12. Dulcie
DULCIE
D ulcie looked around the park the next day feeling absolutely amazed.
Sugarville Grove had been pretty and charming yesterday, and she was pretty sure it was always like that.
But today, with snow falling softly, and the whole town out and about, it felt like she had fallen into a storybook.
Bright decorations and winter coats made a cheerful contrast to the soft white blanket of snow.
And the sweet, fresh air was filled with the sounds of people greeting each other and children giggling on the playground.
“We’ll just take a quick look around the park, and then head over to the Bean Counters for hot chocolate,” West said. “The snowball fight is going to start soon, and it gets a little wild.”
“The snowball fight gets wild?” Dulcie asked.
“Not really,” West said with a smile. “It’s one of our newer traditions in town. The bigger kids love it, and they can get a little competitive, that’s all. When Elizabeth is a little older, she’ll probably want to join in with them.”
“I don’t like snow in my face,” Elizabeth said in a bright, clear voice.
“You sure don’t,” West agreed. “We can watch from the café. Does that sound good?”
Elizabeth nodded regally, and they continued on past the skaters toward the pavilion.
Along the way, people were pretty much constantly waving and saying hello to West. Most of them also glanced at Dulcie curiously. But West didn’t seem to be worried about the fact that they looked at her like they thought something might be going on between the two of them.
Or maybe he doesn’t even notice?
After last night, she had been stunned when he invited her to attend today’s Christmas events in town. But she was very happy to accept. She only wished Delphine could be here with them.
S he had even texted her sister last night about the town snowball fight.
Delphine would love something like that. She would love all of it—hot chocolate, Christmas decorations, people shopping and waving to each other. They were all so relaxed and happy, as if sharing the holidays together was the most important thing in the world.
Money lets them act like that, a more jaded version of herself might have said.
After all, not having to worry about where your next meal or rent payment was coming from probably made it a lot easier to relax and have fun.
And it was true that these people were all doing better than anyone in her old neighborhood back in the city.
But there was more to it than that. She was sure of it. There was something in the air in this little town, a sense of community that actually meant something and wasn’t just a way to tell people to stay where they belonged.
“Look at you, young lady,” a familiar voice cried.
She looked over to see the older man who had rescued her in the snow approaching with a delighted expression. A sweet-looking lady with pretty, white hair and a big, purple purse walked by his side.
Was that really only two nights ago?
It felt like a lifetime.
“Hi, Mr. Fournier,” she said.
“It’s just Joe,” he scolded her. “This is my wife, Edith.”
“It’s very nice to meet you,” Dulcie said. “I’m Dulcie.”
Edith pulled her into a surprisingly strong hug for such a frail-looking lady.
“I’m very glad to see you’re up and doing well,” Edith told her. “Joe was so worried about you.”
“I just needed a little rest,” Dulcie said with a smile. “Your husband is my hero though. Thank goodness he came along when he did. It was cold out there.”
“He’s a good one,” Edith agreed, smiling at Joe in the sweetest way.
“I’m getting hot chocolate,” Elizabeth piped up suddenly.
“That sounds very nice, sweetheart,” Joe told her. “I guess we’ll let you get to it so you can be back in time for the snowball fight.”
He winked at Dulcie so she would know he was kidding.
“I’m too little for a snowball fight,” Elizabeth told him earnestly. “I’m just going to watch.”
“Good thinking,” Joe told her. “Well, you enjoy your hot chocolate, and keep a sharp eye on Dulcie for me. Make sure she has fun today.”
“Okay,” Elizabeth said, her eyes moving to Dulcie.
“Don’t worry,” Dulcie told her. “I’m having a lot of fun.”
They walked on, crossing the street to peek in the windows of the shops lining the park. Dulcie carried a warm feeling of satisfaction with her that apparently, she also had someone to greet her in Sugarville Grove, even if it was only because he’d fished her car out of a snowbank.
They approached a beautiful little ice cream shop that had a long line outside. A board near the door advertised a discount for participants in the snowball fight.
“Stone’s Throw Creamery,” she said, peeking in the window and spotting someone else she knew. “Hey, that’s Charlotte.”
“That’s our family’s shop,” West said with a smile. “My parents hired Charlotte last year to mind the counter when it was just a tired little place. Instead, she turned it into the hottest spot in town.”
“That’s really amazing,” Dulcie said, looking in the window at West’s sister-in-law working the cash register with baby Alonso in a carrier on her chest. “Do you think she needs any help? ”
“We’ve got a whole list of volunteers for today,” West said with a half-smile. “But it’s really nice of you to ask.”
