Mom turns away from her conversation with Mr.Gimble, that sweet older gentleman who owns the pottery and craft store, and spots me.
“Hello Justin, I see you’ve brought my girl back safe and sound,” she says, fake smile plastered to her face.
“Of course, Mrs.Bosco.Don’t forget our date after the show,” Justin says to me with a grin that’s supposed to be sexy, but really, it’s more borderline cringe.
“Um, actually, Justin, I’m going to have to pass,” I begin, but he’s not paying attention to me.
Some other parent approaches and starts talking to him, and just like that, he forgets I exist.
It’s actually kind of a blessing.
I turn to Adele and go over the limited menu and inventory.
“Did you remember the pistachio biscotti?”
“Yep.I put them in the small cellophane bags, two to a bag,” she says and shows me the crate.
I nod.
“Five minutes till curtain!”one of the kids yells, and a murmur sounds through the gymnasium followed by an expectant sort of hush.
“What about our seats?”Mom whispers, eyes bright, cheeks a little flushed.
I notice Mr.Gimble is still standing beside her, and I nod my head in their direction.
“You go ahead and sit, Mom,” I say, straightening a tray of gingerbread men.“I’m gonna stay and help Adele for a bit.”
“Oh, but we have two seats,” she says, and I notice the quick, shy glance she throws at Mr.Gimble.
My eyebrows rise.
Her cheeks turn pink.
His smile widens.
Holy shit.
“Mr.Gimble might like to sit with you,” I say gently, nudging her with my hip.“Go ahead.You two enjoy.”
Mom bites her lip like a teenager instead of a sixty-year-old widow, and Mr.Gimble offers her his elbow like the gentleman he is.
“Well, if you’re sure,” Mom murmurs.
“I’m positive,” I assure her.
And just like that, my mother walks off on what is very possibly a date with the most eligible bachelor in town over sixty.
Somewhere in my chest, a small, unexpected bubble of warmth rises.
Maybe tonight isn’t a total disaster.
Maybe joy can still exist even when fear lurks in the corners.
Maybe life is allowed to pleasantly surprise me sometimes.
Little do I know, the biggest surprise of the night is about to hit me square in the face just a few seconds later.
A shadow falls across the bakery table just as Adele excuses herself to use the restroom.
