The girls squeezed together tightly in front of the tree and smiled. Tucker took the pictures as they repositioned to one side of the tree and then behind the canvas sign Natalie had painted.
“Thanks.” She took her phone and swept through them. “Good. Yes. I can’t wait to send these to my office. They won’t believe it.” She bent down and picked up her tote bag. “I’m ready now. You two are sure you don’t need our help?”
Natalie and Amanda both shook their heads. “We’ve got it. Good night. We’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
Just out of earshot of Tucker, Amanda said, “Sheila, Eli and I are going to smoke a turkey tomorrow. I hope you’ll join us. Bring Tucker too if you want. It’s been so fun working together.”
She hated being the fifth wheel. “No. Why don’t y’all two couples have a date night? I’ll do something with Orene.”
“Every night is date night for us. You’re invited. If you change your mind, please come. Bring Orene if you don’t want to invite Tucker.”
“I’ll think about it.” But Sheila knew she wouldn’t go. It was just too awkward being the only one without a significant other. It left her feeling a little lonely, and she’d rather avoid that. She waved to the girls and walked over to Tucker. At least she wasn’t lonely tonight.
They walked over to the snack stand.
“You were holding out on me earlier,” Sheila said. “There were cookies the whole time?”
“I can’t play my whole deck of cards on our first date. It’s a small town. Choices are limited.”
Date?“Was that a date?”
“Wasn’t it?”
“Is this our second one?”
“Of course. Aren’t you keeping count?”
“I may be in over my head.”
“Somehow I doubt that.” The wink was playful, not flirty, and she appreciated that. “I’m glad you’re in town. Online dating is so impersonal that it feels wrong at the holidays.”
“I know! I feel the same way. Plus, it’s weird dating someone new with gift-giving at the holidays and all. I’d just rather not.”
“That’s always interesting. So you’ve done some online dating?”
“It’s the way these days, but I feel like I can date someone for weeks before the true person is revealed. Like there’s this whole dating façade you have to break through.”
“Glad it’s not just me. You’re a breath of fresh air,” he said.
She knew what he meant, and his honesty was refreshing too. She relaxed and let him lead the way to the snack shack.
“Six snickerdoodles,” he told the young woman wearing a Santa hat.
She turned to bag them.
Tucker said, “The mayor’s wife makes these. Her mom used to make them before her. They’re a seasonal tradition around here.”
“Merry Christmas.” The girl handed the wax-paper bag to Tucker, who handed it off to Sheila.
“We don’t need all six of these.” Sheila turned back to the counter. “Could I get an extra bag to split these up?”
“Sure thing.”
“Thanks.” Sheila took only two and gave the rest back to Tucker. “You’ll enjoy these tomorrow morning too.”
The stadium had quieted now that most of the teams had called it quits for the night. They walked toward the wide exit tunnel, but then Tucker tugged her toward the stadium stairs.
“Come on. I want you to see this so you can see the difference once all the decorating is done.” Before she could even consider what could be worth climbing a bunch of bleacher stairs for, he was laughing and shouting, “Race you!”
