by Jenny Hale
“Come on…” Theo said.
In a fit of laughter, Rex climbed up on his chair at the table.
Theo joined him, shaking his head. “I cannot believe that just happened,” he said with a chuckle of his own. “Unbelievable.” When Lila took a seat beside him, he said, “I’m challenging you to a rematch later.”
Just then the waitress brought out their Mountain Burgers, setting the plates in front of each of them. Lila’s eyes widened at the sight in front of her. A towering display of three beef patties that bulged over the bottom bun, each of them separated by cheese, avocado, lettuce, tomato, a row of both onion rings and fries—the whole thing topped with fried mozzarella, all the condiments, and the other half of the bun, held together by a pickle skewer.
“How do I bite into this?” she asked, picking it up. Half the ingredients fell onto her plate, making both Theo and Rex laugh.
“Very carefully,” Theo replied. “I’ve heard there’s an entire avocado’s worth of slices between every layer.”
Lila lifted the massive burger to her lips and nibbled part of it. “It’s really good,” she said. Then she looked over at Theo. “Hey, you’re cheating,” she said with a chuckle.
Theo had taken his apart and was cutting little slices of it with his knife and fork. “Not if I eat it all,” he said. “It’s strategy.”
“I don’t think you’ll need strategy. I might just let you win this one,” she said with another bite of her burger.
“Like I let you all win at horseshoes?” he asked.
“You did not let us win! Did he, Rex?”
“No way,” Rex said, his fingers a mess of mayo and ketchup. “We won fair and square.”
Lila shook her head, amused, but she didn’t let this little moment go by without thinking about how wonderful it was. She’d miss things like this when she went back to her lonely apartment in Nashville.
Fourteen
“Do it, Theo!” Rex said. The little boy eyed the gate full of rodeo hopefuls, who were all vying to ride victoriously on a mechanical bull dressed with Christmas bells on its horns and a wreath around its base. Or at the very least, they’d all decided to escape the cold of the fair outside for the heated tents full of fresh, hot caramel corn, s’mores-making stations, photos with Santa, and—of course—Christmas bull riding. Although with her big coat and scarf, and the area heaters positioned throughout the fair, Lila felt surprisingly cozy.
Theo and Lila had taken Rex to the fair while Trudy and Judd ran the special booths they’d set up at the farm. She’d asked Eleanor if she’d like to come with them, but Eleanor had declined politely, telling them she was far too old to spend the whole evening out in those freezing temperatures.
“My bull-riding days are over,” Eleanor had said with a laugh.
“You’re not really gonna ride that thing, are you?” Lila asked Theo, the bull bucking and writhing as a man in a cowboy hat and denim jacket held on for dear life.
“I have to redeem myself after the horseshoes,” he said, with a little smirk that made her insides do a twirl.
When the cowboy finally lost his grip, he sailed through the air, yelling “Yee-haw!” and landing with a thud on the giant foam pit below. Then he struggled to climb back to the side through the dense blocks of foam. Next a couple mounted the bull—a heavy-set woman and an older man. Lila covered her eyes as they took hold of the handles, not wanting to see what the bull would do to these two.
“Oh!” Rex said with excitement. “You and Theo could ride together!”
Lila yanked her hands from her face. “Are you kidding? There’s no way I’m getting on that thing,” she said with a laugh, ruffling the boy’s hair.
“Do it, do it,” Rex sang, jumping up and down. “It’s fun!”
“We can’t leave you all alone,” she explained, feeling confident that she had a rock-solid out for this crazy idea.
“It’s fine,” Theo told her. “Look who’s running the bull. It’s Adele. She’ll watch Rex.” He bent down to eye level to address the little boy. “You’ll sit with your grandma and watch us, won’t you?”
“Yes, sir!” Rex said with wild excitement in his eyes.
“And I’ll bet she’ll even let you run the bull,” Theo added.
“I’m not riding that thing,” Lila said again, folding her arms. “A girl could fall off and hurt herself.”
