Forever Christmas

by Christine Lynxwiler

  Garrett raises his hand. “Three hundred.” Does he think this grand gesture—spending money he doesn’t have—is going to make me forget that he blows hot and then cold?

  I whip out my cell phone and quickly type in a text message – Please stop. – and send it to Garrett.

  I watch him and begin to think that either his phone is set to vibrate and he doesn’t notice it above the commotion. Or he’s going to ignore it, in light of the tense bidding war. The bid is up to four fifty by the time I see him pull his phone from his belt and read the screen.

  “Five hundred,” Shawn says.

  The fascinated crowd swivel their heads to look at Garrett. He slips his phone back in his pocket and folds his arms across his chest, his face stony.

  Albert looks flustered for a second, but quickly recovers. “Five hundred dollars, going once, going twice, SOLD to the highest bidder.”

  The crowd breaks into applause and Albert motions to me. I wiggle my fingers in an embarrassed wave.

  A few minutes later, when it’s over, I step past Mark and Ami to speak to Garrett, but he’s gone. I look around, but he’s nowhere. I guess I hurt his feelings, but he should be thanking me for saving his money. I’d have promised him sandwiches later, but I only had time for a very short message.

  “Kristianna?” I spin around to see Shawn smiling at me. He holds up my basket. “Ready to eat?”

  I’m bemused and uncertain of how to handle this. By putting the basket together, technically I did agree to eat with him. But isn’t five hundred dollars a steep price to pay for a date?

  Still he did pay it. “Sure. There are picnic tables set up under the pavilion.”

  “I know a better place.” He guides me to his tiny sports car.

  “Your car?”

  He lowers his eyebrows. “Very funny. We’re going to ride in the car to get there, okay?”

  “Of course. I knew that.” I just wasn’t thinking. Actually I was thinking. But about Garrett bidding so high on my lunch basket, too. And him leaving so quickly.

  Shawn puts the food in the minuscule trunk and I fold myself into the passenger seat. When we take the paved road on the outskirts of town, I glance over at him. “We going to picnic at Crystal Lake or are you just taking me out to show me where Summer Valley Outdoors is going to be when y’all finish bullying the whole town into going along with your plan?”

  He clears his throat. “Actually, you’ll officially find out next week at the town meeting, but my job is done.”

  My stomach rolls. “You got a thousand signatures?”

  He pulls into the lake picnic area and kills the engine. “Yes, just yesterday. But I wanted to tell you before you found out from someone else.” He opens his door.

  “Bad news is bad news no matter who the bearer is.” I glance over at the huge empty building next to the lake. It’s a waste, I admit. But the cost is too high. “But I guess I’d rather hear it from you than from Uncle Gus.” And I’m clinging to the fact that it took them this long to get a thousand signatures. How long will it take them to win the majority vote?

  “That’s what I was hoping. Sorry if I forced you into eating with me.” He comes around, opens my door, and offers his hand.

  I put my hand in his and let him help me climb out of the tiny car. “You didn’t force me into anything. Except maybe into the car.”

  He pats the shiny red fiberglass. “It’s more for speed than comfort, I admit.”

  I nod. “Guess I’m all about comfort.”

  He retrieves the basket from the trunk. “Here’s one comfort I’d hate to do without. I’m starving.”

  “I feel bad, though, that you spent so much on lunch.” I kind of laugh and nod out toward Crystal Lake, spotted with boats. “Entering the festival bass fishing tournament would have cost a tenth as much and probably been a much better investment.”

  “You haven’t seen me fish, obviously.” He gives me a wry grin. “Okay, I admit wasn’t planning on dropping five hundred dollars today. I guess I’m a little competitive.”

  That’s an understatement. “I think both of you must be.”

  His eyebrows draw together. “Speaking of both of us, I got the impression you and Garrett were just friends. Was I wrong?”

  “No.” I think back to that first night at the bowling alley when the four of us were bowling and Shawn came in. Garrett hadn’t jumped in to stop me from showing Shawn around town. So why waste his life’s savings on a lunch basket to keep us from eating together? “We’re friends.”

