Merry and Bright

Chapter Four #3

That made me check my watch because I’d lost track of time.

“Oh,” I said, seeing it was already half past. “I must be going. My dad requested I buy him a sweet treat from the diner before I go back to work. He also requested I not tell my mother. There’s a tug of war of loyalty I’m not sure is entirely fair, but I told him I would. ”

Winter chuckled.

“I don’t normally leave during my lunch break,” I admitted, not sure why. I wasn’t quite sure how to end this conversation, or maybe I felt the need to delay my leaving, or something.

“Oh, well, I’m very glad you did,” Winter said. “I appreciate it.”

Then his aunt Ro came up to him and handed him his coat.

“I have a better idea. Why don’t you go to the diner with Deacon and bring us back some lunch?

” she said. “I’ll stay here and watch the babies and keep going with the inventory.

” She all but shoved him toward the door.

“Save me the trip. Deacon, it was lovely to meet you. I hope to see you again soon. I’m sure I will. ”

She gave Winter another look I couldn’t quite read. But she was right. I did need to leave.

Winter put his coat on, giving his aunt a severe stare as we went outside. I wasn’t good at reading between the lines. “Did you not want to walk with me?” I asked.

Winter’s eyes met mine, wide. “What? No, of course I do. She was just being a bit pushy. Please don’t think she was being rude.”

“I didn’t.”

“Good.” Then he seemed to notice two men over at the youth clinic who were watching us. He gave them a wave. “Rob, Gunter.”

“Afternoon,” they replied.

“You know people already,” I said as we began to walk.

“I do. Everyone here seems really nice.”

I nodded. “Yes.”

“Have you lived here long?”

“All my life,” I replied as we rounded the corner onto Main Street. “I was born here. Dad’s had the vet clinic for as long as I can remember.”

“Nice.” He gestured up the street. “It’s such a pretty town. Was it fun to grow up in?”

I shrugged. “I suppose. I don’t know what it would have been like to grow up anywhere else.”

He smiled at that. “Fair enough.”

“I like small towns,” I admitted. “I went to college in Boise, and the noise and the crowds were a lot. I like the quiet here.”

I felt his gaze on me but I didn’t look at him. “I like it too,” he said.

“I would go fishing with my dad in the summer,” I said, again not entirely sure why I volunteered that. “And skiing and hiking. I tried soccer, but I was never good at that.”

“Sports really aren’t my forte,” he said. “And as for skiing and hiking, I wouldn’t be opposed as long as there’s a promise of no bears.”

We got to the diner, and he held the door for me. I went inside, but it was warm and there were so many sweet smells, plus it was busy and there was so much noise. I didn’t like it, but I didn’t want to embarrass myself by leaving. And I didn’t want to stop my conversation with Winter.

I liked him.

“You okay?” he asked me quietly.

I tried to nod.

“It’s a bit overwhelming, isn’t it,” he said, not really asking. “We can order and wait outside if you’d prefer?”

I met his eyes then, and something inside me settled.

I felt calm with him. Something I’d only ever felt with my parents or in my house, in my room. Despite the noise, the heat, the smells, I knew I’d be okay. I liked that he gave me options. I didn’t want to leave him just yet, but I didn’t want to stay here. “Yes, please.”

So we ordered and paid. Winter seemed to know the man behind the counter. Jayden, his name was. He’d been in town long enough now, working at the diner and the B&B, for almost everyone to know who he was.

“We’ll just wait outside,” Winter told him.

Jayden looked at me, then back to Winter, and again they seemed to exchange information without speaking. It was about me, no doubt.

Winter held the door for me again, and as soon as I was outside, I could breathe and let the tension out of my shoulders.

“It’s a busy diner,” Winter said. “Gets a bit much, doesn’t it?”

I nodded, having to swallow before I could speak. My mouth was dry, and licking my lips didn’t seem to help much. “I don’t like it,” I said. “It closes in on me.”

It closes in on me was something my father had taught me to say when I was going to college—if I got overwhelmed, overstimulated, and started to feel panicky, because most people understood that.

And he was right.

He always was.

Winter gave me a patient smile, looking up at me. He was close but not touching, and I wasn’t sure why, but maybe I wouldn’t mind his hand on my arm. A soft touch, just for a second. I wondered what, if he did, it might feel like?

But he didn’t.

“I get it,” he said quietly. “It’s fine. It’s why I like bookstores and libraries. I like quiet and calm. Being overwhelmed is an icky feeling, isn’t it?”

And just like that, he made me shuck off the panicky feeling and smile. “Icky?”

