“Nah. I don’t know if you’ve heard, Peaches, but I’m not really what you’d callcollege material.” He looked at her, and although he tried to hide it with a facade of confidence, for the first time, Georgia could see vulnerability beneath.
“That’s not true, Lake.” She touched her fingertips to the top of his hand, letting them rest gently… barely registering what she’d done. “You are incredibly smart! I’ve seen what you’re capable of. You still have time to get into a school… Maybe you could push through this last semester and apply for the next year? I could even help you… study, applications, interviews, whatever you need.”
She pulled back her hand, embarrassed that she’d felt so passionate about helping him and hoped she didn’t sound desperate. She lowered her voice and looked into his softening eyes, “I know you can do more, Lake. You canbemore.”
He gave her a sympathetic smile, like he didn’t quite believe her, but took her hand from across the table and pulled it into his, resting them both on the table, fingers touching lightly… tentatively…
Georgia’s brain screamed,You’re holding hands with Lakeland Lovett!!! Commit this to memory! Do NOT let go!
She took a momentary break from studying the mystic art of hand holding and cast her eyes up, finding Lake looking at her. “Ready for me to take you home?”
Georgia answered, “Yeah, sure,” but she knew she’d never be ready for the night to end.
Lake pulled her close in the truck, grabbing her hand and sliding her across the seat to the middle spot. He laughed when Georgia fumbled with shaky hands to buckle her seat belt and even reached across her to pull the seat belt out and around, clicking it into place while Georgia sat stunned beside him. But when he put his hand out for hers again, she didn’t hesitate, soaking in the innocent but life-altering gesture for the entire quiet drive home.
Arriving at Georgia’s house, they were greeted by the American flag waving proudly in the evening breeze, and the wildly flashing porch lights informed them that Georgia’s mother was aware of her return and watching closely.
“So…” Lake squeezed her hand once. “Is that the Colonel behind those blinds?”
“Is the great Lakeland Lovett scared of a…” she looked side to side as if someone might overhear, and whispered, “dad?”
“A colonel, Peaches. Your dad is a colonel.”
Georgia couldn’t hide her amusement. All the Remillard kids had playfully begun calling their Dad “Colonel” as soon as he assumed the rank, but the moniker had quickly been picked up by their friends and remained into his retirement.
“It's not the Colonel I’d worry about, Lakeland.” She turned and leaned her cheek on the seat, looking up at him.
Georgia released Lake’s hand and lifted the jar of flowers from the cupholder, holding it close to her chest.
“Thanks for everything you did, Lake. Seriously, it means so much to me,” she said, giving him a shy smile. “And thanks for tonight. I had a really great time.”
“Me too.” He nudged her shoulder with his.
“And… thank you for believing in me. Ya know… all the college stuff. No one has ever really said any of… well, anything like that about me.”
For a fleeting moment, their eyes locked, and Georgia felt a palpable electricity zip right through her. Just when she thought she might risk it all and lean in for her first ever goodnight kiss, the lights began flashing across the porch again.
Lake laughed and put his head on the steering wheel. “Goodnight, Peaches.”
Georgia pushed herself across the seat and opened the door. “Goodnight, Lakeland Lovett,” she said and laughed to herself as she reluctantly closed it behind her and walked into the warmly lit home waiting for her.
THE CHIPMUNK SONG
ALVIN & THE CHIPMUNKS & DAVID SAVILLE
NOW
“So the gifts just keep appearing?”Caroline put the metal milk pitcher she held up to the steam wand and turned it on. Completely second nature to her, she steamed the oat milk without much effort, poured it over the espresso waiting in a red ceramic mug, and used the foam to craft a Christmas tree, complete with a star, as the latte’s finishing touch before handing it over to the waiting customer.
Georgia watched her with a mixture of bittersweet emotions. Her sister was her best friend. She loved when Caroline came home, which was less and less often lately, but she cherished the times they were able to work together and just enjoy each other’s friendship. “Yeah,” she answered. “But I don’t know who they’re from.”
“And you’re sure you didn’t sign up for a Secret Santa?” Caroline wiped down the counter and then rested her hip against it. The shop had slowed down that afternoon, and they were alone again.
“Positive! I checked all my calendars. No gift exchanges.” Georgia looked at her sister suspiciously. “It isn’t you, is it? I mean… it is someone who knows me really well and has access to the shop. They keep walking right up the stairs! Like… should I be concerned?” She wondered why she hadn’t thought of this before. Maybe an employee or one of her siblings or her parents thought she needed a pick-me-up.
“It isn’t me.” Caroline put her hands on her hips. “But why do you suspectSantaknows you so well? What else have you gotten?”
Georgia pulled herself up to sit on the counter, kicking her legs back and forth lightly. “Caroline,Santagave me socks!”
