“Do you not see your mother?” I asked, then realized far too late that I probably shouldn’t have. “Sorry if that was insensitive.”
“It’s fine, really.” We went out through the front door, and he locked it with the key. “I will call her, and I did send her a card with some lottery tickets. But we’re not close. Ro is more of a mother to me, and we’ll have a lovely day together.”
“I’m glad you have her,” I said.
He grinned at me. “So am I.” As we reached Main Street, he stopped walking. “Oh my word. Look at how beautiful this is. Isn’t this the prettiest town ever?”
Main Street was always pretty but the holidays were something special. The lights, the decorations, the people.
“Evening, Deacon,” Mr. Piper said as he walked past. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas,” I replied to him, nodding to his wife and kids.
Winter grinned at me when they’d gone past us. “You’re so cute,” he whispered.
My face burned despite the cold. I pulled my beanie down and fixed my glove, embarrassed but happy. “As are you,” I replied.
He beamed, then rubbed his gloves together and blew out a puff of steam. “Boy, is it cold tonight.” Then he saw some food stalls. “Ooh, let’s go see what goodies Jayden has tonight.”
Turned out, Jayden had spiced-meat-on-a-stick things, which I didn’t want to try, but the cups of tomato soup and grilled-cheese sandwiches were delicious. Perfect for this weather. We strolled as we ate, stopping excitedly only when something caught his eye. “Oh my goodness, Deacon, look! I have to get them, obviously,” he cried at one craft stand. He held up two small, crocheted orange-and-white cats. “Oh, these are just like my boys.”
Seeing him so happy did something to my heart. I was sure it was physically impossible for it to increase in size, but it felt like it had grown two sizes.
Then he spotted some familiar faces in the crowd. “Oh, it’s some of the guys. Come on, let’s go say hi.”
It was indeed Hamish and Ren, Clay, Gunter and Doctor Rob, and Braithe. They were by the Winter Wonderland area. “Evening all,” Winter said. They turned and all said hi to both of us, smiling.
“Deacon, good to see you again,” Gunter said.
“Hello,” I replied, nodding. It was a lot of people, and for the most part, their attention was on us. I tried to smile. Not just for Winter’s sake, but for mine as well.
I wanted to do this.
“Merry Christmas,” I added.
This seemed to please them because they eagerly replied in kind.
“I was talking to your mom and dad earlier,” Ren said. “They were by the animal pen.”
Oh, of course.
I looked down the street, but there were too many people to spot them. Still, I liked knowing they were here.
“We’re all here for our annual Santa photo,” Hamish said, nodding to the Winter Wonderland where Santa Claus sat on his big chair for photos.
Clay groaned. “You sit on my dad’s lap and you’re uninvited from New Year’s.”
They all laughed. Hamish laughed the loudest.
Gunter slid his arm around Clay’s waist. “Cliff was saying he might hand the baton over to Clay next year.”
They all stared at him. Hamish gasped.
“Yeah, I don’t think so,” Clay said.
“You must,” Hamish said. “Oh, Clay, you must.”
“I agree,” Braithe said, putting his hand up.
