Christmas and Cleats

by Solly, Clare

  Robert started to pull Dottie into the sea of people. She looked back at Joe who just grinned happily, and he mouthed, “Go.”

  Reflecting his grin, Dottie was enveloped by the party.

  There were eighty people who paid in advance. More than expected showed up at the door. They maxed the museum’s capacity and one hundred and ten people were in attendance. Dottie just couldn’t turn anyone away. And the fire chief, who was in attendance, said he would keep a watchful eye and granted the overcapacity acceptable on such an occasion as this. It was very tightly packed, about thirty minutes into the evening. Music dropped out leaving only voices talking loudly to be heard in their small groups over the rest of the room. Through the chatter, a booming voice came over the microphone.

  “Ladies and Gentlemen,” Hetty said looking resplendent up on the bandstand. “Thank you all so very much for coming this evening. I would like to say a few things and then I will let you get back to enjoying the evening.

  “First, a huge thank you to Frankincense and Myrrh Hardware. Frank and Murray decided this year to combine their decorating expertise and tackled this place instead of their own homes with the help of my husband Don.” Applause broke out over the room. “Catering tonight is from my own personal favorite, The Queen’s Kitchen,” a whistle was heard over the clapping. “And the beverages are sponsored by Bert from The Brick Bar in East Haddam. Thanks, Bert!” Louder clapping and another whistle from another direction.

  “I would also like to invite all of you to tour the museum, there are two brand new exhibits upstairs. One featuring our fantastic high school that has two hundred years of yearbooks,” applause followed Hetty’s announcement. “As well as an exhibit featuring yours truly. You can see my embarrassing rise to stardom.” Applause and whistling made Hetty blush just the tiniest bit before she continued. “And now, I’d like to bring up the woman of the hour, the one who keeps this place alive, Dottie Henry!” Loud applause erupted while Dottie made her way to the stage. The sea of people parted to allow her through. She stepped up on stage with the help of the trumpet player.

  “Now Dottie,” Hetty looked at her, but talked to the entire room. “I hear that people can rent out this space for events?”

  Taking her cue, Dottie haltingly replied as if she was reading a script. “Why yes, Hetty. For a donation to the museum, you too could have an event just like this! And if you’re thinking about having your corporate meeting, dinner, birthday party, or wedding here, you should talk to me soon, because we are booking up for this year fast!”

  “Wow! I’ll make sure to talk to you later Dottie,” Hetty said still talking to the room but seeming to talk to just Dottie.

  Nodding to Hetty, Dottie acknowledged the end of the conversation and started to walk off the stage. “Wait! Dottie, not so fast. There is a special visitor here tonight who came a little early just to see you!”

  Looking around the crowd to see if there was someone she might recognize as the “special visitor,” Dottie said, “Who—”

  Just then a loud, “Ho! Ho! Ho!” was heard coming from the front hall. The entire room turned to see Santa with his sack over his shoulder. “Hello everyone, Merry Christmas!” he shouted as he walked into the room. Don had dressed up as Santa and looked very picturesque. He made his way up to the stage and set his sack down. It was full, and he opened it up. Hetty held the microphone up for him as he dug into the bag.

  “Dottie, I hear you’ve been a very good girl this year. And I wanted to let the whole town know,” he pulled out a big piece of foam board that was blank, “that between this event and the horseshoe tournament you’ve made over eighteen thousand dollars in donations.” He flipped over the cardboard to reveal it was a giant check for $18, 275 that was made out to The East Haddam Historical Society.

  Raucous applause rang through the crowd. Dottie couldn’t believe it. She was handed the check.

  “And that’s not all,” Santa continued. “Where is Joe Thomas?” A murmur went through the crowd as they all turned and looked to see if he was anywhere in the room. “Joe Thomas,” Santa yelled loudly.

  “Here!” Joe shouted as he walked back in from the front hall as he was hanging up his cell phone.

