Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
He opens it and then pushes his thumbs into his eyes. “Thanks,” he says, croaking out the simple word.
I step closer and look into the box, taking the carved Christmas tree out of the cardboard. Out loud, I read:
Bernard Whitaker
Grand Marshal
Tree Lighting Festival
Deer Ridge, Vermont
“You didn’t have to do this, Evangeline.”
She sets her hand on my dad’s arm. “I didn’t. The people of Deer Ridge nominated and voted for you. It was unanimous, Bernie. And honestly, long overdue.”
“Thank you,” he says as he fights back tears.
I, too, struggle to keep mine at bay.
“I’ll be by later with your itinerary, and it seems more trees,” she says as she looks at her phone.
As soon as she says “more trees” I remember I was supposed to go to the farm this morning. Son of a nutcracker. “Do you need my help?”
“No, I’ve got it.” Eve quickly replies as she leaves us. I hand my dad his plaque and tell him I’ll be right back. “Evangeline, wait up.” She slows but continues to walk as she looks over her shoulder. I follow her outside and find Jake chatting with Santa.
“Ho, Ho, Ho,” he says, holding his belly. “Have you been a good boy this year, Zane Whitaker?”
His question makes me pause. Up until I arrived back in Deer Ridge, I would say I have been good. But good boys or good men, even, don’t go to their ex’s house in the middle of the night. Even though nothing happened, it’s still not right and I need to tell Caryn where I was. We can’t start the next stage of our life with secrets like this.
Ignoring Santa, I catch up with Evangeline. “I’m sorry I didn’t go to the farm this morning. I know I said I’d cover for you.”
“It’s fine, Zane. My dad hadn’t even been outside when I arrived at nine.”
“Really? That’s unlike him.”
“Yes, and no. The setup is done and unless someone is there first thing to buy a tree, what’s the point of going out in the cold?” Her eyebrow raises and that’s when it hits me.
“Ah, so you were going to let me go there and stand out in the cold?”
She shrugs.
“Is this payback?”
“For what?”
“For what I did.”
Evangeline shrugs. “Maybe. In some odd way, I thought it was. I don’t know. Had you gone, my dad would’ve come out and put you to work. But you didn’t show. . .”
You didn’t show.
My hand covers my face. “Eve, I’m sorry. I went back to the Inn and crashed on the couch.”
“It’s fine.” She waves her hand, dismissing my apology. “Look, I need to get to work.” She rounds the front of her truck. I happen to glance in the back and see it’s full of trees.
“Where ya heading?”
“Out toward Arlington.”
“Can I tag along?”
She looks at me for a second and shakes her head. “No. You need to stay here, help your dad. My dad will be by with more trees later today.” Evangeline walks closer to me. “Last night was a mistake, Zane. I should’ve never invited you in. What we had—it’s in the past. There’s nothing for me to forgive. We both made mistakes. We move on. You have. I need to.”
Evangeline gives me one last glance and then heads for the driver’s side of her truck. I stand there, watching as she drives away and wishing I could say or do something. She’s right though. I have moved on.
Back in the store, I put a Whitaker’s General Store smock on and start cleaning and straightening the shelves. Way back in the day, this was my job and while I used to hate it, I was good at it.
Dad and I went to Evergreen’s for lunch, and got our food to go. We stand at our counter, eat, and talk about the weather, and help customers when they come in. By early evening, the store is quiet, and Jake has gone home after another successful day of selling.
The door opens and high heels clank against the old tile floor. Caryn walks around the corner in her stiletto boots, skirt, and fur coat. I’m thankful my dad is in the back. He hasn’t brought her up once today.
“Hey, babe,” she says as soon as she sees me but stops walking. “What on earth are you wearing?”
I look down at my smock. It used to be dark blue but has faded over the years. “Keeps my clothes clean.”
“From what?”
“From the dust. I cleaned today.”
“Why?” Her nose scrunches in disgust.
“Because that’s what you do in a store.”
“Oh, well. Go back to the Inn and shower. We have dinner plans.”
“Where are we going?”
“Albany. I spoke to Serena earlier. She’s on the train, heading in. There’s a W there. We’re going to meet her for drinks. I figured we might as well move our stuff there anyway, especially since she’ll be there for a week.”