July's Jubilant Christmas Jumble Page 2

  “I wasn’t expecting anything else,” Jamie mused.

  “Well it’s got your name on it,” the clerk said tapping the address. “Guess it’s yours either way.”

  Jamie nodded placing the smaller package onto the larger one and hefting them into her arms. “Thank you,” she called back over her shoulder as she made her way awkwardly out of the post office and back to her car.

  The crisp bright sunlight bounced from the glimmering white wrapping paper dazzling Jamie and peeking her curiosity. What a strange little package. “It was probably one of those ridiculous- you won this gift if- thing,” she thought while shoving the box into her back seat. Still she couldn’t seem to resist the urge to open the box. After all it did have her name on it.

  Slipping behind the wheel, Jamie studied the box. It was beautifully wrapped in some sort of shimmering embossed paper that caught the light reflecting them like a millions shards of glass. There were no stickers on it indicating a company name, only a return address that read ‘from Mrs. Claus, North Pole.’

  Shaking her head Jamie pulled the wrapping paper apart, saving it for her grandmother, then pried open the little box. Inside the box a beautifully painted egg sat nestled in a bed of fluffy cotton. The egg, painted in bright orange, with intricate swirls of black white and gold covering its surface was nearly as large as the palm of Jamie’s hand, and she held it studying the exquisite craftsmanship.

  “Now aren’t you a pretty little thing?” she said smiling at the lovely gift. Turning it slowly so that it caught the afternoon sun, Jamie was amazed at the beauty and detail, but she was not prepared for the little thing to pop open as she turned it exposing a small recessed compartment inside.

  Pulling the two halves of the egg apart, Jamie looked inside discovering yet another little gem. With a giggle she lifted the miniature paint brush by a golden thread from the egg. The Christmas ornament looked slightly weathered, yet the blues, reds, whites and silver shimmered softly like light off of the lake.

  It wasn’t the most beautiful ornament Jamie had ever seen, and who in the world decorated their Christmas tree with paintbrushes anyway? However, there was something about it: a warm glow, a subtle light that seemed to infuse the entire craft with a silver glow.

  Tucking the ornament back into the egg and sealing it shut, Jamie put the whole thing back into the box it had come in. Perhaps someone had heard of the themes she was using for the cottages and thought they would share this for the Christmas Cottage. She hoped so because that was exactly where the little brush was going.

  Chapter 4

  “No, no, I think the next one is Harvest Home theme. The Big Bear cottage is on the end,” Mr. Wissen said pointing to the layout of the property.

  Carlos studied his note pad from his initial meeting with Mr. Wissen and for some reason something didn’t add up.

  “I have The July Jubilee as number one,” he said patiently. “Then Garden Gazebo next and Big Bear third,” he said. He had already ordered the paint for all three cottages and would be finishing up the July cottage over the weekend. The little white cabin was coming along nicely, with its deep blue trim and bright red doors and shutters. His little sister Anita was already working on a flag graphic for beside the front door and the deck would be red with white stars scattered across it. At least red would cover the mess of paint that had been spilled there just a day ago.

  “I’m pretty sure that Big Bear is going on the end,” Mr. Wissen said shaking his head of graying hair, as he smoothed his bushy mustache. “I think you’d better check with Jamie when she gets back,” he continued. “No point getting’ ahead of ourselves.”

  Carlos nodded; it would be nice to see the pretty, young woman who had knocked him for a loop so recently. He liked her crazy theme idea for each of the summer cottages. There was something to appeal to everyone. The Fish Camp was perfect for sportsmen looking for a cozy place to launch into fishing on the lake, and the Garden Gazebo would be any young girls dream with its pinks, whites, and flowery themes.

  “I don’t want to disturb her,” Carlos hedged, “I know she is very busy.”

  “Not too busy for this,” Mr. Wissen said. “You’d best meet up with her. I’ll give her a call and get her to come on over.”

