A Christmas by the Sea by Melody Carlson

Author:Melody Carlson [Carlson, Melody]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781493415045
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2018-06-07T16:00:00+00:00

Wendy was pleasantly surprised to wake to sunshine streaming through the bare window the next morning. She’d removed the tattered curtain before painting the bedroom, and although she had some ideas for recycling linens, she hadn’t figured out the new window covering yet. At least she’d taken the time to clean the glass, and with the morning sunshine, it was sparkling.

“Good morning,” Jackson called out as she came into the kitchen. “Oliver and I already went down to the beach.” He held up a bucket. “I found about thirty sand dollars.”

“I totally forgot,” Wendy admitted. “You should’ve woken me.”

“I figured you needed to sleep in, Mom. You’ve been working so hard lately.”

“Thanks. That was nice.” Wendy filled the coffeepot with water.

“I met one of our neighbors on the beach. A girl about my age. She and her mom and little sister are renting a cottage about ten houses down the beach from us. She said it looks just like ours except that it’s yellow.”

“And she lives here full-time? Or are they just here for the weekend?” She measured coffee grounds into the basket.

“They’re full-timers. She said they moved here last summer after her parents got divorced. Her mom works as a waitress at Fisherman’s Wharf.”

“Wow, you learned a lot about her.”

“She’s a real talker.” Jackson grinned. “I guess she was nice to me because I gave her some sand dollars.”

Wendy felt her brows arch as she turned on the coffee maker. “You gave up some of your precious sand dollars?”

“Well, the tide was already in and she couldn’t believe how many I’d found. And she’s never found any before. I guess I felt sorry for her.”

“Uh-huh.” Wendy noticed the empty egg carton in the trash and the frying pan still on the stove. “Did you finish off the eggs?” she asked.

“Me and Oliver.” He grinned sheepishly. “I put some cheese in them too.”

“Sounds delish.” She put a slice of bread in the toaster.

“Anyway, Taylor told me she’s seen Oliver out on the beach before, but that he’d never come to her when she called for him. She figured he must really like me a lot.”

“So does, uh, Taylor know where Oliver might live? Or who might own him?”

“Nope, but she offered to help me ask around. I guess she knows almost everyone who lives along here.”

“Taylor sounds like a very friendly girl.”

“Yeah, she is.” He pointed out the window. “There she is now. She had to go home for a little bit, but said she’d be back to walk around with me—you know, to look for Oliver’s owners . . . like I promised you I’d do.”

“Good for her.”

Jackson opened the back door, calling out to a spindly girl with wild red curls that bounced as she ran. Jackson greeted her and even invited her into the house and then, acting like a perfect gentleman, introduced her to Wendy.

“I’ve been hearing about you,” Wendy told her. “That’s nice of you to help Jackson find Oliver’s owners. I’m sure that some family is missing him.

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