Chapter 11
Lucy
I can’t believe I’m having this conversation. It feels surreal. And I’m worried that I’m reading more into it than what Samuel actually means. I feel like he’s interested in a real relationship. Could that be true?
I’ve always admired him, from when I first started hearing that he was turning his life around. Doing something like that is not easy, especially when a person is already successful and what they’re doing is working.
“I don’t want to keep you any longer,” he finally says. He sounds a little disappointed. Like this conversation didn’t turn out the way he was expecting it to.
I think I’m being dismissed though, except I get the feeling that he doesn’t want me to go easily. He wants me to show a little bit of interest too.
Maybe that’s my imagination. And I feel like he’s used to women chasing after him. He’s not used to women being totally immune to his charms. Not that I am.
“I have to do a sound check today. Would you be interested in doing it with me?” I say, feeling like I am really putting myself out there. I know I’m tensed up, and I deliberately relax my muscles and try to think about cheesecake, but I’m holding my breath, waiting for his answer.
A little bit of relief seems to steal across his face, or maybe it’s happiness. It’s that quirking of his lips that indicates the man might be interested in smiling.
“Sound check? I’d love to.”
I nod my head and push to my feet. “We can grab these things and take them back to the kitchen on our way outside. The guys were setting up as I walked in.”
They’re not going to have everything ready, but the owner had told me that they had several other show obligations and would not be able to be back until the day of the party, so they were going to do their sound check today.
I really need to get down there and make sure everything is good. While I trust the men I hired, it’s my responsibility to make sure every detail is perfect.
I reach down to grab the tray. I might as well take it to the kitchen on my way out.
“Someone will get that,” Samuel says to me, and I pause.
I don’t want to argue with him.
“I’m headed right down toward the kitchen. It would save someone a trip if I take it myself.” I don’t mind at all. “The sound guys probably won’t be completely ready for me for another hour. And it would be good for me to familiarize myself with the area where the party is going to be.”
“I’m actually very familiar with the house. I could...give you a tour.”
My heart does a quick flip, and my chest expands. I wonder how many people get a personal tour of the place by Samuel himself.
“I’d love that,” I say honestly. “I know it’s your brother’s place, but Allison said that you spend a lot of time here and are thinking about spending more.”
“She’s absolutely right about spending more. I grew up here, as you know, and I’ve always loved the town. It’s a special place.”
“I agree. I can’t imagine living in a town that didn’t celebrate Christmas year-round. It seems so natural. Even though I know that’s not the normal everyone else lives in.”
“You can explain to me what’s so special about Christmas.” He opens the door, and I carry the tray through, while he has both our plates in his hand. I like that not only did he go along with my suggestion, but he decided to help me.
“Are you serious?” I ask as his question penetrates my mind. What’s so special about Christmas? You mean he doesn’t know?
“Yeah. I’m serious. I guess I don’t get all the hoopla and the parties and the money and the gifts and the commercialism. It feels like you don’t really get a connection to what Christmas is all about, for real.”
I see. I can totally understand what he’s saying. “I’m not going to be able to convince you any different. I am in agreement with you for the most part that everything is too commercialized. It’s all about money or making a big splash,” I say with a little laugh. I don’t miss the irony, knowing that my job is to make a big splash at the party.
“I guess I just want to focus on work. Focus on getting things done. This whole needing to celebrate for a month or six weeks beforehand just doesn’t make any sense to me.”
“I think it’s all about connection. People like to feel connected to each other, they like pretty things, they like to have a reason to celebrate and get together. I suppose you’re right, corporations capitalize on that, and they make money off it. And why not? That’s what corporations are supposed to do. Right? And that gives people jobs. It stimulates the economy.”
We’ve reached the door to the kitchen, and he pushes it open. I chat a bit with the lady who takes the tray and cups, promising to come back and taste some of the things that she’s working on making for the party.
“I’ll have her back this afternoon. But I’m giving her a tour of the grounds right now, and then she has a sound check,” Samuel says as he pushes the door open and holds it for me. I wave to the cook, who seems like a really sweet lady, and then walk through.
“It seems like you know her pretty well,” I say casually as I wait in the hall for him to catch up to me and show me which way we’re going.
“I try to make sure that I know the people around me. I guess it’s something I learned doing business. But... The whole connection thing that you’re talking about with Christmas makes sense to me.”
“I think that’s why we celebrate things. It gives us a connection to the past, to the future, to our families and communities, and we love remembering. I think it probably did start out as Christians remembering and celebrating the birth of our Savior, but I think the nice thing about celebrations is everyone enjoys being included. Celebrations just bring people together in ways that we need as a human species.”
“We need connection.”
“Yeah. I can’t quote you the scientific facts, but I know it’s good for us. I know that when we don’t have connections, we suffer, psychologically but also physically. I think I read somewhere that not having social connections is as bad for your health as smoking cigarettes or eating junk food.”