  Carlos nodded, not one to argue with the man who had given him this job. He knew it was his little sister’s dream to go to art school, and he was determined to give her every chance he could possibly afford. In another year Pablo would be going off to mechanic’s school, and even with what the boy had saved working with Carlos over the past few years as well as working at a garage, he knew it would be hard to get through the two-year training without a little help.

  “She’ll be right over,” Mr. Wissen said pulling Carlos from his thoughts. “She’s got some questions anyway I think. I’ve gotta run over to the hardware store, so you go on without me. Just take good notes, and I’m sure all will be fine.”

  Carlos gawked as the older man headed to his pickup truck with a backward wave.

  “Carlos?” Jamie Walton’s voice drifted over him like a summer breeze and he turned smiling as he watched her walk toward him. She was a very pretty woman, and she looked cute even with the red, white, and blue stripes in her blonde hair. “Mr. Wissen said you wanted to see me.”

  Carlos shook his head wondering what the old contractor had told her. “There’s a little confusion on the cottages,” Carlos responded. “Jim, Mr. Wissen, says you want Big Bear on the end but the notes he gave me said that cottage is in the middle.”

  “Oh,” Jamie said with a scowl. “That’s odd; I thought he had it all drawn out on the map.” She stepped up to the table where a set of plans had been pinned down with scrap pieces of lumber and bits of rock. She laughed as she looked at the older man’s ragged scrawl. “I see the problem,” she said walking around to the other side of the table. “Mr. Wissen has two cottages marked with a BB. See,” she said pointing at one on the end and another in the middle. “The one in the middle is Butterfly Butte. Big Bear goes on the end.” She looked up meeting Carlos’s gaze and her breath froze in her chest. There was something about the way he was looking at her, his expression so open and admiring that it took her breath away.

  “You have a great plan here,” Carlos said, his eyes not leaving hers. “I think this is a fantastic idea, and it will make your resort even more unique and desirable.”

  Jamie felt her face flush at the man’s kind words. She had put so much of her time and effort into this project. Even though the place had been in the family for ages, and the home had been transformed into a resort shortly after World War II, it seemed like a whole new start for the property.

  For years now her grandmother had been struggling to keep up and make enough to stay in her home. The bed and breakfast side of things did fairly well all year long with locals coming to eat or celebrate special occasions, but time and neglect had taken a toll on the cabins.

  When Jamie had decided to study hospitality in college and told her grandmother of all of her ideas, it seemed to bring new life back to the old woman as well as the old house.

  “Thank you,” she said simply. “I hope that proves true.”

  “I’m sure it will,” Carlos replied. “You’ve got a good eye and a clear notion of what people are looking for. Everyone wants someplace they can escape to now and then and forget about the troubles and trials of the world.”

  Jamie smiled. This was exactly why she had decided on going with themed cottages instead of just painted shacks. Different people enjoyed so many different aspects of life and had a vast range of tastes. It was the same with books; everyone had a special genre that appealed to them. She wanted to be able to appeal to as many people’s fantasies as she could. “How’s the cottage you started coming on?” she asked feeling awkward and proud all at the same time.

  “Why don’t you come and see?” Carlos offered. “I really like the Fourth of July theme,” he continued. “My little sister has insisted
on painting a flag for you in her art class. She’s very talented,” he added quickly hoping she wouldn’t be offended by the comment.

  “That’s very sweet of her,” Jamie said. It felt nice walking across the property next to Carlos. His good looks made her somehow feel pretty instead of plain.

  Together they walked up to the small cottage and Jamie was amazed at the difference a day had made. She blushed slightly again looking at the hastily rolled out red, white and blue splatters on the front porch. “I’m sorry about the mess,” she said almost at the same moment that Carols spoke the same words.

  Jamie looked at the man who was grinning from ear to ear, and they burst into laughter breaking the tension that had hovered around them for minutes now.

  “It’s an easy fix,” Carlos said kindly his voice still echoing with mirth. “Your idea of painting the porch decks are really fun by the way. Plus they’ll be more work for me, so it’s good for business.”

