Chapter 5
The message from Edison came in late Wednesday evening as Kevin was organizing work files on his laptop.
Edison: Hope your day was as gorgeous as you! I’m making the rounds tomorrow after work to drop off some holiday goodies—if I don’t get it done now, it’ll all pile up. Just a heads-up in case you try to get a hold of me because my hands will either be full or I’ll be out of service range.
Kevin stared at the screen for a beat, smiled, then typed back:
Kevin: Want some company? I’m free.
There was a pause—three dots, then none. Then back again.
Edison: You sure? I’d love that. But I’ve got, like, more than a dozen stops and a car that already smells like Willy Wonka’s Candy factory vomited in the back seat.
Kevin: Perfect. I’ll bring hot chocolate.
Edison: You’re on.
Thursday evening, Kevin slipped into the passenger seat of Edison’s compact SUV and handed over a peppermint hot chocolate. The scent of baked goods nearly knocked him over—brown sugar, cinnamon, citrus peel.
He had been warned, though, so he grinned as he buckled in. “Did you bake enough for an entire village?”
Edison waved a hand toward the back seat, where trays and wicker baskets balanced precariously. “Only a small hamlet. I made labels and have our route all mapped out for maximum efficiency. Maybe. I think.”
Their first stop was the seniors’ home, where Edison breezed forward with a broad tray wrapped in cellophane and bows. Kevin hurried ahead to hold the door. More than a couple women paused their bingo game to swoon over the treat display.
“Edison, darling,” a woman in a bright purple sweater shook a finger at him from her wheelchair. “You’ll be the reason my hips don’t fit in my chair by next year.”
“You’ll dance it off,” Edison said, grinning. “New Year’s Eve. Save a dance for me.”
The next stops blurred together as they fell into a rhythm.
Since the community hall had burned down that fall, a large number of Heart Falls organizations were meeting in new temporary locations.
The Boys’ and Girls’ Club volunteers had gathered at Rough Cut Pub, a roped-off section to one side of the dance floor full of people wrapping gifts.
One of the volunteers looked ready to burst into tears over the cookie bags Edison had made to add to each gift.
At the Christmas hamper organizer’s home, Edison left a huge box of non-perishable items along with a fruitcake and a hug for the coordinator herself.
Kevin mostly held baskets and opened doors and watched Edison move like sunlight through each space. Sparkling, easy, completely himself. The man’s joy stirred something fierce in Kevin’s chest.
“I love how you seem to know everyone in town,” Kevin shared as Edison manoeuvered them out from a driveway with piles of snow five feet tall on either side. “I love how you know how to get everywhere, because I had no idea this pocket of town even existed.”
“Since Dr. Jeremiah likes to do house calls, I’ve been taken to the most outrageous places as nursing backup.” Edison lifted his chin to the left. “That road goes for about twenty minutes and then there are fifteen houses and a Hutterite Colony, tucked right up in the foothills.”
And Edison knew them all and seemed to have gifts for half of them.
Eventually they pulled up to the familiar ranch house on the land Kevin currently called home. When he raised a brow at the other man, Edison grinned widely. “Last stop, Jinx.”
Dixie the golden retriever met them at the front door, tail wagging so hard her hips swayed. Jinx followed a second later, face flushed from indoors warmth.
“I was hoping you’d stop by,” she said, stepping aside and gesturing them in.
“Told you I would.” Once inside, Edison thrust forward a paper bag decorated with shiny gold and silver cut outs. “Hope you like it.”
Jinx hesitated. “Do I have to put this under the tree for Christmas day?”
Edison gasped. “Wait that long? Hell, no.”
Right answer. The girl all but ripped the bag open, squealing as she pulled out a red bag stitched with gold ribbon, with small zippers and pockets lining the edges. “It’s gorgeous.”
“It’s your new crochet bag. There’s two yarn loops, so you can have the balls safely tucked away and still work on your projects while you’re out by the fire.” Edison’s eyes sparkled. “Oh, and there’s a secret snack pocket right here.”
Jinx admired the bag a little more then hugged him tightly. “It’s perfect, Edison. Thank you.” She glanced between them. “Wait here. I didn’t wrap your gifts yet, but I want you to have them now.”
She raced off, Dixie barking excitedly at the high emotional energy pouring into the room.
Kevin slipped an arm around Edison’s waist and squeezed. “Good job on the gift.”
Edison tilted back his head and flashed Kevin a brilliant smile. “Thanks. I’ve been to enough nights here at High Water to know she needed one, but it had to fit her as well, you know?”
Indeed he did. Which was part of the problem. The gift he wanted to give Edison needed to fit—
“So…” Jinx had returned holding a soft, hand-crocheted scarf crafted with bright rainbow stripes. Cheerful and bright and Edison to a T. Even the slightly uneven stitches made it even more unique, just like him, and Kevin’s throat tightened.
“I had so much fun making this,” she said, holding the scarf out to Edison like an offering on her open palms. “I could see you wearing it.”
Edison blinked fast, then took the scarf and carefully wrapped it around his neck. He glanced in the mirror beside the door before excitedly pressing both hands to his face. “Thank you a gazillion times.” He hugged her again. “It’s my new favourite.”
A grinning Jinx turned to Kevin, pulling another object from behind her back. “I made you something too.”
It was a grey neck warmer, sturdy and neat. Kevin tried it on and nodded his approval. “I love it. Thank you.”
She offered him a sweet smile. “It matches you. Like Edison matches his.”
And just like that, Kevin knew exactly what he was giving Edison for Christmas.