Chapter Nine #2
Her gaze met his and something shifted in her beautiful green eyes. “I must have missed that line in his sermon on faith.”
Walker wasn’t surprised that she knew Pastor Smith hadn’t given that particular advice that morning. Watching the play of emotions on her face during the sermon had fascinated him just as much as what Sarah’s father had been saying,
“Must have. Just consider them an early Christmas gift.”
“I—” She wanted to argue, but then, she ran her fingers over the soft yarn. “Thank you. They are beautiful, but you shouldn’t have.”
Surprised by just how much her genuine gratitude hit him, he smiled. “You’re welcome, princess. I’m glad to be able to.” Their order number was called, and, knowing he needed to get his emotions in check, he stood. “Our food is ready. I’ll go get it.”
On his way to the counter, Rosie joined him. She had also changed from her church clothes into more comfortable attire. She now wore a fuzzy red sweater with tight fittin’ jeans and boots. A red beret style hat sat atop her bright blue hair.
“Walker Mathieson! Imagine running into you here.”
Imagine. He’d swear the Butterflies were everywhere and knew everything. He doubted much that went on in Pine Hill got past them.
“Hi, Rosie.” He genuinely liked all the Butterflies and, even though he’d rather not run into any of them while out with Maggie, for her sake more than his, he smiled at the most vivacious of the flutterers. “Looks as if we had the same idea after church.”
Rosie patted his upper arm. “Coming to the Harveys is a good idea any day of the week. Going out to eat is a nice change of pace for Lou since he’s usually the one serving others at the diner. I’m so grateful the diner is closed on Sundays now, so he can have a little break. Best decision ever.”
Not seeing Rosie’s husband, Walker glanced around the café. “Where is Lou?”
“He’s getting the truck. We’re picking out a tree together this afternoon. Isn’t that romantic?”
Since it was what he and Maggie were doing, Walker hesitated to agree to the label.
Doing so wouldn’t be lost on Rosie. The Butterflies matchmaking was a given in Pine Hill.
A part of him would appreciate anything they could do to help.
The realist in him, though, knew that Maggie wasn’t in Pine Hill to stay.
As attracted as he was, his becoming romantically involved with her would only lead to heartache for him.
He didn’t need anyone helping him along that path.
He was already an expert. Plus, it was hypocritical to be so worried about Amy getting hurt if he was putting his own heart on the chopping block and handing Maggie a cleaver. He knew better.
“Where’s that sweet little darling of yours?” Rosie batted her lashes. “She was the cutest thing in church this morning and has really taken to Maggie.”
His daughter wasn’t the only one who had really taken to Maggie. Yep, he really needed to rethink trying to protect his sister when he wasn’t even protecting himself.
“Zoie is with Amy.”
Obviously having already spotted where he’d been sitting with Maggie, Rosie pounced on his comment. “Oh, so Lou and I aren’t the only ones who are having a romantic afternoon.” Her lips bowed upward even further. “That’s wonderful.”
“But not true.” Walker couldn’t let her think that it was. “Maggie just wants to be friends, Rosie.”
Hand going to her hip, Rosie’s drawn on brow arched. “But you want more?”
“It doesn’t matter what I want if the lady doesn’t want more. As a reminder, Maggie is only in town for a short while so just being friends is best.” Sort of.
How long would she be in Pine Hill? Did she know and the days were already ticking down?
“Our lunch is ready.” He gestured to where his order was waiting on the counter. “Great to see you, Rosie. Tell Lou I said hello.”
With that, he got his and Maggie’s food and headed back to the table before Rosie could further question him. He’d learned long ago Butterflies were master interrogators when they set their minds to it.
When he placed the food tray on their table, Maggie asked, “Was Rosie selling you on why the Butterflies are the best in every category of the Grandma Games?”
Sitting down in his chair, he shook his head. “Unfortunately, no.”
Maggie’s expression tightened and she appeared ready to spring into action. “Unfortunately? Is something wrong? Do we need to head to Hamilton House?”
“Nothing’s wrong that I’m aware of.” But he had no doubt that she’d report what she’d seen to the other Butterflies. “Rosie was asking about our being at lunch together.”
“Oh, that.” Maggie took a deep breath. “You had to know that was going to happen when you asked me here. Butterflies are nosy.”
Walker snorted. “They are. But they’re also some of my favorite people I’ve met since moving to Pine Hill.”
