Chapter 8
Luke
I do love living in the city. And maybe I’ve looked down on people from the country, thinking that they’re not as good or as smart or as...sophisticated, maybe? But there is a different kind of intelligence, a social intelligence? I’m not sure, but whatever it was that made Allison offer to help Judy, to see a need and to step in immediately with something that she was able to do to fulfill it. It happens in a small town but doesn’t happen as much in the city. At least not that I’ve experienced.
“I experienced that in Baltimore as well. There were a lot of people around, but I’ve never felt more lonely than I have at times there. Not all the time. It’s a great city, and I love it, but...small towns are better, hands down.”
“All right. I guess I’ll have to take your word for that. I’ve never lived in a small town. I grew up in Philadelphia.”
We’re both ready to go, but we’re standing here talking, and neither one of us makes a move toward the door. She’s...different and interesting, and I find myself wanting to know more about her.
“Wow. Philadelphia is like a whole different world from the rest of Pennsylvania. I’ve been there a few times, and I was always happy to leave, no offense to your hometown.”
“It doesn’t really feel like a hometown. I definitely consider it the place I grew up, but town just doesn’t describe it.”
She nods. “So what business were you traveling on?”
Did I tell her I was traveling on business? Or did she just assume that I was since I said I didn’t live in Christmas Tree and that was where I was going?
I’m not sure. I suppose it doesn’t matter. If she guessed, it was a good guess.
“I’m going there to meet some people about commercializing their business a little more. That’s what I specialize in, making businesses profitable and successful. I’m a bit of a consultant, but more hands-on than that. I started the company myself.”
“Wow. That’s pretty impressive. Are you good at it?” She asks this question like she believes I’m going to tell the truth.
That’s refreshing. Most of the time, people are very skeptical about what I say, and I find myself being the same about them. Like lying is so common that we just assume the other person is doing it. We’re just trying to figure out to what extent.
That’s not a very nice way to live. I like Allison’s trusting way better, although I know it can lead to a lot of heartache for her.
“I like to think I am,” I finally say, realizing I paused longer than I should have. “What do you do?” I ask, knowing that I probably should have talked a little more about my business, because it is a huge part of my life, but her question threw me off. Her attitude, the whole way that she approaches life is just so...different.
“I’m a little bit of a business consultant. I do have a business degree, but I mostly work for my brother, who has a large business, and I do whatever he needs me to. I’m that person,” she says with a little smile.
I can believe it. I can see her being good at a lot of different things. Making people feel at ease, discussing everything and anything, and she seems like she would be very loyal as well. I’d love to have someone like her on my team.
“And what do you do for fun?” I ask.
“Well, I love to spend time in Christmas Tree. It’s just such a sweet, quaint town. There is ice-skating and a few ski resorts scattered around, not too far away. Winter activities are awesome, but there’s also kayaking and boating in the summer. It’s not far from a lake, and we get tourists in all four seasons.”
“You talk about that like it’s your town. I take it you’re on board with the move back from Baltimore?”
“I am. I’m ready to leave the city. I suppose it was nice to go there and see what I was missing, but there is nothing there and less, actually, than there is in a small town. And in Christmas Tree in particular. I suppose the convenience of going to stores is probably the only thing that we’ll really miss, and honestly, it wouldn’t hurt me to shop a little less.”
“It probably wouldn’t hurt anyone to shop a little less,” I say.
I swallow. She is intriguing and appealing, but I don’t know whether this is a relationship that I want to try to pursue. Maybe I need to think about that.
“Are you ready to go?” I say, thinking that it probably would be best for us to get out and do something. Maybe we can talk while we’re working, and I can try to figure out if she might be interested in the same. Because I’m pretty sure that if I have the opportunity to be with someone like Allison, I should jump on it. She’s just that kind of girl.
She nods, gives me a little smile, one that I’m getting used to and looking forward to, and then walks out the door ahead of me. I think tonight is going to be a very interesting night.