Chapter 18

eighteen

BEN

Pastor Adam looked around the meeting room in awe. "I can't believe how many items have been donated for the auction. You've done a wonderful job, Ben."

Boxes and baskets in all shapes and sizes filled every available space. I smiled at my friends. None of this would've been possible without everyone doing their best to make the auction a success. "We sold the last auction ticket this afternoon. This could be one of the biggest fundraisers Sunrise Bay has ever seen."

"Everyone has been great," Jonathon said. "Especially Jenny. The community Facebook page is full of pictures of items that'll be auctioned. She even organized a countdown for ticket sales."

Dylan turned his laptop around. "Look at this. Her latest post has more than two thousand likes. A lot of people are supporting us, even if they don't live here."

Jonathon stared at the figures. "I should ask her if she wants to do some publicity for Candy Lane."

A soft knock made everyone turn toward the door.

Daniel stood hesitantly in the door.

I looked at Jonathon, wondering if he'd invited him to the church. But he looked just as surprised as everyone else.

"I hope I'm not interrupting."

Jonathon waved away his concerns. "Come in. We were just saying how amazing the support has been for Saturday's auction."

Daniel looked around the room. "Are all these items being auctioned?"

Pastor Adam nodded. "These are only some of the donations. There'll be at least another ten deliveries before auction day." He held out his hand. "I'm Adam, the local pastor in Sunrise Bay."

Daniel returned Adam's handshake. "Daniel Devlin. I'm staying in Acorn Cottage."

"You must be the chief executive of Wilson Enterprises."

"News travels fast."

"You've got no idea," Adam said with a smile. "I was talking to Jenny and she mentioned she'd seen you."

"I visited the market on Saturday but got sidetracked by Jonathon's candy store. For such a small town, there's plenty to see."

"We try to provide something for everyone."

"You've certainly done that. I came to tell you that Wilson Enterprises would like to donate some gifts for the auction, but they won't arrive until Friday. Will that be a problem?"

Adam shook his head. "That'll be fine. Ben's created a master list of the items going under the hammer. Whether they arrive here or at one of our drop-off locations, the list will be updated right away. Are you coming to the auction?"

Daniel reached into his pocket and showed them a silver sheet of paper. "Jenny sold me the last ticket this afternoon. Is there anything I can do to help?"

Dylan winked at me. The mysterious executive from Manhattan had just gone up a notch or two in his books.

"We're almost finished here." Pastor Adam looked at me. "Why don't you show Daniel The Welcome Center? It'll give him an idea of what we need to keep everything running. You could even tell him about the tiny home project."

Adam was every bit as savvy as Daniel when it came to gathering support for a project. He needed more than our community's involvement if the tiny house project was to happen. And in Daniel, he could see a way to promote the concept of affordable community housing to the world.

Daniel smiled. He looked as though he knew what Adam was doing. "I'd love to hear more about the projects you're involved in."

I handed Dylan the project plan for the auction. "Would you be able to update the electronic copy of the plan?"

"No problem. I'll send everyone on the committee a copy, too." He looked over my shoulder at Daniel and grinned. "It's great seeing you again."

"You too, Dylan."

Before everyone started reminiscing about my birthday dinner, I moved toward the door. "We'd better have a look at The Welcome Center before they serve dinner."

Daniel smiled at Pastor Adam. "It was nice meeting you. I'll see everyone else later."

"It could be sooner than you think," Paul said cryptically.

I grabbed Daniel's hand and pulled him out of the room. I wasn't sure he would appreciate a freshly baked cake once he realized why Paul had made it.

"Is there something I should know?"

When we were halfway down the corridor, I let go of his hand, then looked behind us. "Paul baked you a cake, but it comes with a catch."

"Let me guess. He wants to know more about me before I whisk you away to Manhattan?"

"Not quite," I said with a smile. "He wants to know why you're still single."

Daniel laughed. "Tell him I've been waiting for the right person to come along. Do I still get the cake?"

"Only if you promise to share it with me."

"You've got a deal."

"And just so we're clear, whisking me away to Manhattan isn't going to happen."

Daniel grinned and tapped the end of my nose. "We'll see. I've still got more than a week to change your mind. Where's The Welcome Center?"

"It's this way." Before he saw the heat building in my cheeks, I opened the door and strode across the yard.

I hoped he knew I was serious about not going to Manhattan. And I prayed I'd never have to tell him why.