Chapter 5
ALLIE
Allie ran a brush through her hair again, even though it was already smooth and glossy. She was wearing jeans and a pale blue sweater along with a pair of pearl stud earrings she had always liked.
Normally, Allie didn’t give this much thought to her appearance.
Most mornings she dressed and put up her hair with the sole intention of surviving a day in a classroom full of children where she was likely to wind up chasing after someone, having her clothes tugged at, and maybe even splashed with finger paints, snack items, or worse.
But today was a special day. The Fun Festival at the elementary school still left her outfit vulnerable to being pulled at or covered in sticky sweets, but mostly she would be there to enjoy herself.
And to hang out with Ash and Maya Tailor…
She reached for her favorite lipstick.
It’s not a date, a stern little voice in the back of her head reminded her.
She grabbed a lip gloss instead, and smoothed it on as she gazed into her own eyes in the mirror.
Don’t make a fool of yourself today, she advised her reflection. Just be a good friend. Ash needs a friend right now. And Maya needs you to be a good teacher.
Maybe if she went on actual dates more often, she wouldn’t be so thrown off by a simple outing like this.
But she’d lived in Sugarville Grove her whole life, and there were only so many single men who weren’t family.
While she dedicated herself to her career, it seemed like all the other young women her age in town had focused on getting married and starting families, leaving Allie to wonder if all the best and kindest men might have already been taken.
I only need one, she told herself. Surely there’s one good man left in Sugarville Grove for me.
Glancing at her watch, she realized it was time to go and headed downstairs, reminding herself that it really was going to be a fun day.
“Goodness, you look so pretty,” her mother said, turning from the cinnamon buns she was rolling out to smile at Allie.
“Your date is one lucky man,” her dad said, winking at her.
“It’s not a date,” Allie said quickly. “I’m just meeting someone at the Fun Festival.”
Zane was hunched over his coffee at the long, wooden table. When she glanced over she caught her brother smiling to himself.
“It’s not,” she said firmly.
“I didn’t say anything,” Zane replied, lifting his hands in mock surrender.
But she could still see the twinkle of humor in his eyes, and that was enough, coming from Zane, who never said much anyway. He’d told her plenty with that knowing smile of his.
“Want a cup of coffee before you head out?” her dad offered.
“No time,” she told him.
“Have fun, honey,” her mother called after her.
Allie grabbed her coat off the hook by the door and shoved her feet into her boots as she pulled it on.
Pushing open the front door, she was greeted by the pretty sight of snow falling softly on the fields.
Of course Allie had sometimes wanted to see the rest of the world. A lot of her friends had gone to college far and wide. Some had even spent time on projects in other countries.
But every time she thought maybe she was a fool for sticking so close to home, she would catch the most beautiful sunset, or sit and sip coffee with her parents, or walk out into what felt like a perfect snow globe, like she had today, and remember why she had never left.
She was lucky enough to call Sugarville Grove home. Nothing was going to make her leave, not even the idea that maybe she lacked a sense of adventure for staying so long.
The station wagon started up with a reassuring roar and she let it warm up as long as she could before heading down the long drive.
She wondered who would be at today’s festival. Normally, the Sugar Snow Carnival was the main school holiday event. It was entirely possible that the only people attending today would be the younger students and their parents.
But even if that were the case, she could still introduce Ash to some other adults. And she could tell him all about the other events in the village, where he would find practically everyone in town.
She smiled at the idea of getting to see Maya experience the big tree-lighting for the first time, or maybe convincing Ash to try singing in the choir. She could just hear his deep voice joining the others.
They could always use a little more bass. The choir only had a few men.
What if this were a real date?
She tried to stop wondering, but some ideas were like weeds with deep roots, hard to pull out and likely to spread if you let them.
I guess he wouldn’t care about my low salary if he’s working in a café himself…
She hated to think that her job could be a detriment to dating, but it wasn’t the first time the idea had loomed.
Life was getting so expensive these days, and teacher’s salaries kept getting frozen.
It seemed like everyone she met was hustling to earn as much as they could.
It was refreshing to meet a man who didn’t mind living simply, and wouldn’t judge her for doing the same.
And after all, I’ll have a pension one day, how many people can say that?
But the whole line of thought was ridiculous, because this was not a date.
Her phone rang from the seat beside her, and she hit speaker on it to answer. The car was much too old to have any kind of hands-free system.
“You’re going to the Fun Festival with Ash Tailor?” Charlotte squealed without even saying hello.
“It’s not a date,” Allie yelled to her best friend, who also happened to be her sister-in-law now.
“I see,” Charlotte said. “Any chance you can make it one? He’s so handsome.”
Allie beeped as she approached the covered bridge and then drove through. The hollow clatter of her tires on the boards probably told Charlotte exactly where she was.
“He’s my student’s father,” Allie said primly as she came out on the other side of the bridge. “I should probably keep things as professional as possible.”
“So, you do think he’s handsome,” Charlotte said, sounding delighted.
“Ugh,” Allie replied, but she was smiling. Charlotte knew her too well.
“I’m only teasing,” Charlotte said. “Don’t overthink it. Just have fun and keep an open mind, okay? She won’t be your student forever.”
Somehow, that idea only made Allie feel sad. She wondered which teacher Maya would get for first grade, and if they would understand her challenges and help her manage her big heart and her busy feet.
“I’ll keep an open mind,” she told Charlotte, just to change the subject. “How are you? How’s Alonso?”
Charlotte and Tag had three kids, Olivia and Chance from Tag’s first marriage—both absolutely adored by Charlotte—and baby Alonso, who was about to celebrate his second Christmas.
“He’s doing just fine, aren’t you buddy?” Charlotte said. “We’re at the park, and we should probably let you go since you’re driving. Call me if you want to talk after your not-date.”
“Okay,” Allie laughed. “Have fun at the park.”
“We always do,” Charlotte said.
Allie tapped the phone to end the call just as the sprawling suburbs between the farmland and the little town ended.
A few minutes later, she pulled up at the elementary school and parked on the street, since the festival was taking up the parking lot and the gymnasium.
She had just gotten out when she spotted Ash and Maya waiting for her by the big tree.
Maya danced and scampered in circles as Ash leaned back against the trunk, looking like a model in one of the L.L. Bean catalogues that came in the mail every winter.
Allie watched them as Maya tugged Ash’s hand, and somehow he looked more handsome than ever as he smiled down at his little daughter.
“Allie,” he said, noticing her and giving a friendly wave.
Allie waved back awkwardly as Maya turned to her.
“Hi,” Allie called back.
Maya barreled toward her, a streak of red from her jacket cutting through the snowy lawn of the school, a big smile on her face.
“Miss Lawrence,” she yelled as she closed the distance between them.
“Hi, Maya,” Allie said. “I’m so happy to see you.”
Maya locked her arms around Allie’s waist and squeezed her tight.
Allie hugged her back, surprised at how good it felt to get a real hug from such a small child.
“Hey,” Ash said, striding toward them.
Please don’t melt, she begged her heart.
But as his dark eyes met hers, it was clear that her heart wasn’t listening.