Chapter Three
Early that same morning, the smell of something wonderful, lured Maggie from her Bed for Vets room. She’d done her morning ritual of watching the sunrise, chatted with Bodie a few minutes prior to his run, returned to her room and done basic body strengthening exercises, then showered.
As she made her way down the old Victorian’s grand staircase, Christmas music and chaos greeted her.
Pausing three-quarters down, she blinked at a singing-along-with-the-holiday- tune Sarah pulling garland from an overflowing with décor plastic bin.
Numerous lid-removed totes cluttered the foyer’s gleaming hardwood floor, blocking the view of the ornate white trim that matched the more elaborate woodwork abutting against where the wall and ceiling met.
A gorgeous chandelier hung from the high ceiling.
Black and white family portraits lined the curved staircase.
A bright-eyed Jeannie played on the floor with a toy nativity scene while Harry lay with his head resting on his paws, taking it all in.
At Maggie’s appearance on the stairs, he cut his gaze to her briefly.
The dog quickly dismissed her as being of no interest and resumed watching the toddler.
Sarah, in her Santa Claus is coming to town long-sleeved T-shirt and red jeans put all doubt of the validity of the town’s Christmas craziness to rest. Pine Hill folks had twinkling colored lights in their eyes and hot cocoa flowing through their veins.
Best Maggie could tell over the past week Sarah might be the town’s merry-making ringleader.
The woman had more energy than a nuclear power plant.
Rather than going to bed to rest after her guests called it a night, Sarah had instead completely cleaned up from her party.
It had been close to midnight when Maggie, Bodie, and Sarah went to their rooms.
“Isn’t it too soon for that?” Maggie asked her, sashaying her hips and singing along as she unpacked the fake snow-tipped evergreen garland hostess. “Your Halloween party was just last night.”
“Wasn’t the party so much fun? You looked great in your costume. The perfect princess and when you and Walker were standing together?” Sarah sighed dramatically and made a kissing noise. “Costume perfection!”
Costume perfection? Maggie shook her head.
Why had she not been able to quit thinking about him?
She never slept much, but last night he’d been what filled her mind.
Him with his cocky grin, flirty wink, and request to see her foot.
He’d been on her mind while she’d watched the sunrise that morning.
“For the record, it’s never too early for transforming Hamilton House with Christmas magic.
Is it, sweet girl?” Grinning at her daughter, Sarah wrapped garland around the staircase banister.
“I’ve seriously considered leaving the house decorated all year and advertising Hamilton House as a Christmas bed and breakfast. If not for how much I love decorating for the other holidays, too, I would.
Wouldn’t that just be spectacular if I could give people Christmas every day of the year?
” A wistful look came over her face. “Who knows? I may decide to do Christmas twenty-four-seven someday yet.”
Maggie couldn’t keep from being in awe at Sarah’s enthusiasm for everything from serving her guests the most delicious meals, to the cookies she baked to sell to Harvey Farms, to how she made time to volunteer with so many town activities.
The woman was a bundle of positive energy.
Not liking Sarah would be impossible even for someone as jaded as Maggie.
Jaded? Was that how she saw herself? Hollow might be a better description.
An empty shell where love and purpose had once abounded.
She had no expectations on love returning.
Nothing could fill that void. But she was working on the purpose.
She was at Hamilton House to do a job. She’d do it well.
With time, she’d earn Lukas’s complete trust to where he wouldn’t hesitate to put her on any job.
And, maybe, with his help, she’d fly again.
She wasn’t sure how he could make that happen, but he’d dangled the carrot.
It was what she most desired in life, so she’d bitten.
Which was why, despite caring nothing about being involved in Christmas decorations, Maggie asked her hostess, “Can I help?”
Sarah’s eyes lit with delight. “Yes! That’s wonderful. Bodie plans to help me when he gets home from work, but after my guests headed out to explore around town this morning, I couldn’t wait to get started.” Sarah smiled like a kid on Christmas morning. “Can you give me that hanging wire?”
