July's Jubilant Christmas Jumble Read online

  “Now those are mighty pretty,” Lavinia said. “Guests will feel special having towels like that to use.”

  “Yes, I just hope they don’t ruin them,” Jamie admitted. “We do have backups in plain white and simple stripes as well, so we’ll just have to wait and see.”

  “What’s in the next one,” Lavinia asked impatiently as she stacked the towels on the table.

  Jamie opened the next box not recognizing the address and gasped as a stunning red, white, and blue quilt puffed out of the top of the box.

  “I didn’t know you ordered a quilt,” Lavinia said helping Jamie pull the quilt out and gazing at its intricate star patterned design. “I didn’t,” Jamie said smoothing the quilt over the top of the box. “It looks handmade, you can see each stitch and the way the blue and red striping frames each star on a background of cream muslin is stunning.”

  Lavinia ran her hand over the quilt and smiled. “It’s mighty pretty,” she said admiring the way the stars seemed to nestle in their own quilted little frame. “Here’s a note,” the old woman said pulling the paper from the box.

  “What’s it say,” Jamie asked carefully folding the quilt and lifting out the two matching pillow shams that came with it.

  “Dear Mrs. Walton,” her grandmother began looking up at Jamie with a questioning gaze.

  Jamie waved her grandmother on impatiently. “Read it, read it.”

  Dear Mrs. Walton,

  I’m sure that you won’t remember me. It has been years since my husband and I visited you at that Old Inn, but we have never forgotten your hospitality and the quiet retreat your home gave us.

  My husband, after returning from service in Vietnam, struggled so to find an inner peace again that we didn’t know if he would ever be able to function in wider society again. Your Inn was a place of respite, reflection, and healing for him.

  I heard recently that you are renovating the cabins and that one of them would have a Fourth of July theme. I wanted to offer you this quilt as a thank you for the time we spent there and for keeping your Inn going.

  After my husband’s passing, I started this quilt and couldn’t think of a better place for it to find a home. I hope that it will bring a smile to many who serve and need a reminder of who they are.

  Best Regards,

  Barbara Caddy

  “Well that was unexpected,” Lavinia said her eyes misty.

  Jamie hugged her grandmother tight. “Gram so many people have passed through here wanting to play in the lake or experience a summer in the area. You just never know how much a place like this might mean to someone.”

  Lavinia waved her granddaughter away again. “Oh, go on and open the next one,” she said dabbing at her eyes.

  Jamie sliced open the next box and again a large quilt pushed itself out of the folds. This one was thicker and the entire background was a rich black. Across the dark backdrop brilliant red poinsettias seemed to spring to life picked out in red thread and with shimmering golden knots in the center of each one.

  The poinsettias were staggered across the quilt the way a checkerboard is set in diagonal squares and every other square had a heart stitched into the fabric.

  “I’ve never seen anything like it,” Lavinia said tracing her fingers around the green trim that edged the whole thing.

  “Look at the back,” Jamie cried with a giggle flipping back one corner to reveal a red flannel backing covered in tiny green holly leaves.

  Lavinia ran her hand over the flannel feeling the warm felt under her hands. “That’d keep a body warm on a cold night,” she laughed.

  “Look,” Jamie said lifting out the matching shams, “another note.”

  Dear Mrs. Walton, she read in a rush.

  I have heard about the transformation taking place at the Old Inn, and I have to say I approve.

  I’m a very old woman now and not as good at sewing as I was, but I wanted to send this along for what rumor is calling the Christmas Cottage. Many years ago, when my husband and I were first married we wanted to stay at the lake for our honeymoon. Being young and just starting out we had very little extra income. It was nearly Christmas when we wed, and despite the cold and snow, we determined to come and see the lake.

  While walking the grounds of your property, we came upon your father who was busy pushing snow off the roofs of the cottages. When he found out, we were newlyweds with little funds, he asked my husband to help him clear the roofs, and then let us stay in one of the cottages through Christmas at no cost.

