“I didn’t. But...” I tell her the story. The lonely walk. Losing my way. Losing feeling in my toes and fingers, the wrong cabin—and the rugged knight of few words and a big heart.
“I’m doing a search. Now. You could be shacked up with a serial killer, you know that, right? He could have given you a false name! There could be bodies in the basement! Did you check? No! Don’t check.”
“Leah. Calm down. Do the internet thing. Background checks.” I’d feel better.
There’s tapping and whispering, and I know my sister is at her laptop, probably hiding from a pack of aunts, uncles, and cousins who want her attention. “I want you and Mom to meet him, but I think it’s going to be okay if it’s later in the week. Were you able to get tickets?”
“Spell his last name?”
“S-a-l-v-i-n. It’s on his work van, with a phone number if you need it.”
“A van?? The man has a van? Why are you trying to be the star in the next true crime podcast, idiot?”
“He’s a handyman. Carpenter. He fixed the boiler, fixed my ankle, fixed breakfast... I think he could fix a broken heart,” I say cautiously.
“Does he have an English accent?” she demands.
“Yep. He’s from Newcastle.”
“Yeah,” Leah says begrudgingly. “I paid fifty dollars for the super mega invade-your-privacy report and background check. I can see his business license. His driver’s license—Jesus, that chin.”
“The whole face, Leah.”
“He makes Josh look like a string bean. Fuck, he’s tall, too.”
“Long legs,” I cough. “Big chest.”
“Shit, he must be something if you’re forgetting about Josh so fast.”
“I’m not forgetting. I’mcomparing. Josh talked a lot. I thought he listened, too, but he didn’t. And he didn’t tell the truth. I think he knew we wanted very different things, but he hoped he could manipulate me or guilt me into changing what I wanted. That’s a rotten thing to do to someone you’re supposed to love. And then leaving me at a truckstop miles from home, with no friends or family nearby, in the middle of winter...” I curl my hand into a fist and punch the beautifully embroidered pillow on Eirwen and Klaus’ sofa, then pat it in apology. “If I do end up onCrime Watch, you tell them it’s his fault.”
“Okay, but I don’t think you’re going to, not because of this English guy. He’s never had a parking ticket, he’s got dual citizenship, and a solid business license. Never been sued—that’s gotta be unheard of in the world of home repair.”
“It’s because he keeps his promises. He would give someone just what they want, or he wouldn’t take the job.” My heart is beating faster all of a sudden. He wouldn’t take me on if he weren’t sure that he could give me what I want.
“What do you want?” Leah asks in that spooky way that sisters have.
“Simple things. A person who loves me, just me. Thinks I’m enough. Doesn’t want to change everything about me. Doesn’t insult our mom.”
“Josh insulted Mom? Oh, he’s so dead. I’m telling Dad, because he’ll feel left out if I beat up Josh without him.”
I laugh.
“Ahem?” Nigel is back, standing behind me. “Tomato soup and toasted cheese?”
“Gotta go, Leah. I’ll get in touch with you tomorrow.”
“You’d better, silly. It’s Christmas Day. And you can’t leave yet, Mom will disown me if you call, and she doesn’t get to speak to you.”
Nigel kisses the top of my head and puts the food on the coffee table. “I’ll let you get on. Going to go outside to varnish that chair. Then, I can take you to your rightful lodgings, m’lady.” He gives me a wink and a smirk.
“Ooookay. I think I like him, too. Is this like... secretly the plot of some really cheesy rom-com?”
“There is nothing funny about this, so no.”
“Fine, a Christmas Channel romance.Santa’s Little Love Nest.The Wrong Cabin. Wait, I think that might be a horror movie.”
“Stop while you’re ahead, Lee. Go get Mom.”
