30. Monty
CHAPTER 30
Monty
“ L ook at the Christmas display in the bookstore! Disgraceful! Thanksgiving is a week from tomorrow, and it’s like everyone’s already moved on from it!”
“Just terrible, Nana,” I agreed.
There’d been a rare open parking spot a block up from the Coffee Loft, and I thought it would be nice to take her for a little window-shopping stroll. It was turning out to be quite entertaining—for me.
“And look! Even the antiques store is draping pine over their window. What is wrong with people? I’m going to have to have a talk with Gladys. She should know better. Oh! I know! Can you get Gabby’s mom to do an investigative report?”
“She’s a weather woman, Nana, not a beat reporter or investigative journalist.”
“Hmm. Well, she’s got to know someone who can film this travesty.”
We reached the end of the block at Prospect Road, and I pressed the button on the traffic pole to cross to the other side.
“And look! St. Mary’s already has their nativity out. Their nativity! Not just the creche. I can see putting up the structure to stay on schedule, but the start of Advent is still over two weeks away!”
“Maybe everyone is in the Christmas spirit early this year,” I offered. “You can’t fault them for that. It’s the best season.” The signal flashed the white walking man, and I pushed Nana across to the other side of Main.
“Oh yes I can! I’m getting old. No season should try to push another season out of the way. Who started this? Do you think it was the bookstore? I heard from Clarice that people start reading Christmas novels in October. October! Before Halloween!”
“I’ve heard even earlier than that,” I stated in my most scandalized conspiratorial tone. “Like July!”
She waved me off. “Yeah, yeah, Christmas in July is a thing now. But come August first, put it away until the first Sunday of Advent!”
I stopped in front of the Coffee Loft. “No Christmas here. All pumpkins and leaves and cinnamon sticks and poison coffee.”
“Yes, they’re the only ones on the block with any sense. All right. End of tangent. Time for some pumpkin spice and dirt cake. Tasha texted me that she made the sugar-free stuff and will have it for me behind the counter. Speaking of Tasha, when are you going to get a girlfriend?”
“That was nice of her. You’re the only woman for me, Nana.”
“Ha! I’m old, and we’re related,” she quipped.
“You’re a handful, is what you are,” I bantered back at her. I tapped the assistance button next to the old saloon door that hung on the exterior as a tribute to the building’s history. The modern door opened slowly and engaged the chimes. I pushed Nana through the doorway and stopped just short of the queue so she could get a full view.
She gazed up at the banner in awe. “They even decorated the spiral stairs railing to the loft in twinkle lights!”
I raised my hand in the air and counted down. “Three, two, one!”
“Welcome back, Nana BooBoo!” The staff and customers cheered, and I pulled out her tiara, which I’d stuffed into my hoodie’s center pocket.
“You should put this on,” I said.
She grinned and set it on her head. Tasha was the first to approach her with the coveted pumpkin spice latte. We shared a grin as Nana sipped it from a new personalized orange mug that read “Nana’s PSL.”
“This is perfect,” Nana praised. “Did you bring my dirt cake?”
Tasha nodded and pointed to a table that was set with a red tablecloth and blue and white flowers. “Head on over to your VIP table and I’ll bring it right out.”
“You spoil me. Can’t wait till you move in!”
Tasha’s lips parted to protest, but I shook my head. She hadn’t decided yet, and it wasn’t the time to tell Nana that, unless she was prepared to discuss the subject in front of half the town.
I wheeled Nana to the table and sat in the chair across from her. Her eyes were saucerlike as she stared at the heaping portion of sugar-free dirt cake. I sipped on the iced chocolate Tasha set out for me and watched Nana dig in. For once in her life, she seemed speechless .
Not for long, though. When she finished, she set her fork down. “It’s good to be back. Thank you for this.”
“It was all Tasha’s idea,” I admitted. “Though I probably would have thought about it if she hadn’t.”
“Mmmhmm.” She patted my hand. “Sure you would have.” She turned her head toward the register where Tasha was working. “I do love that girl. I wish she didn’t have to work so hard.”
“Working hard has made her who she is, Nana. You worked hard when you were her age.”
“I did. Maybe that’s why I relate to her so well. But I never had money worries. Those can choke you. Has she decided about living with us?”
