“Why are you kicking your date’s ass?” Jamison asks with a laugh, his worries apparently forgotten now that there are more interesting things happening in the station.
“I had to leave the turkey dinner early last Friday to go check on my mom,” Faith says, splashing coffee into her cup. “After I left, Neil Simpson evidently found it necessary to tell our entire table how much better I look with makeup on. And how he wouldn’t have looked twice at a ‘big girl’ like me if his grandmother hadn’t bought me at the auction. Oh, but now he’s sooooo glad he’s had the chance to see me in a different light.” She growls. “I’m going to show him a different light. When I knock his lights out.”
“What the hell?” Jamison’s scowl reappears. “Where does that dickhead get off?”
“He clearly needs to pull his head out of his ass,” I agree, hating that so many guys have no idea how to treat other people, especially female people. “He’s not even in your league, Faith. You’re beautiful, with makeup or without it, and you’ve got a lot more going for you than looks. So don’t let him get to you.”
The room falls silent and Faith turns to me with wide eyes, her jaw a little slack.
“What?” I ask, glancing at Ben and Jamison to find similar expressions on their faces.
Faith shakes her head. “Nothing. That was just…really nice. And really not like you.”
I lift my shoulders, bristling a little. “What? I’m not nice?”
“No, you’re nice. You’re super nice,” Faith hurries to assure me with a soft laugh. “You just usually don’t talk that much at one time, that’s all. But I like it! And you’re right,” she says, standing up straighter. “If I wanted a boyfriend, I could find one cuter and nicer and much less annoying than Neil.”
“Aw, Faith wants a boyfriend,” Jamison wheedles.
“I do not.” She glares at him. “Shut up, Jamison. The last thing I want is a boyfriend.”
“I think the lady protests too much,” Ben says, joining in with a laugh.
“Shut your face, Ben,” Faith says, proving she’s more than prepared to fight her own battles. “You too, Jamison. I clearly have bigger things to worry about than dating.” She casts a glance my way and adds in a sing song voice, “Like what to get Jake and Naomi for an engagement present.”
I cough and keep coughing, choking on nothing, proving I should probably steer clear of the coffee station.
“Oh, stop. Don’t look so surprised.” Faith raises her voice to be heard over my episode. “You smile all the time now, and I saw you and Naomi making out behind the bakery this morning. If you’re already at the pre-coffee make out stage, you’ll be married by April. Believe me, I know these things. My mother has been married like…a thousand times.”
“I already had coffee,” I mumble. “With Naomi. At my place.”
Faith beams. Smugly. “Maybe March, then. If she’s already sleeping over.”
I huff and roll my eyes.
Okay, maybe I have thought about that kind of future with Naomi and that I’d like to get started on that future as soon as possible. But I’m not going to propose in three months and I’m not anywhere close to ready to talk about this kind of stuff at work.
Especially not with Jamison watching me like I’m a dumb dog about to run into traffic.
“I’m going outside where I can get some peace and quiet to call the plumber,” I say. “Ben, collect money for family meal when everyone comes in. Someone start another pot of coffee, and, Faith, I need you to pull up the reports on last week’s hazardous material disposal. City Hall needs a copy by this afternoon.”
I turn and pound down the stairs, pretending not to hear my brother telling Faith to stop teasing me about Naomi as I leave.
Let Jamison be protective if it makes him feel better, but I know I’m not making a mistake with her. The only mistake would be being too stubborn and rigid to give us another chance.
Faith’s right…I have been smiling all the time. I’m the happiest I’ve been since before Jenny passed, and Naomi and her big smile and bigger heart are the reason for it.
I love the way she loves me and getting to love her again and just…all of it. All the romantic, squishy, big, scary, and amazing things I wasn’t sure I’d ever get to feel again.
Life is good, damnit, and I intend to enjoy it.
Outside, I settle at the picnic table, placing the call to the plumber with the morning sun warm on my face. I can’t get enough of the good weather and hate to think it might be months before Naomi and I can have another picnic.
And another outdoor encounter in the tree house…
I mentioned that to Naomi a couple of nights ago, and her eyes went all sparkly in the center. A minute later she was searching for vacation houses in Hawaii, insisting she wanted to treat me to a vacation for Christmas.