  Jamie chuckled feeling comfortable and at ease with the handsome man. “The blues came out just right,” she said pointing at the fresh trim paint. “You don’t think the white is too stark?”

  “No, it’s good,” Carlos said walking up and pulling the door closed. The bright red of the solid wooden door seemed to make the entire front of the place pop with patriotic flare. “If you don’t’ mind, I’d like to suggest you do a slightly muted shade of the same red on the deck then I’ll have my sister paint the stars, so it looks like they’re filtering down from the sky.”

  Jamie turned studying Carlos for a few moments. Somehow he seemed to have captured the essence of her ideas. “I think that sounds wonderful,” she said. “I suppose some people think that it’s silly having a Fourth of July themed cottage,” she said again feeling that tinge of insecurity at her own ideas. Part of her knew they were good, but another part questioned every move she made.

  “I think the patriotic feeling of the cottage will be a huge hit,” Carlos said. “Besides the Fourth is a big holiday, and with it being the height of summer, it will be very busy too.”

  Jamie stepped up onto the front porch imagining the place when it was finished. It was an added expense to have each cottage themed, but she’d fallen in love with the idea the minute it had popped into her head. “Summer is our busiest season,” Jamie agreed biting her bottom lip. “Maybe I shouldn’t do a Christmas Cottage then.”

  “No way,” Carlos said his voice rising an octave in his excitement. “That one will stay booked year round.”

  “Do you really think so?”

  “I’m sure of it,” Carlos assured. “People love Christmas. Everyone gets that warm fuzzy glow, and the whole Christmas cheer thing.” Impulsively he grabbed Jamie’s hand feeling those same warm fuzzies run up his arm as he dragged her down the line of cottages to a steep roofed building with a peaked porch trimmed in wooden log like railings.

  Jamie looked down at her hand in Carlos’s and smiled. His enthusiasm was contagious, and she felt it bubbling in her stomach as together they looked at the hut.

  “I can almost image Mr. and Mrs. Claus sitting here drinking hot chocolate and talking about all the good boys and girls,” the man said. “You could have reindeer antlers, over the door and an evergreen tree in by the step. The reds and greens and whites all playing together to create that festive feeling that only comes at Christmas time each year. You’ll be selling Christmas no matter what the season.”

  Jamie looked over at the man who was still holding her hand amazed at his enthusiastic speech. “You have an artist’s eye,” she mused.

  Carlos shook his head, dropping her hand in embarrassment. “I like to see things come together is all,” he protested. “A fresh coat of paint, a little trim work and everything looks new, different, fresh,” he said waving his hands as if holding a magic wand.

  “I don’t believe you,” Jamie said crossing her arms. “You see the beauty of a thing and really want to bring it out. I’m surprised you didn’t say something about the color pallets I’ve chosen for the cabins.”

  Carlos ducked his head looking up through his dark lashes at her and grinned. He actually had several suggestions for a few of her cottages. Variety was important and he thought that a few of them were too similar to really stand out.

  “You do have an opinion,” Jamie gasped. “Go on, spill I won’t be offended.”

  Carlos lifted his head looking down the row of tiny houses that followed the curve of the shore.

  “I think the Butterfly should be yellow,” he finally said, looking up at her and expecting a disapproving scowl. “I would trim it out in white and give it soft burgundy shutters, and then you could add green flower boxes at the windows.”

  “What else?” Jamie asked as the image coalesced in her mind.

  Carlos turned back to the little Christmas Cottage scratching his chin. “Santa Red is the color for this place,” he began watching for the boss’s reaction. “I’d also add a bit of icicle ginger bread trim around the peeks of the house and put white lights behind them. It would give it the feeling of ice and snow.”

  Jamie stepped up onto the little porch trying to see what Carlos was saying. The front porch was rustic but when Jim Wissen finished the benches for the cottage she could imagine people sitting there gazing out across the frozen lake with hot chocolate in hand. “I think I see what you mean,” she said walking the length of the small stoop. “Could you get me some samples or something to see how I like it?”

