The Inn at Evergreen Hollow (Evergreen Hollow Christmas #1)

Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

The small bell above what should have been the door of the Sugar Maple general store chimed as Aiden Masters walked in, lugging the newly hewn door that he’d brought along with him. The smell of cedar, cardboard boxes, warm bread, and fried food filled his nostrils as he set the door down with a heavy thud , leaning it carefully against a bare space on the wall as he walked to the front counter and knocked heavily against it.

“Leon?” he called out, looking around for the owner, who appeared a moment later. Leon Woodrow hadn’t changed a bit in all the time Aiden had known him. He had iron-gray hair, from his head to his eyebrows to his bushy beard, and he almost always wore a cheerful smile on his wrinkled face.

“Aiden!” Leon grinned, clapping the younger man on the shoulder and looking over it toward the door. “Thank goodness you’ve brought it over. My wife hates the one we’ve been using as a replacement. I can already see that’s good work you’ve done, and quickly too.”

“Well, I’ve been having to stay on top of things.” Aiden raked a hand through his dark hair, feeling what might be a wood shaving catch on his fingertips. “Most of my energy’s been going to help rebuild the roof on the town center. Lord knows nothing gets done if that building isn’t functional. And with the festival coming up…”

“The whole place would go up in a puff of smoke if that festival didn’t happen,” Leon said with a grin. “That storm right after Thanksgiving really wreaked havoc. Haven’t seen one like that in a decade or more. Luckily we’ve got our own personal handyman to help clean up the mess.”

“I do my best.” Aiden returned the grin, glancing back at the door. “It shouldn’t take me long to get the hinges on and get you all squared away.”

“Hmm.” Leon rubbed a hand over his beard. “You think the event center’s going to be repaired in time for the festival? I could talk to Bethany about alternate locations if need be.”

“And watch the top of her head blow right off?” Aiden smirked. “Trust me, I’ll do everything in my power to make sure the roof is sound for the festivities. And I’ll help with whatever else is needed too.”

There was no doubt in his mind just how important it was. The festival had been a focal point of the town for as long as he’d been alive, and his parents. His grandparents too, up to a point. It had changed shape over the years, grown and gotten bigger, but the idea was always the same. It was an unabashed celebration of the holidays, with everyone in Christmas outfits, a festive costume contest, a gift drive, booths and games and food. There was something for everyone, young and old, and Aiden wasn’t immune to the nostalgia and cheer of it all. He’d miss it too, if something happened to shake up what was undoubtedly a foundation of Evergreen Hollow.

Leon shook his head. “We’re lucky to have such a talented resident carpenter.” He leaned back against the counter, arms crossed over his chest as he watched Aiden start to take out new hinges for the door, measuring where they needed to be attached. “Not every town would bounce back so quickly.”

Aiden waved a hand to brush off the compliment, unable to speak through the handful of nails he’d slipped between his lips, hammer in one hand and hinge in the other. For a long moment, the only sound in the quiet of the morning surrounding the general store was the heavy thud of the hammer as he secured the hinges, moving them this way and that and adding a little WD-40 when one dared to squeak. He double-checked the measurements, then hefted the door up, waving Leon off again when the older man started to move as if to offer help.

“I grew up in Evergreen Hollow.” Aiden lined the door up, peering at it. “Always intended on coming back, even when I went to Albany to that trade school. Never had any plans to stay gone for too long.”

“You’d probably be making better money there.” Leon lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “Or you could be up in New York City, working on some big-scale projects. Living large. You’ve got the talent for it, that’s for sure.”

Aiden snorted. “All that noise and chaos? Not for me. I like it here.” He slid the hinges in place, starting on the fastenings. “Besides, there’s nothing more fulfilling than keeping up my hometown. Seeing all these buildings in good shape, still standing, knowing I’ve got a part in literally building the history of it…” He shook his head. “It’s a better feeling than working on any skyscraper, that’s for sure.”

