Chapter 26
DELANEY
“Hey, stranger,” Jules said on a break between customers.
Juliette and I met not long after she’d come to town in middle school with her mother.
From Austin, they moved back to Cedar Falls where her grandparents had still lived at the time before they both passed.
She was four years younger than me, so we didn’t know each other well then but became friends when I moved back to Cedar Falls.
Most of the girls I hung out with in high school moved out of town, and I considered Jules one of my closest friends.
Of course, us both being “artsy types” didn’t hurt either. Although she was a writer, we often had discussions about the creative process, something a lot of people didn’t really get, even though I thought most people had a creative side to them, whether they knew it or not.
“What are you doing in here?” I asked. “The festival is”—I waved a hand toward the door—“out there.”
The Cedar Falls Winter Wonderland Festival was our town’s way of getting people to the area during a typically slow time.
Since I was working until three, for me it just meant a busier day than normal with foot traffic, which was fine.
I never realized until taking this job how awful being bored was. I preferred busy any day.
“Just popping in to say hello. I’m meeting some friends soon for lunch. Apparently The Big Easy and Bella Luna are both jam-packed, so we may just head down to O’Malley’s instead.”
“Tell Beck I said hello. Pretty sure he’s on for a double today.”
With her jet-black hair and signature stacked jewelry, Juliette, or Jules as most people called her, always looked like she was ready for a rock concert.
Not even a thick winter jacket and hat could hide her unique style.
Jules definitely marched to the beat of her own drum, and I loved that about her.
“Will do. So”—she looked around the pharmacy—“where’s he hiding? I know you don’t go anywhere these days without him.”
It was true. Parker and I had been together every day this week.
Although he hadn’t stayed the night since Tuesday, we’d done something each day.
Even yesterday when he mentioned a guys’ night with Mason and Beck, Parker had said, “We need to connect at some point,” and we went to brunch before I started work.
“He’s actually volunteering until two. Apparently Maggie roped him into manning the charity drive booth, although he didn’t seem to mind all that much.”
Maggie LeBlanc, the owner of a New Orleans-themed restaurant in the town square, was the chair of the event. It had been her idea a few years back, a way to liven up Cedar Falls in January.
“Volunteering. Of course. Is he really as nice as he seems?”
I asked myself that question at least once a day. “He really is. I’ll be honest, I thought for sure he was too good to be true. But he’s genuinely an all-around great guy.”
“No wonder Pia wanted you to get together with him sooner. Fucking Makis.”
“Tell me about it. Part of me still feels like I’m walking on eggshells even though I know the two are like night and day.”
Jules bit her lip. “Not to overstep, but you did ask me to remind you to listen to me the next time I gave you dating advice.”
“I guess you’re about to do that now?”
“I am. Let yourself love, Delaney. Forget Makis for good.”
Loving Parker would be so easy to do. And hearing my ex’s name reminded me of how little I’d thought about him recently. Every day that went by, the pain he’d caused by ending things the way he had ebbed further and further away.
“I’ll consider it,” I teased.
That seemed to be good enough for her. “In other news, I was talking to the owner of Cedarwood Grill the other day. My mom and I went in for lunch. He’s doing some renovating on the dining room, and I may have thrown your name out for some commissioned artwork. Hope you have time in your schedule.”
I appreciated that she’d thought to mention me. “I do. Any idea what he wants?”
“Not sure, but don’t be surprised if he gets in touch.”
“Thanks,” I said as a customer came up behind her. “We need to catch up. Maybe next weekend? Parker’s heading to Rochester for a building workshop.”
“Sounds great. I’ve been dying to try that new winery on the south side of the lake. Maybe make a day of it?”
“I’m on early shift next Saturday, so maybe after that?”
“Perfect.” Jules waved as she headed out. “See you later.”
One customer turned into a fairly steady stream, and before I knew it, two hours had flown by.
It was too bad I wasn’t as excited about filling prescriptions as I was about painting for Cedarwood.
I knew the vibe of the place and already had ideas.
Of course, the owner might be going in an entirely different direction, but a few well-placed pieces could really liven up the place.
Not wanting to waste time heading home, I’d gotten ready for the festival that morning and slapped my lab coat over an outfit that would be covered anyway, winter jacket and all.
Unfortunately, my replacement was more than twenty minutes late.
All bundled up, I hurried to the town square where Parker was waiting.
He stood in front of the gazebo, which was decorated with blue and white lights for the festival, though it was hard to see them now. Later, at sundown, the entire square would come alive, the Festival Committee having put up almost as many lights in town as it did at the holidays.
Walking past the ice-carving demonstration, I tapped Parker on the shoulder from behind. Spinning around, he gave me a brief look before placing his gloved hands on my cheeks and kissing me, hard, on the lips.
I kissed back, not caring about the show we might be putting on.
“How was work?” he asked when we broke the kiss.
“Busy,” I said. “Thankfully. How did the donations go?”
“Great. The boxes are overflowing with coats and hats and gloves.”
“Awesome.”
Parker took my hand. “Come on,” he said. “We’re late.”
“Late for what?” I asked. As far as I knew, there weren’t any timed activities or shows or anything.
“You’ll see.”
Walking past a hot cocoa stand at the edge of the square, Parker stopped and bought two of them.
Giving me one, he took my hand again. We headed a half block down, past The Coffee Cabin and onto Mechanic Street where the cars had been moved to make way for one of the most popular attractions… horse-drawn carriages.
“Sorry,” Parker said as we walked up to an older gentleman I didn’t know. He was probably from the company that arranged the rides, didn’t seem like a local. “All set.”
