Brett glanced at Ida’s serene smile before turning toward the stage. Not only was Pat up to no good, but it looked as though his wife was in complete agreement with him. Brett needed to nip whatever they were planning in the bud. Otherwise, he might have some explaining to do to the ex-nursing assistant who had taken up residence in Pat and Ida’s hearts.
***
Hannah closed the flap on another box of decorations. The carol competition had been a huge success. Thanks to the singers and their creative bribes, everyone had gone home happy and smiling. Brett, along with a few hardy souls, had stayed to help Claire and Hannah return the recreation center to its original condition.
“What would you like me to do after the chairs have been put away?” he asked.
“You could help me move some of the trestle tables into the storage room.”
Brett frowned as she lifted a floor-mounted speaker off its bracket. “Do you want me to carry that?”
“I’m okay. The cupboard where it belongs isn’t far away.” Once the speaker was safely stored away, Hannah returned to the main room. Two women waved goodbye.
“Thank you for helping,” she said.
“You’re welcome. We’re a little more mobile than some of the other residents.”
Brett’s lips twitched as he rolled a table toward her. “Congratulations on organizing another memorable competition.”
Hannah folded the legs on another table. “Thanks, but we didn’t do everything. The retirement village organized the choirs.”
“How long have you been working with your sister?”
“We started our company two years ago, but I’ve only been working full-time for about a year. When we began Perfect Staging, we still needed a regular income to pay our bills. Claire focused on our company. I worked part-time in the retirement village as well as helping to stage events.”
“That must have been hard.”
“Claire had the more stressful job. It took a while to build our client base and show people what we can do.”
Brett rolled his table across the room. “How is business now?”
“Better than ever. We’re taking bookings a year in advance at the moment.” Hannah rolled her table into the storage area. “You can stack your table against mine.”
When they’d finished, Hannah followed him into the main room. She hoped he didn’t think he had to stay until everything was cleared away. “I appreciate your help, but you can leave whenever you want.”
“I’m happy to be here. It gives Pat a chance to spend more time with Ida.”
“They’re such a sweet couple. Ida worked so hard to regain her mobility after her stroke. How long have you known them?”
“About twenty years,” Brett said softly. “After I left school, Pat offered me a job as a ranch hand. I stayed with them until I was twenty-five, then flew to Australia and worked in the outback. I came back to Montana eight years ago.”
“What was Australia like?”
Brett grinned. “Hot. If I thought we were isolated on the Double Circle, it was nothing compared to Alice Springs.”
“Did you come home when Pat’s son died?”
“I did. Pat needed someone to help manage the ranch.”
From what Pat had told her, Brett had done a lot more than help with the ranch. When their grief had weighed them down, Brett had given them a reason to get out of bed and appreciate each day. “The McConachies enjoy your company.”
“They’re like family to me.” Brett folded the legs on another table. “I’ll take this through.”
While Brett moved the table, Hannah packed another set of decorations into a box. She smiled when someone in the kitchen started singing a Christmas carol. Claire was helping the catering staff pack away the dishes, but it definitely wasn’t her voice. Her sister was great at a lot of things, but singing wasn’t one of them.
When Brett returned, he helped her stack the boxes of decorations beside the main doors.
“When you were working at the retirement village, Pat told me you were also an artist. Are you still able to paint as well as organize events?”
