and wandered down the hall to check out the bedrooms.
Both were equally beautiful. One was painted a warm taupe with crisp white moldings. The bed was in front of old wooden whitewashed barn doors on what looked to be an authentic old iron rail. The bedspread was feminine, in a creamy tone-on-tone pattern with wispy skirted sides that swept the floor. Pillows in rich wine-colored velvet and cream, piled two and three deep, covered half the bed. It would probably take fifteen minutes to get them all moved off to call it a night. A ladder made of birch branches held an extra blanket.
Across the hall, the bedroom had floor-to-ceiling windows looking over the gardens in two directions. The raised ceiling made of whitewashed boards made it look as if you could dance on the ceiling if someone could just tip the room upside down. She pictured herself dancing on the whitewashed ceiling as the floor, the ceiling fan a pub table, holding a flute of the finest champagne and her skirt flowing around her ankles with each twirl.
An area rug covered most of the dark-stained wooden floors, probably original to the house.
She parked Anna’s luggage in this room wondering what fantasies would dance in her cousin’s head when she saw it.
“Oh, my word,” Anna’s voice echoed from the bathroom next door. “Did you see this tub?”
Vanessa went to see what all the fuss was about, but when she walked into the bathroom she had to agree. “Oh, my goodness. This is gorgeous. I’ve always loved those freestanding tubs.”
Anna lifted the top of a glass apothecary jar, scooped up rose petals, and sprinkled them back into the jar. “Seriously? These smell so good. Do you think we can put these in the tub?”
“Sometimes you just have to ask for forgiveness later. This is definitely one of those situations.”
“Did you ever in a million years expect this?” Anna stood there shaking her head.
“No. Definitely not. I also wouldn’t expect him to open up this part of his home to strangers.”
“Not complete strangers,” Anna reminded her. “I mean he said you two have been talking in the diner all week.” She ran a finger across the dresser. “It’s spick-and-span. Do you think they rent it out?”
“I don’t know. I was under the impression the corporate apartment was the only place to stay for miles.”
“Well, thank goodness he was sitting behind you,” Anna said. “Why don’t you take my car and go get some of your stuff so you can stay here tonight. I’ll get unpacked and soak in that amazing tub.”
“I’ll do that.”
“Here’s the key to the car.” She dug it out of her front pocket. “And this place.”
“Seems like a nice start to our holiday.”
“All we need is a Christmas tree.”
Vanessa drove back over to the warehouse, noting the turns on the back of a gas receipt, since she had no idea what the address was. At least the crazy week was ending on a higher note.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Vanessa pulled into the parking area at the warehouse.
I’m really not going to miss staying here.
In front of the door, there was a cardboard box with big letters on the side that read THIS SIDE UP. As she got closer, she noticed the bright red envelope tucked into the top flap.
The box was heavy. Instead of taking it upstairs she took it over to the car and set it on the floorboard. It was probably leftovers from Lilene. That woman ran on thoughtfulness and kindness.
She let herself into the warehouse using the jiggly twist-lift approach Lilene had shown her, then ran up the stairs and grabbed pajamas and a change of clothes. Halfway to the door, she stopped and repacked all the rations Lilene had stocked for her to take over to the carriage house, too. They’d have plenty to snack on for a while until they had time to go to the grocery store.
She took two of the bags downstairs and put them in the passenger seat, then left the door open while she went back in to get the rest.
As she got closer to the car, she heard something behind her. She looked but couldn’t see anything in the dark. Before she took a step, there it was again. A bark?
She walked over to the car.
A fluffy burst of gold scared the bags right out of her arms. She leapt back, letting out a yelp of her own.
“What are you doing in there?” It was a puppy. A little guy dancing around