Chapter 6 #2
A ripple of pleased murmurs spread through the small crowd. Ryan glanced at Sam, noticing how her shoulders relaxed slightly, though she tried to hide it.
“What’s with the Secret Santa thing?” she asked quietly, her eyes darting around as people chatted excitedly.
“It started happening a couple of weeks ago,” he explained, leaning forward.
“Someone’s been doing random acts of kindness around town.
Paying for groceries, leaving gift cards at the coffee shop, donating toys to the community center.
They even sent my sister beekeeping supplies. Nobody knows who it is.”
“Seriously?” Sam looked skeptical. “And nobody’s figured it out?”
He shrugged, shaking his head. “Nope. It’s the first time it’s ever happened. Everyone’s trying to guess, but the person’s being super careful. They always pay with cash or call in anonymously.”
“Sounds fake,” she muttered, but he noticed she seemed less tense than before.
“It’s real,” he insisted. “Last week they paid off all the credit accounts at the grocery store. Mary at Spilled Milk said it was over two thousand dollars.”
Their food arrived, steaming hot and piled high on thick white plates.
They gave the dogs their burgers. The guy had given each dog two along with a bowl of water.
Sam stared at her burger for a moment before picking it up with both hands and taking a huge bite.
She closed her eyes briefly, and Ryan pretended not to notice the look of relief on her face.
“This is good,” she admitted after swallowing.
“Told you,” he grinned, then made a face, “but don’t know how you can put mayonnaise and mustard on there.”
He took a big bite of his own burger, talking with his mouth full. “Ketchup, mustard, and pickles — that’s it.”
“Pickles are gross.” But this time, Ryan swore he saw a tiny smile.
As they ate, he filled her in on more Secret Santa stories, describing how someone had anonymously donated winter coats to the elementary school and just yesterday left Christmas trees and bags of groceries on the porches of families who couldn’t afford them.
“The whole town’s obsessed with figuring out who it is,” he concluded, “but I think it’s cooler not knowing.”
Sam nodded slowly, reaching for another fry. “Yeah, I guess some mysteries are better left unsolved.”
They ordered their milkshakes, Sam ordered another plate of fries, and they asked for another burger each for the dogs.
A little while later, she spoke. “I wasn’t always like this,” she said quietly, staring into her root beer. “Living in my car, I mean.”
Ryan nodded, keeping his expression neutral. “I figured.”
“I had a job in Florida. Cleaning pools for rich people.” She reached down and patted Bella. “It was going okay until the son of the family I worked for decided he was entitled to more than clean water.”
“What happened?” Something in his stomach twisted.
“I told him to back off. He didn’t like that.” Her voice was flat, but her knuckles whitened around her glass. “Next thing I know, I’m being accused of stealing jewelry and flirting with that loser. His word against mine, and guess whose word meant more?”
“That’s messed up,” Ryan said, anger bubbling up inside him.
Sam shrugged, but the tightness around her eyes betrayed her casual pose. “So I left. Been driving north ever since. Ended up here because...” She trailed off, something flickering across her face. “Just ended up here.”
“I get it,” Ryan said. “More than you might think.”
Sam studied him, her gaze searching. “Yeah?”
Maybe telling her would help. “My mom died in a grocery store shooting in Seattle back in May. My biological father—” he gestured to himself, indicating his dark hair and blue eyes, “—he’s Tara’s ex-husband.
” He quickly shook his head. “My mom didn’t know he was married.
That was why I went to Miami after—he said I wasn’t his, though DNA proved otherwise. ”
Sam’s expression softened slightly. “That’s rough.”
“Yeah. But then I found Christina. She’s my half-sister, and she took me in.
In November, we decided to move here. Her mom had moved here over the summer.
Tara took me in. And now...” He took a deep breath.
“Now they’re starting to feel like family.
” Ryan smiled faintly. “This town is a good place. People here look out for each other.”
Sam looked away, her jaw working. “I don’t need looking out for.”
“Everyone does sometimes,” Ryan said. “Even me.”
The bell above the front door jingled, and Ryan heard his friend’s distinctive shuffling as he walked to the back of the store to join them. He spotted Ryan and waved, making his way over to their table.
“Hey, sorry I’m late,” he said, pulling up a chair.
“Go order lunch, the Secret Santa paid for everyone’s food for...” He looked at his phone. “Another hour.”
Charlie nodded to her. “Hey. Be right back, I’m starved.”
When he returned and sat, stretching his long legs out, Ryan made introductions, just like his mom had taught him.
“Charlie, this is Sam,” Ryan introduced them. “Sam, this is my friend Charlie. We take classes together at the community college.”
Charlie smiled warmly. “Nice to meet you.”
She nodded stiffly, sniffling, her guard visibly rising again with the addition of a new person.
The conversation flowed more naturally with Charlie there, his easy-going nature helping to bridge the awkward silences.
They talked about neutral topics. The weather, Christmas, the speculation over the Secret Santa, and the classes they were taking.
Sam mostly listened, occasionally offering a brief comment or question.
As they finished their food, Ryan noticed Sam shivering despite the warmth of the store. Her cheeks were flushed, and she kept blinking like she was trying to clear her vision.
“You okay?” he asked, concern creeping into his voice.
“Fine,” she said automatically, but her voice sounded strained. “Just really tired.”
Charlie caught Ryan’s eye, his expression worried. “You don’t look so good,” he said to Sam. “No offense.”
Sam started to stand, swaying slightly. “I should go. Bella needs—” She broke off, pressing a hand to her forehead.
Ryan was on his feet immediately, steadying her with a hand on her arm. “You’re burning up.”
“I’m fine,” she insisted, but her legs buckled beneath her. He and Charlie caught her before she hit the floor, lowering her gently back into her chair.
One of the ladies at the next table hurried over, her face creased with concern. “Everything okay?”
“I think she’s got the flu,” Ryan explained, thinking of how Christina hadn’t been feeling well and said it was probably the flu.
He pressed the back of his hand to Sam’s forehead, alarmed by how hot her skin felt.
Sam’s eyes fluttered, struggling to stay open as she leaned heavily against him.
Bella whined anxiously, pawing at her owner’s leg.
“I’ll call Dr. Winters,” the woman offered, already pulling out her phone.
“No doctors,” Sam mumbled, trying to push herself upright. “No hospitals. Can’t afford—”
“I’ll call my sister,” Ryan said quickly, already dialing. “She’ll know what to do.”
As the phone rang, he exchanged a worried glance with Charlie.
“Christina?” Ryan said when she answered. “I need your help.”