He nodded. “Totally icky. It’s awful.”

Then the door to the diner opened and Jayden appeared, holding our bags of pastries. “Here you go,” he said. “Deacon, good to see you. Say hello to your dad for me. Win, I’ll come see you tomorrow around nine?”

“Perfect.”

Then he was gone.

“I don’t know how he knew my name,” I said.

“You’re the vet in town,” Winter said. “Along with your dad. Pretty sure everyone knows who you are.”

I wasn’t sure how to feel about that.

“And you grew up here,” he added.

That was true.

“He called you Win,” I said. “And he’ll see you tomorrow.”

I really wasn’t sure how I felt about that either.

“Most people call me Win,” he said. “Except you.”

“I like the name Winter.” I shrugged. “Though it depicts cold and dormancy, and I don’t think you’re either of those things.”

He grinned and his cheeks went pink. From the cold, surely.

“You should have worn a scarf if you’re cold,” I told him. “A beanie too. It gets very cold here. Do you have a beanie?”

He looked at me then, smile wide. “I do, in fact. I should wear it tomorrow. And Jayden is doing a food stall out in front of the shop on Saturday for the grand opening. That’s what he’ll be seeing me about.”

That made sense.

I stopped walking next to the truck. It had Hartbridge Veterinarian Clinic written on the door, so I assumed he’d know it was my stop. “I’m looking forward to it, though I told Dad I’d prefer later in the afternoon when it’s not so busy.”

“You’re coming?” he asked, eyes bright.

“Yes, of course.” Now I was confused. “Why does this surprise you? I’m an avid reader, and given you sent a flyer out to everyone, I’m assuming the whole town will be there.”

He made a face. “Oh, I do hope so. I’m nervous, but also excited. There’s still so much work to do. It feels as if Saturday is coming too fast and I won’t be ready. I mean, I’m sure I will be, but I want it to be perfect, and I don’t even know if three of me could get it all done.”

“There were a lot of boxes,” I agreed.

He grimaced. “I know! And that’s not even half of it.

You should see the storeroom.” He looked back toward the storefront.

“I should get back there. We’ll be there until midnight every night, at this rate, trying to get it all done, and having two little kittens doesn’t help right now.

I barely slept at all and I don’t see that changing any time soon.

Until they’re on a better schedule and not feeding so often. ”

“A few weeks, at least,” I said.

He deflated but then offered me a smile. “Oh well. That can’t be helped. I’m sure we’ll get through it.”

I liked his positive attitude, and I wished there was something I could do to help.

Well . . . until I realized there was something I could do.

“I can help you,” I said.

He blinked. “With the kittens?”

“No. Well, yes. As their veterinarian, it’s my job to care for them.

But I meant the book inventory. After work, I could help you.

Actually, it would be after dinner, and then Dad and I watch our show together, but it’s over by eight o’clock, and if you’ll be there until midnight, I can help for four hours.

I mean, I don’t have to watch our show. Some episodes are reruns.

I’m sure he won’t mind. But I’m very efficient with inventory.

Cataloging and order are my specialty. I do most of it for the clinic.

I actually enjoy it, so it’s not a chore or anything. ”

I don’t know why I suddenly felt so nervous. As if everything hinged on his yes or no.

“Deacon,” he said softly. I looked at him then, at his eyes, and some of that anxiety melted away. “I’d like that. That would be very helpful, thank you.”

The force of the relief I felt almost knocked the air out of me, and yet I couldn’t help but smile. “Excellent. Then I shall see you at around seven, if that suits you?”

“Did you want to watch your show first?”

I was a little torn about that, but this seemed more important. “No, it’s fine. I’m sure Dad will understand that you’re on a deadline.”

“Well, I do appreciate that,” he said. “What show is it that you watch, by the way?”

“Antiques Roadshow. We like to try and guess where each item originated, and when, and what it’s worth.”

“I love that show! I love the English version best.”

“Same.” A thrill ran through me. I couldn’t believe he liked my show. “We have a lot in common.”

He laughed at that. I wasn’t sure why, because I hadn’t meant it as a joke. But then he nodded, still smiling. “We do.”

I looked at my watch, alarmed to see it was already a quarter to one.

“Oh my goodness, I’m late,” I said, rushing to the driver’s door and opening it, almost dropping my bag of pastries.

“I’m never late.” Then I stopped and turned to where Winter was still standing on the sidewalk.

“I have to go. Bye. I will see you at seven.”

“Okay,” he said, smiling, his cheeks pink again.

He really needed to wear a scarf. Perhaps I would take him one tonight.