Maggie spotted the green wire spool and handed it to her hostess.
Although not something she had experience with, Maggie helped Sarah secure garland to the banister, then aided in adding lights, ribbon, and various red and gold ornaments.
Her hostess paused a couple of times to look at whatever plastic animal from the nativity scene that Jeannie wanted to show her or, when the toddler showed interest, to let Jeannie pick out which ornament to add next.
When they finished, Sarah picked up her daughter, then stepped back to eye their handiwork.
“Pretty!” Jeannie praised. Maggie agreed. The stairs were pretty, almost looking magical, as if ascending them would open a portal to somewhere wonderfully Christmas, where dreams came true. If only.
“Very pretty, and so are you.” Sarah hugged Jeannie and spun, making the little girl giggle.
The sincere happiness in their interaction triggered remembered pain from a childhood that had never known what she was witnessing, remembered pain from what she would never have.
Swallowing, she watched mother and child.
Sarah was swaying back and forth in tune with the Christmas song, Jeannie on her hip, and both appearing carefree.
“My Aunt Jean loved this house so much. I wish she was here to see everything Bodie and I have done with Hamilton House and for her to know this sweetie.”
The touch of sadness in Sarah’s voice reminded Maggie that no one’s life was rainbows and happiness all the time.
“Now, let’s get a wreath on the front door and the rugs changed out before the Butterflies arrive. Did you hear that, Jeannie? Your Butterflies are coming to visit.”
“B’flies!” The little girl’s face lit with delight, and she clapped her hands.
The Butterflies were what the older women Sarah hung out with called themselves, her godmothers.
The blue haired eyelash batter from the night before was one of them, apparently.
Maybelle Kirby another. Maybelle had dropped by Hamilton House twice that week.
Both times Maggie got the impression the woman was there solely to make sure she approved of Maggie staying at the bed and breakfast for an extended visit.
As with the Lewis’s dog, Maybelle’s verdict was still out based on the way the woman’s keen blue eyes observed Maggie.
That was okay by Maggie. She wasn’t here to make friends, not even with the dog who she’d swear saw right through to her inner darkness.
“They’re coming to discuss ideas for changes to our town’s Christmas On-the-Square Festival.
We’ve been working on the event for months.
I’ve gotten several things lined up, but I’m going for spectacular with this year’s festival.
” Sarah paused to give Maggie a happy smile.
“I’m so glad you’re going to be here for that, Maggie.
Our town square is always something special, but it especially shines that night.
This year is going to be the best ever.”
Maggie feigned a smile. Whatever it took to spend time with Sarah without her hostess catching on that Maggie purposely stayed close. Plus, even as different as they were, she truly liked Sarah. How could she not when Sarah was so positive?
“I bet you say that every year,” Maggie accused, watching the brunette’s expression turn guilty as charged.
“Well, it’s always the truth.” Sarah shot a quirky smile. “We can’t forget to add mistletoe over the doors.” Sarah’s cheeks pinkened. “We didn’t put it up last night because of the Halloween party, but this sweet girl’s daddy brought some home yesterday.”
Of course, Bodie had. Based upon Sarah’s blush, Bodie had put the mistletoe to use too.
Unexpected envy kicked Maggie in the gut.
Nope. Not going there, couldn’t go there, so she quickly squelched it.
She’d do whatever it took to get the job done, and Lukas assured, her being at Hamilton House as a veteran in need was the only way Sarah would embrace her presence.
Sarah had certainly done that. In her desire to help Maggie, Sarah welcomed her with open arms. If not for the circumstances, Maggie might feel guilty for deceiving the woman.
At least Bodie knew the truth, that she was at Hamilton House as an extra set of eyes in case anything came of the government data breach that Lukas believed might have compromised Bodie’s identity on a raid the two had participated in years before.
Lukas had warned the former soldier. No doubt, Bodie was being extra protective of his family, but the sheriff’s deputy had a job to go to and couldn’t always be with his wife and young daughter.