“Eli is three. The baby’s almost one. Willa.”
“Willa,” he said. “Pretty name.”
“I think so too. All right, let’s do this.” She flicked off the lamp on the reception desk and turned the deadbolt behind them as they went out onto the landing.
At the bottom of the stairs, before she pushed open the door to the street, she turned and kissed him. Not a long kiss but firm, like she’d been saving it all afternoon.
“Thanks for making time for me,” Mauve said.
“This month, I’ve got nothing but time, and it’s all yours.”
Jason’s cousinMax had organized the Christmas market in the space behind his country store. The idea had come from his desire to assist local artists and small businesses during the holidays. He hadn’t been sure it would be a success, but, given the number of people out this evening, he shouldn’t have worried. Families were everywhere, kids weaving between adults, teenagers in packs, a string quartet in fingerless gloves playing Christmas music. Several food trucks were parked at the edge, wafting delicious smells of grilled meat and fried food. Every type of vendor one could imagine seemed to have a booth. There were jewelry makers, knitted goods, pottery, soaps and food stalls selling roasted nuts and pretzels. A local farm sold their craft cheese, another had a display of handmade ornaments, and another with local honey. In the far corner, Jason spotted the Hayes Maple Syrup booth.
“We’ll have to say hello to whoever’s manning the family booth,” Jason said.
“Perfect. I want to get some syrup for my sister,” Mauve said. “I send some every Christmas.”
Jason took Mauve’s gloved hand as they headed toward the first row of vendors, stopping to look at a table of hand-carved wooden toys.
“These are amazing,” Mauve said.
The man behind the booth smiled. “Thank you kindly. Every one’s made with these two hands.” He held them up for Mauve and Jason to see. There was no doubt that the man did the work himself, given the thickened skin on the thumb and forefinger from gripping tools. “Name’s Robert. I live forty miles north. My family’s been making toys for three generations.”
“Three? Really?” Mauve asked. “That’s something.”
“None of us have gotten rich, but we’ve had a lot of fun,” Robert said.
“My nephew loves trucks, especially fire trucks,” Mauve said.
“I have just the one,” the man said, reaching for one in the corner of his display. “This one took me a while. Had to get the ladder just right.”
“You did a beautiful job,” Jason said as he took hold of the toy.
“We’ll take it,” Mauve said. “What do you have for a baby?”
“How about a set of blocks?” Robert gestured toward a stack of simple blocks with letters carved into the sides.
“That’s perfect,” Mauve said.
As Robert wrapped up the gifts, he said to Jason, “Love your show.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it,” Jason said. “Couldn’t do the show without the fans.”
“I heard you grew up here, and I guess it’s true,” Robert said.
Jason smiled, nodding but feeling slightly embarrassed by the attention. “Just here for the holidays.”
“Well, welcome home,” Robert said.
“I think that may happen a lot today,” Mauve said under her breath as they walked away. “Do you mind?”
“Does it bother you?”
“It doesn’t. I’m proud of you.”
He glanced over at her. She looked gorgeous in a red knit cap, her cheeks pink from the cold. Proud. If only he could take her with him, hold on to her hand forever. Make her proud.
It was not to be. He would be grateful for the time he had.