Theo leaned into her, that adorably rugged grin playing at his lips, the same challenge in his eyes she’d seen before, making her lightheaded. “Depends on the girl.”
Lila wrinkled her nose at him but had a difficult time keeping a straight face when he laughed—really laughed. She’d never seen something so wonderful in her life. She never wanted him to stop. “Fine,” she said, allowing a giggle to escape.
Rex cheered.
Before she knew it, they’d made it through the line and Lila was climbing onto the bull with Theo. “I can’t believe I’m doing this,” she said under her breath.
Theo put his arms around her and leaned over her shoulder. “Aw, come on. We’ve ridden together before. This is nothing.” His cheek was next to hers, and if she twisted just slightly in his direction, she could put herself in a precarious position that, if she were honest, she wouldn’t at all mind being in.
Suddenly, the bull came to life with a jolt, and both her hands flew to the handle, Theo tightening his grip on her. Rex was in the operation box on Adele’s lap, doubling over already while his grandmother laughed behind him. But her view was ripped away when the bull bucked wildly, causing Theo to squeeze Lila tighter. Her body came off the saddle, making him laugh behind her. She had a unique mix of adrenaline and excitement pumping through her; Theo’s lightly spicy scent of aftershave mixed with the fresh, powdery smell of soap had her heart pattering.
Then in a flash she came off the seat again, but this time the bump was so hard that she and Theo were thrown into the air, the handle coming out of her grip, the two of them landing in the pile of foam on their sides. Only once they’d come to a stop did she realize that Theo’s hand was behind her head to protect her as they fell. The two of them were face to face, their bodies intertwined. Without thinking, she’d put her hand on his chest to shield herself from the weight of his body during the fall, now noticing she could feel the thumping of his heart under her fingers as he looked down at her.
Theo took her in for a second and then a smile slowly spread across his face. “See? That wasn’t so bad,” he said, his voice gentle. Seeing how he’d let his guard down, Lila could hardly breathe.
And she had to admit that being tangled up with Theo definitely wasn’t so bad.
Theo hopped up and grabbed her hand, pulling her to a standing position.
“That was awesome!” Rex said, as they stepped off the mat to exit. He wriggled between Lila and Theo, grabbing their hands and swinging their arms back and forth as his little cowboy boots clacked along the floor. “What do ya wanna do now?” he asked.
“If you’re warm enough, we could go out and ride the Ferris wheel,” Theo suggested.
“I’d love that,” Lila said.
They went outside and got in line for the Ferris wheel, its red-and-green lights like Christmas stars against the black sky above. As it went around, tinkling carols played underneath the laughter and merriment of the crowds.
When it was their turn, they stepped up to their seat, all three of them squeezing in with Rex in the middle. To give them more room, Theo put his arm around the back of the chair, his hand lying gently on Lila’s shoulder, causing a tingle of happiness to rush through her. The attendant came around and checked the door on their seat, making sure it was closed tightly for the ride.
“I can’t wait,” Rex said, his eyes glittering with excitement.
The giant wheel began to turn slowly, their seat lifting and swaying back and forth with their movement. The chatter of the crowds faded as they made their way into the air, and then it was as if they were floating, looking down on
the rows of Christmas trees at Pinewood Farm, the snow blanketing the tops of the hills, the thin gray roads that snaked through the small town, the flashing lights of the game booths below—it was the most gorgeous sight Lila had ever seen.
Taking it all in with Rex and Theo by her side made Lila realize how empty her life had been. She wished she had a family of her own to share moments like this with, but if she didn’t, this might be the next best thing. Rex was adorable and such an easy child to love, and Lila couldn’t believe how Theo had opened up tonight. It felt like some sort of Christmas miracle. And when she didn’t think things could get any better, through the shoulder of her coat, she could feel Theo’s fingers stroking her affectionately, making her look over at him. When she did, all her thoughts faded away at the vulnerability in his face. It was almost as if he was silently questioning her with something, but she couldn’t read it. She smiled instead, and he turned back toward the view below. Something was definitely happening, and it was making her reconsider everything she’d ever thought about him.
