3
Bing anticipated Wednesday. He had another job opportunity in the afternoon. He dressed a little nicer, trimmed his beard, and hummed as he puttered around his apartment kitchen. While living alone after his divorce was peaceful, he still longed for that dream of a happily-ever-after with a special someone. For over a year, Bing had prayed daily for God to lead him to the love he craved.
When he’d come upon Gigget on Saturday, it was as if a beam of sunlight had been focused solely on her. The intensity with which he reacted to the Widow Wicket had stunned him for a moment. Was this God’s sign that his wish might be granted? Was God leading him to something wonderful?
Gigget was sweet, kind, and had a wounded innocence about her. Sure, she’d been married and had two little kids. What’d she call them? Her gnomes? He grinned at the memory. Some referred to him that way because he was shorter than average and had facial hair. He made up for it by working out to be strong and quick on his feet.
After Saturday’s debacle, Fez had tried to make life difficult at work. Bing managed to avoid any altercation, and made his supervisors aware of what had happened. Still, he hoped the man would get over it and move on.
Ready to go to the Farmer’s Market, Bing put on a baseball cap and grabbed a flannel coat. September was experiencing a weather rollercoaster. Hot one day, and forty degrees cooler the next. He enjoyed autumn with the crisp air and colored leaves.
Of course, winter in Wisconsin was cold and snowy. He hoped and prayed that this year he wouldn’t be alone on the holidays. While he could visit his siblings, it only reminded him of what he didn’t have—a family.
Bing put a box in his car to carry the home canned goods he would receive. Scripture said to take care of widows and orphans so helping her out was only a fulfillment of his Christian duty. Ha! He wanted to help because something about her zinged his heart. The family was obviously struggling, but he suspected pride kept Gigget from asking for help. She appeared quite capable of taking care of herself and her children, but there was nothing wrong with giving her a little boost now and then, if she’d let him.
He parked, he grabbed his box, and headed to Gigget’s booth. She glanced up, caught his eye, and a smile spread across her face. Those sweet blue eyes sparkled.
Her face lit up with a bright smile as he approached. How refreshing. Hope filled him like carbonated water, joy bubbling up and tickling him inside. “Good day, Ms. Wicket,” He removed his hat with a flourish and put it back on.
“It’s nice to see you, Mr. Twinkle. I have some stuff I think you will like.” She brought a box to the table.
Bing peeked in and his eyes widened. “Wow. I didn’t expect this much. Are you sure you can afford to spare all of this?”
“I can and I will. I am grateful for your assistance on Saturday and again on Sunday. I even baked some snickerdoodle cookies and fresh bread for you. There’s also homemade applesauce, pickles, and spaghetti sauce. I hope you like them.” Her cheeks grew pink.
“I’ll love them. And these are the bread-and-butter pickles right? On the sweet side? I have a sweet tooth.”
“Yes, they are. Those are a favorite of my gnomes.”
“Wow, thank you. I would love to stay and chat, but I have an appointment I can’t miss. Normally I work on Wednesdays, but I had off today which made it possible for me to see you.”
“I’m glad it worked out. There won’t be many more of these left now that the weather is turning colder. I can’t say I’ll miss it although making money this way has helped our family.”
“It’s a lot of work to keep a garden and process all the produce. I hope you have a profitable day.” With a nod, Bing reluctantly picked up the box and headed to his car.
~*~
Gigget watched the man leave. He was sweet. Goodness! Their hands hadn’t even touched as she’d handed him the box. She wondered if she’d get that same zing of excitement if their skin connected again. She’d thought she’d imagined it that first time. Her loneliness and abstinence left her more vulnerable to temptation or fantastical dreaming.
More customers arrived and captured her attention. The rest of the afternoon went well. Being busy kept those romantic longings at bay. After a successful day, she went home. The children arrived from school shortly after that, and as they sat and had an afternoon snack and started homework, Gigget’s thoughts returned to the man who seemed to be just as present with her in his absence as he was when face to face. She hoped he enjoyed the food she’d given him. It didn’t come close to the cost of the battery. What more could she do? She had nothing more to spare.
After dinner and baths, she sat with her children on the sofa to read books. It was a favorite time for her, their fresh scented hair, and sweetly scrubbed faces, and the conversations that would emerge. Now that they were learning to read, they read to her.
“Mom, did Mr. Twinkle come to the market today?” Amoretta asked.
“Yes, he did. I gave him a box of food including some of those cookies you like, as well as a loaf of bread and canned goods from our pantry. And he bought more tomatoes, too.”
“I hope he likes them all. He’s a nice man. Will he be our daddy?” Djoni asked.
Startled, Gigget’s hand moved to rest on her upper chest. “Why ever would you ask that?”
Her son shrugged. “Because he likes you and you like him, and he was nice to us. I think he’s lonely and needs us.”
“I’ve been praying for a new daddy,” Amoretta said.
“You have?” Gigget couldn’t believe this. Her kids were conspiring for her to remarry? Could she ever trust a man enough to do that?
Amoretta nodded. “Yes. I asked God for a new daddy for Christmas, because then maybe we’ll get nicer gifts, and you won’t be sad.”
Guilt stabbed her. Had she been so wrapped up in her own wounded self that she’d overlooked her children? “You do realize, sweetheart, that Christmas isn’t about presents under the tree.”
Her daughter sighed. “Yeah, I know, but it’s not fair that we get presents and you don’t. If we had a daddy, you’d get presents too.”
Where had she come up with this?
“Ahh, you two are the best gift I could ever have at any time. I don’t need presents at Christmas. Sure, they are nice, but not essential. God has provided everything we need, and we should be grateful for that. It is sweet of you both to be thinking about me though.”
A tear escaped Amoretta’s eye. “So, we can’t ask God for a new daddy?”
“I’m still asking. You can’t stop me,” Djoni said as he crossed his arms.
“You can ask God for a daddy or for a lot of other things, but God gives us all we need. If He believes a new daddy is best for you, He will provide that. I don’t want you to get your hopes up.”
Amoretta climbed on Gigget’s lap, facing her. Amoretta put a hand on either side of Gigget’s cheeks. “You deserve a nice man to be your husband and our daddy. I will pray for that.” The little girl squeezed Gigget’s cheeks and kissed her.
Gigget wrapped her one arm around Amoretta and drew Djoni into her circle with the other. “You pray all you want. I have everything I need right here. God has been good to me. I love you, little gnomes.”
Once the kids were settled in their beds and had prayed with her, she went to make sure the doors were locked and lights out before heading to her bedroom. She brushed her teeth and wondered about the object of her children’s prayers. They weren’t praying for an anonymous daddy. They were praying for Bing to be that person.
She climbed into bed and the first image that came into her mind was of them sitting around a Christmas tree filled with gifts underneath. Right next to her was Bing, holding her hand and giving her that sweet grin, all the while sending tingles through her body with his closeness.
Oh, this obsession with him was not good. Not good at all.