  Carlos nodded. “When we finish up the Fourth this weekend, I’ll do a few swatches for you, so you can decide.”

  “Do you think Mr. Wissen could make me those icicles you mentioned?”

  “Jim? Sure he’s good at all that stuff if he has the time. If his son ever decides to take over full time, I’m not sure Jim will ever come out of the wood shop,” he finished with a smile.

  “Anything else?” Jamie asked looking at the row of small houses. “I really appreciate your input.” Jamie’s father had thought her plan to outfit the little houses and try to rent them a waste of time and money, and he had argued against it as a whole. Jamie was just lucky that her grandmother had believed in it and supported her. Carlos’s insight into what would draw people to rent the cottages was heartening, and she felt a warm glow fill her heart as he smiled back at her.

  “Why don’t I finish the one I’ve started then give you ideas as we go along?” he asked, secretly delighting in the idea of working more closely with the bright young woman who was going to turn her family’s business around.

  “Deal,” Jamie said reaching out and taking his hand. “I guess I’ll see you this weekend.”

  Carlos clasped her hand in his holding it a little longer before letting her go. “You can meet Pablo and Anita,” he said flashing his brilliant smile.

  Something delightful wriggled inside of Jamie as she said her good-byes and headed back to the house. “I look forward to it,” she said hurrying home to her grandmother.

  Carlos watched Jamie walk away. It had probably been foolish giving her his opinions on the rental cabins, but things were picking up around the Lake District, and more and more summer holiday makers were looking for fun adventurous things to do.

  The island, though fascinating and beautiful, was always so crowded in the season not to mention expensive if you planned to stay there for very long. He really believed that what Jamie Walton was doing at the Old Inn was worthwhile in so many ways. It had been fun and exciting to share his ideas with her as well.

  For years he had simply made a living painting over whatever his client had asked him to. Sometimes cringing at the very colors he had been asked to use. For once he had the opportunity to help someone find the perfect balance of whimsy, color, and flare.

  Turning back to his work on the July Jubilee, Carlos picked up his brushes once more with a grin. That morning he had taken some scrapings from the old house, carefully painting over them again with white paint and tonight he would send them away for testing.<
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  Hopefully, they would know what the old house with the round turret and high widow’s walk had looked like in her glory days. He hoped and prayed he would be allowed to restore the old house to the original Victorian colors.

  The area was well known for its old houses and the Walton place had weathered the test of time moving from a ships captain’s home, to an inn, to a bed and breakfast resort. He was sure that with care and the right marketing, Jamie could make it the next big holiday spot. She could bring Christmas in July to the lake shore creating memories that would last others a lifetime.

  Chapter 5

  “You got more stuff,” Lavinia said as Jamie walked into the house that afternoon. “I didn’t open it though.”

  “Gram, you can open things if you want to,” Jamie chided excitement filling her as she looked at the oversized boxes sitting next to the door. “Come on let’s see what it is this time.”

  “Seems like there’s three or four deliveries here every day not to mention the stuff you pick up in town,” Lavinia said taking a small knife from the cutting block.

  “It’s like Christmas every day,” Jamie giggled, “and I know you love it as much as I do.”

  Lavinia handed her granddaughter the knife and smiled. “It is kind of fun,” she agreed. “I never thought I’d see the day someone else would love this place the way I do.”

  Jamie leaned over placing a kiss on her grandmother’s pale cheek. “I do love this place Gram, and I know it can be everything we dream of.”

  “That and a load of hard work,” Lavinia said as Jamie sliced over the brown packing tape with the knife. The first box contained sheets and linens for the various cabins. They had stayed with the classic white that could be sent out for cleaning and come back like snow again and again.

  The second box contained towels in a variety of colors that matched the décor of each cabin in various ways. Big Bear’s towels were a dark red with a black stripe and the silhouette of a bear on them, while Butterfly Butte’s towels were a soft lavender with large yellow butterflies along the seams.