“Not yet, but she’s going ahead with the recipe book. She’s very excited about it, actually.”
“I’m glad. That was nice of you to get that going.” She pointed to the entrance. “What’s he doing here? I thought he got traded?”
I followed her finger to where Vlad had just entered with Xavier, Penny, and Noel. “He did. The Edge is playing Miami tonight.”
“Well, there are coffee shops in Denver,” she huffed. “Oh look! Brendan brought Kingston!” She clapped and whistled. “Kingston Brewer! You get over here and give Nana Booboo a hug!”
I rolled my eyes. Nana was a big fan of our hometown hero and was crushed when he was traded to Montana a few years ago. Behind the guys, Brenna was arm in arm with Kingston’s wife, Taylor.
I waved, and Taylor tugged free of Brenna, wading through the people who had gathered around Kingston to welcome him back to town .
“Monty!” Taylor was little, animated, and bouncy, which had served her well on the cheer floor. We’d been on several teams together over the years. She hugged Nana first, and I stood up to welcome her back.
“Hey, Tay.” I released her and tipped my chin toward her husband. “He’s stealing Nana’s Welcome Back party.”
“Sorry. Believe me, I bet he wishes he wasn’t! We had no idea this was happening. Thanks for your bow order, by the way.” She bit her lip and glanced back over at the crowd, many of which had followed the players in from the street. Xavier was trying to get Penny through so she could make his toffee coffee. “Is it always such a madhouse here on game days?”
“You’re welcome. Not usually this mad,” I admitted.
Taylor pulled a chair over and sat between me and Nana. “How’s your Worlds team coming along?”
I narrowed my eyes. “Are you trying to trick me into spilling our secrets?”
She laughed. “Nope. Kali’s team has nothing on the FireVolts, especially our tumblers.”
“What else is new?” I asked. “You should come to the Showcase Saturday, if you’re still in town.”
She nodded. “I think I will. I’ll be here working remotely with my clients through Thanksgiving, then I’ll have to figure out what to do from there. And I can’t miss my team’s competitions. We’d always hoped for this trade, but the timing was later than we expected. We’d almost given up.”
“Seems like perfect timing to me,” Nana huffed and leaned toward her. “Have you met that Vlad guy?”
Taylor’s brows knitted together. “Yeah. He seems nice. Adorable accent. ”
Nana rolled her eyes. “He’s a hottie, but he wasn’t right for our Tasha.”
Taylor looked from Vlad to Tasha and then to me. “Huh?”
“I’ll explain another time,” I said. “Come by the gym tomorrow. You can watch us practice.”
“Oh yeah! I’d love to see Nate, too. I’m so proud of him.” Taylor and Nate had been partners for almost as long as Tasha and I. “King! Come see Nana before she implodes!”
Kingston was significantly shorter than the other guys, and it was humorous to watch him slip under Brendan’s arm and around Noel to get to our table.
“Nana Booboo.” He grinned, then kissed her cheek. “It’s been too long. You don’t look a day older than the last time I saw you.”
“Aw, stop it. You’re too kind.” She raised her eyebrows. “Did you get your Cityside Subs endorsement back?”
He laughed. “Nah. That’s all Noel’s now. Besides, he looks better on billboards than I do.”
“He’s not a Palmer City native,” she protested. “At least Brewski’s can take down that horrid Montana jersey of yours now. They should have kept your Voltage sweater up, if you ask me, no matter how proud they were of you.”
He smiled. “You’ll be happy to know that Uncle Quinn and Aunt Angie already have an Edge jersey in their possession and are in the process of switching them out.”
“Good! And your cats?”
“Luc and Bourque are doing great, a little mad at us about the car ride, but we’ll spoil them until they get over it. And I’ve got my cousin Drew lined up to spoil them when Taylor and I are away.”
“Good man! Best cat sitter in town!”
I tuned out of their conversation when I caught a wisp of peach in my peripheral. Vlad was at the register, handing Tasha what would be his last letter. I’d told him she felt it was a clean break, but he’d insisted on one more, to thank her for being his friend and wishing the cards had been in their favor.
I’d resisted helping him until I realized this would give me the opportunity to also express what I’d been feeling. For once, this was a letter I felt good about and wanted to write. If Tasha ever did find out who was behind the words—and I had no plans to tell her—she’d be clear on how I felt about her.