“That’s scary. It sounds like I have a stalker.” I raised my eyebrows. “Should I call the cops?”
He grinned. “It would be a waste of time.”
“I think so too.” I frowned. “Daniel, you don’t have to worry about me. I’m fine. Just because Brett left doesn’t mean I don’t know how to take care of myself.”
“It’s not about being worried about you. I’m not a fucking boy scout, Faith. I’m still in love with you.”
A large branch broke in the tree near his car. It fell near the mail box and blocked the path toward the driveway. Daniel ran over there, picked it up, and tossed it to the side. “Be careful around these trees. There’s heavy snow on the—”
“I am from here. I think I know how to live around here.”
“Okay.” He wiped snow off his gloves. “Well then, let’s return to the topic of us dating again.”
“Wow.” I raised my hands in the air.
“I don’t have a gun.”
I had nothing to say.
“Faith, are you okay?”
“I’m. . .fine.” I blew out a wintry smoke, wishing it was real smoke. I’d left my cigarettes up in the bedroom and hadn’t had one all day. I’d been so obsessed with getting the jails built around my snow creatures in time.
Daniel stepped back. “Was it too soon to ask?”
“No, just. . .not a good week.” I glanced at my snowman in his jail. “I’m currently busy with a little problem. Maybe check with me after the holidays. . .” Another tree branch fell a few feet near the car. “Or maybe we can wait until the snow melts.”
“I’m a patient man.”
“Really? That must’ve changed. I don’t remember you being patient.”
He walked my way and stood a few inches away from me. “Faith, I let you go once. I won’t do that again. This time, I’m getting a second chance. This time, I won’t give up.”
The trees swayed, but there was no wind. It was almost like a bunch of squirrels had raced up a bunch of branches.
Snow crumbled and fell to the ground.
Daniel studied the trees. “I’m a little worried about you being out here with these weak branches. Maybe I should cut some of the branches that are near your house.”
“No. It will be fine.”
“Are you sure? It would be no problem. I drive by here every day.”
“I thought you live in West End.”
“I do.”
“From West End, my house would not be on the way to the police station.”
“I thought we already confirmed that I was stalking you?”
“Okay. That’s correct.”
Exhaling, he stuffed his hands into his pockets and looked around as if hoping to spark some other conversation. “Are you sure you’re fine out here?”
“I am.”
He gestured to my jailed snowman. “What’s that about?”