let you all know the good news.”
Hazel’s spirits lifted immediately. Here was something for her to do that really did feel as though she was making a big difference. “Amazing,” she said, a little breathless in her excitement. “Do you know any details about the family we’ll be hosting?”
Delilah nodded. “Not too much, but I know a little. You’ll be hosting a new family in town, the Fishers.
Shannon and Weston Fisher. They moved into Rosewood Beach only a month ago, and I’m sure it’s been hard for them to have to vacate their home just as they were finally getting settled into it.
They also have a five-year-old daughter named Camille. ”
“They do?” Hazel couldn’t have been more excited.
“That’s perfect—she’s not so little that Samantha wouldn’t know how to help take care of her.
This way she can look out for her and play games with her, things like that.
” All at once her mind was filled with tasks that she needed to accomplish before the Fishers arrived at their house.
She turned to Julia and Cooper. “Do you two think you’d be all right manning the fort alone for now?
I think I’d better run home and prepare the guest bedroom. ”
Julia chuckled. “I can see how excited you are. You should! We’re doing fine here.”
“Definitely.” Cooper smiled. “You’ve got an important job. Do you want to bring some food with you for the Fishers?”
Hazel hesitated and then shook her head. “No, we’ve still got enough food at home. They’re going to get a new shipment into Harvest Market soon, right?”
“They are.” Delilah nodded. “Sounds like they’re going to sell certain products like nonperishables from the basement of the church so that Jacob and his team have a clear area to repair the roof. Veronica said that way they can keep giving things away for free to the people who are struggling.”
Hazel shook her head. “I love this town,” she said.
“Me too,” Delilah said warmly. “I’m still awestruck by how kind everyone is being. You’ve really pulled together marvelously. And speaking of doing things as a team—we were wrapping up at Harvest Market, so I can stay here and help with handing out the meals.”
“Perfect,” Hazel said, giving her a hug. “I’ll see you all later.”
She hugged Cooper and Julia next and then hurried out the front door into the crisp spring air.
She found that there was a spring in her step as she made her way to her car.
She couldn’t wait to prepare her home for their new guests, and her mind whirred with ideas for all the ways she could help make them more comfortable.