“You’re my last visitor.”
“I know, I planned it that way,” he says quietly.
“Would you like to get some hot cocoa?” My voice cracks like a school girl asking her crush to check yes or no on the note she just handed him.
“Dad, can we, please?” Holly asks. She jumps up and down with her hands clasped together.
“Yeah, sure. I mean, we’re all here.” Aiden glances at me quickly before he looks at his daughter. Her excitement is infectious and I find my inner-self jumping up and down too, not because of the cocoa, but because I want to spend more time with the both of them. It takes me only a minute or so to close up my booth, making sure the space heater is unplugged and the light above my name is off.
“Does Mrs. Cline still have the best hot chocolate?” I ask, walking side-by-side with Holly in the middle and Calvin following behind.
“She does,” Fish says. Mrs. Cline melts chocolate into milk to make her cocoa. It’s thick and frankly, the best I’ve ever had.
Aiden leads us down the aisle where Mrs. Cline’s stand is. When she sees us coming, her smile widens. “Delaney, it’s so good to see you.”
“You too, Mrs. Cline. We’ll take four of your best,” I tell her. Absentmindedly, I place my hand on Holly’s shoulder and pull her closer to me. I feel like I’m already part of her life.
We’re handed our Styrofoam cups and sent along our way. She refuses payment, which I don’t like, and will make sure Calvin stops by later to leave her a donation. With Holly’s hand in mine, we stop at each table to look at the goods. Aiden isn’t far behind us, spending time with Calvin. Those two are chatting it up like they’ve been best friends for years, while Holly and I continue to bond over handmade crafts, funny hats and fluffy scarves.
Each time I look over my shoulder, Aiden’s eyes are on me. Knowing he’s staring causes me to blush, and I like it. Right now, I feel like I’m part of this little family, that they’ve opened their hearts and lives to accept me, and honestly, it’s the best feeling in the world.
Twenty-Two
Aiden
As I expected, Holly’s enamored with Delaney from the get-go. Honestly, it’d take a miracle for anyone in Delaney’s presence not to be mesmerized by her. Her smile is infectious. She’s gracious and humble. Standing there watching her with her fans tonight, was vastly different from the day at the mall. The Delaney I see tonight is caring, and each fan has her undivided attention.
The Laney I know though, is beautiful, loving and the sweetest woman I know, and I’m falling for her, even when I know I shouldn’t. I had the hardest time trying to explain to Holly the reason I was waiting to buy the last ticket to see Delaney. Each excuse I thought of was lame and telling her the truth would make me admit, aloud, that my feelings are crossing over the friendship line. The plain truth is, I wanted Holly and I to be the last so we could spend the rest of the night with Delaney.
The other day at church, I came to the realization that my life is not my own. My sister insists on dictating everything, including my love life. I know she means well. I know she loves us and would do whatever she could to see us happy. However, I can’t help what my heart feels and right now it’s pulling me in the direction of Delaney Du Luca, knowing full well that once the holidays are over, she’ll be gone. I can only hope and pray Delaney doesn’t forget us.
Currently, my daughter and the woman I’m fawning over are lying in the snow, making snow angels. Calvin and I are standing so we can block the girls from the public eye. Secretly, I’m thankful for his presence. I think with Calvin here, it allows Delaney to have more freedom, and it definitely makes me aware of my surroundings. I only wish we had protected her enough that Delaney didn’t even have to call Calvin to come rescue her.
Their giggles carry over the park, causing me to smile. It’s been so long since Holly has seemed this carefree, and I have Delaney to thank. I wish I could capture this moment on film, but I know Laney would hate it.
Calvin turns and watches the crowd intently while I keep my eyes on the gi
rls, trying to burn the vision of them together into my mind.
“What happened the other night?” Calvin asks.
“Don’t know what you mean.”
He clears his throat and steps to his side, pushing his shoulder into mine. “I wanted to come get her, but she refused. I didn’t think anything of it until the next afternoon when she was crying her eyes out.”
“Crying?”
“Hmh,” he mumbles. “Suppose you don’t know why she was doing that?”
I shake my head. When she left my house, everything was good, minus my nosy neighbor stopping us before we could kiss. The thought of her crying though, I don’t like that.
“You mean something to her. But if you’re not sure...”
His words stab me in the heart. Deep down, he’s right, I’m guarded when it comes to my heart. Laney has a lot to offer… someone. Unfortunately, as much as I want to be that someone, I’m not sure I can.
“Laney is a good friend. We have a small history, but who doesn’t when you grow up in a small town?”
Calvin gives me the side eye and I quickly tear my gaze away from him. The girls come over to us, walking hand in hand, covered head to toe in snow. Their noses and cheeks are red, hair matted with snowballs and their clothes are soaked. “You guys are going to catch your death,” I say, pulling Holly into my arms.