  I take the tablecloth from the basket and spread it on the table closest to Crystal Lake. I purposely put my back to the Benning building. I want to forget everything today. “We’re lucky to have such a beautiful day in late March.”

  He nods, accepting my obvious subject change graciously. “I love winter, but I’m always glad to see spring.” He places the sandwiches on the table.

  I pour a glass of lemonade for him and one for me. “Me, too. Spring is a season full of promise.”

  “Every season is full of promise in Jingle Bells,” Shawn says.

  I set the potato salad on the table and look at him openmouthed. “That sounds like something straight off a postcard. This from a man who wants to change the name of the town?”

  He shrugs. “The name is nice, but this town will always be special.”

  I grin. “I’m glad you like it. I do, too.”

  “Just one more thing we have in common.”

  I look over at his deep blue eyes and the movie star cleft in his chin. Why doesn’t being with him make my heart race? “One more thing?”

  “Well, this is probably stretching it, but your parents are lawyers and so am I.”

  “And, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, I have a deep and abiding distrust for lawyers,” I say teasingly. “We do have a lot in common.”

  He smiles. “Especially since I actually have a license to practice law now.”

  “You’re— OH, you passed the bar. Congratulations. The world could probably use more lawyers like you.” I realize as I say it that I’m getting over my aversion to lawyers. No two are alike. Anymore than every artist is the same. I offer him a high five.

  He slaps my palm. “I was hoping for a hug, but I guess a high five is better than a handshake.”

  Heat flares up my cheeks. “Shawn, as crazy as it may seem, I’ve grown kind of used to having you around.”

  He rolls his eyes. “Oh boy. Here it comes. The great brush-off.”

  I feel awful. I wish I’d never even put a basket together. Although I guess this conversation is inevitable. “I think if you stay in town, we’ll probably end up friends.” I busy myself filling our plates.

  “And if I move back to Little Rock, does that mean we might be more than friends?”

  “You are a lawyer, aren’t you?” I’m stalling.

  “Just answer the question.” He grins. But I can tell he’s really asking me.

  I shake my head. “I’m sorry. Friendship is all I have to offer, Shawn.”

  “I may have won the auction, but he won in the long run, didn’t he?”

  I don’t pretend not to know who he’s talking about. But his question is ridiculous. Things couldn’t be any more unsettled between Garrett and me. “No. It’s not Garrett—”

  “Don’t kid yourself, Kristianna. When he’s around, your whole face lights up. I noticed it the first time I saw y’all together, at the bowling alley, but I thought that if neither of you realized it yet, maybe I still had a chance.”

  I want to deny it but even more I want to ask him if he thought Garrett’s face lit up when he saw me, too, or if it seemed one-sided. But I can’t ask that.

  “He obviously feels the same about you.” Shawn obligingly answers my unasked question.

  “I think you’re mistaken, but it’s not worth arguing about. Would you say the blessing for the food?”

  He proves what a great guy he is by accepting my subject change once again and thanking
God for the five hundred dollar meal we’re about to eat.

  After we finish eating, he looks over at me. “Worth every penny. It was delicious.”

  “Shawn. . .”

  “What?”

  I consider my words. They’re a long time coming and they need to be just right. “I owe you a big apology for how I’ve treated you since you came to Jingle Bells. I understand about your job, but when I put that together with your profession, I just let it get to me. But you’re all right in my book.”

  “Thanks, Kristianna. I have to admit you did kind of give me a complex for a while.” He shrugs. “Who knows? Maybe the fact that you couldn’t stand me was partly why I was so determined to get you to go out with me.”

  I laugh. “Yeah, I bet rejection’s a new experience for you.”

  A sheepish grin spreads across his face. “I don’t like to lose.”

  I toss our trash in the can nearby. “That’s a trait my parents value highly. Why don’t you call and set up an appointment to interview with them if you’re still interested in a position with their firm?” I smile over at him. “Just between us, I think it would do them good to work with a Christian every day.”

