“The last time I checked I was.”
Her heart pounded when he smiled. Even in the most bizarre circumstances he had a way of filling up a space and making her feel like the luckiest person alive. “How has Adele been?”
“Missing you.” His hands clenched around the steering wheel. “We’ve both missed you. Her stutter is getting better. I think most of that has to do with seeing you at the quilting workshop.”
“She had a great time. I’m surprised by how much the girls liked making the pincushions.”
“They looked great. Adele put hers on the coffee table in the living room. She made the fabric you left in the folder into another one. She’s giving it to my dad for Christmas.”
After hearing how much Joseph’s mom had enjoyed quilting, the gift would be treasured by his dad. “That’s a lovely thing to do. I’m sorry I didn’t return any of your calls.”
“That’s okay. It gave me time to think about what I'd done. Ever since I’ve known you, you’ve been honest with me. I should have told you about the trust and why I wanted to help you. Who knows, you might even have accepted the money if you knew how much Mom enjoyed quilting.”
Shona looked at her hands clasped tightly together on her lap. There was something else she wanted to ask him, but she couldn't do it at The Welcome Center. “Is there anything else you haven't told me that I should know?”
Joseph ran his hand around the back of his neck and her heart sank.
He glanced at her before looking back at the road. “It's not as bad as you think. Before I came to Sapphire Bay I worked in the finance sector for twenty-five years. When I left Los Angeles, I was the chief financial officer of a multinational investment company.”
Shona had no idea what a chief financial officer did, but it sounded important. “You were their accountant?”
“A little more than that. I ran the company.”
“Theentirecompany?”
Joseph sent her a nervous glance. “We had offices in seven countries and more than three thousand staff working for us.”
That was huge compared to what Shona had imagined. “And now you build tiny homes in a small Montana town? How did that happen?”
“A friend used to rent a house close to Sapphire Bay and spend his summer vacations fishing. One year, I came with him. As soon as I turned off my phone, I felt like I was living on a different planet.” He stopped at the traffic lights and took off his cap. “When Hillary left Los Angeles, Adele was upset and I was on the verge of a breakdown. I came back here hoping it would give me time to think about our future. Unfortunately, I didn't organize any accommodation before I left and there was nothing available. I met Mabel at the general store and she suggested going to The Welcome Center. John gave us a room for as long as we needed it. I guess the rest is history.”
The lights changed and Shona watched the stores on Main Street pass them in a kaleidoscope of color. After Chris died, she’d stayed in Sapphire Bay for similar reasons. There was a simplicity to life in this small town that she’d never found anywhere else. It grounded her, gave her time to think about her life and the world around her.
“Were you stretching the truth when you said you enjoyed woodworking?”
“No. That’s something I’ve always liked. Before I went to college, my dad and I used to spend a lot of time in his workshop. He taught me everything I know.”
Shona had one other question she wanted to ask him. With The Welcome Center getting closer, she had to ask him now. “Do you miss Los Angeles or your previous job?”
When Joseph didn't immediately answer, she thought the worst. Even though he’d lived in Sapphire Bay for three years he might still leave, especially with his dad living in California.
“I don't miss my job. I had a great team working with me, but I was still responsible for the organization’s performance. The hours I worked cost me my marriage and almost my daughter. No job is worth that. But I do miss spending time with my dad. We can fly home whenever we want, but it's not the same as being able to pop around to watch a game or invite him to our house for dinner.” He turned into The Welcome Center’s parking lot. “I'm trying to convince Dad to move here, but he likes living in Los Angeles. He's seventy-six years old and still manages all his commercial properties as well as mentoring other property developers.”
Shona's eyes widened. “How many properties does he own?”
“About fifteen. John’s waiting for us.” He undid his seat belt and opened his door. “I know this is a lot to take in, but it will all make sense soon.”
She hoped so. Because right now, she felt like she’d stepped into a parallel universe.
By the time they reached the edge of the building, John had the back door open. “Come this way. It’ll take us straight to the kitchen.”
“Why are you whispering?” Shona asked.
John poked his head outside and looked both ways before closing the door. “Because I don't want Shelley to know we're here.”
Joseph placed his hand around Shona’s waist. “She has a thing about keeping what The Christmas Wish Program does a secret.”
“The people who provide the wishes are called Santa’s Secret Helpers,” John explained. “And if we don’t get a move on, we’ll miss what they’re doing.”