“Well, we’re fortunate you came back. Don’t know what we’d do without you. Bethany complained about that temporary door every day it was up, said it couldn’t compare to the work you did. Let in a draft, she said.”

“Well, this one won’t.” Aiden grinned. “Besides, I’m the lucky one. Normally this time of year is slow, but not now. I’ll have as much work as I need to keep my hands busy until springtime.”

“Maybe you should think about trying to find some other ways to occupy your time.” There was a distinct gleam in Leon’s eye that Aiden recognized immediately—the gleam of a happily married man who would like nothing better than to set someone up. “Gracie was in here the other day, when you were measuring that door frame. I know she’d be tickled pink if you asked her out on a date sometime. Maybe to Marie’s. Place that fancy, a girl can’t help but have a good time.”

There it is.

Aiden chuckled, rolling his eyes lightly as he moved the door back and forth.

“Appreciate the offer,” he said finally, reaching up to tighten one of the screws. “But I can’t say I’m really all that interested in dating just now.”

“You might think different if you tried.” There was that fatherly tone in Leon’s voice that Aiden knew well, the one he used with anyone a hair under forty. “Bethany and I don’t always see eye to eye, but my life wouldn’t be a thing without that woman. I’m grateful every day I have her. I can tell you, you get to a certain age and your outlook changes.”

Aiden glanced over his shoulder. “I’m not opposed to the idea of finding love,” he clarified, leaning down to fish another tool out of his carpentry bag. “I just don’t think being set up is the way, you know? I feel like when I cross paths with the right woman, it’ll just hit me. I’ll know I found her. Until then…” Aiden shrugged. “I’m fine with waiting.”

“An old romantic.” Leon laughed, circling around behind the counter. “Well, there’s something to be said for that. I can’t argue with you there.”

“I just figure it’ll happen if the time is right.” Aiden closed the door, moving on to the locks. “You got a new shipment of that beef I like in yet? Thought I might drop by Melanie’s bakery, get some of that sourdough for sandwiches for the week.”

“Sounds like I need to get the deli counter up and running.” Leon grinned, fishing out the keys to unlock it. “It’s been quiet as a church mouse all morning, and I’ve been taking advantage of it. Haven’t opened up but half the store so far.”

“Everyone’s busy bouncing back from the storm.” Aiden flicked the deadbolt this way and that, making sure it would hold. Evergreen Hollow wasn’t exactly the kind of place where theft was a real concern—plenty of folks didn’t even bother locking their houses—but he liked to be thorough. Leon could decide how much he wanted to make use of the locks—he’d ensure they were in good working shape, just in case. “I know Joe is coming by at some point to stock up on tools. We’ve been going through hardware like nobody’s business, working on the event center. And I think his lever broke yesterday. He’ll need a new one. But he likes to get all that himself, so?—”

Aiden shrugged, finishing the last of the repairs and tucking his tools away.

He had plenty of carpentry supplies he’d have been happy to offer up in service of repairing the center, but Joe had turned him down. He saw the wisdom in it—it put money in Leon’s pocket and went right back into the town, but he wanted to help in any way he could. Seeing the town so beat up from that storm felt like a personal injury. One he was eager to treat.

“I’m going to head out and see what they need,” Aiden said, clapping Leon on the shoulder as the older man brought him a paper-wrapped package of deli meat. “How much do I owe you?”

“On the house, for how quick you got that door here.” Leon pushed the package into Aiden’s hands, the expression on his face clear enough that Aiden knew he wouldn’t be taking no for an answer. “I’ll call you if there are any issues with it.”

“You do that.” Aiden nodded, picking up his bag, and headed out into the crisp winter air.

It was frigid, here in Vermont, a month before Christmas. But he loved it. The invigorating cold, the beauty of the landscape, the cheer that seemed to permeate everything. Even with the semi-disaster that the storm had been, everyone was picking up and carrying on, making sure to help each other as they put Evergreen Hollow back together. It was just one more reason why he loved the town as much as he did.

There was no doubt about it, he’d always made the right decision coming back.

Evergreen Hollow was always going to be his home.