It was late when they’d dropped Rex back home at the farmhouse, armed with a fistful of cotton candy and a teddy bear he’d won at the ring toss. Not wanting to impose, Lila and Theo had stayed on the porch. Trudy had thanked them for taking care of Rex and invited them to come by soon.
And now Lila and Theo were standing at the door to her cabin, his face barely visible in the darkness below the pines. “I had a great time tonight,” she told him.
He nodded, that contemplative expression she’d seen on the Ferris wheel coming back with a vengeance. “It was a good… date,” he said, the corners of his mouth twitching upward.
“Wait—date?” she said, taking the bait, unable to hide her ridiculous grin. “Did you just say we went on a date?”
She reached out to take his arms and playfully shake him, but suddenly lost her ability to speak when he swept her up into an embrace, looking down at her with an intensity in his eyes that she’d never seen before. He leaned in, his lips so close to hers that she could feel the warmth of his breath.
“Yes,” he whispered before his lips brushed hers. Then he kissed her, his mouth moving on hers like she’d never experienced before. There was something magical about the two of them together, as if she’d been waiting her whole life to find the puzzle piece that fit exactly right. He gripped her passionately, their movements perfect complements to one another, his breath mixing with hers, sweeping her into this unbelievable moment. As his lips roamed around her own, a swarm of butterflies seemed to take over her insides, fluttering all the way into her mind, making her lightheaded. No one else had ever come close to this.
Theo pulled back, looking stunned before regaining his composure. “I, uh…” Confusion slid across his face as he shook his head. He looked back at her as if he were just now really seeing her for the first time. “I don’t know what came over me,” he said.
“You don’t have to apologize,” Lila told him. “I didn’t mind.” She smiled, her heart still all aflutter.
“It’s late. I should go,” he replied, but the look in his eyes told her something different.
“I’ll see you in the morning,” she said.
Still clearly processing what had just happened, he took in a long steadying breath and then found her hand, winding his fingers through hers. He lifted it up and kissed the back of it, then let go. “In the morning when you come to work, if I’m not downstairs yet, I keep the spare key to the shop on a nail under the Coffee sign. Just let yourself in and make some coffee if you want to. Then come up and get me.”
“Okay,” she said.
He gave her a loving grin. “See ya.”
“Bye.”
Lila slipped her key in the lock of the cabin and let herself inside. She shut the door behind her and flopped onto the sofa in a lovesick daze, the lights of the Christmas tree sparkling like diamonds, surprised by the emotions she was feeling. She was falling hard and fast for the mysterious coffee shop owner, and there was no going back now.
Fifteen
On her way to the coffee shop the next morning, Lila rolled down her car window to greet Eleanor on her way out of the main drive. The old lady was in her rubber boots and big coat, holding the mail, one of the letters open in her hand. Her nose seemed too red to just be cold.
“Are you okay?”
Eleanor cleared her throat. “Oh, I’ll be fine, dear,” she said, fluffing the paper in the air with a huff. “Just office stuff. Where are you headed this early in the morning all by yourself?”
“I’m going to work at the coffee shop so Theo can finish fixing the plumbing in the cabin.”
“Ah,” she said, her voice quivering.
Lila got a quick look at the letter in Eleanor’s hands—some sort of overdue notice with a hefty dollar amount. “Are you really okay?”
“Yes, yes,” Eleanor said, waving her off. “Go. Theo’s waiting.”
Eleanor turned around and started back up the drive, giving Lila no other choice but to put her window up and continue to the coffee shop. As she drove toward the fields at the bottom of the hill, glancing at the horses’ winter turnout sheets strapped over them to shield them from the weather, Lila considered the paper she’d seen in Eleanor’s hand. Could she not pay the basic bills for the cabins? Were things really that bad?
She stopped and put the car into reverse, easing back up the driveway. Eleanor turned around when Lila cut the engine and got out of the car to walk over to her. “I can’t get on with my day until you tell me what’s going on.” She pulled out her phone.
