Thecallcamejustafter lunch the next morning. Ella was still curled up on the couch, wrapped in one of my flannel shirts, slowly sipping her green tea. She looked positively tiny in my clothes, and I wanted to freeze the moment forever. That, or put her in my pocket. The buzz of her phone interrupted the picture-perfect moment.
She took the call as I busied myself finishing up the post-storm report. I’d gone out to check all the trails this morning and everything was well.
“It’s Grind and Shine,” she said, tucking her phone away. “The roads are finally clear, and they’re sending someone now. They said we can meet in town at the garage.”
And that meant our time here was coming to an end. I tried not to feel disappointed. After all, she’d promised me that date. But what about after that? She had a job in the city, and I was out here. How would we make it work? I couldn’t think of anything I could do in the city.
I didn’t want my mood to ruin whatever time we had left, so I did my best not to think of it. She was my mate, and the universe wouldn’t give her to me unless we had a way to be together. Was it bad that I was hoping they’d say her car needed plenty of work, so I’d be forced to drive her to her family instead and meet them?
“We can head in anytime,” I said. “We can even walk around downtown Darlington while we wait for them to work on your car.”
That had her grinning ear to ear. “That sounds great. Let’s go!”
The drive in to town was uneventful, and we were soon standing by the front desk of Grind and Shine.
Caroline looked like she’d been run ragged. Winter storms always meant a glut of customers for the garages in town. She finally found some time in between calls to speak to us.
“Turns out your car needs more work than expected,” she said. “You can’t be driving that thing into the ground like that, missy. You might not have someone like Axel come and rescue you next time.”
“Yeah,” she said with a sheepish smile. “I’ve been putting it off.”
“Here’s everything that needs to be done. It’s a lot. And our professional opinion is that it might be better off for you to find a new car.”
Ella looked chagrined as Caroline handed her a printout of the quote. “This is a lot more than I expected. But I don’t think I can find a new car right now. I’m already supposed to be at my family’s for the holiday. Is there any way for you guys to do what is absolutely necessary just to get me to my family, and then back to Chicago?”
“Let me ask Stu. Be right back.” She went back to talk to her husband and the owner of the garage.
“You know, I can always drive you to your family’s place,” I offered as we waited. “Then I can pick you up, we can have that date you promised me, and I can get you back to Chicago.” What I really wanted to do was convince her to stay forever.
She fidgeted with her mittens. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why not?”
“I have two nosy brothers, and they’re gonna ask a lot of questions. Mom’s relentless too. It’s bad enough that they’re gonna ask me all about the stupid divorce.”
That had me frowning. Did she wish to hide our growing relationship from her family?
Caroline returned with a wide grin. “You’re in luck. If we just do the basics it’ll be fast and affordable, and you’ll be on your way by the end of the day. But it’s a Band-Aid solution and you’ll haveto get it to a shop the first chance you get, or you’ll be stuck out there again.”
“Got it. Thank you.”
While they worked on her vehicle, I took Ella for a walk through Darlington’s downtown. Snow had been cleared from the sidewalks, and the whole place looked right out of a postcard. Lights wrapped around every lamppost, and wreaths hung from shop doors. The scent of sugar and spice drifted on the air from the bakery.
We’d ended up sitting on a bench, our fingers sticky from cinnamon buns.
“If I lived here,” she said between bites, “I’d probably spend half my paycheck at that bakery.”
“Would that make you even sweeter?” I asked, just low enough for her to hear. “I’d devour every inch of you.”
Her face flushed, and she elbowed me lightly.
“Behave.”
“Never!”
Our cinnamon snack finished, we continued exploring the city. Ella stopped at every window display, her eyes wide. She was glowing. But despite how perfect it was, I felt every second slipping through my fingers. I didn’t want to part with her yet. Or ever.
We were inside the bookstore when her phone buzzed again. Her car was ready.
