“Right back at you, Captain.”
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Sneak Peek
Read the first chapter from Marisa’s other Ornamental Match Maker novel:
A Snowy Delivery for Christmas
Chapter 1
Christmas Cove, South Bristol, Maine, 1921
Delmar Peale wearily climbed the steps of the red-brick rooming house. He reached into his pocket for the key and then shook his sandy-brown head. Absolutely no one locked their doors during the day. What a thought! To actually lock your doors before dark! Del snorted at his nonsense before heading inside.
The rooming house was comfortable and affordable. Even so, it would never be home. Thoughts of the house across town gripped him with a twinge of grief. He must be tired, Del thought since the grief didn’t grip him with its usual sharpness.
Warmth surrounded him when he stepped into the foyer. While hanging his coat on the mirrored hall tree, a cheery voice called his name.
“Mr. Peale! My, but I am glad I caught you. It saves me climbing all those stairs to your set of rooms.” His apple-cheeked landlady seemed to appear out of nowhere, causing Del to inhale with surprise. He should be used to it by now. She and her husband moved with amazing speed and quiet, especially for older people.
The woman and her husband were short and round. They reminded Del of white-haired elves. Jolly was the best word to describe both of their personalities. When they laughed, it seemed their entire body became involved in the merriment. Just now, Mrs. Klaussen’s eyes twinkled, but her face wore a serious expression.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Klaussen. What can I do for you?” Weary from a ten-hour shift at the factory, he didn’t want to make small talk. Fatigue wouldn’t stop him from being polite to this delightful elf-woman.
The landlady looked at him speculatively. “It’s Saturday, Mr. Peale. Did you volunteer to work another weekend shift at the cannery?” Clicking her teeth, she shook her head. “You aren’t doing yourself any favors that way. Something has to change, my dear. Remember that, won’t you? It has to change.”
Her words, spoken with motherly concern, baffled him. He was supposed to remember that he had to make changes? If he ever wanted a life that involved more than working, eating, and sleeping, well, he would do something differently. But, remember that he has to make changes? That sounded absolutely batty to him. Batty or not, an image of his fellow border, Josephine Withers, flitted into his mind. Lovely, composed Josephine.
When he stayed silent, the white-haired woman reached up to pat his hand as she sighed. “Never mind about that right now. Mr. Klaus and…” The woman broke off and started again. “That is, Mr. Klaussen and I will be gone through the holiday. Since it’s already two days until Christmas, we need to leave tonight. We’ll be back a few days after the holiday. After all, we’ll want to return to Maine where it’s warm.” He nodded even while he thought her talk about Maine being warm was one of the oddest things he’d heard in a while.
With a happy lilt to her voice, the woman continued, “Be sure you don’t use the fireplace in your sitting room. I had the chimney checked today and learned how dangerous it would be for you to light a fire in there.”
“Yes, Mrs. Klaussen. I understand and hope you enjoy your Christmas holiday.” He turned to move to the stairs, longing for his comfortable chair upstairs.
“What are your plans for the holiday?” Her question brought to mind images of Christmas past. Of Gloria and Jimmy along with his parents sitting at the dining room table.
He shook his head to clear his mind and answered Mrs. Klaussen. “No plans, ma’am. Just going to stay here on my own.”
“Hmm. That’s what I thought. Everything will work out fine, then.” She giggled and her merriment made him wonder about her for a moment. She didn’t look crazy. Instead, the woman had the look of someone with a secret.
He raised an eyebrow questioningly and she stifled the giggle. Sparkles seemed to surround her hands as the women held out a package to him. “Never mind, for now, Mr. Peale. You will need this package tonight.”
Where had the gift come from? He was certain her hands had been empty before he turned toward the stairs. Had fatigue caused him to imagine the shimmer in the air? Mrs. Klaussen must have stirred up dust when she reached for the package, he reasoned to himself.
The box was wrapped in lovely red-foil paper with a silver ribbon tied around it. A large bow finished off the festive look. “Thank you for the gift. I didn’t expect you to…”
She interrupted him with a slash of her hand. “Now, none of that. This is something you will need. Keep it in your icebox, mind you. It has to be kept cold until the surprise happens.”
Very little that the woman said today made sense. “Until the surprise happens?” In a coaxing voice, he repeated her words, hoping she would give him more details.
“You’ll know when it’s the right moment. Wait until then. It’ll be more fun. And remember, don’t use the fireplace. It will ruin everything if you do.” She wagged a finger at him as she said those last words.
Like a boy standing before his teacher, he obediently nodded, a lock of brown bobbing against his forehead. “Yes, I’ll remember and follow what you said.”
“Well, it will be fine then. You’ll have a happy Christmas.” She beamed at him. Del thought, not for
