“Hope so. But I have to admit, this little break from… well, from everything is nice. And it’s nice to be back on Belle Island, even under these circumstances.”
“We’re glad to have you back.” Tally reached over and patted her hand. “So, how’s the sorting out of the cottage going?”
“It’s a lot to handle. And I found the most interesting thing in Nana’s storage closet. A wooden box with a Christmas design carved on top. It has a bunch of wrapped items in it. I’m not sure where they’re from or why she had them.”
Tally shrugged. “I’ve sure got no clue. But they must have been special to her for her to keep them.”
“I should unwrap them and see if I can figure out why she had them all tucked away like that.”
“You could ask Randy, your neighbor. He and Genevieve were great friends.”
“Oh, I met him. He helped me out at the market, then we talked for a bit last night.”
“He’s a nice man. Lived here all his life. He’s really into island history, too. He and Genevieve were always researching something or other. Randy volunteers at the historical society.”
“Thank you. I’ll talk to him.”
Tally stood. “Well, I better get back to work. I hope you come back often. It’s great seeing you.”
“I’m sure I’ll be back soon.”
Tally walked away, stopping to talk to each table on her way back toward the kitchen. Not much had changed here at Magic Cafe, and she liked that. She needed some stability in her life right now.
Evie walked down the sandy path toward Randy’s cottage, the wooden box tucked under her arm. It was impossible not to notice the festive atmosphere surrounding his home. Strings of colorful Christmas lights were draped along the deck railing, twinkling in the early evening light. Randy, perched precariously on a stepladder, was in the process of hanging yet another strand when he spotted her. He waved enthusiastically, nearly losing his balance in the process.
“Whoa there,” she called out, quickening her pace. “Don’t go falling on my account.”
He chuckled, regaining his footing. “I’ve got it under control. Trust me.”
She walked up to the base of the old wooden ladder and wasn’t entirely certain she believed him. She set the box down.“Here, let me hold this steady for you. Don’t need you taking a tumble.”
“Thanks.” He grinned down at her, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “I appreciate the help.”
As he continued to string the lights, she glanced around at the abundance of decorations already in place. Wreaths hung on the windows, and a large reindeer made out of a split log adorned the edge of his deck. “You really go all out for Christmas, don’t you?”
“I haven’t hardly started yet. There’s still the tree. Two, actually. One out here on the deck and one inside.” He grinned again. “It’s a tradition I’ve maintained ever since I moved into this cottage. Have to keep up with Miss G’s decorations, you know? She always had the most festive place on the island.”
She nodded, surprised that the mention of Nana didn’t bring the usual fight with tears, and instead, a feeling of nostalgia swept through her. “Nana did love Christmas. I remember helping her decorate when I was a kid. We’d spend hours untangling lights and hanging ornaments.”
“She had a way of making everything feel magical,” Randy said, climbing down the ladder. “I always admired that about her.”
“Me too.” She picked up the wooden box, running her fingers over the intricate Christmas design of wreaths and holly carved into the lid. “Speaking of Nana, I actually came over to ask you about something I found in her storage closet.”
His eyebrows rose in interest. “Oh? What did you find?”
She held out the box. “This. It’s filled with wrapped items, but I have no idea where they came from or what they mean. I’ve never seen the box before. Tally mentioned that you and Nana were close, so I thought maybe you might know something about it.”
He took the box and shook his head. “I’ve never seen this before, but it definitely looks like something Miss G would have treasured.” He glanced up at her. “Why don’t we go inside and take a closer look? I need to take a break, anyway.”
“I don’t want to stop you from your decorating extravaganza.” She grinned at him.
“Oh, you’re not. I promise you the decorating will continue. For days.” He winked at her. “It’s just what I do.”
CHAPTER 6
Evie followed Randy into his cottage and was immediately struck by the cozy atmosphere. The interior was filled with warm, inviting colors and well-loved furniture. It felt lived-in and comfortable, much like Nana’s place next door. As she glanced around the room, her gaze landed on a series of framed photographs displayed on a nearby shelf.
She stepped closer and examined the images more carefully. To her surprise, many of the photos featured Randy and Nana together, smiling and laughing in various island locations. In one picture, they were seated on a bench near the lighthouse, the sun setting behind them. Another showed them at the annual Belle Island Christmas Festival, both wearing festive—and ridiculous-looking—sweaters and holding steaming mugs of cocoa.
