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She bites the corner of her lip. “I didn’t actually, sorry. But not because I didn’t want to. More because I thought you were happily married and I didn’t want to ruin anything… I’ve been wasting my wishes on things like, not having to go to my mother’s Christmas party tomorrow.”
I put on my best radio announcer voice. “Ah, the infamous Tiding Christmas extravaganza. The official who’s who in Findlay. Step back baby Jesus, it might be the eve of your birthday, but it’s the Tiding’s party that matters… Gotta love your mom.” I shake my head. “What kind of creation are you showing off at your mother’s party tomorrow?”
“Ha! I’m making a big, old, nothing. You know Mom, my food isn’t fancy enough. She's all about presentation. She won’t take something full of gluten, sprinkles, and Rice Krispies even if it is served on a flaming pop tart. I know it’s a shock, but my desserts aren’t good enough to display. Not when there will be press coverage.” She rolls her eyes.
“That’s too bad.”
“I think I’ll be okay,” she laughs.
“Not too bad for you. It’s too bad for all the people who are going to miss out on some incredible, inspired creations. I’ve done my fair share of Christmas’ with the Tidings and I have to say that it’s pretty vanilla. Don’t you think? I mean where are the ugly Christmas sweaters and white elephant gifts? Where are the Two-bite Grinchy Paws?”
Her eyes widen. “What? How in the world do you know about the Two-bite Grinchy Paws?”
“I may have low-key stalked you on social media for a while after my divorce. You’re harder to find than expected for someone making a living as a food blogger or influencer or whatever it is you are these days. You can’t give up on yourself, you're too good not to have what you want.”
She looks away from me and I see a flash of something on her face that I can’t place. She said she’s having a hard time getting established here. It’d be nice for her mother to be supportive for once.
“I haven’t given up on myself, but I also can’t afford my life. I don't know what to do, to be honest, but I’ll figure something out. Maybe I’ll work at a cafe or open my own food truck. I don’t know. That’s a problem for another day.” She leans away from me, desperate to change the subject, but I’m not ready to move on so quickly.
When I don’t participate in her small talk, we sit in silence. But not the sad kind, the comfortable kind. I don’t know about being broke, but lonely, I understand. All I want is to fix things for her. I want Edel here and happy.
Five minutes pass before I pull her back in toward me and kiss the top of her head. “Hey, I have an idea.”
“Does it involve your candy cane, because I’m in?” She runs a hand between my legs and it makes my mouth water.
“I like where your head’s at,” I growl into her ear. “But I was thinking that I could help get the word out in town about your food blog. That way if you want to open that food truck here in Findlay you’d have immediate customers.”
Her body goes rigid and I take it as a good sign. Edel knows I’m on her side.
“Shawn, I—”
“Don’t worry about it.” I press a finger to her lips. “I can fix this for you. I’m a firefighter, and saving the day is kind of my thing. It’s no problem at all. I could even get the department to commission you to cater desserts at our next event. Even if people don’t think they’ll like your creations, they’ll have no choice but to try them. Then they’ll fall in love with them and with you.” I let out a chuckle at my brilliance.
“They’ll have no choice?” Edel sits up and turns to face me. Her eyes go wide and her mouth isn’t quite curled into a smile the way I would’ve guessed, but I’m undeterred.
“I’ll put in a call today. What’s your food truck going to be called? How about Edel's Eats? No... Hmm… Wait, I know! How about Blue—”
“Shawn!” She snaps my name through her lips and I stare at her.
“What?” My brows furrow in total confusion.
“No. None of it. I don’t want your help. Why is it that everyone in my life seems to think I’m incapable of doing anything on my own? I’m an adult and I’ve done okay this far, even if it isn’t by Findlay standards.”
“Oh, I…” I start. “So, just get the word out amongst the guys at the station then?”
Her eyes cut into mine and I know enough to stop talking. But before I can figure out where I went wrong, the fluorescent, overhead lights buzz to life. They are white and blinding. Thechoo-choosound of the toy train cascading around the base of the Christmas tree comes cascading toward us. I sit up with a laugh and Edel scrambles to her feet.
“The power’s back. The doors will open now and everyone outside can see in. We need to get out of here.” There’s an undeniable tension in her voice.
“Right.” I get up.
But as quickly as I’m moving, Edel is already dressed. Whatever moment we were having. Whatever solutions were about to present themselves are completely gone. The delirious, Christmas magic that was in her eyes has vanished. It’s replaced by tight lines and pinched wrinkles that I can’t understand.
“Okay, so we’ll go.” I can’t hold back my smile as I pull my shirt over my head.
“No Shawn, I’m going to go and you’re going to go, but there isn’t awehere. I’ve missed you. And this night with you was so incredible, but I have some things to figure out.” Her words are clipped and there's a sadness to them that I can’t place.
I take a step toward her, adrenaline propelling me forward. I put a hand on her forearm and turn her toward me. “No. No way. I won’t let you do this. We were always going to end up as us. Always. You might need time or space to get there and that’s fine. But I know what’s right when I see it. There isn’t anyone else for me. It’s you. So let me help you get things established here, in Findlay. We can build a life together.”
