Chapter 17 Lindsey
LINDSEY
“So, Mom’s really coming to the festival? Of her own free will?” Lucy asks Friday afternoon, running the shears over a goldendoodle named Finch. “This isn’t some bait and switch thing where we say we’re taking her to see The Nutcracker on ice or something and then we’re like, ‘surprise’?”
“Nope,” I say, propping my elbows on the table, allowing Finch to kiss my nose. “Oliver said she’s actually going.”
“How?” Lucy wipes a bead of sweat off her forehead with her arm. “I mean, that’s great, but how?”
“No clue, but Mom confirmed it this morning before I left the house.” I was just as shocked when Oliver texted yesterday evening to let me know he ran into Mom at the coffee shop and convinced her to go to Mistletoe Fest. I was even more shocked when she told me this morning how much she was looking forward to it.
I was hoping to ask her about it last night, but she was already in her room with the door shut by the time I got home.
“And you didn’t ask him to do this?”
I shake my head. “He did it all on his own. I didn’t even tell Oliver why Mom wasn’t going. All he knew was that she wasn’t coming.”
Oliver already proved he can hang with my family, but this showed me that he wants to. My family is the most important part of my life and quite the spirited bunch. That can be intimidating for some people. But not Oliver.
“If I wasn’t already Team Oliver, this would certainly seal the deal,” Lucy says. “I don’t think just anyone could talk her into this, Linds. There’s something special about him. I feel it in my bones.”
I rake my teeth over my bottom lip. “I think you might be right.”
“I’m going to need you to put that in writing and sign it, please.”
“Hey, Linds,” Kayla says, poking her head into the room. “You have a special visitor.”
My eyes widen, and Lucy squeals.
“Sorry, it’s not Hottie McHotterson,” Kayla continues. “It’s Ron.”
“Oh! I have something for him. I’ll be right there,” I say, darting toward my office.
Once I retrieve the gold gift bag, I head to the reception area and smile when I spot him with a small vase filled with an assortment of red and white flowers, accented with pops of green and frosted pine cones.
“Ron,” I say. “It’s good to see you. How are you feeling?”
“Wonderful,” he answers, holding the bouquet out toward me. “These are for you, Doc. I just wanted to thank you again for all you did to help me and June Bug.”
“You didn’t need to do that.” I take the blooms, inhaling the sweet scent of carnations.
“Trust me, it’s the least I can do. I know June Bug can be a handful.”
“They’re lovely. Thank you,” I say, placing the flowers on the desk. “And I have a little something here for you too.” I hand him the bag with sparkly tissue paper spilling over the top.
His smile stretches to his ears. “For me?”
“Consider it a ‘get well’ present. It’s from me and Oliver.”
“You and Oliver, eh?” He raises his brows before plucking out the small ornament. “Oh my goodness. Look at that. It’s June Bug.”
“We saw it when we got together the other day and knew you had to have it.”
“I love it, Doc. Thank you. I can’t wait to show June Bug and put it on my tree at home.”
“How is the little rascal?”
He chuckles. “If I could bottle up her energy and sell it, I would be a very rich man.”
“That’s for sure.”
“She really took up with your mom,” he says. “After having dinner with her last night, I can see why.”
Excuse me, what? “Dinner?”
He hesitates. “I took MJ to Lovebird Brews last night as a thank-you.”
My face must reflect how shocked I am because Ron winces.
“Oh dear. I hope that was okay for me to say. I just assumed you knew since you’re staying with her.”
“Of course,” I lie with a wave of my hand, trying to pretend this wasn’t news to me. “It just slipped my mind.”
Relief burrows into the lines of Ron’s forehead. “Whew. Good. Had me worried I’d told you something you didn’t already know.”
“I’m so glad you two had a good time,” I say, hoping he’ll divulge a little more. I talked to my mother before I left for work this morning, and though she was a little more high-strung than usual, she didn’t once mention their dinner.
“I can’t think of another time in recent history when I smiled that much.” He drops his gaze to his brown loafers.
I blink. Am I losing it, or does he like her?
“Your mom is a special lady,” he goes on, and the reason my mother failed to mention her outing with Ron becomes crystal clear.
Ron might not be the only one with a crush.
“Yeah, she is.” I swallow hard, the realization washing over me like a splash of cold water. It’s hard to imagine my mother with anyone but my dad. Sure, I hoped she’d get back out there one day, but I guess I didn’t think that day would be today.
As soon as the thought forms in my mind, I’m kicking myself.
I’ve been hell-bent on Mom moving forward, and the second she might actually be doing it, I freak out?
My mother has a whole life left to live.
It hurts to think of her living it with anyone but Dad, but it’s more painful to imagine her spending the rest of her life alone.
