“I think we’re good.” She motioned to the five-foot stack of firewood she’d cut that summer.
“Yeah, you are.” His gaze raced over her and back up to her face. His cheeks turned nearly purple. “I, um, do you want to go to dinner with me?” He patted his sled again.
Did he expect her to climb aboard and take off right now? Clove tipped her head. “Tonight?”
“No. No. No. No.” He waved her off.
Felix swiped a hoof through the snow:Smooth.
“Be nice,” she admonished him.
“Sorry. I–” Allen lowered his head and stared at the ground. “--I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“No. Not you.” She waved to Felix and then threw her hands in the air. This is why she would never have a serious relationship. Not because she had a flying reindeer but because she was hopeless at all this relationship stuff–including having a normal conversation. Not that she wanted to marry Allen. For the love, she could not imagine him leaning in for a kiss. Ew! He was like a brother. They had braces at the same time and the yearbook pictures to prove it.
Movement caught her attention. Grandma stood in the window, holding a jar of apple preserves. Bless her! “Sheriff, it’s your lucky day.” She darted to the door. Just as she reached it, Grandma opened it and shoved the jar out to her. “Real subtle,” she ground out before Grandma shut the door.
Spinning, she slathered a smile across her face as thick as cream cheese frosting on a sugar cookie. “For your table tonight.” She tromped down the steps and thrust the bottle into Allen’s chest. “We’re all stocked up and have enough to share.”
She let go too soon, and he fumbled the bottle. “Thanks. This is great. Hannah’s apple pie filling will make me the envy of the town.”
Clove nodded. “It’s the least we can do for the Sheriff.”
As long as he was bragging about apples and not having a date with her, he could blab to whomever he wanted to. He didn’t stay long. His red tail light bobbed between the trees and then disappeared.
She brushed off her palms. Good work. Turned down a date, and the man left happy.
She paused, her enthusiasm dipping. Was being replaceable by a jar of apple pie filling really something to be proud of? She let out a sigh.
Felix went back to scratching his behind.
“He’s a decent guy,” Grandma said right behind her.
Clove screamed and clutched at her sweater. “How are you so quiet when your actual joints creak?” She pressed her hand over her heart to slow it down.
“Maybe you were deep in thought?” Grandma lifted a shoulder as she checked the turkey. “Why don’t you give Allen a break and go out with him? That boy’s been sweet on you since the seventh grade.”
Clove huffed. “Because I knew him in seventh grade when he ran Olivia’s bra up the flagpole.”
Grandma opened her mouth, and Clove held up her hand. “I have no idea how he got it.” Clove rubbed her arms. “I don’t feel anything but friendship for him.”
“Love can blossom from friendship if given the chance.” Grandma patted the smoker as if it were a pet who had just delivered the newspaper. Not that their pet, if you could call Felix that, had delivered anything to their door. He took more joy in scaring off the mail carrier than he did in saving Clove steps down the mountain.
Clove shook her head. “I should feel something, Grandma. With Allen, it’s a big blank.”
“Blank paper is meant for writing on–like a love story.” She pumped her eyebrows.
Clove glanced at Felix. He shook his ears:You’re on your own with this one.
“I’m not paper, and neither is he. Besides, it will take a special man to love me, you,andFelix. We’re a package deal.” She side-hugged Hannah, noting that her shoulders felt thinner lately. Old age was not for the weak.
“Allen knows that. I think you should call him.”
“And I think you should mind your beeswax.” She kissed Hannah’s hair.
“Don’t get sassy with me, young lady.” Grandma spanked her backside.
Clove laughed, dancing away from her. “No! Your actual beeswax.” She pointed to the stockpot on the Camp Chef. The wax they’d harvested over the summer had waited long enough to be purified. They’d use it to make lotions, body butter bars, lip salves, and other skin care items to help them come through the winter, still looking like total babes.