  “Ah good.” Santa dug into his bag one more time and pulled out two golden horseshoes. “To the winning team of the first annual horseshoe tournament, I award Dottie Henry and Joe Thomas the coveted Golden horseshoes!” Santa handed the horseshoes over as flashes erupted both from the high schoolers who were photographing and from members of the crowd taking photos with their cell phones. Joe wrapped his arm around Dottie’s waist, and she held her horseshoe at her side as she looked out. He held his up. They were the same image as the photo he had found only weeks earlier.

  “Now,” Hetty continued, “Eat, drink, dance, explore the museum, and feel free to empty your pockets into the blue donation buckets around the historical society tonight. Santa will also be giving out presents for donations in the front room where the bar and coat check are located for the next half hour, while they last!”

  Applause erupted. Hetty grabbed Dottie by the arm and pulled her into a hug while she handed the microphone back to the band and cued them to start playing again. “Congratulations honey!”

  “Thanks, Hetty. I truly couldn’t have done it without you!”

  “That’s for sure. You couldn’t survive without me,” she said pulling back and winking at her friend. “I’m going to go set up Don, I mean, Santa to get more donations! And,” Hetty said looking over Dottie’s shoulder, “By the look in that man’s eyes, it seems like you have something to do, too,” she said. Dottie looked back to see Joe there, grinning and rubbing his neck. Something was up, and she needed to continue the conversation she was having with him earlier in the evening as the ball started.

  Hetty moved by Dottie, and she couldn’t be sure, but Dottie thought she saw Hetty mouth “good luck” to Joe as she walked away.

  Turning to Joe, Dottie squinted at him, “That’s right! We need to finish our conversation from before.”

  “We do,” he nodded in agreement, “And I have other things I should probably say as well,” Joe smiled knowingly.

  “What do you—”

  “We should probably get off of the stage and go somewhere a little quieter,” he looked around pointedly directing her attention to at least fifty pairs of eyes looking at them eager with wonder.

  Smiling uncontrollably, Dottie took Joe’s hand and held her golden horseshoe in the other. Moonfaced was the perfect way to describe Dottie at the moment. In fact, if she squinted, she could imagine this very scene taking place almost twenty years earlier. When it should have. In this moment she knew that everything was right. Her mood was blissful.

  But what could he have to tell her?

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Joe led Dottie around the museum twice without finding a quiet place to talk. The place was packed wall-to-wall with people. Finally, he settled for the maintenance closet on the first floor under the stairs. Joe looked around them to make sure no one was watching and wouldn’t think they were up to no good. With no one paying them any attention, Joe slipped through the door, pulling Dottie with him.

  “Get the door!” he shouted in a whisper.

  “Turn on the light first!” Dottie shout whispered back.

  “Not until the door is closed. I don’t want to be interrupted.”

  “Fine,” she said pulling the door closed.

  He then turned on the light. They reached for each other’s hands but clanked their prize horseshoes instead. They laughed and he gently took her horseshoe and set both of theirs on a shelf. Joe reached out and clasped Dottie’s now free hands in his. He sighed happily but heavily.

  “So…” he started.

  “So…” she repeated.

  “I’m… moving,” he shrugged the reveal.

  “So, it seems,” she smiled, then quickly dropped it. “Are you happy about this trade, or this move, or new contrac
t, or whatever?” she asked then quickly qualified, “I just don’t know a ton about baseball,” she scrunched her nose in admission.

  “There will be plenty of time to teach you,” he smiled at her honesty. “And… I hope you’ll come to see games,” he timidly asked.

  “Of course!” she said loudly, and he put a finger over his mouth and shushed her.

  “They’ll hear you if you’re that loud,” he admonished.

  “Everyone is having such a great time, no one will hear us,” she dispelled.

  As if on cue, three pairs of shoes thunk thunk thunked overhead, and a loud laugh rang through the museum. Joe and Dottie put their heads closer and shared a laugh. They both felt like kids again hiding in this closet and sharing secrets.

  “I guess you’re right,” he said looking up. Then looking back at her he said, “Yes, I am very happy with the choice to move closer to... “

  “Home?” she finished for him.

  “Yeah, I guess so,” he laughed and rubbed his neck.

