The Christmas Bus by Melody Carlson Page B

Amy. “I said we can’t judge these people by appearances and that they probably thought we were pretty weird showing up in our bus like this—like from out of nowhere.”
    Edith smiled. “Yes, you’ve got that about right. In fact, I am curious as to where you came from and how you got this bus in the first place. It’s not the sort of thing that one sees every day. At least not in Christmas Valley.”
    “The bus belonged to my dad,” said Amy in a matter-of-fact tone. “But he didn’t need it anymore. And we did.” She held up her hand as if to say, “End of story.”
    “Oh.” Edith looked around their cramped quarters again. “Well, come on in for breakfast whenever. You’re welcome to use my laundry room if you’d like.”
    “That’d be great,” said Amy. “I’m totally out of clean underwear.” She laughed. “I’m actually wearing a pair of Collin’s today. The funny thing is that they actually fit.”
    Edith wasn’t quite sure how to respond to that, so she simply stood up and told them she had to get back before her cinnamon rolls burned.

10
    At ten o’clock, after the last of the guests had finished breakfast, Edith called and informed Helen that the shower was a go.
    “It sounds like they don’t have much of anything,” said Edith. “And living in the bus like that, without laundry facilities, well, I’m sure some extra clothes and blankets will come in handy.”
    “This is going to be fun,” said Helen. “And I have all these decorations and plates and napkins and things that I’d wanted to use when Angie had her baby, and then her sister-in-law went and beat me to the punch.”
    “But that was more than twenty years ago, Helen.”
    “I know. But they were so cute that I hung on to them, and I plan to use them tomorrow.”
    “So you really think you can pull this off by tomorrow?”
    “I don’t see why not. People will come or they won’t. But we will have a shower.”
    Not for the first time, Edith was reminded that Helen had once been a military nurse and that she was used to giving orders.
    “Is ten o’clock all right with you?”
    “It’s fine.”
    “Great. I’ll be there by 8:30 to set up.”
    “Be where?” Edith felt worried now.
    “At the inn, of course. You didn’t think I’d have it here, did you, Edith? Goodness knows, you’ve got far more room than I. And if you’re not too busy, could you bake something yummy? You’re such a good cook.”
    What could Edith say?
    “And it might be easier if you made the punch too. Maybe something pink, since the decorations are blue and pink.”
    “Cake and punch,” said Edith. “Anything else?”
    “Well, do you happen to have mixed nuts and those little pastel mints on hand?”
    “No, but I can get some.”
    “Oh, good. I think that should do it.”
    “How many people do you think we can count on, Helen?”
    “Hmm . . .” Edith imagined her counting on her fingers. “I’d say at least twenty.”
    “Twenty?” Edith was surprised. “On such short notice? And just two days before Christmas?”
    “Maybe even thirty.”
    Edith was not so sure. “Okay, well, I’ll just make sure we have plenty, and if there are leftovers, I can use them during the holidays.”
    “Of course.”
    They said good-bye and hung up, and Edith just shook her head and sighed.
    “What’s wrong?” asked Charles as he came in to refill his coffee mug.
    “Oh, nothing much. But it now looks as if I’m the one hosting the baby shower tomorrow.”
    “I thought Helen was taking care of everything.”
    “So did I. But it seems her way of taking care of it is to have it here.”
    He put a hand on her shoulder. “Poor Edith, you’ll be ready for a vacation by New Year’s.”
    She forced a smile. “Actually, I should be thankful. I’m very happy for Amy. And Helen has the hardest task anyway.”
    “What’s that?”
    She laughed. “Lining up guests who are willing to come to a shower for a girl they might not have met, who