Christmas Angels Read online

  “Let me go make a couple calls. I’ll be back.”

  Maizey walked behind the counter and disappeared into the kitchen. Liz was exhausted. The food had helped, but today had been one trying day. She hung her head in her hands, closing her eyes to hopefully chase the headache away.

  “So what’s got your head all messed up, dear?” Maizey said, startling Liz.

  Liz jerked her head up. She wasn’t sure if she really wanted to share, but then maybe she knew someone who could help. “It’s a long story. I’m not sure I even know where to begin.”

  “Cut to the chase.”

  “I need to find someone reputable to do a home inspection.”

  Maizey’s eyebrows shot up. “Are you thinking of buying up here?” She seemed delighted with the prospect.

  “Well, that’s normally how it would go, but actually I already bought a place.” Liz leaned in and lowered her voice. “At auction. Sight unseen, so I need an inspection to figure out just how much work I have ahead of me.”

  Maizey’s lips pulled into a tight line.

  “What’s wrong?” Liz asked.

  “You bought Angel’s Rest, didn’t you?”

  Liz pulled in a deep breath. “I did.”

  “Oh, honey. I’m sure that was quite a shock.” She patted Liz on the shoulder. “Well, normally I’d recommend Ronny Ryan. He does the home inspections around here, but he’s on a cruise with his wife. Matt Hardy is in town for the holidays, though. I bet he could do it. I wish I’d known sooner, he was just here. I’m sure he can help. If not, he’d most definitely be able to help you find someone. He’s helping out down at the church this week. You could probably find him there tomorrow morning.”

  “Matt Hardy.” Liz jotted the name on a napkin. “Thank you, Maizey. You’ve been really helpful.”

  Maizey handed her a slip of paper. “Here’s the address of the apartment I was talking about. I just spoke with Dottie. They have an upstairs apartment for their boys, Jeffrey and George Junior, but they won’t be home from college for a couple of weeks, so you can stay there. I don’t think she’ll take any money, but I’ll let you two fight that out.”

  “This is amazing. Thank you so much.”

  “No problem. Glad to help. Once you know what you need done we have lots of handy guys around here looking for work this time of year. I wish you luck with that project. It would be so good for this town to have Angel’s Rest back. You take care and keep me posted.” Maizey laid the ticket on the table, and flitted off to another table.

  Liz paid at the counter. Anxious to gain clarity about her options, she drove back toward the church before heading to the apartment. If someone was there, maybe she could get a phone number for Matt Hardy, and save herself the drive back tomorrow.

  Liz parked in the church parking lot, then walked up the four steps that led to the oversize doors of the old stone structure. She put her hand on the heavy iron door handle and gave it a tug. The door swung open easily, welcoming her in.

  Inside, the dark wooden pews were empty. She walked down the center aisle between them.

  Light shone through the tall arched stained-glass windows. A colorful praying angel looked over her. The brilliance of the colored light sparked an emotion in her. Lately she’d felt like a stained-glass window in a dark room. Like she had something special and wonderful ahead, she just wasn’t sure how to make it shine. She blinked back a tear. Her grandparents would delight in the fact that she was back in Antler Creek. Just like Pop and Gram, this town had always been the light in her life.

  She’d been to this church before, but it had been a long time ago with her Pop and Gram. She counted the rows to where they’d always sat. The sixth row on the right. Her fingers grazed the top of the worn wooden pew. Pop loved to brag that they’d never missed a Sunday service since the day he and Gram had been married in this church. Maybe that was the secret to their wonderful relationship.

  She could imagine Gram as a young bride in a long white lacy veil. She’d been beautiful. A chill ran down her arm.

  The last time she’d been to church might have been right here in this one with her grandparents. It had definitely been way too long.

  Men’s voices carried through the building, followed by hammering from the back of the church, where the fellowship hall had been. She poked her head into the room. Three men worked, while a huge white dog lay sprawled on the floor, looking disinterested. The size of the dog stopped her, but she relaxed a little when she realized the dog hadn’t bothered to even lift his head, just his eyebrows above big droopy eyes.