Dulcie got a second warm feeling. She meant it when she offered to help, and she was sure she would have enjoyed it too. But knowing she had pleased West just by asking the question gave her an unexpected feeling of joy.
They walked on, greeting a few more friends and patients of West’s before arriving at the café on the corner.
“Come on in,” the pretty lady at the counter called to them. “Nice to see you all.”
Dulcie looked around, taking in the old-fashioned, paper reindeer decorations on the walls, and the cute little red and green vases holding sprigs of holly on all the tables.
“Hey, Tara,” West said. “This is Dulcie.”
“Hi, Dulcie,” Tara said, smiling and giving her a wink. “It’s great to meet you. Go on and sit wherever you want.”
Other than a few old timers sipping coffee, the place was quiet. They chose a nice booth with a great view of the park, and Tara dropped off a couple of menus as they settled in.
“My treat,” West told Dulcie. “Get whatever you want to eat.”
“Oh, I’m fine,” she told him. “Hot chocolate is perfect.”
She honestly could have eaten, even though this morning West had made them a mountain of bacon and eggs and toast with homemade bread his mom had dropped off.
Dulcie had never eaten better than she had since arriving in this magical town.
It almost felt like West was trying to fatten her up like a Christmas goose.
Tara stopped back a few minutes later, handed Elizabeth a coloring book and a box of crayons, and took their order for three hot chocolates.
“What are you eating, Dulcie?” West asked sternly.
“I’m fine,” she told him, handing Tara the menu.
“We’ll take a chicken salad bowl,” West told Tara. “And a plate of your cheese fries for the table.”
“Yes, sir,” Tara told him.
“You didn’t have to do that,” Dulcie told him.
“I like supporting Tara’s business,” he said, shrugging. “She’s new around here.”
“Really?” Dulcie asked, looking around. The place certainly didn’t look brand new.
“I’d say she’s been here five years or so,” West said, nodding. “Nice girl, just the kind of flatlander we like around here.”
“Flatlander?” Dulcie echoed.
“Apologies,” West said frowning and glancing at Elizabeth, who was coloring happily in her book. “I guess it’s not the friendliest term.”
“What does it mean?” Dulcie asked.
“A flatlander is someone new to town,” he said, shrugging. “Someone who isn’t from Vermont.”
“But you said she’s lived here for five years ?” Dulcie asked. “That’s new?”
“Most people in town have had family here for generations,” West said with a wry smile. “Though we’ve had more newcomers lately. I guess people everywhere are hearing about all the fresh air and pretty views.”
“They’re not wrong,” Dulcie said. “And the food .”
He chuckled and she felt her cheeks heat a little, so she focused on Elizabeth’s coloring book.
“You chose a picture of a gingerbread house to color,” Dulcie said.
“I like gingerbread,” Elizabeth said, rubbing her brown crayon industriously along one wall of the house.
“Me too,” Dulcie told her.
“What are you guys doing here?” a familiar voice called out.
Dulcie turned to see one of West’s brothers approaching.
“Uncle Tripp,” Elizabeth said happily, placing down her crayon and running over so he could swing her up in his arms.
“Hey there, kiddo,” Tripp said. “You’re not going to compete in the snowball fight with your cousins?”
“ No ,” she laughed.
“Let me guess,” Tripp said. “You’re chicken?”
“No,” she said.
“You’re allergic to snow?” he guessed next.
“No, no,” she laughed. “I’m too little.”
“Oh, right,” he said, putting her down and patting her on top of her head.
“What’s your excuse, Tripp?” West teased.
“I can’t get snow in my hair,” Tripp joked. “Girls like a man who looks put-together.”
Dulcie could only laugh, even though she wasn’t entirely sure what was funny. Tripp just had a silly, joyous way about him.
Tara stopped back with their hot chocolate a few minutes later, along with a coffee for Tripp.
“So, are you volunteering on anything today?” West asked his brother.
“Nope,” Tripp said. “I carried over about a hundred barrels of ice cream this morning for Charlotte though.”
“That’s great,” West said.
“I should probably volunteer my talents for the choir tonight at the tree lighting,” Tripp said. “I’m told my singing voice is angelic.”
That made Elizabeth laugh, though Dulcie wasn’t sure why.
“Cash would disagree,” Tripp added before cracking up.
“Now, there’s ketchup on the table already for the fries," Tara said. “Do you all need anything else? Hot sauce? Mayo?”
