Sweet Joymaker (Indigo Bay Christmas Romances #3) - Jean Oram Page 0,46

the shoulder.

“Great. Now supper’s going to be late,” Carmichael grumbled, crossing his arms. Despite his tone, his lips twitched showing he wasn’t truly upset.

The boys kept darting quick looks in Clint’s direction, but before Maria could sort anything out, Levi was hustling her toward the door, Myles on her other side.

“You brought it, right?” Levi asked Clint as they shuffled Maria out onto the front porch.

“Sure did,” Clint replied, his voice so low and quiet it almost seemed as though he wanted to fade into the background.

“What are you boys up to?” Maria asked, anticipation swirling in her gut. They hadn’t given her a gift to open that morning, telling her one would arrive later.

Cole was here, but he wasn’t the gift. Clint was here, but he wasn’t, either, but he was somehow connected.

So what was it?

Several strong hands turned her to face the gravel driveway. To the right of the porch was a familiar red car.

Her Mustang.

It was no longer coated in dust or cobwebs, but its Candy Apple body had been buffed, washed and waxed, and looked beautiful.

She took a few steps down off the porch to take a better look, then turned back to the boys with a questioning glance. They all smiled and turned toward Clint. His expression gave nothing away.

She walked to the car, trailed her fingers along the body.

“Sorry about the timing,” Clint said, appearing beside her with the boys. “I meant to get it here before suppertime.”

“One of the last parts came in yesterday,” Levi said.

“You were right. I should’ve ordered them sooner,” Clint said to him.

Levi had clapped a hand on Clint’s shoulder and was leaning against him. “But you got it done, and it looks amazing.”

Maria studied the Mustang. “You fixed the engine and that stalling issue?” she asked.

Levi launched into a diatribe, listing all the things Clint had done on the vehicle once they’d told him their Christmas plan. He’d not only spruced it up, he’d made the car reliable and roadworthy once again.

Kittim’s words about buying a new car if things failed with her and Clint ran through Maria’s head. Except now she had a car that was older than her grown boys and would surely need regular mechanical intervention to keep it on the road. And if she didn’t take care of it, her sons would be hurt and disappointed.

“Merry Christmas, Mom,” Myles exclaimed. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.

“She’s speechless again,” Carmichael called from the front porch.

“Do you want to take it for a spin?” Clint asked.

“But supper’s ready,” she answered, unable to look away from the car.

“You don’t get surprises often, do you?” he whispered.

She glanced around, realizing that all the other women, no doubt knowing about the big surprise, had stayed inside and were likely keeping the food warm.

“No worries. That’s being taken of,” Clint confirmed, as though reading her mind. He held up her old key chain, dangling it.

She took it and grinned. A feeling of freedom, joy and adventure ripped through her.

“We thought you could use some fun wheels again as you venture into the next phase of life,” Brant said.

“But we’re not calling you old,” Myles said quickly.

Maria opened the driver’s side door, noting the old familiar squeak was no longer there. She sank into the seat, expecting a musty smell. Instead, the interior gleamed, fresh and renewed.

Biting her bottom lip, she tentatively turned the key. The engine roared to life, just like the old scooter had back in Indigo Bay. Clint had a way with taking the worn and used and making them new again.

Just like her.

Maria was still reeling from having Cole home and had reached over more than once during the meal to give his arm a squeeze, as if making sure he was real. Each time, he’d smile, but the last time he asked if she was okay.

“Yes. It’s just so lovely to have you home.” She stopped herself from asking how long he would stay.

She found her gaze trailing down the table to where Clint was sitting near Carmichael. It sounded as though they were talking about diesel engines.

Clint must have felt her watching him, for he turned her way with a smile. How involved in all of her surprises was he? The car, for sure. But Cole’s arrival? Had he done that, too? Was that silly old car what had pulled him home from Indigo Bay? Was that why Levi had been fretting about ordering parts?

“The tractor was a decoy, wasn’t