“I’m looking forward to seeing her again next week,” Ron says, tucking his free hand in the pocket of his slacks, a bashful expression on his face. He clearly likes her. As he should. My mother is a catch.
“Ron, are you busy this weekend?” The words leap from my mouth before I can question voicing them.
He tilts his head, his brow furrowed. “I don’t think so. Why?”
“Mistletoe Fest is tomorrow. My siblings and their families are going, and Oliver’s coming. And my mom will be there too. You should come.”
“Really?”
“Of course. Mom would be thrilled if you joined us.” I have no idea if that’s true or not, but I’m going with it.
He nods and smiles, and the look on his face is so sincere I could cry.
“In that case, I’d love to,” he says. “When should I be there?”
“I’ll meet you by the entrance at two.”
“Perfect. I’m looking forward to it, Doc. Well, I better let you get back to it.” He holds up the ornament. “And thanks again for this.”
“See you tomorrow,” I say with a wave.
Once the door closes, Kayla clears her throat from behind the reception desk where she’s leafing through our next patient’s file.
“Do my ears deceive me or did you just meddle in your mother’s love life?” She lifts her eyes from the manila folder. “The very same thing you were upset with her for doing to you.”
“Um.” I press my lips together. “Maybe.”
She narrows her eyes at me and slaps the file onto the counter.
“What can I say? I guess I get it from my mama.”
A grin tugs at the corner of her mouth, and she rubs her hands together.
“What?”
“Oh, nothing. I was just thinking about the extra caramel popcorn I’m going to get at the festival.” She gives me a little smirk. “I want to make sure I have plenty of snacks for the show.”
“I still can’t believe Mom went out with the baby dragon’s dad,” Ben says with a laugh at Mistletoe Fest Saturday afternoon.
I’m standing off to the side with my brother and Kayla, watching Ellie, Noah, and Emily get their faces painted by someone dressed as Buddy the Elf outside Santa’s Workshop.
“And that you invited him. Isn’t this exactly what you got mad at Mom for? ”
“That’s what I said.” Kayla pops a piece of popcorn into her mouth from the bag clutched in her gloved hands and gives me a smug grin.
“It’s not exactly the same. It’s…similar.” I shove my hands in the pockets of my tweed coat. A familiar ache is scratching at my bones, but I’m determined not to let it ruin this day.
Kayla raises an brow at me.
“Okay, fine.” I huff out a breath. “You’re right. I meddled, but I had a good reason. You should’ve seen Ron. He looked like a kid with his first crush. He was giddy over her.”
Kayla nods. “He was. I was eavesdropping on the entire conversation.”
“I think that’s why Mom didn’t mention it,” I continue. “I think she likes him too, and that probably scares her.”
Ben narrows his eyes at me. “And you thought the best way to handle that would be to invite him today?”
“Can’t help you out of that one, Linds,” Kayla says.
I shrug. “Honestly, I didn’t think that far ahead. I saw a wonderful man who appreciates how amazing Mom is, and I think she needs that. Maybe I shouldn’t have done it.”
“I’m sorry,” Ben says, touching my arm. “I don’t mean to give you a hard time. I guess it’s a little strange for me to think about Mom dating, but we want her to move forward, and this is part of it, right?”
I swipe my hair from my face. “Look, if this goes south, I’m willing to admit defeat and beg for forgiveness. But I just have a feeling, Ben. I think this could be a good thing.”
“I believe you,” he says. “What time is he getting here, anyway?”
“Two. Oliver’s bringing him since he lives next door.” I pull my phone from my pocket and glance at the time. “Oh, shoot. That’s right now. I have to go meet them out front.”
“When are Lucy and Willow getting here with MJ and Rose?” Kayla asks.
“Any minute now. They’re supposed to meet us in time for the Do You Want To Build A Snowman contest at two thirty,” I answer.
“Good,” she says with a smirk. “Gives me time to grab more popcorn.”
I roll my eyes as I back away. “I’ll meet you guys over by the activity tent.”
“Thanks again for inviting me,” Ron says as we weave through the bustling crowd. “This is nice.”
It’s overcast, making the forty-five degree day feel far cooler. People are dressed in festive colors, puffy coats, and sweaters. Some are even decked out in holiday costumes or full caroler garb. Despite the chill, the air is warm with the scent of cinnamon and roasted chestnuts.
“I’m glad you came,” I say, glancing up to Oliver, who’s fallen into step beside me. “I’m glad you did too.”
“Same.” He reaches for my hand, and electricity buzzes through me when he threads his fingers through mine.
“So, what’s this competition you said we’re participating in?” Ron asks. “Something about building a snowman?”