“What are you doing?” Eleanor asked.
“I’m texting Theo to let him know that I’m going to be a little late.”
“Please don’t,” Eleanor said, nearly frantic. “I need the plumbing fixed right now.” She seemed completely panicked, the hand holding the mail trembling.
“We’re going inside and you’re going to tell me what’s happening.” Lila marched ahead of her while Eleanor stood still, as if her worry was causing her legs to stop working. Lila turned around. “You’d better come with me if you want me to get to the coffee shop so Theo can fix your pipes. I’m not leaving until I know you’re okay.”
With a resigned sigh, Eleanor followed her to the cabin.
When they got inside, Lila unwound her scarf and sat down on the sofa. Eleanor hung her coat on the hook by the door and joined her, tears filling her eyes. “I’m behind on my bills…” Her fingers shook when she rubbed her face, pressing down as if she could wipe the worry right off it.
“Is that what you had in your hand just now? An overdue bill?”
She nodded. “It’s the third notice… I’ve paid the minimums to keep the electric, gas and water on, but I don’t know how long I can continue.” She shook her hands in the air. “But it’s not your concern. This is your vacation. You need to be enjoying yourself instead of pressing an old woman to tell you about her aging resort issues.”
“Okay, look, don’t panic. Let me think about this for a little while. We’ll figure something out.”
“Oh, my dear, it’s too far gone. Thank you for trying, though.”
“Never say never.” And right then, she realized that she had a friend who needed her.
Theo was busy making a latte when she arrived, still thinking about Eleanor and her situation. When their eyes met, her stomach did somersaults and she couldn’t wait for him to finish with the customer so she could talk to him. She’d had such a wonderful time last night that she’d slept like a baby, barely even noticing the emptiness of the cabin. She’d gotten up, had a cup of coffee and some eggs, and she’d even spent a little extra time on her hair and makeup this morning.
“Hey,” he said, when she’d finished washing her hands in the kitchen. She smiled as she approached him, fumbling while trying to tie the apron behind her back. Theo turned her around and finished the bow. “So what happened with Eleanor?” He wiped down the espresso machine and tossed the rag into a ba
sket on the back counter, before giving her his full attention, his lips gently turning upward as he looked at her.
“She’s struggling.”
“Oh?” Theo offered her one of his lattes with the caramel drizzle on top.
“Thank you.” She took the mug between both hands, letting it warm her as she breathed in the nutty, sweet scent of it. “She doesn’t want to sell but she admitted to me that she’s late on her bills.”
Theo sat back on the barista stool and sipped his coffee—a mug of black dark roast with no frills—looking thoughtful. “It needs a lot of work,” he said, thoughts still flashing behind his eyes.
“I know,” she said, shaking her head. “Every cabin needs exterior and probably interior paint. The main house needs a complete remodel. All the appliances and lighting could be updated, the grounds need to be manicured, and the gravel drives should be paved and marked. And that’s just on the surface. Look at the plumbing. I wonder how long it’s been since she’s had an inspection of the structures.”
“Yeah…” he said, before taking a drink from his mug.
She grinned, trying to lighten the heaviness she’d created. “I wish I could give her the money. Got a job for me that will make me rich? We could overhaul the coffee shop, buy a franchise or something.”
His expression turned to stone.
“I just thought it would be nice to be able to pay for repairs on Fireside Cabins for Eleanor,” Lila replied, thrown by his reaction. “If I had the cash, I would. What it would be like to have all that money…” She’d completely redo Fireside Cabins, buy her friends whatever they needed, get herself a little house outside of Nashville somewhere, and maybe a new car since hers had been cutting out on her.
He laughed incredulously. “Look around.” He waved his arm through the air and then settled back on his stool, taking another drink from his coffee, looking frustrated.
She wondered at his reaction. Was he insecure with his own level of income? He shouldn’t worry about that, though. She hardly made bundles of money herself, even when tips were good. “I don’t really want a job,” she said, drawing his attention to her once more. “I like the coffee shop the way it is. And I like you just the way you are.”