  He places the leftovers in the basket. “Think they’d want me even if their daughter didn’t?”

  “I can’t guarantee anything, but I know they’d be blessed to get you. And I’ll be glad to be a reference for you.” I half-snort. “For what it’s worth. You might do better without my referral as far as my mother’s concerned.”

  “Thanks. I think I’ll take my chances with the referral if you’re willing.” Which proves he doesn’t come close to understanding my relationship with my parents, but that’s okay.

  “No problem.”

  We walk slowly back to the car without speaking. I have a feeling he’s thinking about job possibilities. To my embarrassment, I’m replaying his earlier words concerning Garrett and me. As the gentle breeze from the lake flits across my face, my heart does a dance of its own.

  ~~~~~

  “So you really haven’t talked to Garrett since the auction?” Ami murmurs to me, as we lace up our bowling shoes.

  I shake my head. “I’ve called his phone several times but it always goes straight to voice mail. I even sent him text messages saying we need to talk. But he ignored them, too.”

  “You saw him at church, didn’t you? I noticed him sitting on the opposite end of your pew.”

  I grimace. “Yeah, I noticed that, too, but he slipped in at the last second and when it was over he was out the door before I could get to him.” It’s not like our church has a huge attendance. You have to really want to steer clear of someone not to run into them there.

  “Maybe you’ll get to the bottom of this tonight. It’s almost like he’s avoiding you.”

  I glance at the door just as Lila walks in, clutching her bowling bag, her red hair caught up in a no-nonsense ponytail. “Don’t look now, but it’s exactly like he’s avoiding me.”

  Ami, of course, looks immediately. “Oh no. What is he thinking?”

  “That our agreement is if we can’t be here we’ll make sure a replacement bowler shows up?”

  Lila approaches us before Ami can respond. “Hi. Garrett asked me to fill in for him. Okay?”

  I bristle like a tough chick whose turf has just been invaded. Maybe I should be popping my gum and slapping my fist in my palm. In my mind I flip up my collar. “Fine by me.”

  Ami gives me a puzzled look. “Sure, Lila. Glad you came.”

  “Garrett sick?” I ask. Besides sick of me?

  She shakes her head. “Sore maybe. He helped me move yesterday.”

  So while I’ve been text messaging and calling, he’s been manhandling Lila’s furniture. I feel so much better knowing he hasn’t been sitting home moping. Not.

  “Move?” Ami pipes up. “Move where?”

  “To Jingle Bells.” Lila flips her ponytail over her shoulder and unzips her bowling bag. “Soon to be Summer Valley.”

  Listen here, chickie, we’re going to have to take this outside if you’re not careful. “The election’s not for a few weeks. We won’t know the future town name until then,” I say through tight lips.

  “Oh, sorry.” She chuckles. “I keep forgetting that there are people against it.”

  I try to smile. “Last I heard, at least half the town is against it. Hopefully more.”

  “Yes, well. I guess we can bowl together without agreeing on it.”

  I guess.

  “So where exactly in Jingle Bells are you living, Lila?” Ami asks politely.

  For the next few minutes, we listen to her rave about the great deal she got on a house because the father lost his job and the family had to move.

  Mark comes in just as she finishes talking and kisses Ami. “Sorry I was late. We got a new account right before closing time. Hey, Kristianna.” Puzzlement flashes across his face when he sees his co-worker. “Lila.”

  “Lila’s here to take Garrett’s place,” Ami says, her arm still hooked in her husband’s.

  “Oh, is he sick?”

  “No, just busy, I guess,” Lila answers.

  “And sore from helping Lila move,” I offer. “Thanks to the buyer’s market around here, she’s our newest Jingle Bells resident.”

  Mark nods. “I knew that.”

  Ami gives him a measured look. I know she’s probably remembering how he’d not told her about Shawn working for Summer Valley.

  Lila turns her back to open her bag.

  Mark shrugs toward us and mouths, “Sorry, I forgot.”

