Christmas Angels Read online

“That’s not the same thing as being happy for me.”

  “Look. I know you’re excited, but you can go tomorrow. Let me use the Range Rover this afternoon. What’s the hurry anyway? You still have to get through all the paperwork before it’s yours.”

  “Because this is a big deal to me, and if you want to play the told-you-so game I told you when you bought that huge truck that it wasn’t practical for the age group of most of your clients. Remember?”

  “Touché.”

  “Besides. I’m already up here.” Not really taking any joy in pointing that out, she didn’t want to argue with him. “I’ve got to go.”

  “I’m sorry. Congratulations, Liz. Selfishly I’m not looking forward to you moving away.”

  Unfortunately, Dan was always a little selfish, but that was just part of his character. “We’ll be friends no matter where I live.”

  “I know, but I don’t have to like it. You are going to let me list your house, aren’t you?”

  She’d thought long and hard about this last night. It hadn’t been easy. Her friend Missy was also a Realtor, and though she was closer to Dan, he could be a little spiteful sometimes and there was no sense giving him a chance to sabotage the sale. He was sometimes weird like that, and probably why he didn’t have a ton of friends. Exactly the reason they were nothing more than friends.

  “I’m going to let Missy list it,” she said.

  “I thought you might.” He sounded disappointed.

  “Doesn’t mean you can’t be the one to sell it, though.” The truth was he usually sold houses way more expensive than hers.

  “Yeah. True. All right. I’ll see you.”

  The line disconnected. No “best wishes.” No “good luck.” Not even a less than enthusiastic “I’m happy for you.”

  She’d better let Missy know she needed her to list the house before she found out from someone else. She leaned against the porch rail and dialed her. She answered on the first ring.

  “Hi, Missy. It’s Liz. I need to put my house on the market.”

  “No problem. I’m happy to do it, but what’s going on? This seems kind of out of the blue. Are you relocating for work?”

  “Something like that. I’ll fill you in when we get together.”

  “Whatever the reason this is great news for me. Finding one-story ramblers with over five thousand square feet is hard these days. I have several older couples looking for places just like yours. This will be an easy sale. Think about what you want for it, and I’ll pull the comps. When can you meet?”

  “I’m up in the mountains. How about the Monday after Thanksgiving?”

  “I’m holding you to that.”

  “You can.” Her dream was now a work-in-progress. Filled with starry-eyed hopes for a future just like her grandparents’, she thought this Christmas would be the best Christmas since the last one she’d spent here.

  She belted out a fa-la-la-la-la with joy in her heart, then closed her eyes. It was so quiet she could hear herself breathe. A bird called in the distance, probably warning his friends that someone had arrived. She wondered just how long the house had been empty. She had a million questions.

  Pine filled the air the way it did right after a big rain.

  A twig snapped in the distance. She double-stepped to the door, looking over her shoulder. Probably deer or a rabbit scampering around. Hopefully not a bear, because there were plenty of them too. A thin branch from a holly bush swung back and scraped her cheek. Served her right for not watching where she was going.

  Her cheek stung. She patted it, feeling the stickiness that indicated the spiny leaves had won that round.

  Off to the side of the door there was a large rectangle where a sign must have once hung. The screw holes were still there, but the sun had bleached the wooden timbers around it, leaving a large dark spot.

  She pulled open the screen door and stepped between it and the front door.

  The whole house could use a new coat of stain. She rubbed her finger across the dry wood.

  Liz pressed the code into the lockbox and then removed the key and opened the door.

  The musty smell was only part of what stopped her in her tracks.

  She stood there, frozen for a long moment. She wasn’t prepared for what she’d walked into. Her eyes adjusted to the darkness.

  The entire downstairs had been gutted.

  “What happened?” She flipped a light switch out of habit. Of course, the power wasn’t on. It was dim inside with all the windows boarded over. Perhaps that auctioneer had been more clever than she’d given him credit for. If anyone had peeked in the window and seen this … she’d lay bets that there’d have been markedly fewer bidders on auction day.

  She swallowed back a wave of emotion. A lump grew in the back of her throat.

  This place—once beautiful—had been torn apart without a care for its former grandeur. Had it been intentional? Or vandals?

  Strange faux walls were oddly placed, throughout the gutted downstairs. Apparently to display the art. Others weren’t walls at all, but more like cubicle panels. She walked over to where the fireplace had been. A huge panel hung from the vaulted ceiling on chains. She pushed her weight against it and it swung out enough for her to see that thankfully the beautiful stonework appeared to be in decent shape behind it.

  “What were they thinking covering this up?” She supposed she should be grateful they hadn’t ripped the whole fireplace out.

  She turned on her phone flashlight to get a better look at the fireplace. Something reflected in the light. She used her knee to hold the hanging panel away from the wall and reached for it. As soon as her hand grazed it, she knew what it was. She tugged it from the wall and held it close.

  How did this fragile angel make it through what must have been one crazy demolition?

  A night-light. One of many that used to be here. Each handmade. The clear stained-glass angel held a horn, her dress flowing behind her.

