had an eventful evening.”
John took two plates out of the pantry. “An eventful evening that hasn’t included food. Would anyone like some lasagna and garlic bread?”
Mila pulled herself onto a kitchen stool. “Could I have a piece of garlic bread?”
Shelley took the loaf of bread out of the box. “Sure you can. Do you want me to put it in the microwave for a few seconds?”
“No, thanks. I like it better when it’s cold.”
Bailey sat beside Mila. “Tell us about the cat. Does the animal shelter know who she belongs to?”
Shelley leaned against the counter. “They checked the microchip on the back of the cat’s neck. She belonged to a lady who used to rent the house next door to one of mine. The lady died last month and no one could find her cat.”
Mila lowered the piece of garlic bread she was about to eat. “That’s so sad. The mommy cat must have been lonely.”
Bailey wrapped her arm around Mila’s waist. “It was good that Shelley and John found her. The shelter will keep her nice and warm.”
“Just like the tiny home village does for people.”
John handed Shelley a plate of lasagna. “I guess it is, Mila.”
Shelley took some cutlery out of the drawer and walked across to the dining table. “Have you heard from the county about the funding for the tiny home village?”
“That was the other surprise I had for you tonight.”
Bailey joined them at the table. “Was your application approved?”
“It was,” John replied with a grin. “The county emailed me on Saturday morning to say they’re happy to fund the budgeting and health services for the next two years.”
Shelley threw her arms around John’s neck. She knew how much the funding meant to him and how much it would mean to the residents of the tiny home village. “That’s wonderful. You must be thrilled with their decision.”
“I am. What’s even better is that the county will review the funding model they’re using in twelve months. If the program is successful, they’ll extend the funding for a further two years. Having free access to those services will change people’s lives.”
Steven handed everyone a cup of coffee. “That’s an amazing outcome. Congratulations.”
John rested his hand on Shelley’s arm. “I couldn’t have completed the application without my fiancée’s help.”
“So what’s next?” Bailey asked.
“We’ll work through the plan I submitted to the county. Zac is happy to set up weekly health clinics at the tiny home village. All I need is a financial whizz to run the budgeting workshops.” He looked at Shelley. “Do you know anyone who might be able to help?”
“Me?”
“I can’t think of anyone else who would be able to organize the workshops as well as you could.”
“I’d love to help, but there’s so much happening. My business has more clients than I thought it would and I’m still doing the accounts for the church.”
“And there’s a little thing called a double wedding next month,” Bailey added.
Mila wiped garlic butter off her face. “And the flowers for the fundraiser.”
Shelley looked at John. Their next fundraising event started in eight days. After lots of social media advertising and support from local businesses, the committee was expecting to sell at least two hundred gift-wrapped flowers in the first week. For everyone on the committee, that could mean more than a few late nights creating the pretty flowers for sale the next day.
She knew how important the church’s programs were to John, but she couldn’t organize a series of workshops, run her own business, and help with the fundraising. “What if I asked someone to help me? They could do some of the organizing and make sure I have everything I need for the workshops. That would free up my time to keep on top of the other work I have to do.”
John nodded. “The funding we’re receiving from the county includes money for wages. We could pay that person to help you.”
Steven handed his daughter a napkin. “All you need to do is find someone who knows their way around a computer and can organize events as well as Shelley and Bailey.”
Shelley was sure there would be someone in town who could help. But even thinking about a recruitment process made her panic.
“What about Andrea?” John asked. “She used to work in a lawyer’s office. I spoke to her the other day and she said she’s looking for a job.”
Andrea had arrived in Sapphire Bay a few weeks before Shelley. After surviving an abusive marriage, she divorced her husband