Maggie gave him an are-you-for-real? look. “You’ve not met many people around here, have you?”
He laughed. “Don’t tell me that you haven’t already developed a soft spot for Maybelle. She comes across all tough, but that woman has a heart of gold.”
Maggie just stared at him as if he’d lost his mind, but he noticed the slight twitch of her lips, so he continued.
“Claudia loves everyone and pulls them right into her family fold like she did at Thanksgiving. Never in my life have I been a part of something like that Thanksgiving dinner. Pure chaos with so many people and yet, she made every single person feel welcomed and blessed and as if they were a beloved part of her family.”
On that one, Maggie nodded her acknowledgement.
“Rosie is a riot, can be a bit much, and likes to come across as the most colorful Butterfly, for sure. But I also know that every time the firehall needs anything, she and Maybelle find a way to make it happen. From what I gather, that holds true of most of the town’s needs.
The Butterflies love Pine Hill and use their resources and connections to get things done. ”
“I can see that too,” Maggie admitted, eyeing him oddly, as if he’d surprised her by his defense of the ladies.
Maybe he was going overboard but he one hundred percent believed everything he was saying.
“I wanted Ruby to be my grandma before I’d even been to Pine Hill thanks to listening to Andrew talk about her.
My memories of my own grandparents aren’t warm and fuzzy.
” He shrugged. “The truth of the matter is that the Butterflies played a role in my decision to relocate to Pine Hill. Listening to Andrew talk about his grandma and her friends used to crack me up and made me a little jealous that I didn’t have Butterflies in my life.
” He was so grateful that he’d acted on Andrew’s suggestion, he moved to Pine Hill.
“So, I wisely moved my little family to Kentucky. Now, I have Butterflies and HoneyBs.”
Maggie snorted. “Where do they come up with these names?”
“Probably the same place TC came up with the Christmas Cruisers. It still amazes me that the guys call themselves that all year long. You’d think a motorcycle club made up of tough veterans would have a more masculine name.”
Looking amused while she crushed crackers into her soup, Maggie challenged, “What would you have called their group?”
Walker thought about his response. “If we’re going with our ladies’ themes, then I’m thinking the Wasps or the Hornets, or”—he paused a second, tasting his vegetable beef stew and almost sighing at the delicious flavor—“the Ants.”
“What? The Ants?” Maggie laughed. “Yeah, I don’t know them well, mainly just from when they stop by here and what I’ve seen from the Grandma Games. But I don’t see those guys calling themselves the Ants.”
Feeling almost giddy at her laughter, Walker picked up his sandwich and gave her a pointed look. “What’s wrong with the Ants?”
“Besides everything when you’re referring to a group of motorcycle riding veterans who raise money all year long to give needy kids a great Christmas?”
“Okay, you have a point.” He took a bite of his sandwich. Mrs. Harvey’s Christmas chicken salad was almost as delicious as her soup. “But I made you laugh so my answer was still a winner.”
Her brow arched. “How does my laughing at you make your answer a winner?”
“Believe me, Maggie, it does.” She might not understand how seeing the amusement on her face, seeing the lack of tension etched in her features, made him happy, but it did.
Walker wasn’t sure he even fully understood. Looking at her, feeling the thumping in his chest, he acknowledged that he felt as giddy as a kid who’d gotten everything he wanted on Christmas morning.
If he didn’t know better, he’d think he must have been a very good boy that year too.
*
When Walker gave Maggie the choice of walking out to the Christmas trees versus their being given a ride out to the field, she had chosen to walk. With the sun shining, the temperature wasn’t so cool as to be uncomfortable, especially not with her new scarf and hat.
Through her gloves, her fingers automatically touched the soft yarn wrapped around her neck.
The gift hadn’t been expensive, but Maggie was stunned that Walker had given it to her.
Over the years, she’d gotten Christmas gifts from time to time.
Never anything fancy, not even from William, but she wasn’t a fancy type of woman.
If she was smart, she’d be thinking that she wasn’t a bright red homemade scarf and hat type of woman too.
She wasn’t, was she? She’d spent most of her life dressing to blend with her surroundings, not stand out like a sore thumb.
The scarves had caught her eye while at work.
The red one had been her favorite from the first time she’d admired them.
Had she known he was asking for her, she probably would have chosen something less eye-catching, though.
She didn’t do flashy or wanted anyone to notice her. Except Walker.