Each word chips away at the confidence I’ve been slowly building over the past few weeks. I open my mouth to respond, but no words come out. I’m not sure what I could say that wouldn’t bring a barrage of criticism and judgment down upon my head.
The tense silence is broken by the opening and closing of the door again. I don’t usually have any visitors in the trailer, and I can’t stop them from piling in there today.
Paige shivers and grins at me. Her cheeks are flushed from the cold, her blonde hair tucked under a knitted hat, and her smile is as bright as ever. “Noah,” she exclaims, her eyes sparkling. “I thought I’d stop by and see how you’re... oh.” She pauses, taking in the scene. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you had company.”
“Paige,” I say, unable to keep the relief out of my voice. I didn’t realize how much I need her support until just this moment. She’s been such a strength to me the last few weeks, seeing my art as a talent instead of a curse and encouraging me to do things I wouldn’t normally do. I’ve enjoyed the parade planning. It’s been fun, and a challenge, all wrapped up with a Christmas bow. “These are my parents, Richard and Patricia Montgomery.”
Paige extends her hand toward my dad and hits him with her 1000-watt smile. “It’s lovely to meet you both. I’m Paige Henderson. Noah and I are working on the Christmas parade together.”
My father shakes her hand, his expression unreadable. “Henderson... that name sounds familiar. Are you related to the Hendersons who own that big manufacturing plant over in Millbrook?”
I can see the momentary confusion in Paige’s eyes, quickly replaced by understanding. “Oh, no, different Hendersons. I’m actually a travel vlogger. I make videos about my adventures around the world.”
The temperature in the room drops a few degrees. My mother’s eyebrows raise slightly. “A vlogger? How... interesting? And is that a full-time occupation?”
I can feel my hackles rising at her tone, but Paige doesn’t miss a beat. “It is. I’ve been fortunate enough to turn my passion into a career. It’s challenging work, but incredibly rewarding.”
My father nods slowly, his skepticism evident. “I see. And how did you end up back in Benton Falls? Surely, a world traveler like yourself has more exciting places to be.”
Paige waves away his comment. “Actually, I find there’s something special about coming home. Benton Falls has a charm that’s hard to find anywhere else in the world. Plus, it’s been wonderful reconnecting with old friends and getting involved in the community.” As she speaks, her eyes meet mine, and I feel a warmth spread through my chest. She gives me a smile that’s all my own, and I hold on to the feeling and warmth it brings to my heart.
No wonder I’m so drawn to her. She’s the opposite of everything I’ve been trying to run away from. I just didn’t know that I was running toward her.
My mother, however, seems less than impressed. “Well, isn’t that nice,” she says, her voice dripping with false sweetness. “It must be nice to be able to flit about like a butterfly and not have a care in the world.”
I can see Paige’s smile falter slightly, and I feel a surge of protectiveness. “Mom,” I start, but Paige puts a gentle hand on my arm.
My father raises an eyebrow. “And what does your family think of that? Surely they must be concerned about the stability of your... career choice.”
I can feel the tension building in my shoulders. “Dad, I don’t think—“
But Paige interrupts me gently. “It’s alright, Noah,” she says, her eyes never leaving my parents. “My family has always been supportive of my choices, Mr. Montgomery. They understand that happiness and success can take many forms—even ones they wouldn’t adopt themselves.”
There’s a moment of awkward silence, and I can see my parents processing Paige’s words. Finally, my mother clears her throat. “Well, we shouldn’t keep you from your work. It was... interesting to meet you, Paige.”
Paige nods, her smile never wavering. The woman is a saint if ever I’ve met one. “Likewise. I hope you enjoy your visit to Benton Falls.”
With a final glance around the trailer, my parents turn to leave. “Noah,” my father says, his voice stern. “We’ll be in touch.”
As the door closes behind them, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. The trailer feels suddenly larger, as if my parents’ presence had been taking up all the available space.
Paige turns to me, concern etched on her face. “Noah, are you okay?”
I nod, not trusting my voice just yet. Will, who has been uncharacteristically quiet throughout the exchange, pipes up. “That was... intense.”
Paige’s hand is still on my arm, and I focus on that warmth, using it to ground myself. “I’m sorry you had to see that,” I finally manage. “They can be... difficult.”
Paige’s eyes are full of understanding. “You have nothing to apologize for, Noah. Family can be complicated.”
I nod, grateful for her words. How does she know what to say? She’s giving them grace, even when I think they don’t deserve it. “Yeah, complicated is one way to put it.”
Will clears his throat. His eyes dart between me and Paige, and he seems to resign himself to something. “I, uh, I should probably get going. Thanks for letting me help out today, Noah.”
“No, thank you.” I step around and shake his hand. I don’t want him to leave on the sour note my parents brought into the trailer. He caught me up on filing and organized my bulletin board. He saved me hours of work out of the goodness of his heart. I don’t know why he chose me to be his friend, but it’s time I start acting like it. Maybe, in a couple of weeks, I’ll invite him to workout with me and Sam or something. “I’m really grateful you stopped by today. I’ll see you around?”
He brightens a little. “Yeah? Good. I—I’m glad.” He pauses at the door, his hand on the knob. “I—I want you to know that our worth isn’t determined by what others think of us.” He takes a step closer, his voice low but intense. The glow around him seems to grow stronger, and I feel my heart begin to race. “Your father’s opinion of you doesn’t define your worth. God sees you as His beloved child, full of potential and purpose. He’s the one who gave you your talents, your kind heart, your ability to bring joy to others through this ice rink and the parade.”
As Will speaks, I feel his words reaching deep into my heart and mind. They resonate with a truth that I’ve always known but somehow forgotten. My breath catches in my throat as he continues.
