Chapter 13
THIRTEEN
Joy
“Are you hungry?” Burk asks as we approach the line of food trucks.
“Starving,” I confess. “I didn’t get a chance to eat much today. We were really busy. Lots of holiday shoppers out and about.”
He nods, placing his hand on my lower back and guiding toward the row of food.
Truth is, not only am I ravenous for food, but I’m exhausted to boot.
Saturdays are always one of my biggest days, but during the holiday season, it’s worse.
The sidewalks are filled with shoppers, all doing their part in staying local through the gift-giving season as much as possible.
However, even though I’m dead on my feet, there was no way I was canceling this evening.
In fact, from the moment I opened my door and found Burk standing there, I’ve felt an overwhelming renewed energy.
Like a second wind, especially when he handed me a single red rose with a Christmas tree bow.
It was so simple, yet so breathtakingly beautiful.
“What are you in the mood for?” he asks, glancing at the different options.
I already know my first choice, so I blurt out, “Pulled pork nachos.”
Burk smiles widely. “I should have known. And a corn dog for dessert?”
A chuckle slides from my lips. “No corn dog this time, but that’ll be on the menu for my next visit.”
Nodding, he leads me toward the truck serving a variety of pulled pork and brisket options. The line is the longest here, so we settle in and prepare for the wait. But I don’t mind. The food here is delicious, and the family who cooks and serves it a staple in our small community.
“Talked to Gramps earlier today,” Burk says.
“Yeah?”
He nods and smiles. “He’s really progressing through PT. Gram and he are having a movie night at the nursing home, and Uncle Karl and Aunt Sheila are going to visit him for a bit in the morning.”
I open my mouth to ask a question but close it just as quickly. I’m not sure I should inquire, especially since it might be a rocky conversation, one I’m not part of.
“What?”
“Never mind, it’s nothing,” I backpedal.
“It’s okay, Joy. You can ask.”
I glance up and meet gentle brown eyes. Clearing my throat, I ask, “Have you talked to your parents? You know…about…everything?”
He nods. “I have. Dad was a little pissed they called me for help, but when I explained I had been communicating with Klint a bit, he backed off. Before I left, I sat down with him and said this was something I had to do. The fight was between them, and I wasn’t taking sides.
The family business needed help, and I was in a place to do it.
He actually texted me a couple days ago and asked how Gramps was doing. ”
“That’s good,” I reply as we take a couple steps forward.
“It is. I don’t know if they’ll ever repair the damage to their relationship, but honestly, that’s not my worry.
I’m going to focus on mine and make sure things are square between me, my grandparents, and the rest of my extended family.
I’ve lost so much time with them, and being back here now is a reminder of that.
I told Gramps earlier I’d be willing to come back and help during the Christmas season.
I might not be able to stay a month, but I can give the family business a solid two weeks, maybe more. ”
A wide grin takes over my face. “I’m sure he loved hearing that.”
Burk returns the gesture and nods. “He did. Said I’m welcome anytime.”
My heart starts to beat harder in my chest and the thought of not seeing Burk again for almost a year causes pain to erupt. In just a short amount of time, we’ve fallen back into old ways, and frankly, the thought of him returning to the other side of the country gives me palpitations.
I guess I’m just going to have to enjoy what I can while he’s here.
“Hey, Joy!”
I look up and offer a warm greeting to Jennie Lancaster, the oldest of the three Lancaster daughters, all of whom help their parents at catering events and festivals. “Hi, Jennie. Looks to be another busy night,” I tell her as she prepares to take our orders.
“It is. We’re almost out of brisket,” she informs us.
“Good to know,” Burk replies, looking down at me. “Go ahead.”
“I’ll have the pulled pork nachos with sour cream and sweet pickles,” I state, my stomach growling in anticipation.
“I’ll have the brisket sandwich and fries, please,” Burk orders.
“Drinks?” Jennie asks as she moves to their small cash register.
Burk lifts an eyebrow in question, and I reply, “I’m good. I think I’ll have a cocoa from the church stand.”
“They’re so good,” Jennie announces as she presses the buttons to total our bill. “They have that marshmallow syrup you can add. Almost tastes like a s’more.”
“Oh, I’m definitely getting that,” I say as Burk pulls out his wallet and hands over the money for our dinner. He even slips some in the tip jar on the counter.
To me, he hands me another twenty. “How about you go grab us a couple of cocoas, and we can meet at the pavilion. Looks like there’s some tables left.”
I nod but refuse to take the money. “Sounds good.”
