Christmas.
I was a bundle of nerves today at work and I couldn’t figure out why. We had over fifty to-go orders for families who didn’t like to cook the traditional Christmas meal and they all had to be picked up by noon, and then we were closing for the holiday. It was a new service I’d decided to provide for the community after hearing how many hated cooking and just want to enjoy the special day with their families.
The restaurant was thriving.
My mother was cancer-free.
I had an amazing boyfriend, Luke.
Whywas I anxious?
Then it hit me.
Jack.
It was Christmas, and I knew he would visit on Christmas. Even though I’d stopped texting him and moved on with my life, I felt like I’d been waiting on Christmas. Waiting all year just to see him again. For closure maybe? I didn’t know. Jack was complicated, and I still couldn’t get some of the things he’d saidout of my mind. I’d really liked getting to know him. India had been incredible, our budding friendship had felt exciting, and I still thought of him often.
Was he still lonely? Did he have a girlfriend? What had he done that would cause me to pray for his soul? I had a hundred questions and zero answers. I wanted to know everything about him, but I’d only gotten a glimpse and then he’d left. Now, I peered around my restaurant as my thoughts drifted to the man who’d made all of this possible.
Jack.
I hadn’t spoken to him since he’d called and offered to pay my electrician bill. I didn’t want his money. I wanted a friend…and maybe more—before Luke, of course. Things were messy where Jack was concerned, and it was probably best we didn’t stay friends.
“Excuse me, ma’am. I asked for butter an hour ago!” a nasty voice growled behind me.
I spun and then glared at the source of the voice as Jules burst into laughter.
“I’m sorry. You’re too easy to rile up.” She hugged me.
We had been hanging out every Sunday night after church like we used to. Luke and all of our friends from high school would meet up at someone’s house, or a coffee bar, or the movies, and it was fun. Life was fun again. I felt like me again—but also something felt like it was missing. Something I couldn’t explain.
“Hello, earth to Hannah?” Jules waved her hand in front of my face.
I snapped out of my thoughts and smiled at her. “Sorry, what?”
“I’ll meet you and Luke at the parade and then dessert at my mom’s after?” she asked.
I nodded. That was the plan. “I wouldn’t miss your mom’s pecan pie.”
“Okay. Good luck with all these orders!” She blew me a kiss and stepped back out onto the street.
The order-up bell dinged, and I ran to the delivery window to grab the next pick-up order. We had a good plan, and we were cranking out orders every twenty minutes with pick-up times being texted to the customer as their order was cooking so they could get it fresh and pull up outside. I was running food out to the cars, and the restaurant's dining area was actually closed. It was just me; Sydney, who was now my assistant manager; Becca, my new server; and the kitchen staff.
I grabbed the order and ran across the restaurant to deliver it outside when I glanced at the name written on the receipt.
Jack.
My breath hitched, and I nearly tripped over my own feet.
I glanced outside to the red pickup truck and my heart skipped a beat.
Jack Marrow sat at the wheel and watched me with an expression I could only describe as…sadness. But he quickly covered it with a radiant smile when I opened the door.
I grinned as well, because despite how we’d left things, it was good to see him. It was always good to see him.
“Jack.”
“Hello, Hannah.” He looked handsome in a powder-blue T-shirt and jeans. I’d never seen him casually dressed. His dark hair was slicked back, and I reached across to hand him the order. I glanced at the receipt again to see what he’d gotten, and my grin grew wider.
