The Shell Collector - Nancy Naigle Page 0,119
coals for you. Whatever you want, I’ll be there. But if you need to do it alone—for Jack—honey, I get it.”
Of course you’d say that. Paul was never selfish. His joy came from the things he did for others. She looked into his eyes, which seemed to lead straight to his heart. “I am so thankful and grateful you are in my life. Our lives. I want you to go to Denali with us.” Yes, she did. That was a memory she wanted to make with him.
His smile brightened. “I can’t wait.”
Amanda let out a breath. “I’m so lucky to have known her. I will never be as amazing as she was, but I hope I can make her proud.”
“You already are. You two were meant to meet and lift each other.”
“It would seem so, wouldn’t it?” Amanda looked around at the lovely home she was now living in.
“You are a strong and remarkable woman. I am so grateful for the love that is growing between us.”
“Paul, for the first time, right this minute, I truly feel worthy of love again.”
“I will never let you down.” He shook his head, his eyes glistening.
“Thank you for being patient with me.”
“I will wait as long as you need.” He took a knee in front of her. “Don’t freak out. I’m not asking you to marry me today.”
She cried, hugging her arms to her chest.
“I want to put it out there that when you’re ready, I do want you to marry me. I’ll wait as long as it takes. I want to be your husband. To love, honor, and obey you. To help you raise your and Jack’s children the way you’d have wanted it.”
She hugged his neck.
“Interrupt worry with gratitude.”
* * *
—
The next morning, it took a moment for Amanda to realize where she was. It would take some getting used to living here in Maeve’s house. She heard voices from outside. She pushed the covers back and walked into the hall. She followed the sound toward the front door and stepped out onto the porch. Paul, Hailey, and Jesse looked as guilty as three pirates standing there at the bottom of the steps.
“What is going on?”
“A couple things, actually,” Paul said. “One planned, one unplanned. Which do you want first?”
“Hmm. Planned?”
“It’s such a good surprise,” Hailey said.
“Come on, Hailey. You can help me carry it.” Paul and Hailey disappeared under the carport area and stepped back out with something under a big sheet. Jesse danced around, giggling. Keeping the secret was probably about to kill him.
She stood there trying to figure out what they were up to.
Hailey raised her hands in the air. “Three. Two. One!”
Paul let Jesse pull the sheet back. Paul held a four-foot wide sandblasted sign that read, The Shell Collector.
“Oh my goodness. For the house?” Amanda ran over. “I love it!” She traced her fingers across the textured wooden sign. The raised letters were charming, and in each of the O’s there was a shell. It was perfect.
Hailey and Jesse jumped up and down. “Paul let us pick out the colors,” Hailey said.
She reached up and kissed Paul on the lips. She caught herself, then glanced down, hoping it hadn’t upset Hailey or Jesse, but they didn’t seem to have even noticed.
“What was the unplanned?” she asked. “It can’t be better than this.”
“It’s a really close second,” Paul said. “Might even be better. Close your eyes.”
She closed her eyes.
“Hold out your hand.”
She extended her hands.
He placed something in them.
She opened her eyes and looked at the simple shell in her hands. “Where did this come from?”
Paul pointed to the house near the flower bed. “It was tucked right there.”
She read the short sentiment in the shell: “In His Time. Trust there is a time for every event under heaven.”
Maeve was certainly still here, guiding her.
“Shall we hang this sign?” Paul pulled a ladder out of the back of his truck.
“Absolutely.”
It only took about five minutes because Paul had already placed the screws. All he had to do was climb up and hang the sign there on the house. “What do you think?”
The colorful sign brightened the front of the house. The kids whooped and hollered so loud it was very likely both Maeve and Jack heard them.
Amanda walked out to the edge of the driveway. “It looks great!”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“I do.”
“Ready to go inside?”
“I have one more thing to do,” Amanda said. “You and the kids go on up. I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Sure, babe. Take your time.”
She watched until all three of them had gone inside. Then she took the phone out of her back pocket, scrolled through her contacts, and clicked on her mother’s phone number. It went straight to voice mail, but she took a breath and left a message.
“Hey, Mom. It’s me, Amanda. It’s been too long since I told you I love you. I’d like to bring the kids up to visit.”
This story has been pressing on my heart to be told since the year I lost my husband, but I just couldn’t bring the words to the page until recently. Wishing you unexpected strength in your most difficult times.
Acknowledgments
People often say writing is a solitary job, but I could never do this alone. It truly takes a village to take an idea through the process of turning it into a novel. This book is no exception.
Thank you to the many people who helped me along the way.
Steve Laube for opening up doors to find the right home for this novel. The Shell Collector has a special place in my heart, and Steve understood that. I love working with the team at WaterBrook. Thank you, Steve. This is only the beginning. I can’t wait to see where this journey takes us.
Becky Nesbitt for seeing the potential of this story. From the moment we met, I felt like I had a new friend, and I appreciate the mentorship she shared with me through this story. Becky, you made this book sparkle as brilliantly as sea glass.
Andrew, my sweet husband, thank you for being patient through the process, especially the part where I’m struggling with the story and tired from staying up all night. You are always there to pray with me and remind me where to place my worries when I falter.
My dear friends Missy and Pam. Missy for the real estate details I needed in the research phase. It’s so wonderful to have smart people ready with answers faster—and more reliable—than the internet. The same goes for Pam for helping me build out the fun Paws Town Square. She’s had a dream of running a dog camp. I don’t think it’ll be in an old ghost box in a city, but boy, wouldn’t that be a hoot.
Hidden Haven in Tobaccoville, North Carolina, for hosting my getaways to bring this book to completion and inspiring a new story too. I love staying there.
Special thoughts for the friends and family of Mike Wiles, who passed away during the developmental edits of this book. I’d promised to make him a character one day, so I wove him into this story as Paul’s right-hand man, Chase. Mike had said he’d always liked that name. Mike played a special role in my husband’s business start-up, and he’ll be greatly missed. Like Chase, he had his struggles, but he’d found his place. I’m sorry he won’t ever get to read this.
Kitty Hawk Kites for being around as long as I can remember and still carrying the coolest stuff. I hope ghost crabbing and flying kites never go out of style.
My cousin Diane Pyatt Hartman passed away just a month after my husband died in 2014. The previous year she shared a touching story with me that a friend of her family had experienced involving a mysterious shell. We shared many emails and phone calls about it, and it was nice to having something to talk about besides the cancer that was making her so sick at the time. I wish you were here for this book launch, Diane. I treasure feeling so close to you while writing this novel.
Books by Nancy Naigle
Adams Grove Novels
Sweet Tea and Secrets
Out of Focus
Wedding Cake and Big Mistakes
Pecan Pie and Deadly Lies
Mint Juleps and Justice
Barbecue and Bad News
Boot Creek Series
Life After Perfect
Every Yesterday
Until Tomorrow
Seasoned Southern Sleuths Mystery Series
In for a Penny
Collard Greens and Catfishing
Deviled Eggs and Deception
Fried Pickles and a Funeral
Wedding Mints and Witnesses
Stand-Alone Titles
Sand Dollar Cove
inkBLOT
Recipe for Romance
Christmas Joy
Hope at Christmas
Dear Santa
Christmas in Evergreen
The Secret Ingredient
Christmas in Evergreen: Letters to Santa
Christmas Angels
Mission: Merry Christmas
A Heartfelt Christmas Promise
Christmas in Evergreen: Tidings of Joy