“It’s every person’s goal to support themselves by doing something they love, right? To spend each day at work feeling like you’re getting away with something because you like what you do.”
That was exactly why he’d gone into production. He enjoyed the process and found satisfaction in working through the issues to complete a piece of music. Hearing his work broadcast to the world was a bonus. The fact that she encouraged others to live that dream raised his respect for her several notches.
“On the flip side,” she continued, warming up to the subject, “my customers want quality pieces. The cheaply made, mass-produced ornaments and decorations have a place, but in my store, you find items you can pass down for generations. There’s something that fills you up inside when you use ornaments from your grandma’s attic–it connects you to her and to all the holidays she lived and celebrated.” She stopped abruptly. “I told you that you’d think I was crazy.”
Micah thought about his mother. “I’d give anything to have some of my mom’s decorations. I don’t even know what happened to them.” They’d probably donated them to the local thrift store. Why didn’t he or Jonah keep at least one?
“What colors did she decorate with?” asked Charlotte.
And just like that, memories flooded his mind and seeped out of him. He shared them all, talking until he could barely keep his eyes open.
“Micah?” Charlotte’s sleepy voice roused him.
He wasn’t ready to say goodbye. “Will you go with me to the pageant?” He stumbled over the words and probably mumbled.
“I’d love that,” she replied, and then yawned. “I’m more excited about it than I sound.”
He chuckled. “I’ll pick you up. ‘Night.”
“Good night, Micah,” she cooed into the phone before ending the call. Micah stumbled into his bed and fell asleep with a smile on his face. Which was odd for him, but he liked it.
* * *
Micah walked into the school auditorium feeling like a king on parade as he held Charlotte’s hand.
At first, the people around the doorway went quiet. Then this ripple of whispers and exclamations went through to the front of the room. The business owner knew everyone in town, and they all knew her on sight. Their clasped hands made a huge announcement to Moose Hollow that the owner of The Christmas Shop had a date. He hoped they would be more than that by the end of the night; keeping his feelings for her under wraps was … difficult.
He’d not meant to garner this much attention at the elementary school Christmas pageant–but if Charlotte knew what was coming, she didn’t warn him.
Charlotte took the whispers as they passed in stride, her smile never slipping. Micah ducked into his collar and stared at the floor.
“Well, well, well.”
Micah paused as a woman grabbed Charlotte into a hug. She had the same bright eyes and overwhelmingly loving demeanor as Charlotte.
“What’s going on here?” She looked meaningfully at their hands.
“Mom, this is Micah.” She gestured to him with her free hand while lifting their hands to her chest and holding him close. The gesture bolstered him as if she’d claimed him as her own, and he did not need to worry about what anyone else thought.
Her confidence was so attractive.
Also, she was stunning tonight in a green turtleneck and tight jeans. He tried to talk himself out of calling her last night–he needed sleep–but they’d talked until after midnight again. Three nights in a row–he had no idea how Charlotte looked fresh and beautiful this evening when she worked a full day and hardly slept. He felt like an abominable snowman with a toothache.
He held out his free hand. “Mrs. Morris, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
She ignored his hand and gave him a light hug. “It’s nice to meet you,” she said sincerely. She smelled of perfume and aerosol hair spray. “I have a couple of extra seats if you two want to sit with me.”
Charlotte glanced at him to see what he thought. She’d told him how her dad passed away a couple of years ago and the efforts she and her siblings took to make sure Mom didn’t feel left out of things. Sitting alone in public was a lonely feeling. He should know; he did it a lot.
“Yeah, that’s great.” He nodded for Charlotte to go in the row first and sit by her mom.
She hugged his arm in a silent thanks, making him feel ten feet tall and then moved to her seat.
They made small talk until the lights dimmed.
Charlotte leaned into his shoulder. The move was natural and easy, like they’d done it a hundred times before, and his shoulder was made just for that purpose. On the flip side, his heart raced, and he prayed she couldn’t hear it thunder. He’d never considered himself overly affectionate, but somehow, she made it all seem easy. Like brushing her hand down his arm was normal.
The weirdest part? He did it too.
