Free Christmas on My Mind by Janet Dailey Page A

had stashed away, the down payment was doable, and there would be enough money left over for some basic refurbishing. It wouldn’t be a slam-dunk, she reminded herself. She’d need to get the bed-and-breakfast up and running and make enough money for the monthly payments. If she didn’t get enough business, she’d have to get a job. Otherwise, she could go belly-up and lose her whole investment.
    The prospect was scary—more than scary, it was terrifying. But what would she have if she didn’t take a chance and do this?
    With the key in her pocket, she stood at the gate and watched the Cadillac drive away. Questions flocked into her mind—all the questions she’d forgotten to ask. Where were the washer and dryer hookups? Where was the furnace? What was stored in the garage?
    She would have to go back to find the answers. Maybe Ben would have a flashlight she could borrow. Or maybe she should buy her own. She was already becoming too dependent on the handsome sheriff.
    The sheriff who, if he chose, could strip her secrets bare with a few clicks of his computer mouse.
    But never mind that. Right now she had other things on her mind. Excitement gave her feet wings as she retraced her steps back up the gently sloping streets to the Marsden home. She could hardly wait to tell Clara about the house.
    She found the front door unlocked, but nobody was home. Clara had left a note on the kitchen table.
    Jess—I’ve gone to an early lunch and a matinee with some friends. Make yourself comfortable. If you want to start calling, the list is by the phone. Just tell folks that you want to confirm what they’re bringing and remind them to have the food at the gym by 6:30 on December 18. Thanks. C.
    Jess changed out of her track suit, into jeans and a turtleneck, then warmed some leftover lasagna and washed it down with a can of Diet Coke. Hunger satisfied, she settled herself next to the phone on Clara’s small desk, braced herself for an onerous task and began calling the people on the list.
    Everyone who answered was nice. But after the first few calls, Jess came to anticipate the moment when, after hearing her name, they’d ask who she was. “I’m new in town and right now I’m staying with Clara,” became her stock answer. Explaining that she was Francine’s daughter would only complicate things. Word would get around soon enough. More than likely, it already had.
    She was a third of the way down the list and taking a break to stand up and stretch when the phone rang. It was Silas, letting her know her car was ready. He’d be by to pick her up and take her back to the garage, where he could print out the paperwork and run her credit card.
    True to his word, he showed up a few minutes later, a lanky, plain-spoken man dressed in grease-stained coveralls. “I met your wife and daughter yesterday,” Jess told him as they drove away. “I liked them both.”
    â€œYeah, they’re a good pair.” He spoke with a slow drawl. “I guess you noticed how Katy is. We prayed for a baby for years. When God finally answered, he sent us Katy. We figured we must’ve deserved something special to get one of his sweetest angels.”
    â€œThat’s what she is, all right.” Jess swallowed the lump that had risen in her throat. “She’s lucky to have such loving parents. Thanks for getting my car done so fast, by the way, and for picking me up.”
    â€œNo trouble at all,” he said. “Connie tells me you’re Francine’s daughter.”
    He would know, of course. “That’s right,” Jess said. “Since she’s all the family I have, I plan to stay around and try to help her.”
    â€œWell, good luck with that. Francine’s got a kind heart. But she can be a handful when she’s liquored up.”
    â€œSo I’m told. I’m hoping to change that.”
    â€œWell, if you can, it’ll