Endless Love (Santa’s Secret Helpers #5) - Leeanna Morgan Page 0,12
patch. The person who nominated Mabel wants her to have something special.”
Steven nodded. “That’s a great idea. Mabel’s always helping people.”
“What do you think she’d like?” Caleb asked.
John scratched his head. It was so much easier when they knew what the person needed. Coming up with ideas wasn’t as easy as he’d imagined. “I don’t know.”
“Can we ask Allan?” Steven said. “He might know if there’s something Mabel has always wanted.”
An idea was forming in John’s mind, but he’d need more than a few hundred dollars to make it happen. “Mabel wasn’t able to see Penny, her eldest daughter, at Christmas. What if we flew Penny here for a long weekend?”
Steven picked up his water bottle. “That sounds good to me. Do we know where Mabel’s daughter lives?”
John pulled a pen out of his pocket. “Not at the moment, but I’ll call Allan when I get home.” Before he forgot, he wrote a note to himself about what they’d discussed. With everything else that was happening, he could easily forget something important.
Caleb started his cool-down. “Is that all we had to discuss for the Christmas wish program?”
John checked the back of the pages. “For now, it is.”
“Good. What’s happening with your wedding?”
Steven and John looked at each other.
“You tell Caleb the latest news,” Steven said.
John put the Christmas list in his pocket. “Everything’s organized at The Fairy Forest and we’re mailing the invitations on Tuesday.”
“What are you wearing?”
He hadn’t thought that far ahead. “A suit?”
Caleb’s eyebrows rose. “It can’t be any old suit. It has to be something Shelley hasn’t seen.”
“It sounds as though we need a shopping trip of our own,” Steven said. “I haven’t organized a suit, either.”
Caleb grinned. “If you’re looking for inspiration, I could be your fashion adviser.”
For a moment, John thought his friend was joking. “Apart from when you’re meeting clients, you wear T-shirts and jeans all the time.”
“I’ve got an inner Calvin Klein wanting to break free. Besides, I’m already married. I know the pitfalls to look out for when you’re choosing a suit.”
John frowned. “You might have to keep an open mind. As soon as I tell Mom we’re going suit shopping, she’ll want to come.”
“That doesn’t matter. Just tell me when you’re available and I’ll book us into the best tailor in Great Falls.”
John looked at Steven. “How about we schedule something in two weekends’ time?”
“Sounds good to me.”
“By the time we’re finished,” Caleb said. “Shelley and Bailey won’t recognize you.”
John ran his hand along his jaw. It had taken Shelley a couple of weeks to get used to seeing him without a beard. She’d think she’d stepped into an alternate universe if he arrived at the wedding in a top hat and tails.
With a smile, he took a drink from his water bottle. That might not be a bad idea. Shelley could use the experience to tick another item off her personal improvement plan—expect the unexpected from her husband-to-be.
Chapter 4
Shelley opened the door to Emily’s fashion boutique in downtown Bozeman. They were last here only a month ago, finding a dress for Bailey to wear at her wedding. Now they were back, and Shelley was hoping a wedding gown she’d seen in December would still be here.
Elena, Shelley’s mom, hugged Emily. “It is so good to see you again.”
It was just as well the young fashion designer was used to Shelley’s Italian-American mother’s exuberance. Hugging and food were the two main components of everyday life in the Jones household.
“It’s good to see you, too, Elena. I can’t believe you’re having a double wedding on Valentine’s Day.” She grinned at Shelley. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks. If it weren’t for Bailey and Steven sharing their wedding day, we wouldn’t have been able to get married until later in the year.”
“I’m glad it worked out for you.” Emily held out her hand to Sam. “It’s good to see you again. You look wonderful.”
Sam placed her hand on her tummy. “Thank you. I couldn’t come to Bailey’s dress fitting, so I’m really happy to be here today.”
Emily smiled. “You’ve come at the right time. We’ve just finished another three designs.” She led them across the store and pointed to four racks of dresses. “What style are you looking for, Shelley?”
Shelley’s eyes skimmed across the silk and satin gowns. “I’m really hoping you have one of the dresses I saw before Christmas.”
“What did it look like?”
Opening her bag, she took out her cell phone. “I found a picture on the Internet of something similar, but not as nice.” She