  Ami flashes him an “All is forgiven” smile. We get through the bowling, but when it’s over, none of us mentions the snack bar. On the way home, I call Garrett. But once again, no answer. I hang up without leaving a message. Why add to the ten I’ve already left? If he can’t at least give me a chance to explain about the auction, then maybe he’s not who I thought he was.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  I smooth down my white dress and stare at myself in the mirror. My eyes are huge. Am I ready?

  “Are you ready?”

  I spin around and my dad, looking quite dashing in his black tux, is holding out his arm.

  “My knees are knocking, does that count?”

  “Having cold feet is natural, honey.” He tucks my hand in his and pats it.

  “Especially as many times as you’ve tried this,” Mother says from behind him as she walks by on an usher’s arm and through the double doors.

  “Ignore her,” Dad whispers. “This is your day.”

  Ami, wearing a gorgeous green velvet dress, looks back at me and gives me a thumbs up, then disappears through the same doors Mother did.

  Dad squeezes my arm. “It’s our turn.”

  We rustle up to the doorway, and I look out into the auditorium of our church building. It’s packed to overflowing. Everyone I’ve ever known is here. Gran waves at me from one of the front pews and I resist the urge to run to her.

  The wedding march begins to play, but my heart pounding in my ears drowns out the music. My hands are clammy and my throat closes. I can’t go through with this. Dad guides me down the aisle, and I keep my eyes fixed on my bouquet, mentally forcing myself to take another step. And another.

  We’re halfway and I freeze. I can’t do it.

  “Look up,” Dad whispers.

  And I do.

  There at the front of the church is Garrett, his green eyes twinkling. His smile calms me, as it always does. As it always has. Peace washes over me. I start walking again. Instead of screaming STOP, my heart is hurrying me along. I’m almost there. Garrett holds out his hand. I reach toward him, but my phone rings. My gaze flies to my bouquet. Where is it? Who is it?

  It rings again. I jerk upright and blink. The Dream. As usual, I’m sweating. I grab my phone, no longer ringing, but still lit up, and look at the caller I.D.

  Ami. I’ll call her back. Right now I’m too disoriented to talk.

  Th
e clock on the bedside table says 9:00 a.m. I never sleep this late, even on Saturday. But Sarah offered to fill in for me today, so I didn’t set an alarm. It’s been a week since the auction and I haven’t been sleeping well.

  I pad into the bathroom and dress, the whole time running through the dream in my mind. Would I have gone through with marrying Garrett if Ami hadn’t called? And does it really matter what happens in a dream?

  Maybe not, but I know one thing for sure. I’m not going to let that irritating man ignore me another second. Just as I stomp into the kitchen and grab my picnic basket from the top of the pantry, Ami calls again.

  “Hey.”

  “Hey, what are you doing today?” Her voice still has that newlywed perkiness.

  I consider telling her she ruined my dream earlier. But maybe it was better I woke up before it was over. “Cooking.”

  “What’s wrong with you?”

  I grunt. “Sorry. I’m going to give Garrett what he wanted.”

  “Baseball season year round?”

  “Ha-Ha. Chicken Florentine sandwiches. And all the rest.”

  “Why?”

  “To show him what a big baby he’s being not taking my calls.”

  “Because he thinks you like Shawn.”

  I snort. “If I like Shawn, why does he think I keep calling and messaging him?”

  “So let me get this straight. Garrett’s been ignoring your calls, so you’re making him a meal?”

  “Don’t sound so shocked.” I balance the phone with my shoulder and grab a mixing bowl from the cabinet. “It’s not like I’m proclaiming my undying love or anything. It’s just a nice gesture.”

  “When are you going to do this meaningless nice gesture?”

  Isn’t she quite the comedian for Saturday morning? “Very funny.” I snag the ingredients from the fridge. “Today. If I can find him.”

  “Actually, he and Mark are fishing today.”

  “At Crystal Lake?”

  “Yep.”

  “Perfect. Come over and help me and we’ll surprise them with lunch.” Maybe it’ll be less awkward with Mark and Ami as a buffer.

  Two hours later, she shows up and I give her an exasperated look. “I’m almost done cooking.”