Hannah shrugged. “I have no idea. It’s just part of Evergreen. It was Allie’s grandpa’s truck. Allie and I went to high school together. We used to beg her grandfather to let us drive this truck. Allie loves it, even if the truck is finicky sometimes.”
“Sentimental reasons.” Her voice softened. “I get it.”
“Whenever anyone needs a truck, she lets us use it.”
“That’s really nice of her.” Katie laughed. “I feel like I’ve said that like a hundred times already. Everyone really is nice.”
“Guilty as charged,” Hannah said with a wrinkle of her nose. “And proud of it.”
The truck rumbled along, vibrating under their feet. It took less than two minutes to make a loop around the square and one turn to arrive in front of Barbara’s Country Inn. Hannah parked right in front, noticing the inn had transformed into a Christmas paradise since yesterday. A pretty wreath hung on the door, and even the garden trellis now seemed festive decorated with ribbon and decorations.
“I feel like a dope,” Katie said. “I could have definitely walked this far.”
“No way. I was coming here, anyway. It’s my pleasure.” She got out and came around to the other side of the truck to help the new guest. “You’re going to love this place.”
Hannah watched as Katie got out of the truck and saw Barbara’s Country Inn for the first time. Katie shook her head. “I honestly think I already do.”
Hannah wasn’t sure if Katie meant Evergreen or the inn, but both were equally wonderful.
Chapter Four
Katie slid her suitcase out carefully to be sure she didn’t scrape the paint on the old truck. She knew how much effort went into the restoration of these old vehicles. Hopefully she’d see the truck around town again while she was here so she could snag a picture to send home to her brother. He’d be so jealous to have missed out on the ride.
Hannah had already skipped around to the passenger’s side of the truck. “Got it?”
“Yeah. Thanks.” Katie set the bag down and lifted the handle, but it wasn’t very easy to roll on the snow along the edge of the driveway, so she lifted it and carried it to the sidewalk, which had been cleared.
A wooden sign painted in forest green hung from two slight chains on a tall wrought iron bracket with Barbara’s Country Inn in fancy white scripted letters.
On the porch, two people passed garland back and forth around the tapered white columns on the front of the Craftsman-style house. Gray stacked stone covered the bottom of each post to the handrail, which offset the deep burgundy house paint. The inn had welcoming curb appeal.
“Hey! Hannah!” A good-looking guy stepped from around one of the porch columns. His close-cropped curly hair accentuated his big brown eyes. “You’re just in time for the lights.” His smile was playful, and he couldn’t take his eyes off Hannah.
“Great. I brought some more snowflakes for you, and a couple of other things you can use inside or out.” She walked up the sidewalk, stopping just short of the front steps. With her chin tipped up toward the man in a big smile, she introduced her. “Katie, this is Elliott. He runs the arts center in town.”
“Hey, Katie.” He ran down the steps toward her. “Hannah, I told you, I’d like to keep calling it The Turner Tinker Shop.”
“And that’s sweet of you, but it’s an arts center too.” She turned to Katie. “The Turner Tinker Shop used to be my parents’ store, where everyone in town used to go to get things repaired.”
“I reopened it.” Elliott chimed in. “And I still like fixing things. Plus, there’s so much history in the name.” He turned his focus to Katie. “You should stop by and see it, Katie. I just set up a new area for crafts, and a glassblowing studio.”
“Wow,” Katie said. “There’s a lot going on in this town.” People thought New York was busy, but this place had more action per capita hands down, and she hadn’t even unpacked yet.
Hannah’s gaze never left him. Katie could feel Hannah’s appreciation for what Elliott was building. They were so cute together.
“Plus, the rumor around town is the place has something to do with a secret Christmas time capsule.” Elliott winked.
“A Christmas time capsule?” Katie wondered when the amazement would end. “Really?”
“Really,” Hannah said with a sheepish grin. “Actually, I think that’s the town’s longest-running rumor. I used to hear my parents talk about it when I was a kid, but it’s one of those things that people really aren’t sure actually exists.”
Katie liked Hannah’s honesty. “Well, as rumors go, I’m sure that one is pretty good for tourism. Like the snow globe or that mailbox.”
“Those aren’t rumors. The snow globe and mailbox…they exist,” Hannah said with all seriousness.
“You mean to tell me you believe in the snow globe granting wishes?” How gullible did these people think she was?
“Oh, I most certainly do. I’ve seen it in action,” Hannah said.
Katie wasn’t about to argue with yet another Evergreen resident who seemed to believe in Christmas magic, but someone was crazy, and she was pretty sure it wasn’t her. Then again, if she did run across that snow globe, it couldn’t hurt to make a wish just in case. If that snow globe grants wishes, that would make one bestselling novel!
From up on the porch, a woman called out, “A little help?” She struggled with an armful of garland already adorned with silver ornaments. Definitely a two-person job.
“Oh! Excuse me. I’m helping Megan.” Elliott touched Hannah’s arm before acknowledging Katie. “Welcome to Evergreen.” He took the stairs two at a time to the rescue.
Katie wished someone looked at her the way Elliott had just looked at Hannah. “You two are the cutest couple.”
“Huh?” Hannah stepped back as if what Katie had just said made no sense at all.
“You two.” She pointed toward Elliott up on the porch.
“Oh. Us? A couple? No. We’re just friends,” Hannah insisted. “That’s it.”
“Oh. Sorry. The smiling and the banter and the back and forth…y’know, just the overall demeanor. I thought—”
Hannah gave an insistent, “No.”
“Okay.” She wasn’t buying that at all.
“Common mistake, but we’ve been friends since we were little. He runs the arts center, and he’s way too handso—Busy. We’re both very busy. Let’s get Megan to check you in. Shall we?”