  I’ll never forget the kindness of your father, or the time we spent enjoying the frozen landscape, or snuggling in a cozy cottage by an open fire at night.

  I wanted to send you this gift as a memento of that joyous time. I’m so happy that the Old Inn is getting a new lease on life.

  Yours Truly,

  Paulette Rose

  “Gram I had no idea your father did that,” Jamie said putting the letter down with care. “What a wonderful story.”

  Lavinia laughed. “Father was always doing things like that. One year he hired a hobo to help him clear one of the fields. Turned out the man was an author and he wrote a story about a woman moving into a house just like ours. Only his had a ghost that fell in love with the new owner and such in his tale.”

  “No ghosts in our attic,” Jamie agreed with a grin.

  “These will be lovely in the cottages,” Lavinia continues. “I think maybe we should think about hanging them though. We can’t be washing them every time we change guests.”

  “That’s a great idea Gram, but I think I’ll put them on the beds and take pictures before we do that. They’ll look so inviting.”

  “You have a good head for marketing,” Lavinia said. “I was never much good at that, and your father never wanted to bother much with the place. I guess he always felt it was too much work.”

  “It is a lot of work,” Jamie agreed, “but I love it. I hope we can keep it open all year round.” She had so many ideas for extending the time that the house and cabins could have guests. She even hoped that they might be able to include a special Christmas event if she could figure out how.

  Lavinia reached over and patted Jamie’s cheek. “Your head is full of ideas,” she said with a smile. “Someday I hope you’ll be living here and raising children of your own.”

  Jamie blushed, thinking about the handsome Carlos. She was too busy right now to think of a future with a family of her own. “That will have to wait I think,” she said. “Right now I need to get onto the computer and see about interviewing some help around here.”

  Chapter 6

  Over the next few days Jamie was busy interviewing staff for the summer season. She knew that many of the crew would have to be college students, and she prayed that everything would come together well, so that money wouldn’t be an issue.

  She was surprised when late Saturday afternoon her grandmother called her from her office.

  “You have company,” Lavinia said with a grin, nodding her head toward the front door.

  Jamie scooted around the corner and smiled as she saw Carlos standing in the front room gazing around him in wonder. The Old Inn had a large lounge and living room where guests could sit and relax after a busy day, and the opposing room was a spacious dining area that looked out at the lake. All of the rooms were full of antiques, and little trinkets collected over the years that created the air of aged elegance.

  “Hello,” Jamie said with a smile, her insides warming at the smile that Carlos offered her.

  “Good afternoon,” Carlos said. “I came to tell you that we have finished the Fourth,” he said.

  “It’s finished?” Jamie asked excitement zinging through her.

  “Yes, I thought perhaps you would like to see it.”

  “I’d love that,” Jamie said hurrying back to the kitchen for her jacket. “I’ll be right there,” she hollered over her shoulder, “don’t go anywhere.”

  Carlos stood looking at the interior of the Old Inn
. It was filled with an eclectic assortment of elegant and comfortable looking furniture. The walls of the large room were a pale yellow that caught the light and bounced it off the white paneled ceiling and trim like light on the waves. It was just bright enough to pull the warm glow from the lake indoors even on the darkest days.

  The polished hardwood floors and large area rugs that grounded each seating arrangement made the room cozy and comfortable while still remaining elegant and beautiful.

  “Ready,” Jamie said bouncing back out to the entry. “Let’s see what you’ve got for me.”

  Carlos smiled. He liked the younger Miss Walton’s enthusiasm and hoped that her plans for her family’s resort would work out well. He liked seeing people succeed. Hard work and a willingness to do what was needed often paid off.

  “My brother and sister helped to finish everything up today,” Carlos said. “If you like the flag plaque Anita made we will hang it for you.”

  “That sounds nice,” Jamie said walking along the path with Carlos. As they moved down the line of cabins her eyes grew wide when she saw the Fourth of July cottage come into view.