  “Oh, Gram. I’m glad you’re not here to see this place.” Her heart hung heavy in her chest. She’d prepared herself for repairs—even a lot of them—but this was as if someone had come in and just slashed the life and memories from the place.

  She glanced at the glass angel in her hand.

  I guess angels can survive anything. She hoped she could survive this too. Someone here in town had made these for Gram. She’d always treasured them.

  She knew what every inch of this house should look like. Aside from this little angel next to the fireplace hidden by the tacky hanging panel, she didn’t recognize any of it.

  Devastating regret assailed her.

  She allowed herself to give in to the despair. She wasn’t sure how long she cried. But rather than flee, and leave this mistake in her rearview mirror, she gathered her composure and sat there letting her tears dry against her skin until she thought of a bright side.

  “It’s a clean slate.” Another tear slipped down her cheek. She swept it away and concentrated on her last time here.

  Where she stood now was the great room. Lodge plaids and jewel tones that celebrated nature had once accented gleaming hardwood floors. Practically every piece of furniture had had a story. Local artwork had graced the walls, along with a few of Pop’s prized catches—fish and deer. Also on this level had been the kitchen, dining hall, master suite with an en suite bath, and laundry room.

  Disappointment weighed on her. At least the walls looked to be in good shape, although there were tons of wires hanging from them. She’d heard of people stripping a house before it went to auction, but would it really be worth the effort to make a few bucks on a used fixture?

  She put one foot on the staircase, but two treads up it was clear that it was in dangerous disrepair—broken balusters and some treads completely missing. Looking up, she saw water damage, probably the culprit of the demise of the once beautiful staircase.

  The new roof had given her a false sense of security. On the bright side—she had to think of a bright si
de or else she’d break down and cry again right here—the roof was one less thing she’d have to fix.

  She wanted to see the upstairs, hoping that by some miracle it was in good shape, but one more attempt to step on the stairs was all the warning she needed. She did not want to be stuck here hurt by herself overnight, and her phone was showing only one bar right now.

  She walked back into the middle of the room and sat on the floor. She could hear Dan’s told-you-so as loud as if he’d followed her up here and shouted it into her ear.

  She’d let nostalgia cloud her good judgment.

  This place would never be like it was when she was kid.

  It was going to be a big enough challenge to get Angel’s Rest going again, furnishing the whole place and fixing those things that years of neglect required, but now she’d have to renovate before she could even get to that stage.

  Her dreams of reopening the inn seemed to be slipping right out of her hands as quickly as she’d held them there.

  Chapter Five

  Liz steadied herself as her eyes began to sting and a sudden wave of nausea came over her. Hopefully, it was from mounting disappointment, and not from poisonous gas or mold in the house. See, it could be worse.

  She stepped outside to get some air. She must have lost all track of time, because now, on top of all the bad news, it was getting dark. She hadn’t meant to stay long. She hadn’t even figured out where she was staying tonight, and driving down the mountain in the dark could be a little sketchy until she got to know the roads better.

  There was no time to dawdle. She hurried to her SUV, glancing one last time back at the house. At least from the outside it still looked like Angel’s Rest.

  She drove out to the road and turned right. She kept her foot on the brake most of the way down the mountain to keep from picking up speed down the steep grade.

  When she got to the bottom and saw the flashing light on Main Street she breathed easier.

  She dropped one hand into her lap, and heard the key ring jingle in her pocket. She’d forgotten to put it back in the lockbox. For the life of her she couldn’t remember if she’d even closed the front door. She dreaded the drive back up the mountain in the dark, and really what could possibly happen? Maybe a good breeze would clear out some of the funky air.

  Liz had half a mind to just drive straight home, but she still felt a little woozy. She parked in front of the Creekside Café and walked inside. There was a cheerful clatter amid the murmur of conversations.

  “You did come back.” Maizey recognized her. “I didn’t expect you so soon. Just you?”

  Just a few hours to be exact. “Yes, Maizey. Thank you.”

  “I’ll tuck you right back here.” Maizey led the way to the booth in the front corner by the window.

  Liz slid onto the bench seat.

  “Are you okay, sweetie?” Her brows pulled together. “You don’t look so good.”

  “I’m fine, thank you.” Liz pasted a smile on her face. “I just got some bad news.”

  “I’m sorry, honey. On a bright note, you’re here. Of all the places I’ve ever been this is the one place that has always done me right.”

  “I’ve always felt that way about Antler Creek too.”

  “So, you’ve been here before. I mean before the time this morning?”

  “Yes, but not in a very long time. My grandparents owned the inn up on Doe Run Road.”

  “Angel’s Rest?” Maizey sat right down with her and plopped her pad and pen on the table. “Wait a minute.” She stared a good long moment at Liz. “You are not little Lizzie?” She held her hand up about yea high to the table. “Long brown braids, and eyes as bright and big as a day-old calf’s. By golly, I do see it. Why didn’t you say something when you were in here before? I miss your grandparents. Lindley and Josie were good folks. Everyone felt their absence when they left.”

  “Then I guess you know my grandfather passed away a few months after they left, and Gram wasn’t far behind him. I still swear she died of a broken heart.”