“Easy-Bake?” he hollers before I am able to take two steps away from him.
I glance over my shoulder and smirk when he holds up the twenty. “I got it, Burkey Turkey.”
Making my way to where the cocoa stand is, I jump in line with the rest of the patrons ready for their cocoa fix. “Well, well, well, if it isn’t my best friend.”
I spin around and smile at Krista. “I thought you said you weren’t coming,” I remind her. At least that’s what she said when she helped me at the bakery last night selling Christmas tree cakes and snowflake cookies.
She shrugs and glances around. “Well, who am I to miss an opportunity to find Mr. Right while eating a corn dog and riding the Tilt-A-Whirl.”
I snort and take in the beautiful soft glow of the twinkle lights adorning every tree in the park. It hasn’t snowed in a few days, but there’s still a blanket of the white stuff covering the ground. It looks magical and pure. “I’ll be rooting for you,” I tell her.
Krista sighs. “How’s the date going?”
“Good,” I state, already grinning.
“You’re so smitten,” she mutters.
“Smitten?” I ask with a chuckle.
“Totally,” she insists with a shrug. “You two are the cutest.”
I take a step forward in the line and turn back to my friend. “It can’t last though.” Vocalizing what’s been on my mind is hard, but it needs said.
Krista lifts her shoulders. “At least you know going into it though, right? I mean, he’s only here until the end of the month. So…have fun. Have fun, if you know what I mean.”
I feel heat burn my cheeks, because, yes, I know exactly what kind of fun she’s referring to. “Won’t that make it worse?”
“I suppose it could, but if your eyes are wide open going into it, you can protect your heart.”
I just look at my friend, not sure I believe her. I can already feel my heart getting way more invested than it should, but I think I can chalk a big part of that up to the familiarity Burk invokes. He was my closest friend for so long for a reason. We just click.
“I guess,” I reply, not sounding the least bit convinced.
“All I’m saying is enjoy it. You deserve this. Especially after numbnuts treated you terribly. You need some happy. Some good sex, and something tells me that man can deliver.”
I glance to my left, following her line of sight, and practically choke on the crisp air. “How do you know?” I whisper, watching as he takes our food toward the pavilion to secure a table.
“It’s written all over his face and body language. Do you know he’s looked over here no less than six times in the last three minutes?”
Instantly, I smile. “Yeah?”
“Uhh huh,” she replies. “Now, step forward and order your drinks before he abandons your food and comes over here to find out what’s taking so long.”
I look back at the line and realize I’m next to order. “Hi, sorry, Janelle,” I tell the woman manning the money box at the cocoa stand. “Can I get two hot cocoas with marshmallow syrup, please?”
“Of course,” she replies, relaying the order to the high schoolers making the beverages.
“Five dollars.”
I hand over the cash and slip a few extra bills into the tip jar. It all goes back to the church and helps fund their annual Christmas pageant. “I heard your sister and the Mitchell boy are getting married,” Janelle says, a sad look crossing her face.
“Uhh, yeah. They’re planning a small ceremony for Christmas.”
Janelle sighs. “Sadie is so heartbroken.”
“Sadie? Your daughter?” I ask, trying to piece it all together but coming up short.
“Yes, Sadie. She’s always had a thing for John. I thought they might end up together,” she tells me wistfully.
“Oh, uhhh…”
“Awkward,” Krista mutters behind me.
“Here you go, Joy,” the girl announces as she sets my hot cocoas on the small table.
“Thank you, Bella.” Picking up the drinks, I say to Janelle, “Have a good evening.”
She sort of mumbles a reply and lifts her nose, but I ignore her. To Krista, I reply, “If you want, you’re welcome to come ice skating with us.”
My friend makes a horrified face. “And be a third wheel? No thank you.”
I bark out a laugh and shake my head. “Offer stands.”
With that, I head to the pavilion to where Burk waits. As I approach the picnic table where he’s sitting, he stands up and gives me a smile. “Everything all right?”
“Yes, Krista was behind me in line,” I inform him, setting the insulated cups down on the table and taking a seat. “I hope you’re extra hungry, because there’s no way I’ll eat all of this.”
He chuckles. “I admit, when she set it on the counter, I was shocked by the quantity of food.”
I reach for my first chip coated in pulled pork, cheddar cheese, and sweet BBQ sauce. “It’s way too much food for one person, but it’s my favorite. I should have told you we could share.” After I chew, I use another chip to scoop the toppings up and hand it across the table.
“Thanks,” he says, taking a big bite. “Wow, that’s good,” he adds after chewing. “Want some?”