  Now that the front of the cabin was completely finished it took her breath away. The front porch deck, which was carefully roped off to keep people from carelessly wandering across it, was a warm, rich, red that hinted toward orange and both large and small stars of white were scattered across the boards.

  “It’s beautiful!” Jamie gushed, examining every aspect of the façade. The deep blues, bright reds, and crisp whites, made the whole thing pop and dazzle like a sparkler.

  “Carlos,” a girl’s voice echoed from inside the cottage, “I think you should tell our boss lady to put a star on the door.” The voice stopped as a teen girl, her long black hair pulled up into a pony tail, turned going as red as the door she was pointing at when she saw Jamie.

  “Anita, I’d like you to meet Miss Jamie Walton,” Carlos said his eyes sparkling at his sister’s discomfort.

  “I’m so sorry,” the girl said dropping her eyes. “I didn’t mean to be rude or forward.”

  “That’s alright,” Jamie said trying to put the young girl at ease. “I like your idea about the star. I could probably get one of the lacquered ones painted like the flag.”

  “Oh no, don’t do that!” the girl said flushing again, and shaking her head in chagrin. “I’m sorry. I did it again.”

  Jamie stepped up to the railing of the cabin and looked across at Anita. “Tell me what you think,” she demanded. “I have enough to deal with without having to guess. You’ve already done a wonderful job on the porch so let me hear it.”

  Anita looked at her brother her dark eyes flashing her doubt.

  “Go on,” he prompted. “Let her hear your idea. The worst that can happen is she says no.”

  Anita nodded biting her lip but then spoke. “If it were me, I would find one that is old and starting to fade or rust. It will anchor things highlighting the old aspect of the little house. The inside is very quaint and old fashioned with the stone fire place and wooden kitchenette.”

  Jamie squinted trying to picture what the girl was saying and finally nodded. “I see what you mean. Not everything has to be shiny and bright.”

  Anita nodded, smiling her thanks. “I have the plaque for you as well if you think you might like it.”

  Jamie could see that Anita wasn’t overly confident about her work, and she nodded encouragingly. “I’d love to see it.”

  From behind the door Anita pulled a bent wood plaque painted like an old flag. The white paint in the background was yellowed and cracked while the red, white, and blue aspects of the flag seaming to flow into one another as if rippled in a breeze.

  “It’s beautiful,” Jamie whispered as Anita held it up next to the door way. “It sets everything else off and seems to make a statement at the same time.”

  Anita grinned, her smile growing brighter by the second. “You really like it?” she asked.

  “I do,” Jamie assured. “I think it will be perfect. How did you get the crackled texture on it? It must have taken hours.”

  Anita’s smile brightened as she shook her head. “If you really want to know, once I had painted the background I just went over it with white glue. As it dries it crackles,” she finished still smiling.

  “So we good to go big bro,” a lanky teenage boy slipped around the door draping an arm over Anita’s shoulders in a nonchalant manner.

  “Looks like it,” Carlos said. “Pablo I’d like you to meet Miss Walton.”

  “How’s it,” the young man said jerking his head in greeting.

  “It’s good,” Jamie said. “You two have done wonderful work.”

  “Thanks,” the young man said taking the piece of art from his sister. “You want me to put this up?”

  “Yes, thank you,” Jamie said. “I’m so glad you could help your brother and get everything done so fast.”

  “Work is good,” Pablo said. “We can always use it.” He turned grabbing a hook from a bag and positioned the plaque next to the door checking to see that Jamie was happy with the location before making it fast.

  “Do you work with your brother often?” Jamie asked as she watched the young man carefully set the handmade flag and step back.

  “Yeah, as much as I can. I work at a garage in town after school the rest of the time.”

  Jamie looked at Carlos who only shrugged. “Business can get slow in the winter,” he said.

  “What about you Anita?” Jamie called. “Do you work as well?”

  “Not as much,” the girl replied. “I have a lot happening at school, but sometimes I make things and sell them.” She turned back toward the plaque she had created and Jamie smiled.

  “You’re very talented.”

  “Thank you,” the girl said shyly.

