I feel a flush creeping up my neck. “Uh, yeah.”
Now that she’s seen one, she searches for another. Her eyes are wide as she takes in the various artworks displayed on the walls. Most of the images are of Benton Falls and local places of interest—the old covered bridge in autumn, the pond on a misty morning, the hills blanketed in wildflowers during spring.
“These are beautiful,” Paige says, her voice filled with genuine awe. She stops in front of a watercolor of Main Street during a summer festival. “I can almost hear the music and smell the funnel cakes.”
I shift uncomfortably on the couch, unsure how to respond to her praise. It’s been so long since anyone has seen my artwork, let alone commented on it. “They’re just little sketches and paintings I’ve done over the years,” I mumble.
Paige turns to me, her eyes shining. “Noah, these are more than ‘just little sketches.’ They’re incredible. Your work makes me feel warm inside. It’s like you’ve captured not just the look of the town but its heart.”
“Thanks,” I say softly. “I guess I’ve always tried to show how I see the town, you know? The beauty in the everyday moments.”
“And you’ve succeeded,” Paige says emphatically. She gestures around the room. “You should share these with the world, Noah. People would love to see Benton Falls through your eyes.”
“I promise I’ll think about it.” I will, too. The idea has been percolating in the back of my mind since she mentioned it.
As she resumes her search for glasses, I look at my artwork. I’m reminded of the joy I felt creating these pieces, the satisfaction of capturing a moment in time. I’d love to capture this one with her. Paige has this way about her, this confidence that seems to smooth over any awkwardness. And she talks so much, so openly, that I find myself relaxing, trusting that she’d tell me if something bothered her.
“You know,” Paige says as she settles onto the couch beside me, handing me a steaming bowl of soup and a roll, “this is a really charming place you’ve got here. It’s so cozy.”
I glance around. “Thanks,” I say, taking a sip of the soup. “It’s not much, but it’s home.”
Paige nods, her eyes roaming over the room. “That’s the dream, isn’t it? Having a place to call your own. I love traveling, don’t get me wrong, but sometimes I miss having roots.”
Her words surprise me. “Really? I would have thought you’d hate being tied down to one place.”
Paige’s face takes on a touch of wistfulness. “You’d think so, wouldn’t you? But the truth is, I’ve been thinking about settling down a bit. Maybe not giving up traveling entirely, but having a home base that’s actually mine, you know? Right now, I’m still using my parents’ place when I’m in town, but it’s getting a bit crowded with my sister and brother-in-law living there while they build their house.”
I nod, understanding dawning. “You want a place to be you.”
“Exactly,” Paige says, her eyes lighting up. “Don’t get me wrong, I love my family. I’ve been looking around, but nowhere seems quite right.”
“Well,” I say, surprised by my own eagerness to help, “There’s a nice little house over on Maple Street that just went up for sale, or if you prefer something more modern, there are those new apartments by the river.”
Paige listens as I list off potential options, but I can see a slight frown forming between her brows. “They all sound nice,” she says when I finish, “but I don’t know. None of them feel quite... right.”
I nod. “Sometimes you just know when a place is meant for you,” I say. “It clicks like pieces of a puzzle falling into place. That’s how it was when I decided to do the skate rental. I wanted something that let me be outside, keep my own hours, and be in town. It just worked.”
Paige’s face lights up. “Yes, exactly. That’s what I’m waiting for.”
As she speaks, I study her face, noticing the way her eyes crinkle at the corners when she smiles, the animated way she uses her hands when she talks. It strikes me suddenly how easy this all is—sitting here, talking, sharing a meal. It’s been so long since I’ve let anyone into my space like this, but with Paige, it feels as natural as breathing.
“You know what?” Paige says suddenly, interrupting my thoughts. “I like talking to you. You listen to me.”
The simple honesty of her statement catches me off guard. “I like talking to you too,” I admit, the words coming easier than I expected.
Paige grins at me, a smile so bright it seems to light up the whole room. At that moment, I think I understand why Sam looks ten feet tall when Alexis is nearby. There’s something about being the focus of that kind of genuine warmth and interest that makes you feel... special.
“Oh,” Paige exclaims suddenly, as if remembering something. “I almost forgot. The Christmas Parade is coming up soon. We should totally volunteer together.”
Aaaand, she’s off on another topic. I need to master hairpin turns in the conversation to keep up with her. “The parade? I don’t know ...”
Paige isn’t deterred by my hesitation. She grabs my good leg, giving it a playful shake. “Come on, it’ll be fun. Please? I promise I’ll do all the talking if you want. You can just stand there and look pretty.”
I can’t help but laugh at the image she paints. I’m nothing special in the looks department; I’m more of a Clark Kent than a Superman, if you get my drift. I do know I want more of her, though. “I’m not sure about the ‘looking pretty’ part, but... okay. Why not?”
Paige’s face lights up like I’ve just given her the best Christmas present ever. “Really? Oh, this is going to be so much fun. We can help decorate the floats or maybe hand out candy to the kids. Oh. Maybe we could even be in the parade.”
The parade has always been something I’ve watched from the sidelines, if at all. The idea of being part of it is way out of my comfort zone. But looking at Paige, seeing the joy in her eyes, I can’t regret agreeing.
