Nicole tapped her mug to his. “Exactly. I love that you watch Hallmark movies,” she said enthusiastically.
Sean nodded, “It’s become a holiday tradition.” His smile disappeared and he became quiet. “When my parents got divorced, my mom got Christmas and my dad got Thanksgiving. His first new wife couldn’t stand football, so all through Thanksgiving weekend we’d watch Hallmark Christmas movies instead of the NFL. We’d eat the leftovers and watch the big city girl come home to the small town and fall in love with a farmer."
"Looking back, I understand now that I would have enjoyed whatever we were watching because it was time spent with my dad. But those simple stories of people finding a happily-ever-after while surrounded by all the best things about Christmas, that became a tradition that I clung to, especially when I was a teenager because by then my family life wasn’t stable.”
Sean’s openness as he shared his love of silly Christmas movies and the quiet way he talked about his family’s imperfections made Nicole’s heart feel like it was expanding in her chest. Should she dare to imagine snuggling with Sean watching a Hallmark movie while it snowed outside? What would it be like to have him in her kitchen packing lunch for her on a school day? What would it be like to bask in his light every day?
“How about you; what’s your Hallmark movie origin story?” He leaned back to listen to her fully.
Anxiety flooded her body. Hallmark movies had gotten her through chemotherapy. She’d watched Hallmark exclusively during each and every one of her infusion treatments. Thankfully, unlike certain foods, chemo hadn’t ruined her love of happy endings. She’d hoped to avoid any talk of it today, but unfortunately, cancer was part of her story for the rest of her life. She steeled herself to answer.
“I wish mine was as sweet as yours. Your story could be made into a Hallmark movie. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if it already was!”
Sean cocked his head, “I hadn’t thought of that, but I think you’re right!”
“A couple of years ago I was very sick and had to have months of treatment. Hallmark Christmas movies helped me get through all of those crappy days. Once I got better and the Countdown to Christmasstarted again, I was afraid that watching the movies might give me PTSD. Thank goodness I was wrong about that and they remain the best cozy escape for me.”
Sean reached over and put his hand on top of hers, “I’m glad being sick didn’t wreck Hallmark movies for you. I mean I’d totally understand if it did. But most importantly, are you all good now?”
She reached over with her other hand and squeezed his, “Yep, I’m all good, I mean as much as any of us can be,” she said with a small winsome smile, not quite meeting his eyes. She was hoping that not being too specific about having had breast cancer and the aftermath of it, was okay on a first date. “Well now that all the fun has been sucked out of the date by me, please let me change the topic.” She went to remove her hand from his and he gently grabbed it.
“Please don’t apologize for telling me about yourself. I’m an eternal optimist—but I don’t need stuff sugar-coated. I want to get to know you. All of you.” His eyes bored into hers.
She shivered under his intense gaze. She didn’t know how to react to his interest in her. His kindness. What had she done to deserve this? It was too much. She felt overwhelmed.
“You’re making me blush,” she said, trying to play off the seriousness of his words. She pulled back her hand and changed the topic.
"Your name is Sean, so why is your restaurant called Jesse’s Pub?"
He laughed. “That’s a great question. I’m actually amazed that more people don’t ask me about the name.”
“Points for me.” Nicole quipped.
“You have so many points, all of them good."
She fanned herself, “Thank you, thank you. Now what’s the scoop on the name?”
“Jesse was my best friend when I was a kid,” he shrugged. “My golden retriever. She was a divorce gift. I was ten when my dad moved out, and the first time he visited after that, he brought me Jesse. My mom was not happy, and that was putting it mildly. But Jesse and I bonded from that first night and for the next ten years we were inseparable. Thank goodness for that because my parents went from one relationship to another, and Jesse was my rock. Thinking about it, I’d even say Jesse was a big factor in why I went to a community college. I wasn’t ready to leave my dog.”
Nicole was a pile of mush. “Aww, that’s the sweetest story ever. I love that you named your place after your childhood pet. So cute! You should tell that story to everyone you date.”
He barked a laugh, “Right now, I’m only interested in impressing one woman.”
Her face heated again. She looked over at the window and realized the sun was setting. They’d been sitting there for hours. She should go.
She turned back to Sean.
His knee bounced under the table again. “B-but seriously, these days, I don’t have the time to have a dog, so it’s just me and my betta fish, Hermie.”
Nicole giggled, “Hermie is a great fish name.”
Sean grinned. “Did you have a pet growing up?”
“We had a cat at my house, no dogs. His name was Jenks, but he was more my mom’s pet than mine. Jenks was around before I was born, so he was pretty old by the time I was in grade school. He was a mean old cat; he used to bite anyone beside my mom who tried to pet him. I learned quickly not to try and cuddle him. These days,” she shrugged, “I don’t know, I suppose I have time for a dog, but I wouldn’t even know where to begin. Not that I don’t like them! “
Sean put a hand over his heart, “Phew, that would be a deal breaker for sure.”
“Glad I passed the test,” Nicole said.
