“There's a reason for everything,” Chris told Candy. Chris wasn't sure why a wealthy man who hungered to selfishly protect every penny he earned would leave a fortune of books behind. Absolution? Maybe. Maybe the man believed doing a good deed—contributing to Christmas Toy Island, a place that would become a home to toys and the hearts of countless children—would somehow benefit his chances of reaching Heaven. “Let's walk around some more before Peppermint gets back.”
Candy happily agreed. She took Betty's hand and explored the bottom floor of the library, which took plenty of time. “It would be impossible to explore this library in one day with all these books.”
“I agree.” Betty hugged Candy's arm and walked her back to the main fireplace just as Peppermint showed up carrying a large wooden tray holding four cups of coffee and a plate of delicious donuts. “Ah, refreshments.”
Peppermint put the wooden tray down onto the reading table sitting close to the fireplace. “I poisoned the coffee and put nails in the donuts,” he teased.
“Very funny.” Betty rolled her eyes. “Where is that wolf of yours?”
“Blizzard is upstairs napping.” Peppermint shook his head. “I swear, after he gets through eating his share of donuts, he goes straight to sleep.”
Candy examined the plate of donuts. She expected to see Christmas tree and snowman-shaped donuts. Instead, the plate held plain, chocolate, and white powdered donuts—the variety kind sold at a local supermarket. Oh well. All donuts tasted good. “Peppermint, you were chopping wood before we arrived. I'm assuming you were chopping wood for your room and this library, right?”
Peppermint handed Candy a coffee cup. “I always keep a fire going in here even though my old boss had central heating and air conditioning installed. I like a fire going, but that fireplace gobbles up wood like you've never seen.”
“I believe it,” Chris spoke up as Peppermint put a coffee cup in his hand.
“The fireplace in my room is normal-sized. I like to keep a fire going in it for Blizzard.” Peppermint handed Betty a cup of coffee and then took the last cup for himself. There was no need to question if the man had tampered with the coffee. Peppermint was a man who could be trusted. That fact was clear to everyone. “Why do you ask?”
“I'm wondering where you get the wood from,” Candy explained.
“Wood is delivered on the back of a logging truck,” Peppermint replied. “There are entire trees that I cut up with my chainsaw and then chop up with my ax. We've got enough wood outside to last through...oh...about three good winters. When the wood starts to run low, I call Michael and put in an order for more trees.”
“Michael?” Betty asked.
“The fella who sends me the trees,” Peppermint explained. He took a sip of delicious hot coffee. “Ah, nothing like Folgers in your cup.”
“I love Folgers coffee.” Chris smiled.
“Me, too,” Peppermint confirmed. He took another sip of coffee and then focused on telling everyone about how the castle was set up. “We get power from the mainland, but if the power ever goes out, we have some mighty big generators that kick in. The outside buildings also have generators. The generators run on fuel, which we got plenty of…collecting dust, by the way. Out of all of my years living here, the power has never gone off once...not even during the winter storms, and there've been some bad ones, let me tell you.”
Candy listened to Peppermint talk more and more about the castle as she drank her coffee. The coffee tasted delicious. Fresh and hot. Candy was reminded of a Christmas morning she experienced as a child. She woke up to the smell of coffee making...Folgers coffee. In her heart, there wasn't a better way to open up the door to Christmas Toy Island than with a cup of Folgers coffee in her hand. “I think we're in really good shape to officially start building Christmas Toy Island, everyone...and may God bless our efforts in order to make this island a blessing to children and our toys.”
Chapter 3
Candy hated to leave the island. Oh, how she hated to leave the island. But, she had to get home to Snowball—and also to pack! Candy had decided to move to the island full-time. Yes. She was going to lock up her home and live on the island year-round. Snowball, of course, would have to come with her. Would Blizzard the Wolf like Snowball? Candy sure prayed that he did. Blizzard was a gentle giant, and Snowball was a friendly little guy (Candy just hoped Blizzard wouldn't see Snowball as a yummy appetizer). “You're going to love the island, Snowball,” Candy nearly sang as she sat at the warm kitchen table eating a sandwich. Snowball was sitting next to Candy on the floor, eating his own sandwich. “The island was more than I could have ever dreamed.”
“Well, don't get dreamy yet,” Betty fussed. The older woman was holding a sheet of lined paper covered with numerous names. “So far, everyone I've called to set up an interview with has hit a dead end. Joe from Minnesota sounded drunk, and Lisa from Milwaukee seemed more drunk than Joe from Minnesota.”
Candy grinned. Betty was in a fussy mood. “Well, maybe we're looking in the wrong place.”
“What do you mean?” Betty asked. She tossed down the paper and pencil she was holding and went for a warm sandwich of her own. Candy's kitchen was delightful, safe, and very cozy. The perfect atmosphere to eat a delicious sandwich in. Of course, Candy was wearing a veryloudpurple sweater that wasn't so good for the digestion...but that was life. At least Betty was wearing a simple sweater that complemented a darker brown dress. Candy told Betty she looked like a tree—Betty told Candy she looked like a deranged grape. They both laughed.
“Well, maybe we should ask Peppermint if he knows anyone,” Candy suggested.
Betty took a bite of her sandwich, thought for a minute, and then nodded. “That's a good idea. That man has grown on me.”
“And Chris has certainly taken a liking to Peppermint,” Candy pointed out.
“Chris is now living on the island full-time...bless his sweet soul.” Betty reached for a glass of milk. “That nephew of mine has been through some tough times. Not as hard as some...but still...” Betty drank some milk and then looked into Candy's eyes. “Is it me, or does Chris remind you of Santa Claus?”
Candy heard a little giggle slip from her mouth. “I thought I was the only one who noticed that.”
Betty shook her head. “Even Peppermint made a remark about how Chris reminds him of Santa Claus. And did you see the way that wolf took to Chris? Peppermint said he's never seen anything like it.”
“Animals sense things.”
“Exactly!” Betty drank some more milk. “Animals do sense things, and that wolf senses that my nephew has a heart of gold...hint...hint.”