  “Hi. Excuse me,” she said from the doorway. “I was wondering if anyone here might know Matt Hardy.”

  Chapter Six

  At the sound of his name, Matt stepped from behind the set of cabinets he was getting ready to hang in the church kitchen. “That’s me.”

  Recognition registered on her face. “You again? Hello.” Her lips tugged into a smile.

  “Hello again.” He jostled the cabinet. Pastor Mike took his end. “Thanks, man.” Matt walked toward the woman. “What can I help you with?”

  “I was talking to Maizey over at the café. I need someone to do a home inspection and she said the regular guy is out of town, but that you might be able to help.”

  He leaned against the wall and folded his arms across his chest. “You’re thinking about buying a house around here?”

  “Wouldn’t need an inspection if I wasn’t, now would I?”

  He liked her spunk. “I’m sorry. You just don’t look like the type of folks we usually get buying property around here. Where are you from?”

  “I live in Charlotte, but I plan to move here. I want to open an inn.”

  “Really?” Something about her intrigued him, but he knew better than to get mixed up with another city girl. Robyn-with-a-“y” had taught him that lesson.

  “Why is that so surprising?”

  He shrugged. He couldn’t say what was on his mind. That she would make for a very pretty addition to the town. “The shoes?”

  She glanced down at her designer boots.

  “And the perfectly matched ensemble.”

  “So?” She pointed to his black boots and belt. “You match.”

  “True, but it’s the way you match. Like a model in one of those fancy magazines.” He regretted it as soon as it came out of his mouth. It didn’t even sound like a compliment, although in his head it had.

  “Should I be flattered or offended?”

  “Neither. Well, probably both. I’m sorry, it has nothing to do with you.” Great, I’m just digging myself in deeper. “I didn’t catch your name.”

  “Liz.”

  When her grandparents had left town, he’d thought he’d never get the chance to see her again. He knew it was her. He couldn’t believe she was right here after all this time. “Yes.”

  She looked confused. “Yes?”

  Snap out of it. Answer the woman. “Yes, I can help you. I mean, I’m not certified, but I can check everything out for you.”

  Pastor Mike chimed in. “He’s better than the real inspector. He’ll give you options you can afford and be realistic about what needs to be done now, and what can wait. Matt has saved us a ton of money, and he can do anything.”

  “Really?” A flash of relief eased the lines in her face. “If that’s true, I definitely need your help.”

  “Oh it’s true.” Matt nodded toward the man, then whispered to her. “He’s the pastor here.”

  “Oh? I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to imply—”

  “No worries, ma’am.” Pastor Mike gave her a nod. “Help the lady out, Matt.”

  “I’m going to be tied up here for a couple of days, and then it’s Thanksgiving. How about we meet early the next week? Maybe Tuesday around ten?”

  “More than a week? If that’s as soon as you can get to it, I guess it’ll have to do.”

  She’d never make it at a poker table. The disappointment was as clear as a flashing n
eon sign on her face. “You look disappointed.”

  “I’m anxious.”

  “I can meet on Thanksgiving morning, if that works for you.”

  “Yes. That definitely works for me. I’ll see you Thursday at ten.” She smiled, and her eyes danced as she spun around and began to head out with a lift in her step.

  “Miss? What’s the address?”

  She stopped and turned around. “That would help, wouldn’t it? Doe Run Road. It’s the—”

  “There’s only one place on Doe Run Road.”

  “Right.”

  “You’re the one who bought it at auction this morning?”

  “Yes.”

  He shook his head; how had he not recognized her at the café? No wonder she’d caught his eye. “You knew it was an inn before.”

  “I most certainly did. A beautiful inn.”

  “You didn’t see it before you bid?”

