“Itissort of wonderlandish. I’m enjoying this.”
“One year we got blanketed in six inches of snow.”
“Did they have to cancel everything?”
“No. We go on rain or shine. Or sleet and snowflakes? Whatever. We never cancel. Everyone just puts on their snow boots and weathers it. It changed the way everything looked, all coated in ice and snow.”
“I hope it snows.”
“You’d like that?”
“I’d borrow some warmer clothes and march right down every one of these lanes.”
“I’d treat you to hot chocolate.”
“That’s sweet.”
“Tell you what. If it snows, you promise me I can walk you through here.” He stopped and faced her. “Deal?”
“Absolutely.”
“I’m gonna hold your hand and we’re going to have red noses and hot chocolate and mittens with icy fingers.”
“It sounds like the most perfect Christmas I could imagine.”
He walked, imagining with each step what it would be like to be hand-in-gloved-hand with Sheila. He liked the way her delicate hand felt in his. Tiny and soft.
He hadn’t pictured himself walking with anyone in a long time. At least six years.
His job and women, they just didn’t go together, and he wasn’t willing to compromise his dedication to his calling. Firefighting brought him joy. Not just the act of putting out fires, but everything that went along with it.
“Let’s walk over to the professional path.” He air-quoted “professional.”
“I see why you air-quoted the word now. Dentist, lawyer, bondsman, police, doctor, the bank, the pharmacy, and look, the biggest tree in the place. Yours.”
“Not mine, the Chestnut Ridge Fire Department.”
“Well, the way I see it you’re the heart and soul of that operation.”
“That might be the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
“It’s well deserved.” Her tone was sincere. “You should be very proud of what you do.”
“I am.”
“Hey, I see Doris over there. I recognize a few of the others from Orene’s party too.”
“They were all there. No one misses Orene’s parties.”
“I can’t blame them. She’s a natural-born hostess.”
“Will you come back for them occasionally?”
“Her parties?” Sheila’s eyebrows shot up. “I wouldn’t miss them. I just hope I’m invited.”
“You know Orene will invite you.”
“Probably. She did threaten to put my name on my bedroom door since I stay there every time I come to visit Natalie.”
