Page 18 of Second Chance Christmas

“You haven’t changed a bit, Ms. Lucille.”

“If only time would agree. Now what are you doing all the way out here on a day like this? You two should be snuggled up by a fire somewhere or getting ready for something fun. Especially with the snow coming down the way it is today.”

“We came because you’ve done a mighty job of building a smokestack tall enough for the firehouse to see from town.”

“Isn’t it a beauty? The flames chase away the bite of the cold and the animals love it too. And you know an old lady gets cold out here from time to time.” Ms. Lucille reached over and patted Ivy on the hand.

Ivy had to admit the heat from the flames did feel nice on her cheeks and she liked the hiss and crackle of the wood.

The ding of a tiny bell sounded and drew her attention to Ms. Lucille’s front pocket.

“Excuse me a second, please.”

“Absolutely.”

Ms. Lucille held up a hand before whipping off her glove to type something out on her cell. She didn’t do a search and peck either. Her thumb skipped over the digital keyboard as if she’d been born to it.

Gran did good work.

“I’m glad you came. Let me show you around the joint,” she added as she responded to her text.

Aspen waved them on. “I’ll meet you ladies inside. I need to check on the fire.”

Ivy threaded her arm in Ms. Lucille’s, who typed something else out before she continued. “Aspen tells me you’ve done a thing or two to this old bus.”

“Oh, never. I’m too smart for that. I had him and two hunks from the station come out and help,” she reassured Ivy, smiling as she slipped her phone back into her jacket pocket. “This old brain still has a few tricks.”

Life goals.

Ivy hoped she was as spry and quick-witted when she got to Lucille’s age. “They had no idea what hit them, did they?” Ivy said, laughing.

In the center of the bus was a medium-sized wooden door. Wooden slabs that looked stylishly worn and stained a deep brown led to a wide porch that stretched the length of the bus. A slanted roof protected the various wicker seats with multiple seasonally-colored cushions.

As soon as she stepped through the door, an immediately cozy feeling took over. Not tight or cramped but just right.

For the next ten minutes Ivy listened to all the details and work that went into remodeling the space to expand the old yellow school bus into a small yet comfortable home.

“The bedroom is toward the rear but what I love most is my living room.”

Ivy could see why. It offered a beautiful view of the flowers through large windows that replaced the traditional smaller windows of the bus. Glass took up three-fourths of the wall and beyond the porch, a winter wonderland treated the eyes.

And a gorgeous, hot muscular fireman as the icing for the senses.

“It’s beyond beautiful, Ms. Lucille. They really outdid themselves. You have a slice of paradise here.” And she meant it. Winter and snow to her were like beach and sand to ocean lovers.

Tiny yelps pulled her gaze to an almost hidden compartment toward the rear of the bus where the bedroom was located.

“I wondered how long it would take for them to get curious.”

“Oh my God!” Ivy knelt on both knees and scooped up the first puppy that bounded out of the room, a sibling hot on its paws and another trailing right after. Their momma came in behind yet another puppy. Six in all created a full-on attack and she fell to her butt laughing.

“They all look like their daddy!” Yellow, fluffy and plump. She scooped up and snuggled the first puppy before plucking up the next.

“They’re just old enough for a few kids at Christmas.” Ms. Lucille eased onto the loveseat and smiled as she played with one of the rowdier pups.

“Lucky kiddos. Who doesn’t want a puppy for Christmas?” She placed puppy number two beside the mellower puppy number three, who preferred belly rubs to being picked up.

Four, five and six were too curious to sit by and let their siblings have all the fun.

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