Dulcie shook her head.
“Enjoy,” Tara said, smiling and heading off to greet another table.
“Why does Uncle Cash think Uncle Tripp isn’t a good singer?” Elizabeth asked.
“Because Uncle Cash is a real singer,” Tripp put in before West could answer. “And he’s always been a heartbreaker on top of it. It’s not even fair.”
But Elizabeth was already focused on her coloring book again.
“A heartbreaker?” Dulcie asked.
“Probably half the women in Vermont have a bone to pick with him,” Tripp said, winking so that she wasn’t sure if he was telling the truth.
“That’s rich coming from you,” West teased.
“I’m a true gentleman,” Tripp said, with pretend wounded dignity so silly that it made Dulcie smile.
“How many women in this town would disagree with that?” West pressed him.
“A gentleman would never tell,” Tripp said, waggling his eyebrows.
“What are you talking about?” Elizabeth asked, looking up suddenly.
“Your uncle is a goofball,” West said firmly. “That’s all.”
That made Elizabeth laugh for a minute before applying herself to her coloring book again.
Dulcie couldn’t help noticing how focused Elizabeth could be. She had thought at first that the little girl was just very serious. But she clearly knew how to laugh when she felt comfortable with the people around her.
She’s super smart, Dulcie realized. She likes to work hard on things. She’s going to love school.
She frowned, thinking about her own school experience.
She had enjoyed English class, and a few others, like Art and Music.
But with so much to do at home, it was harder to keep up in classes like History, where she had to do a lot of memorizing, or in Math and Science, because they didn’t come easily for her.
Elizabeth won’t have those struggles, she told herself comfortingly. Her dad will make sure she has clean clothes and hot meals and gets a good night’s sleep.
Across the table, West glanced over at Elizabeth, his eyes on her careful hand as she colored the red swirls of the peppermints on the gingerbread house.
There was something so comforting about seeing a dad care for a child the way West cared for Elizabeth.
He never seemed to get angry or even impatient with her.
He looked over at her all the time like this—like he was wondering if he needed to help her in some way.
Dulcie could feel it healing parts of her heart she hadn’t known were broken.
There must have been a time when I loved my dad, a time when he showed me his true colors and it surprised me in a good way, instead of just hurting.
“Penny for your thoughts,” Tripp said suddenly.
“Just trying to imagine what the snowball fight will be like,” she said.
“It will be mayhem,” Tripp said happily. “Adults participate, and teens too. And year before last, Tag’s little boy, Chance, won the whole thing. Though he had a lot of help from his big sister.”
“Wow,” Dulcie said. “So, all those people out there are actually participating?”
They looked out the window to where the park was teeming with people, all laughing and looking very excited. Some of them already had caches of snowballs at the ready.
“Oh yes,” Tripp said. “They’ll form allegiances too. It’s a big prize this year. It’s always the spotlighted gift in the toy store window. That’s why the toy store sponsors it.”
“Not my castle,” Elizabeth said worriedly, looking up from her work .
“No, no,” West told her. “It’s the big stuffed animal treehouse. Your castle is safe.”
Elizabeth nodded, looking relieved, and Dulcie couldn’t help smiling at her and secretly hoping that West was buying her that castle. Though she was pretty sure it was awfully expensive.
“They’re getting started,” Tripp crowed, his eyes on the window.
Dulcie looked over just in time to see a grown man leaping over a park bench to fling a snowball at a group of startled teenagers.
“Amazing,” Tripp laughed. “Get ‘em, Stravinsky.”
“Who’s that?” Dulcie asked.
“Dale Stravinsky, the high school softball coach,” West said with a smile. “He always comes close, but he never wins.”
“We think he lets the kids have it in the end,” Tripp said approvingly, his eyes still on the window. “Though he’ll never admit it. Nice guy.”
“Really?” West asked.
“Oh yeah,” Tripp said. “His dream is that one of his softball girls will win it one year. That’s why he’s so into it. Having one of them win in front of all those little kids might mean more girls want to try out for the team when they get to high school.”
“Wow,” Dulcie said.
“Tripp coaches hockey over at the school,” West said. “So he knows all the other coaches.”
They watched as a couple of kids snuck up behind Stravinsky, and Dulcie was pretty sure he was going to get pelted. But he managed to duck under the first snowball and dodge behind a tree before the others could land.
Tripp laughed, and some of the others who were warming up in the café cheered a little.
Dulcie looked around for a moment, and decided that she couldn’t imagine a cozier way to spend a winter Saturday.