“And risk getting lost again?” Marty shook his head no.
“You'll get used to the place,” Peppermint promised. “Sandy, Ralphie, let's move.”
Sandy managed to stand up on her own. Ralphie gobbled down his donut and then popped up onto his feet. “Ayo, are there any books on Bob Ross in this library? Bob Ross rocks Brooklyn. I said what I said.”
“I'm going to punch you in the nose if you don't stop sayingayo,” Sandy nearly screamed.
“Ayo, at least I can say more thanlikeandtotally.” Ralphie flipped the collar connected to his leather jacket up. “Let's go. I ain't got all day.”
“Sure thing.” Peppermint grinned at Candy and Chris and then led Sandy and Ralphie out of the kitchen. Blizzard and Snowball followed. They were two beautiful creatures who were best friends for life.
“Shoot me,” Marty begged. “I can't work with them. The girl sounds like she never left the 1980s, and the boy sounds like he's trapped in some mafia movie.”
Chris laughed. “Marty, God works in mysterious ways. He brings us the most unlikely people to be a blessing. In time we'll see just what kind of blessing Sandy and Ralphie are, but for now, just keep a full bottle of aspirin close at hand.”
Candy took a seat at the kitchen table. “Whew, what a morning so far, but at least we're here and ready to start work.”
“How about we start work tomorrow,” Betty spoke up in a voice that sounded like a woman who was now hungering for a soft pillow and a relaxing book. “Those two have already worn me out for the day.”
“Well, Aunt Betty, the weather may answer your request. We're expecting a bad storm. That's why the lights flickered.”
“I know about the storm. We left Pine Snow extra early in order to get to the island before the storm arrived.” Betty rubbed the brim of her nose. “Sandy and Ralphie are enough to drive a woman crazy. All they did was fight from Pine Snow to the island. Now, Chris, you know I love all of God's creatures, and I'm a very strong woman who is able to forgive her worst enemy, but Sandy and Ralphie just may be too much for me.”
Chris laughed again. “Aunt Betty, in time, you'll get used to them. Give it time.”
“I may end up in a mental home.” Betty groaned. She looked at Marty. He was a handsome man who appeared to be intelligent and dignified. “How did you manage to keep your sanity, Mr. Belvins?”
Marty sighed. “I didn't.” Betty was a very beautiful woman who was aging quite well. Marty saw in her a quality of beauty and strength−along with a sharp intelligence and willpower that only women who grew up in her generation possessed−that touched his heart. He had expected to encounter a snobby, bossy, old broom handle. “My job as a teacher and a principal required me to leave my sanity at home each day.”
“I bet.” Betty managed to smile. Marty had a sense of humor. That was good.
Marty picked his donut back up. He scanned the kitchen. The kitchen was large and made of stone, but there was a warm and welcoming quality to it that brought up images of old family Thanksgivings being celebrated when horses still carried people where they needed to go. Yes, the kitchen had modern appliances, but in Marty's mind, he saw a kitchen with a wood-burning stove and a large iron pot hanging over a hot fire in a large fireplace. “This is a nice...well, Peppermint calls this place a castle...to me it feels...I suppose this place does feel a little bit like an old castle.”
Candy went for her coffee. By now her coffee would be warm instead of hot, but that was okay. “Mr. Belvins, tell us more about yourself.”
“And bore you to tears? No, thank you.” Marty deflected Candy's request using a shield made of polite humor.
Candy felt that Marty wasn't the type of man who willingly opened the book to his life. Like Sandy and Ralphie, Candy felt Marty was trapped in a deep hole that he couldn't escape from. Maybe, she thought, God had allowed her to win one of the biggest lotteries in America not just to create a Christmas Toy Island, but to help three lost hearts find hope, love...and yes...life. “I understand, Mr. Belvins.”
“Well, what we can talk about is the Christmas village,” Chris spoke up. “I think that we have the chance to build something great here. By this time next year, if we roll up our sleeves and work hard and steady, we should be open for business.”
Candy and Betty appreciated Chris' enthusiasm. “Well, my dear nephew, once we get all the wrinkles ironed out and see just what you have in mind, we'll get to work.”
The kitchen lights flickered again. “Storm is getting closer,” Chris told everyone. “Peppermint has assured me the power has never gone out longer than a minute before coming back on.” Chris went for his cup of coffee. “With that said, today is the perfect day to stay inside and, as you just said, Aunt Betty, iron out all the wrinkles. When I finish my coffee, I'll go upstairs and bring down the drawings I've managed to make so far.”
“That would be wonderful.” Candy beamed. Excitement touched her heart. “I can't wait to start building our Christmas Toy Island!”
Betty looked at Marty. He dropped his eyes. He didn't know what to feel anymore. Did life truly still possess a room filled with hope and joy? Marty doubted it. Betty knew she had work to do in order to prove Marty wrong.
Outside a powerful snowstorm continued to barrel toward the island.
Chapter 2
“Let's retire to the library,” Peppermint announced as he patted a full belly filled with stew, bread, cake, and coffee. “We can clean up after our food has digested some. My momma always said that it's not healthy to clean up right after a meal. Your food has to find its way into a happy dream before the dishes can be washed.”
“Ayo, that's a good idea, Peppermint. I like the library even though I didn't find any books on Bob Ross. I said what I said.” Ralphie picked up a snowman cup full of hot chocolate and little marshmallows. The tough guy seemed to prefer hot chocolate over coffee.
“I like sitting in this dining room. And the fire is, like, totally amazing,” Sandy told everyone. She looked around the large dining room. Its walls were made up of very old hardwood from Denmark, and iron candle holders shaped like lions lined each wall. Each candle holder had a white candle burning in it. A long dining room table sat in the middle of the room on a green and white marble floor, and a large cobblestone fireplace was situated at the end of the dining room where Peppermint had created a wonderful fire. The dining room didn't possess a single window, and for Sandy, the absence of windows was what made the dining room so charming. Sandy cherished absolute privacy.