  “Do you think you could help me with decorating the cabins?” she looked first at Anita then at Carlos. “Just weekends for now, and maybe in the summer you could help out here. I’m having a terrible time getting staff I can depend on.”

  Carlos turned looking at his employer. Was she seriously offering his brother and sister work? If Anita had a real summer job perhaps she could save that money for her schooling later.

  “It’s alright with me,” he finally replied. “What do you say ‘Nita?”

  “I think I’d like that,” the teen’s eyes glowed with excitement. “What would I need to do?”

  “We’ll tackle this cottage first,” Jamie said. “There’s a great deal of decorating to do not to mention putting the furniture together.”

  “I can help with that,” Pablo spoke up from his place by the door. “I’m pretty handy.”

  “Perfect,” Jamie said with a smile. “Why don’t you all come over to the house and fill out an application?” she said. “I’ll introduce you to my grandmother, and we’ll figure out a schedule.”

  Carlos smiled at Jamie. It would be wonderful to have his brother and sister in steady summer work. Too often, he had to work long days and evenings to finish a job, and he didn’t get to see them as much as he would like to.

  “Thank you,” he whispered softly as she turned toward the house.

  “No. Thank you,” Jamie insisted. “I think this is going to be a win-win situation all the way around,” she grinned brightly as she stared into his warm hazel green gaze. Who knew that knocking a painter off his ladder would be so good for business?

  ***

  “Jamie! Is that you?” Lavinia yelled from the living area of the Inn as Jamie escorted Carlos and his siblings into the kitchen.

  “Yes, Gram and I brought guests,” she said with a giggle. Something in the kitchen smelled wonderful and Jamie immediately recognized the smell of her grandmother’s famous apple crumble.

  “Who’d you bring?” the old woman said entering the kitchen from their living quarters. “Oh it’s you,” she said smiling at Carlos. “Who are these two?” she asked pointing a finger at the younger ones.

&
nbsp; “I’m Pablo,” Pablo spoke up, “and this is my sister Anita.”

  “Aren’t you pretty as a picture,” Mrs. Walton said with a grin. “All that inky hair,” she shook her head. “I had me a bunch of hair too once but I’ve let those hair dressers nibble away at it until it’s more like Q-tip fluff than hair.”

  Anita grinned at the older woman shyly.

  “Gram, Anita and Pablo are going to work for us. They’ll start on weekends. Then when school is out they’ll work this summer.”

  “Sounds like a good plan to me,” Lavinia said. “In the mean time why don’t they stay for supper?” she pinned Carlos with a glare that indicated he’d better say yes. “I’m trying some new menus for summer fare, and you can be my taste testers.”

  Jamie nodded at Carlos to say yes, and he quickly picked up on the cue. “If it’s not too much trouble,” he said taking his painter’s hat off now that he was inside. “It would be lovely to try anything you cook I’m sure.”

  Lavinia waved the man’s kind words away, but blushed prettily at the same time.

  “I’ll just get the paperwork ready,” Jamie said looking at her three guests. “Make yourself at home, and I’ll be right back.”

  “Take a seat,” Lavinia said moving to the large coffee pot and pouring a cup then hurrying to the fridge and pulling out her own special hot chocolate blend. “I’ll warm this up for you two young ones,” she said putting it into the microwave and handing Carlos the coffee. “You look like the type that takes it straight,” she added nodding at his acknowledgement.

  Together everyone moved to the large kitchen table where the family ate as Lavinia handed out the hot cocoa. “It’s still pretty cold out there,” she offered even though the day had been sunny and bright.

  “Here you go,” Jamie said returning to the kitchen with two clip boards. “If you’ll fill these out, I’ll get everything in order. Carlos, I mean your brother,” Jamie hesitated with a blush, “said you already have papers for work, so there are no issues there. Fill out as much as you can, and if I need anything else.” She stopped looking at her. “I was going to say I’d call, but I don’t have a number.” She looked at Carlos as if this were some oversight on his part.