I leaned closer, needing to be near her. “It’s over. Let’s put it in the rearview, but I want you to know that this is who I am, what I do, and what happens sometimes. It’s part of me, and like I wouldn’t ask you to give up any part of you…I can’t let this go.”
“I get it. Hopefully you understand if I’m stopped here for a photo, you’ll brush it off and move to the side and allow Frank to handle it.”
“I don’t want to put you at risk. I will do whatever you want.”
“You’re not putting me at risk. We’re getting a Christmas tree. There’s nothing scary about that. Plus, this is the most exciting day I’ve had in a long while, so thank you.”
We were so close. I was considering a quick kiss, and the vibes rolling off Billy suggested she was open to it—I noted the darkened windows of the SUV—but alas, the door swung open and there stood a brooding Frank.
He addressed Billy, not bothering to look my way. “They’ve cleared out a section of trees for you to look at and take pictures if you’re inclined. Just you, not him, for the pictures.”
“I don’t want a cleared-out section. You know that. I want to get cider or hot cocoa and walk around. Like a regular person.”
Leaning inside the vehicle, Frank spoke. “Listen, you’re not a regular person. That’s why you have me. This place is full of happy holiday go-getters, but that doesn’t mean one of them won’t sell a pic of you and the doc to the first rag who offers. Are you ready to go public with this little tryst?”
The veins in his thick neck bulged, and for a split second I envisioned him morphing into a superhero, picking Billy up and carrying her out of here.
“You’re making a spectacle, Frank,” Billy said calmly, drawing me back to reality. “We will get our beverages and go to the section, okay? We’ll compromise, got it?”
For the briefest moment, I felt deflated. Obviously she wasn’t ready to go public with ourtryst. Then I reminded myself it was me who was here and no one else, and that was enough.
I’d lived half my life without someone special, and a few hours was better than none.
Frank stepped back, allowing us to get out of the vehicle. He handed Billy a pair of huge black sunglasses, which she donned, pulling her Santa hat a bit lower and zipping her coat up. I didn’t have any outfit adjustments, so I waited, keeping my eyes on her and not Frank, who I could feel glaring at me.
“Come on,” Billy said, sliding her arm through mine like she’d done at the hospital. It felt like we were already breaking one of Frank’s cardinal rules, but Billy was off walking toward a small cabin, labeledMain Street Drugstore. A white clapboard sign hung from the porch roof, holding the name and surrounded by twinkly lights. Wrapped around the double door was an abundance of garland, blue and white tinsel strewn all over the deep green vegetation.
We’d been transported to a different time. A simpler time when candy cost a quarter and there were no paparazzi or TMZ. The perimeter of the store was lined with candy apples, dipped chocolates, bags of caramel corn, and red and green M&M-type candies in candy-cane-shaped containers.
“Isn’t this so cute?” Billy gushed over the whole room, her head spinning and taking it all in. Her feet landed near the center of the store where displays were filled to the brim with wooden toys and hand-crafted ornaments. Never letting go of my arm, she picked up several nutcrackers, turning them in her hand before spotting a basket and tossing a bunch inside. “We need to decorate the tree and the whole room at my hotel. I’m sure Frank would prefer to hire someone to do the grunt work, but this is much nicer.”
She continued to peruse the store, filling the wicker basket to the top with ornaments anddecor, as she kept calling it. Finally I said, “Why don’t you let me carry that?”
She gladly relinquished the handles and I slipped it over my free arm.
“Showing off your muscles?” she teased, her right eyebrow raising above the sunglasses she continued to wear inside.
“Gotta impress you with something.”
“Oh Cal, you impress me more and more.” She squeezed my forearm with her bare hand—she’d taken off her gloves when handling the toys—and there was no denying the spark fizzling up my spine. “Thirsty?” Billy broke my spell, nodding toward the hot cocoa counter.
We ordered regular hot cocoas after the barista told Billy he didn’t have almond milk.
I wasn’t sure what to expect—if she would have a fit or send out for some, but she didn’t do either. Taking it all in stride, she simply said, “Great.”
“Whipped cream?”
“Of course,” Billy answered the barista before turning to me and saying, “I’ll have to do an extra hour on my Peloton bike, but why not?”
“You’re beautiful no matter what, extra hour or not,” slipped from my mouth as I wondered how hard it must be for Billy. She needed to maintain a certain ideal, which made her work twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
“Thank you,” she muttered, her arm releasing from mine, this time to grab her cocoa.
I took mine and faux clinked with her paper beverage cup. We both gulped back the sugary liquid, licking our lips clean of all the goodness. “Your smile is lighting up this dim general store in a way I don’t think it’s ever experienced,” I told her without regret.
She tucked her chin, settling her gaze on the sawdust floor, seemingly fighting off a blush. “Shall we go get the trees?” was the question she came up with.
I nodded but held up the basket.
