“Guys,” Hamish said. “This is Winter and Deacon. Pretty sure you’ve met everyone before,” he said to Winter.
Winter gave a nod. “Yes, I think so.”
I put the tray on the counter, trying to avoid outright introductions. I knew they all knew who I was and that they knew I was autistic. Everyone in town knew. I knew that they knew. In a lot of ways, it helped me that they knew, but in times like this, it felt like a neon sign above my head.
If I hadn’t met them directly, I still knew who they were. It’s what happened in small towns; everyone knew everyone.
Gunter from the youth clinic and Clay Henderson from the sawmill. Jayden from the diner and Cass from the bed and breakfast. Braithe was the schoolteacher. Deputy Price, though he looked different. I couldn’t recall ever seeing him out of uniform. Soren the fireman and Doctor Rob. And Ren from the hardware, of course.
They were all standing around or sitting on the sofa,and they all smiled and waved, and said a greeting of some sort.
“Win, Deacon,” Gunter said. “Can I get you guys a drink?”
“Ah, a soda or a water for me,” Winter said. “I’m driving.”
“No worries.” He pulled a can of soda from the fridge. “Deacon, would you like a drink? Soda? A beer? Glass of wine?”
Oh.
I liked that he offered me alcohol. Not that I had ever drank much of it before, and I had no intention of drinking it now, but I liked that he offered it. It made me feel... normal wasn’t the right word. Included, maybe? “Just a soda for me too, thank you.”
Conversations around the room had begun again, our arrival not the spotlight it was a moment ago, thankfully.
Gunter handed me the can of soda with a grin. “Been busy at the clinic?”
“Yes,” I answered. Small talk... ugh. I didn’t enjoy it and wasn’t particularly good at it. I tried to be more conversational. “The colder months aren’t usually any quieter for us; typically, it just means that the cases we see and treat are different than in the warmer months.”
“Ah, that makes sense,” Gunter replied. “Come on over to the living room, and we can chat.”
Winter gave me an encouraging smile, so I went with him over to the couch. There were two spots available on the three-seater, so I deduced they were for us. Winter gave me the end seat so I wasn’t between him and Braithe, as he and Jayden were talking about the annual Christmas fun day at the school—it had always been my favorite week at elementary school. Making all the fun Christmas crafts and a break from the typical lessons. I never performed in theclass plays, but I did enjoy painting the backdrops and props.
Jayden was talking about his and Cass’s kids practicing for their class plays, Braithe laughing along. By the fire, Deputy Price was talking to Soren and Clay about felling trees from roads, from what I could ascertain, and on the other sofa, Rob and Gunter were quick to include Winter in their conversation about the bookstore.
And me?
I was very happy to sit and watch.
Happy to sit this close to Winter. Our hips and thighs were touching. It didn’t bother me so much, like it might have if it were someone else. But this was Winter, and this was a smallish sofa and seats were limited. It couldn’t be helped.
And it was Winter. I trusted him, and...
It felt nice. A comfort, even. In this new-to-me social situation with new-to-me friends, having Winter beside me was a security I’d tried to convince myself I didn’t need, but clearly I did.
Because I felt safer.
Until Chutney saw me. She trotted over, wearing a sweater matching Hamish’s, and I gave her a pat. “Hello there,” I said to her, and she then jumped up on my lap.
Winter turned, surprised at seeing her little pink sweater. “Oh my goodness, what?” He gave her a pat, smooshing her little face. “Is she not the cutest thing ever? Look at her sweater.” Then his eyes met mine, wide with excitement. “I need to get sweaters for the boys.”
“Good luck trying to get a sweater on Bright,” I said.
Winter laughed. “Good point. Okay, so maybe one sweater for Merry.”
“Oh, Chutney, hop down,” Hamish said from the kitchen.
“She’s fine,” I said.
“She soon picked you out in the crowd,” Ren said.