  “Joe, did you...did you do this… for me? Did you change teams for… us?” She tried not to make her gulp too obvious when she said the last word. It was delightful to think that they might finally have a chance, but it was also overwhelming. Almost twenty years of repressed feelings and more years than that of hopes and dreams. Both of them had imagined finding not the perfect love but instead the right fit in love. And to find it finally. And it was literally next door. It seemed too easy. For both of them.

  She hoped he would be honest.

  He gulped, “Would it scare you away if I said it was for you?” he asked then quickly added, “Mostly.”

  “Mostly?”

  “Well, Boston has a good team. It’s no secret that my pitchers in Los Angeles aren’t fond of me. That club has changed. Plus, one of the pitchers I trained recently that has won a lot of games is now in Boston. So, it looks like it might be a better fit. I’m actually inspired to play again for the first time in months, maybe years. I feel like a kid waiting for the season to start, instead of a guy with knees that only have a few years left hoping they’ll stay good until I can get retirement plans figured out,” he confessed. “I even talked to my coach; he’s been like a father to me. I’ve been talking to him the entire time I’ve been here, because, well, he’s the one who said I needed to come back here. To deal with my past. I thought it was because of my parents’ house here. But it was more than that.”

  “Ah…” understanding only parts of what he said. “Well, that’s...good.” Her face screwed up.

  “Yes, well, we both agree that it’s good for me. But… is it good for… you?” he tried not to throw all of his hope next to the heart he was now wearing bravely on his sleeve. But he couldn’t help it. He had loved this woman for so long. And the chance of spending every possible moment with her for the next few decades was worth sacrificing his pride at this moment. He hadn’t taken the chance years ago, but he would now.

  “I mean… I guess so…” Dottie was hesitant. “I mean, it will be nice to see you play in person. And if you’re in Boston and I stay here, you’ll be closer, and we can hang out—”

  “Dottie, I don’t mean to be this forward, but at this point I’m going to just put it all there. Risk it all. Dottie, I am in love with you and I will do whatever it takes to be with you. Even if that means I’ll coach East Haddam High School baseball, I hear they’re looking for a coach. I’d give up my pro ball career, if you want me to.”

  She cocked her head. He took it as her needing more convincing, so he continued.

  “We can take it as slow or as fast as you need. I’m willing to commute from here, or even buy you a place in Boston even if you only stay there once a month,” he let go of her hands and paced the two feet of the storage space like a caged tiger. “I don’t know how to say this Dottie,” he turned and stood two inches from her and looked her in the eye, “I want you. I don’t want your friendship or your distant caring. I want you in my life. Tell me you don’t want me, and I’ll walk away and will someday forgive myself for the mistakes I made in not telling you sooner. In not fighting for you earlier in our lives. I’ve waited twenty years, Dottie. I’d gladly wait double that if there was even a glimmer of hope of being with you.” His eyes pleaded for her to rescue him.

  Slowly and gently, she placed her hands on the sides of his face. She studied his eyes and saw all the pain and fear and suffering. There was a tiny part of her in this moment that loved that she had the power to erase all of it. To make his world more peaceful, while doing the same for herself.

  “I don’t know what to say, Joe.” He tried to look away, but she wouldn’t let him. “Let me finish, please.” He looked back, a little more afraid, but trying to cover it and keep himself calm inside. “I don’t know what to say that could equal such a beautiful sentiment. Yes, Joe. I love you too. I’m over the moon that you signed a contract with Boston. As for real estate, yes to any and all of it. We can figure—”

  As if on cue, Joe’s phone rang.

  “It’s Kelly,” he puzzled and held up the phone for Dottie to see, “I thought she was here at the party,” he looked around as if he could see through the walls of the closet.

  “Well answer it,” Dottie said.

  He nodded, and hit the button then said into the phone, “Hey Kelly!” while tapping the button for speaker and lowering the volume so they both could hear the conversation, but it wouldn’t be audible outside their hiding spot.

  “Hi,” she replied. “I’ve got great news!”

  “Great,” he feigned. “Um, I’m here with Dottie and you’re on speaker.”

  “Oh, hey Dottie,” she plowed full speed ahead, “So, Joe. I know that its fast, but we actually got three offers on your house today. One a little low for a family of five. One for your asking price but they want to do a full inspection. And one all-cash offer to take the place as is.”