  “No. I know, I know. I didn’t get a chance to see it before I bid. Not exactly my best move, but I couldn’t risk losing it. The inn is very special to me. Besides, how bad a deal could it be? Location is everything, right? And Antler Creek is one awesome location for an inn.”

  “It hasn’t been an inn for a very long time. The place has been gutted. It’s changed hands a couple of times. It was last an art gallery.”

  “I was up there earlier today. I saw.” She raised her hand as if she couldn’t stand to hear more.

  He couldn’t blame her. It was a tragedy what had happened to that place. With a gentle smile, he said, “Okay then. I’ll see you Thursday.”

  “Thank you so much. This has been my lifelong dream. I just hope it’s doable.”

  She wasn’t the only one thinking about lifelong dreams at the moment. “Anything is possible. I’ll see you on Thursday, Liz.”

  He stood there watching as she walked out of the room. Her boots echoed through the sanctuary, and with each step his heart did a two-step. Liz Westmoreland was back in Antler Creek.

  Pastor Mike cuffed his shoulder, practically giving him a heart attack. “She’s a looker.”

  Matt nodded. “She’s more than that.”

  “You know that from a five-minute first meeting?”

  “I’ve met her before.”

  “Who is she?”

  Matt didn’t even hesitate. “She’s the woman I’m going to marry.”

  Chapter Seven

  Matt turned over and punched his pillow, trying to get comfortable. I should have told Liz that I was the one she outbid on the old place on Doe Run Road. The thought had tumbled around in his brain for the last two hours.

  She might not trust my assessment if she knows.

  But he knew that was doubtful, although it was a mounting list of problems. She might think he was just trying to scare her off or talk her out of the property, which wasn’t the case. The truth was she’d caught his attention … again. The last thing he wanted was for her to leave.

  She’d looked kind of familiar the first time he’d seen her in the diner, but now that he knew about her connection to the inn he remembered everything about her.

  The two of them shared more in common than just bidding on Angel’s Rest.

  They’d spent a lot of hours together fly-fishing the stream and hiking these hills as kids. Not just the two of them—there was always a big group of kids on those outings—but she’d intrigued him even back then. His first crush.

  He only had to remember the one new girl. She’d been a stranger to all of the kids, and her focus had been on spending time with her grandfather, not the other kids. She might not remember him, but he sure remembered her.

  If he’d only been up-front with her about the auction, and the fact that he’d already conducted the in-depth inspection, he wouldn’t have to wait until Thursday to see her again.

  Each day dragged by, and when Maizey told him that she was staying in George and Dottie’s apartment, Matt found himself spending more time in town than usual hoping to bump into her, with no luck.

  On Thanksgiving morning, Matt rolled out of bed at six o’clock and grunted out a hundred push-ups followed by a hundred sit-ups the way he did every morning. With his blood pumping, he went to the kitchen and preheated the oven. Out the window, the low morning light rose like smoke from the night grass.

  He’d had plenty of invitations for a hearty Thanksgiving meal and probably more desserts than he was willing to exercise off, but this year he couldn’t bring himself to spend it with anyone. He missed Dad.

  Just because he wasn’t up to spending Thanksgiving with anyone didn’t mean he didn’t like a good turkey dinner, though, and he was fine with dinner for one.

  Memories of Thanksgivings with Mom and Dad filled his head. It would never be the same now that Dad was gone too.

  The oven beeped, letting him know it was up to the desired temp. He hadn’t even started yet. His coffee had cooled during his walk down memory lane too. He dumped it into the sink and took the turkey tenderloin he’d picked up at the market yesterday out of the refrigerator.

  He gave the tenderloin a rubdown with olive oil, then added fresh thyme, sage, garlic, coarse salt, and fresh pepper before popping it into the oven and setting the timer for forty-five minutes.

  Then he pulled cans out of the pantry and placed them on the kitchen island next to the fresh eggs Pastor Mike had given him yesterday for helping out. It didn’t take him long to put together candied sweet potatoes and one of those green bean casseroles. He opened the large oven door and slid both dishes on the rack below the turkey. Then he worked up a batch of stuffing and set it to the side. He’d have to make the gravy when he got back.

