Mindi
One Week Later
A gust of blustery winter air blew as I pulled the doors open and stepped inside. Christmas music played lightly over the gentle chatter of the residents of Willow Valley as they had their coffees.
“Morning! Busy this morning! Can I get a coffee, and two of those delicious-looking Santa cookies for here and two to go, please?”
“Of course! I heard that the food drive went well! Ethan said it was one of the best turnouts.”
“It did, and I think he is right. I think it really was the best turnout we’ve ever had, to be honest. So many people came out to show their support.”
“That is fantastic. You should be proud. All your hard work paid off.”
I smiled, not liking when others said it was all to do with me, because it took a community to accomplish what we had. I was only a cog on the giant wheel, and it was all because of them it had been a success.
“I am proud. Proud to be part of a community like this,” I said, smiling.
“I’d never be able to pull it off without all of you.
Now, that being said, I’m going to sit down with my coffee and cookies and work on the holiday menu for the kids.
That way, you can prepare the items I’ll be needing from you,” I said, smiling as I picked up my coffee and cookies.
“Stay as long as you want. Just signal when you want a refill.” Brooke smiled as Tristan stepped out carrying two more trays of cookies.
“Morning, Mindi! I’m gonna come by and pick up the trees tonight if that is okay.” He smiled.
“Sure thing! I might not be home if you come too early. Sarah and I have some errands to run tonight. If I’m not home yet, just let Connor know you are taking them. He’ll be out cutting a few more down tonight. We sold out yesterday, but yours are marked and have been placed aside.”
“Sounds good.”
I smiled and took off toward one of the few empty tables in the diner.
I pulled the papers from my bag and placed them in piles, thinking back to the event yesterday.
While it had gone wonderfully, I felt like I was losing my mind.
I still hadn’t heard a word from Noah—my message had gone completely unread—but I could have sworn I saw him a few times yesterday in the crowd.
Of course, each time I saw him, someone interrupted me and pulled my attention away. When I turned back around, he was gone.
I’d gone home last night, put Sarah to bed, and then pulled out all of his letters again, re-reading them, and then I went to the message I’d sent to see it was still unread, then I deleted it and focused on the paperwork in front of me, working until the wee hours of the morning, and now I needed to get through this menu and figure out what it was I was missing.
“More coffee?”
I only nodded, afraid that if I looked up from what I was working on, I’d lose my concentration.
“Ha, I told Tristan you’d want cinnamon rolls.” She smiled as she looked over the list I’d been working on.
“Of course I’d want those.” I giggled as Brooke filled my mug. “I’d have to be crazy not to have those on the menu. Not only were they the holiday winner, but they are a holiday favorite now. I think if you were to take them off the menu, the town would revolt.”
“I know. I might have started a small cinnamon roll cult.”
“Oh, I meant to ask, how is Sarah?”
“Good, really good. We are getting ready to decorate her room tonight; she’s really excited. I should have you put two cinnamon buns into a box for dessert tonight, along with those cookies.”
“Good to hear, and no problem. I’ll add them right away.
” Brooke patted my shoulder and then turned to continue refilling other’s mugs when I heard her welcome someone.
It was then I’d remembered one other thing I’d been missing and jotted it down, not paying attention to who she was speaking to.
I let out a sigh and placed my pencil down on the table, picking up my coffee.
I was about to take a sip when a familiar scent of cologne enveloped me.
Memories flooded my mind as I inhaled deeply.
There was only one person I knew who wore that cologne, and there was no way he was here.
It wasn’t possible… My mind was playing tricks on me again.
It was only because I’d just spent the last few days looking over Noah’s letters that I would have even remembered that scent.
Some letters, even though it was faint, still smelled exactly like him.
It was the same as yesterday, his letters; that was the only reason I’d thought I’d seen him.
I shook my head and went to pick up my pencil and get back to working on the menu when I felt a warm hand on my shoulder.
I froze as my eyes fell to the hand that rested on my shoulder, and I slowly raised my head to see a pair of bluish-gray eyes staring back at me. With my heart in my throat, I focused on the person standing in front of me. It couldn’t be.
Surprise and shock filled my body as our eyes met.
He looked different. He’d filled out, his body more muscular and inviting.
His eyes, though, held a sorrow I’d never seen in them before.
He definitely wasn’t the same boy who had left here all those years ago, eyes bright and excited. The military had changed him.
As we stood there looking into one another’s eyes, every feeling and emotion I’d suppressed over the years fought to come to the surface.
I wanted to know everything that had happened in his life from the last time we talked until now; I wanted to share everything with him that had happened in mine, but I had to keep it under control.
It had been ten years since we’d stood in front of one another, but one look in his eyes and I could feel the same pull he’d had on me back then.