  Joe’s eyes darted to Dottie who was mouthing “Wow!”

  “How low was the family,” Joe asked.

  “About ten thousand under your asking.”

  “Hmmm…” Joe said, still trying to get a clue from Dottie who shrugged. “Do you have a good feeling on any of them in particular?” Joe asked Kelly.

  “Well, I’m not supposed to have an opinion. But all cash is always a great way to go for everyone involved. It’s also a friend of yours.”

  “A friend?” Joe replied.

  “Yeah, it’s the guy from the horseshoe tournament. He was saying he loves the air up here and wants to make the barn into a concert venue and make one of the bedrooms outfitted to be a recording studio.”

  “Hmmm… Kelly, how long do I have to think about it?”

  “A few days. Have fun and let me know. I just wanted you to know the good news.”

  “Great! Thanks,” Joe then hung up the phone.

  “That’s amazing!” Dottie threw her arms around Joe’s neck. He remained stiff. “What?” she backed up. “What’s wrong? Do you not want to sell?”

  “Well,” Joe asked, if I sell how does that effect you?”

  “I mean, you’re going to want a place in Boston, and the museum could thrive if there was a concert venue next door. Oooh! We could team up and do big events together,” Dottie got excited. Then her excitement dropped, “Or is it that you want to stay in your parent’s house? You know Joe, we could get our own place and make our own family and memories.”

  “You wouldn’t… mind?”

  “Which part?”

  “Any. All?”

  “Oh, Joe,” Dottie laughed. “The sale could only help the museum. And we have plenty of time to figure out where we are going to live for the rest of our lives. There is the spare bedroom here in the museum, if you need it for the time being!”

  “Well then... If you’re sure....”

  “Joe, my love. If we figured out how to keep the museum open for at least another year, we can figure out anything,” she reassured him.

  “Well, t
hen I’ll call her back.” Joe started to redial her number but was preempted by a video chat request from Heather. “Why would Heather be calling?” Joe puzzled to himself.

  “Maybe to see how the tournament went?” Dottie suggested.

  Joe answered, “Hey, Heather,” flatly. “Why are you… calling?”

  “Hey Joe! Oh, is that Dottie there with you too? Hey Dee! How are you?”

  “Fine, fine,” Dottie moved in close to Joe so they both could see and be seen via his small phone screen.

  “Aren’t you two a cute picture!” Heather exclaimed, and Dottie reacted and moved away quickly, but Joe wrapped his hand around her waist and pulled her back. “Oh honey, don’t worry! I already know about that!”

  “Heather, did someone post it on social media?” Joe asked.

  “Well if they did, I didn’t see it,” Heather reported directly. “No, you idiot. Anyone looking at you two can see you are head over heels in love and if they talked to either of you for more than five minutes, you can see how perfect you are for each other,” she said plainly with no ill will. “Do both of you forget I lived in a house with people for weeks and had to figure them out on a regular basis! Oooh, the stuff I could tell you—!”

  “Well, thank you Heather. Maybe some other time,” Joe strongly suggested. “So, what were you calling for?”

  “Oh! I hear that Kevin Gray wants to buy your house. He has tons of money and needs a tax shelter, so don’t be afraid to play hardball with him,” she winked at them both. “Especially now that the property value in that neighborhood has gone up.”

  “Gone up? What do you mean,” Dottie asked?

  “Didn’t anyone tell you?” Heather asked. “I thought for sure those two gossips would have told everyone by now.”

  “What are you talking about?” Joe interjected.

  “Well, I guess I’ve spilled my own beans!” Heather laughed at her own joke. Seeing that neither Joe nor Dottie joined in she stopped. “Well, Dottie, I know you didn’t want Joe’s money to help the museum, but I thought that a mysterious benefactor to donate a new roof would be helpful. Joe told me all about how he fell through it. Then when you said you would help keep our cover by letting me mention that the wedding would be at your museum, I thought it would be a nice gesture on my behalf to make sure you had a good roof. Plus, I couldn’t have the old shabby one in my social media posts,” she winked as she meant the last part sarcastically.