  By the time he’d scrambled a few egg whites and drunk a hot cup of coffee, the timer on the oven was ticking off the final few minutes on the turkey. He shoveled the last two bites of his eggs into his mouth, turned off the oven, and covered the loaf pans that his casseroles were in with foil before heading out to meet Lizzie at the inn.

  She had the same effect on him now that she had all those years ago the first time he laid eyes on her serving hot chocolate one frigid winter night before Christmas with her grandmother. His parents had taken him to see the lights.

  It had been a cold December night and Mr. Jarvis had hooked up his hay wagon behind his draft horses and chugged a trailer load of locals up the steep path to see the holiday lights. There hadn’t been anything fancy about it, just a great way for people to spend time together, and celebrate the holidays with some a capella caroling. It was sort of the unofficial kickoff to the holiday season. There’d been no town tree lighting back then. Other than the live nativity at the church, the Westmorelands’ extravagant light display and treats at the inn was the big attraction. People still talked about those times now. They’d been a part of the fabric of this town for so many years.

  Everyone in town participated.

  Waiting for her to come back that summer had felt like a lifetime.

  Once the inn closed, the town decorated the big cedar in front of town hall the first Friday night of December. It wasn’t the same, though.

  Matt scooped out a big dish of dog food. “Come on, Elvis. Time to eat.”

  That dog was never in a hurry. He lumbered into the kitchen, stopping to stretch and yawn. “You be a good boy while I’m gone. I won’t be long.” He patted Elvis on the head and left to meet Liz.

  He was running early, so he took the long way around, back down through town. Antler Creek was quiet on this bitter cold morning. Then again it was still a little too early for people to realize what they’d forgotten at the store for turkey day just yet.

  As he passed by, there were only three cars in front of the market—proving his point.

  Doe Run Road was a frosty sight this morning. The freezing rain had laid a thick layer of ice along the bare branches, weighing them down so much that they seemed to reach for the other side of the road, forming a glistening tunnel. In places, limbs had fallen into the road. Ice cracking into wh
at looked like shards of glass sprawled on the pavement.

  Matt glanced at his watch. He’d planned to be early, but he could see by the fresh tire tracks on the road that he hadn’t been the only one up and ready to go early this morning. She was already here.

  His pulse quickened. Why? They hadn’t really known each other all those years ago, and she’d had a boyfriend waiting on her at home, so they’d just been casual friends doing things in a group with other kids from the church. But she was different from the girls he’d known. Confident, and unaware of how cute she was … even when she was wearing hip waders and a fishing hat.

  Matt took in a deep breath. Get ahold of yourself, he thought.

  Until Liz came back to town he wasn’t the least bit interested in getting involved again. He was fine being alone. Completely fine with it; in fact, he preferred it that way. His house was always clean. There was no argument over what to watch on television, or the way he spent his money. He could eat whatever he liked when he liked. A woman was definitely not what he needed right now.

  But it’s Lizzie.

  No. Don’t fix what ain’t broke. Things were good the way they were. Uncomplicated.

  She could go back to Charlotte, and I might never see her again.

  “My point exactly,” he said to himself. “I sure don’t need to make that mistake again.” He pulled into the driveway and parked next to her in front of the house. Just get in there, give her the information she needs, then get out.

  He grabbed the bright orange rechargeable spotlight from his backseat. With his notepad in hand he walked to the door, rapping on it three times before letting himself inside. “Good morning.”

  “Hey.” She spun around toward him, all bundled in a hip-length ski jacket, with the hood up. “Thanks for being on time. It’s freezing in here.”

  Her nose was red, which made her look even cuter as she bounced up and down trying to expend some energy to warm up. He wished he’d thought to bring a kerosene heater for them to at least warm up around as they talked, but he wouldn’t need that much time.

  “We’ll try to make this fast.”