Carrolls and Firrs: A Christmas Novella by Janice M. Whiteaker

Author:Janice M. Whiteaker [Whiteaker, Janice M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-10-31T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

DOUG TAPPED HIS fingers against the counter and stared out the dusty front window. Was this what he really wanted to do?

Was it worth putting everything on the line based on a hunch things might work out the way he wanted?

He took a deep breath of the musty, stale air. Standing here wasn’t going to help him make his mind up.

Pulling out his cell phone, Doug touched his way through the screen until he found the number he wanted. There was only one thing that could help him with this decision.

The phone rang in his ear. Then it rang again.

And again.

Then voicemail. He took a breath and ran through what he should say in a race against the beeps, counting down the seconds until he had to leave a message for the woman who was making him rethink all his plans.

A louder beep came right before he started to speak. Doug glanced at the screen. It was Ellie calling him back. Already.

He switched calls hoping the smile on his face didn’t come through in his voice. “Hey.”

It did. Doug tried to pull back, knock his feelings down a peg. But her sweet voice on the line made it hard.

Almost impossible.

“Hi. Sorry. I had to run outside.” Ellie’s words were breathy, rushed.

She’d hurried.

Doug walked to the front window and tried to look up the block. “Are you still outside?” The deep set of the window made it impossible to see past the first couple of buildings.

“Yes. I’m not so sure my parents are quite ready to know the full truth about my plans to fix the shop.” She laughed a little. “They’d probably revolt.”

Doug stepped out the front door and onto the sidewalk. He could barely see Ellie tucked against one of her parent’s buildings. “Start walking away from downtown. Toward the elementary school.”

She shifted, leaning out and looking in either direction. “Are you down here?”

“Maybe.” He stepped farther away from the building and held up one hand.

Ellie laughed in his ear as he watched her throw a quick glance over her shoulder hurry his way, ending their call as she went.

She was still laughing when she stopped in front of the building. “What are you doing?”

He thumbed at the building. “I want to show you something.”

Ellie raised her brows, a smile quirking her lips. “A strange man trying to get me to come into a vacant building so he can show me something? I feel like this is a situation my parents warned me about.”

“You sure?” Doug wiggled his eyebrows at her. “I have candy in there.”

Ellie threw her head back and laughed, making a large cloud of misty fog in the cold morning air.

Doug frowned down at her thin sweater. “Where is your coat?”

Ellie cocked an eyebrow at him. “I thought I was just calling you back.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I didn’t realize I’d be taking a field trip.”

Doug unzipped his coat and threw it over her shoulders.

“I’m fine.” She rolled her eyes as he pulled the open edges together in front.

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