Chapter 12
Luke
I’ve never spoken like this with anyone. I’ve always been very analytical and business focused. Not that I don’t care about people. I do, of course. But Jim made me see how having a business could be beneficial to everyone, not just me. How serving others is what he remembered at the end of his long, storied life. How it wasn’t about the money he made or the accolades he got. It was about the people.
I think Allison already knows this, and so I feel a little bit silly talking to her. Like I just discovered something new. But I think I had a kind of revelation this evening. And maybe not just about the inn.
“Goodness, this is heavy. These ornaments must weigh a ton each.” Allison is trying to lift a medium-sized box, and she’s grimacing.
“I’ll help,” I say. I don’t want her lifting stuff when I am perfectly capable of doing it. Maybe my manners are a little rusty. I haven’t been using them like I should, but a gentleman doesn’t stand around while a lady struggles with a heavy box.
She straightens and seems a little surprised. Perhaps I’m surprised myself. I am not usually the kind of man who pitches in and tries to be a gentleman.
But I like the look on her face as I pick up the box and carry it into the living room.
“Are we going to open it together?” I ask.
“I have a feeling there’s going to be some pretty old, absolutely beautiful antique ornaments in here, but... Maybe I’m just getting my hopes up.”
“You’re getting mine up too,” I say with a little bit of anticipation as I put my hand on the flap of the box and pull it free from the tape.
We look together, gasping as tissue paper-wrapped ornaments appear once the box is open.
“These are gorgeous,” Allison breathes as she picks one up gently and looks at it.
“I’m almost afraid to touch them. I am afraid I’ll break them.”
“We’ve broken plenty over the years,” Judy says, walking back into the living room. “Don’t worry about it. They... I suppose they’re irreplaceable now, and they represent a lot of memories, but they’re just things. It’s not like a soul you can take to heaven with you.”
I turn and look at her. That’s exactly the vibe I’ve been getting all evening. It is what is stirring in my soul and inspiring me to want to be better. Decorations are beautiful, and things are nice, but people are what we live for. Souls are eternal.
“I just remembered there is an additional room available. I left the key on the counter.” She acts like this is not big news and continues to speak. “I’ll be putting Jim to bed, and... I’m getting kind of old myself, and I might not make it back out this evening. Are you guys going to be okay?”
“We’ll be just fine,” I say, looking at Allison, who nods. I don’t know if it’s her influence, or Miss Judy’s, or a combination of both of them, but it’s funny how one little detour can change a man’s life in significant ways.
I wait for a bit after Miss Judy has left, and Allison is unwrapping the ornaments, carefully hooking them, and hanging them on the tree.
“I can’t believe I’m even thinking this, but I think I’m going to cancel my appointment tomorrow. I believe I want to buy the inn, retire my business, and see if I can’t make it successful once more.”
Allison’s eyes light up, like I just told her that I was giving her a million-dollar diamond ring or something.
“That’s amazing!” she says. “I was honestly wishing that I had the funds to do that. I... I have a little something put back, but not nearly what I would want to offer Judy and Jim for this place. Although, I was thinking that I would make the offer contingent on them being allowed to stay here for as long as they wanted to.”
“That’s a great idea,” I say, thinking once more how being with someone who is not like me at all helps me be a better person. By showing me things that I might not see myself. I wonder if there is a way I can talk to her about that. This evening wouldn’t be the same without her, and... Can one evening change a person that much? So much that I’ve gone from being focused on my business to thinking about giving it all up, settling down at an inn, and knowing that it wouldn’t be the same if Allison wasn’t there, too.
She doesn’t say anything more, and I continue to unwrap ornaments, handing them carefully to her while she puts them on the tree.
“How would you feel about doing it together?” I finally say. I don’t really want to be business partners. There is just a feeling in my gut that...I might be interested in more.
I’ve shocked her. Her eyes open wide, and she blinks. “Well. That’s quite an offer. I... I’m definitely interested.” She says it like she’s interested, but we would have to talk about it. I’m down for that. And I totally get it.
“I don’t normally make offers like that to people I just met. But ever since I met you, you’ve surprised and inspired me with your kindness and your generosity and your thoughtfulness toward others. It’s convicted me about how I’ve behaved and that I can do better. I’ve always believed that I should try to be around people who make me better.”
“I agree, and I thought several times about how different we are and how a lot of times differences can complement, and I like that.”
I nod, and we chat easily while we continue to work on the tree. I’ve gone from thinking of her as a complete stranger to considering her a friend. It just makes this evening even more odd, yet special.