The Santa Express by Leeanna Morgan

Author:Leeanna Morgan [Morgan, Leeanna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rogan Press

Chapter 8

Shelley climbed out of her sister’s truck and looked at the cottage in front of her.

An hour ago, she’d had a call from Helen O’Neill, the local realtor who came highly recommended. A small house, close to Bailey’s fiancé’s home, had come on the market.

“It’s a little run down,” Bailey said generously. “But it has potential.”

Shelley didn’t know what was under the snow but, from what she could see, the cottage needed a lot of work. Even from here, the front veranda looked as though it had a saggy middle. The paint under the eaves was chipped and blistered, and the windows were covered in dirt and goodness knows what else.

Helen walked toward them. “I know what you’re thinking, but keep an open mind. This house is a little gem. It has two bedrooms, one of which would make a great office. There’s one bathroom, and a small kitchen, living room, and dining room. But, with a little imagination and lots of work, it could look lovely.”

Shelley wasn’t afraid of hard work but she’d never remodeled a home. When she told Helen she didn’t mind a fixer-upper, she was talking about painting. Not a total rebuild.

Bailey placed her hand on Shelley’s elbow and nudged her forward. “Let’s have a look before someone else arrives. If you’re worried about the amount of work, don’t be. Between all of us, we’ll have this house looking fabulous in next to no time.”

Helen smiled. “I like your enthusiasm. Let’s go.”

They didn’t have to worry about opening the front gate. With only one hinge connecting it to the rest of the wobbly fence, it was already open, welcoming unsuspecting visitors at their peril.

“No one has lived in the cottage for five years. Unfortunately, the property hasn’t been well-maintained, so there’s a bit of work to do.”

As Shelley waited for Helen to open the front door, she looked around the yard. The most positive thing she could say was that it was small but manageable.

“And here we are,” Helen said as she shoved the door open. “The door is a little warped, but after a sand it will be as good as new.”

Shelley admired Helen’s optimism, but she still wasn’t convinced this was the house for her.

As they walked through the cottage, Shelley listened to Helen and Bailey discuss what they’d do with the interior. With each room they stepped into, dollar signs flashed in front of Shelley’s eyes. It would cost a fortune to remodel the house. She didn’t know much about building, but even she could see the water stains on the ceiling and walls. Depending on where the water had come from, she may need a new roof or new pipes, or both.

The small bathroom looked as though it still had the original fixtures—and she refused to go anywhere near the toilet.

“For a house of its age, the cottage is in reasonable condition.”

Shelley studied an old power socket. She wouldn’t plug anything into it until an electrician looked at it. “How old is the house?”

“It will be 100 years old next year.

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