Whatever the reason, I don’t want to spin out over it. He can take his time if he wants. I’m in no rush. I’ve got plenty to keep me busy.
Hopefully, things will come together for us if they’re meant to.
“This was a fun day.” His deep voice cuts through the cold night air.
“It was fun,” I agree.
“Hope you don’t mind me keeping you up late,” he adds.
“Not at all,” I tell him. “You’re the farmer with the early wake-up. My shop isn’t even open yet, so I can sleep late tomorrow if I want.”
“Most of the farm work is done at this point,” he tells me. “Buck and Dad are just prepping for next year. And selling Christmas trees isn’t really an early morning job.”
“That’s nice,” I say. “So you guys are used to having easier mornings at Christmastime?”
He nods and we keep walking.
It feels like there’s something he wants to say, but he’s not ready to say it yet.
Again, I wonder about today, about the moment at the shop before the lights and sirens, when I was so sure he was going to kiss me.
We must be close to the high school now, because cars are pulling up to park, and townsfolk are spilling out onto the sidewalk, talking excitedly.
“So this is a sing-along?” I ask Roan.
“Kind of,” he says. “It’s also sort of like a talent show, and the church choir sings too. And anyone can join in whenever they want.”
“That sounds really cool,” I tell him, trying to imagine what it’s going to be like. “Is there a set program?”
“Nope,” he says. “People just sign the sheet, and then the mayor calls them up in order.”
“So you don’t know what you’re going to see,” I say, nodding.
“We usually have a pretty good idea,” Roan says. “A lot of people perform every year.”
“Roan Connelly,” a deep voice calls out from behind us.
We turn together and see a handsome man walking beside a pretty lady and a teenage girl with a big pair of headphones around her neck.
“Derek,” Roan says, smiling as the three of them catch up to us. “Good to see you, man.”
“You too,” Derek says, looking me up and down. “Very good to see you.”
“This is Taylor,” Roan says. “She’s opening the bookshop by the tree lot.”
“I see,” Derek says.
“We’ll be coming to visit you soon, then,” the lady says to me. “I’m Darcy, by the way. Derek and I run the new school in town. J.B. is our daughter, and she’s also one of the students.”
“No way,” I say. “I’ve been really excited about your school. Taffy at the library has been telling me about all the books the kids have shared with her.”
“Oh yes,” Darcy says with a smile. “We have some pretty dedicated bookworms.”
J.B. raises her hand, as if to say she’s one of them.
“J.B., if you or any of the other kids want to stop by for an early visit and talk books with me, I’d be honored,” I say. “No pressure, but I’m around anytime.”
“Can we, Mom?” J.B. asks.
