Ren deflated. “Awesome.”
Everyone laughed.
“We were talking of organizing a market day,” Hamish said. “To get people downtown near the youth center and the bookstore, and for local producers and crafters to sell their products. Once the weather warms up a bit, that is. But maybe the vet clinic could have an adoption stall? You know how they do those photos with the dogs and cats wearing scarves or hats?”
Oh . . .
I wasn’t sure about that.
I wasn’t expecting this.
I didn’t particularly like how everyone was looking at me. I put my fork down and put my hands in my lap, trying to rein in the feelings, the emotions, the panic...
But then Winter slid his hand beneath the table and held my shirt sleeve at my wrist, the way I’d held his. The way he’d liked. The way I needed.
Not touching my skin, not gripping my arm or holding my hand.
The gentlest of reminders that he was there, and that it was all okay.
“It could help educate people about pet ownership,” Winter said. “Buying puppies or kittens for a holiday gift without considering the sleepless nights, the training, the cost, only to then dump them afterwards. Believe me, I became a sudden cat dad at the worst possible time with my new business. Round-the-clock feeding, taking them to work with me.”
“The baby carrier you had them in at the Christmas tree lighting was just adorable,” Braithe said.
Conversation moved on, the focus swiftly off me, and I could breathe again. Winter let go of my shirtsleeve and gave me a reassuring smile as if he hadn’t just saved me from freaking out.
I hated that I did this.
But you didn’t freak out. You didn’t lose control.
Thanks to Winter, but still.
It gave me time to think about the market day idea though...
When dinner was finished and the table cleared away, Hamish and Ren served Christmas cookies with a pot of coffee. I’d kind of lost my appetite and my mood had soured a little. Not through anyone’s fault but my own. Everyone here had been so great, but I wanted to leave.
And once I had it in my head that I was leaving, it needed to happen.
“Winter, Deacon, coffee?” Ren asked.
“No, thank you,” Winter said, pattinghis tummy. “I’m so full. I think we’re ready to go.” He looked at me and I nodded, because how he knew I needed to leave was beyond me. “I have two little gremlins waiting for me at home that will be wondering where I am.”
I stood up from the table and ran through my manners. “Thank you so much for dinner. It was a pleasure to be here. Merry Christmas to you all.”
“Aww, you are the sweetest,” Hamish said. Then he looked at Winter. “He is just the cutest.”
“Pleasure to have you,” Ren said. “Thank you for coming.”
We went to the door and put on our boots and coats. Everyone said goodbye and waved. “Merry Christmas.”
I felt the need to say something, to fix my mistake. “I’ll speak to my dad about the market adoption idea. The decision will be his.”
“Of course,” Hamish said. “No pressure. It was just an idea. We need to take it to the city council yet.”
“Hamish needs to run for council,” Jayden said, and everyone laughed and agreed.
“Thank you again,” Winter said to Hamish and Ren. “Goodnight, all.”
“Oh, here, have this,” Hamish said, bringing over Winter’s empty dish.