Helping me up to the carriage, Parker sat, put a blanket onto my lap and pulled me into him as the driver asked if we were ready.
“You pre-arranged this?”
“I did. There was a massive line earlier, but I know one of the drivers. Not him,” Parker clarified, nodding to ours. “I did some work on the other guy’s house and pulled in a favor. Apparently they’ve been so busy they’re packing them in.”
I did notice there was room for at least four more people in our carriage.
“That was incredibly thoughtful,” I said, warm and content. Snuggled into Parker’s side, hot cocoa in hand, it was also incredibly romantic.
“Glad you like it.”
We rode in companionable silence for a few blocks, spying festival activities which were centered in the town square but extending out to the side streets too. Almost every business was decorated in some way for this event.
“So how was your guys’ night?”
I hated to admit it, but part of me wondered if he’d try to connect at the end of the night. I’d been surprised not to hear from him at all. Not even a good night text, something he’d begun to do after staying over Tuesday.
“Good. Nothing special. How was your night with Mom and Dad?”
“Uneventful. My dad is having back surgery in a few weeks, so that was the main topic of conversation.”
“Is he alright?”
“Hopefully he will be after the surgery. He’s had chronic back pain for as long as I can remember.”
“That sucks. My brother Jimmy hurt his skiing one year in a bad fall. Flares up from time to time. Doesn’t seem fun at all.”
“So he’s a skier too?”
“Yeah, both of my brothers are outdoor types, like me.”
I looked over at him. Parker kissed me as the horse’s hooves clanked from time to time when they hit patches of pavement not covered in snow.
“What is it?” he asked after we broke apart.
My eyes widened. How could he possibly know there was anything wrong?
“Nothing,” I said, mostly meaning it. I was the one who had wanted to keep it casual. No way I would fess up to feeling a little off that he didn’t text me last night. “I’m happy as a clam.”
“Do you know what the full expression is?”
“What expression?”
“Happy as a clam.”
Cedar Falls drifted by us as we talked. “I have no idea.”
Parker finished his sip of cocoa. “It’s… happy as a clam at high tide. Clams are harvested at low tide when they’re exposed. At high tide, they’re submerged underwater, all safe and sound.”
“No kidding?”
“I’d never kid about something as important as a clam’s safety. Now tell me what’s wrong.”
“Parker,” I started. He shifted so we were face to face. “It’s silly.”
“Silly or not, I want to hear it.”
“I’m serious. It’s nothing?—”
“And I’m serious. No lies between us. Ever.”
He was serious, too. Somehow Parker could tell something was on my mind, and he wasn’t going to let it go. “I just… got used to your good night texts.” I added quickly, “See? I told you, it’s nothing. So silly.”
But he wasn’t laughing. He was thinking. Probably wondering how to end this before it began after I just waved the “needy girl” flag in his face.
“If that’s silly,” he said finally, “then so is the fact that I picked up my phone and put it down a half dozen times, trying to decide if you’d welcome a good night text or if it was too much.
I’m trying to be mindful of that first conversation in the Coffee Cabin.
Things are moving quickly between us, and the last thing I want to do is scare you away. ”
“I’m trying to imagine you lying in bed,” I admitted. “Actually debating that with yourself.”
Everything Parker did was assured. He was the most quietly confident man I’d ever met. Not flashy, like Beck. But just someone who knew himself well.
“Forgive me if I only heard the first part of that. If you’d like, we can make it happen for real so you don’t have to imagine it.”
“You’re a nut,” I said.
“And you’re getting a good night text every night now. I hope you know that.”
“I hope you know I wouldn’t mind. At all.”
“And I hope you know… I don’t want another Taco Tuesday.”
That wasn’t at all where I thought he was going with this conversation. “What do you mean?”
“I wanted to touch you all night. Kiss you the second you walked into the inn. But I’m trying not to push?—”
“Push all you want,” I said, the words flying from my mouth as I thought about Jules’s advice.
“You sure about that?”
“Yes,” I said, remembering how I’d felt just before falling asleep, wondering if maybe Parker had met someone and that was why he hadn’t texted. Someone less fragile than me. “I don’t want to be needy. That’s not who I am.”
Parker looked furious all of a sudden. “I swear to God, if I ever meet that asshole, I’m going to kick his ass for making you feel that way. Delaney,” he said, “wanting to be reassured, knowing you care, isn’t needy. It’s hotter than hell. Please don’t hold back. Not with me.”
His words were like a soothing balm caressed over an open wound. One I thought had healed but that clearly still festered.
“I’m still waiting for the shoe to drop,” I admitted. “No one can possibly be as nice, and understanding, and amazing in bed,” I added with a smile, “as you. How haven’t you been scooped up way before now?”
“Because I’m also damaged. My father?—”
“Isn’t you.”
We pulled onto the block where our carriage ride would come to an end. I didn’t want to get up. I wanted to stay here, in Parker’s arms, talking, all night.
“To be clear,” he said as the carriage slowed, “when we meet up with the others later, I’m not hiding anything.”
“Good.”
“We’re together.”
“We are,” I agreed. To just to clarify. “As in…”
“As in, you are my girlfriend, Delaney. And I’m going to text you good morning, and good night, anytime we’re not already together.”
My pulse raced. This was really happening. “And seeing other people?”
The carriage stopped.
Parker slowly shook his head.
No.
Smiling, I tossed the blanket from my lap. “Well then. That was an eventful carriage ride.”
Parker held my hand as I began to climb down. “Wait till you see what I have planned next, cupcake.”