“Aah.” Aster took my hand and squeezed it. “He won’t mind if it’s late, he adores you.”
“And the other thing is.” I swallowed. “I uh, I bought a ring for him? But whenever I think about it this voice in my head tells me it’s too soon and I chicken out.”
“You chicken out of thinking about it?” Aster laughed softly. “Sounds like you.”
I stretched my legs out in front of me and rubbed my forehead. “I just want it to be perfect, you know? He means so much to me, and he deserves the best. Whenever I think of how shitty his old manager treated him, or how stressed he looks when he talks about touring and stuff, I just want to wrap him in a soft blanket and protect him from the world.”
Aster hummed in agreement. “He knows you feel that way, I can tell.”
“Maybe.”
For a moment we sat in silence, me wrestling with trying to articulate again how important it was to me to get it right, Aster waiting patiently.
I was saved from my agony when a small truck pulled up outside the shop.
“Is that.... A delivery?” Aster said.
The truck did have a courier company logo on the side. I jumped up, heart in my mouth.
“Please, please...” A woman hopped out, tapped something on her phone and then went around the back of the truck.
I went to the door. “Hi there!”
“Hey, delivery for Dillon?” I couldn’t see her, she was half inside the truck, rummaging.
“Yes! That’s me, I’m Dillon.” I hurried over, practically vibrating with excitement.It’s here, it’s here!
“Awesome.” She pulled out a cardboard box, scanned it and held her phone out to me. “Sign here, initials are fine.”
I scribbled my initials and took the box. “Thank you, thank you. You’re a Christmas angel.”
The woman chuckled and closed the back of the truck. “You’re welcome. I only have a handful more to deliver, but it does feel good when people are this happy to see me.”
“Are you staying in the area? We’re having a big food and gift drive thing tonight, there’s live music. If you have time you should totally come.”
Her expression changed from amused to something more vulnerable. Her eyebrows knit together. “Really?”
“Yeah, I mean, I’m not trying to imply you’re needy or whatever but it’s going to be this big party, really.”
“I’d... well, I’ve love that Dillon. My kids are with my folks just out of town and well, it’s been a bit of a tough year.”
“I’ll keep a look out for you, what’s your name?”
“Sam.” She shook my hand.
“Come to the firehall around six, no fuss, no awkwardness, we’ve had a really generous amount of donations so... yes, please come.”
She nodded, thanked me again and drove off. I was walking on air as I carried the box back into the store. Aster handed me a roll of wrapping paper and some tape.
“Get wrapping, big guy. I’ve got front of house.”
I chuckled and went out the back to do just that. I turned up the Christmas mix Aster had lined up, so it played louder in the store as well.
My stomach unknotted and I felt relief wash through me, together with a true Christmas joy. My own miracle had happened, and it was one I could reciprocate hopefully, if Sam and her family came to the drive.
Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