  “I heard about that, we were all heartbroken by the news. Let me tell you, though, I don’t think dying of a broken heart is a joke. I believe that really happens.” She placed a weathered hand on top of Liz’s. “They did love each other. A real love. You just don’t see relationships like that much. Are you married?”

  “Me? No. I’m holding out for a relationship like theirs.”

  “Ain’t we all?” Maizey said.

  Liz wondered if Maizey had ever been married.

  Maizey stood. “What can I get you to eat?”

  “I don’t even know what I want. How about the special?” And no sooner had the words left her mouth than her mind drifted to the man who’d suggested the special this afternoon, and the door opened and in he walked as if on cue.

  He’d spotted her too. His smile was broad, the skin at the edges of his eyes crinkling in a friendly way. He nodded, and mouthed a hello.

  She felt her cheeks flush. Glancing quickly down at her menu, she hoped he hadn’t noticed.

  He climbed onto the barstool at the counter. The same one he’d been sitting on earlier.

  Maizey slid a tall glass of sweet tea on the table in front of Liz.

  She remembered. Liz didn’t get this level of service at the restaurant she went to three times a week. And that just added to her disappointment. She’d had such high hopes that her dreams of owning Angel’s Rest here in Antler Creek were going to come true.

  She wished now she hadn’t shared the news about her purchase with Peggy. Truth be told, half the reason Liz hadn’t worried too much about finding a place to stay was that in the back of her mind she’d hoped she could talk the auction company into letting her stay there. It had been a silly notion anyway, but she still could hardly believe the state of the place.

  At this point she might as well just go home.

  Her heart hung like an anchor in her chest. Saddened by the destruction, she could barely think.

  Liz picked up her phone and texted Peggy.

  Liz: I’m at the mountain house. It’s gutted. Don’t count on the sunrise pictures.

  Peggy: Oh no. Sorry. No big deal though. You can fix anything.

  Liz: This is bigger than me.

  Peggy: There’s never been a project too big for you. Trust your dream.

  * * *

  LIZ SAT BACK in her chair. Peggy was right. She’d been tossed way worse projects than this to handle that were already over budget and in red status from a timeline perspective. Sure, the mountain house hadn’t turned out to be anything like what she remembered or expected, but that didn’t mean things couldn’t be put right. Better even. Maybe. She just had to put a budget and plan together.

  Liz: Maybe I’m overreacting?

  Peggy: She probably just needs a little makeover.

  Liz: Don’t we all. LOL

  That was it. Some major cleanup would be a start. Walls would need to be replaced. She’d get quotes on what this would take before she threw in the towel. And definitely before she mentioned anything about it to Dan.

  She grabbed her phone and texted Peggy again.

  Liz: Not a word to Dan. Don’t feel like more told-you-sos from him.

  Peggy: My lips are sealed.

  * * *

  FEELING BETTER ALREADY, she took another sip of her tea. Maizey slid the special in front of her. Country-fried steak, mashed potatoes smothered in peppery white gravy, and a generous serving of green beans, with a fresh roll as big and fluffy as those she remembered from school days. She breathed in the savory smells. Comfort food was exactly what she needed right now.

  “This is perfect. Thanks, Maizey.”

  The stranger stood up from the counter carrying a paper sack. He must’ve ordered his dinner to go.

  “Have a nice evening, Maizey,” he said.

  He smiled at Liz, and their eyes connected for an awkwardly long moment. Long enough that she knew his eyes were as blue as a clear spring sky, and his
perfect smile was hard to look away from. She forced her attention back to the plate in front of her. By the time she chanced a look back, he was getting into the white pickup truck parked out front.

  She ate quietly as he drove off down Main Street. The food was making her feel a little better physically and about the possibilities of Angel’s Rest. If the bones of the house were still good, there was still a chance she could bring the inn back to its original glory. She’d gotten a good price on the property, and she did still have a budget.

  Peggy was right. It was just another project. I never say no to the impossible projects, and I always manage to get them done.

  She dug in her purse, pulled out an envelope, and began jotting down milestones.

  The problem was she didn’t know what she didn’t know. She needed a real contractor to come out and assess the situation before she could make a decent plan and prioritize. If she’d purchased this property outright, rather than at auction, she’d have gotten a full inspection so that she’d know exactly what she was walking into.

  Okay, so it’s a little backwards, but not the end of the world.

  A good home inspection was worth its weight in gold. She’d heard Dan say that a million times. She had a sneaking suspicion that Dan got a nice kickback from the home inspector for all the business he sent over, but that didn’t change the fact that it was good advice.

  “What else can I get you?” Maizey pulled her hands to her hips. “My pie makes everything better.”

  Liz shook her head. “I’ll pass on that pie, but I do need to find a place to stay.”

  Maizey nodded slowly, as if she was thinking. “You know we don’t have a hotel or inn around here. There’s one two exits up on the interstate. I don’t know how nice it is.”

  “Oh, I was hoping for something here in town.”

  “Well…” She pressed her finger to her lips. “It’s not actually a rental, but I do think I know where you could stay. Nothing fancy, just a second-floor walk-up apartment.”

  “That would be perfect. I just really need to settle in somewhere for a few days and get my head right.”