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“What? Gross!” Preston’s face twists and turns before his tongue pops out of his mouth.
On the other hand, Everly doesn’t look put out by my forwardness. She lets out a giggle that lights the shadows on her face. “Oh, um. No, actually. It’s just Preston and me these days. The only people we can rely on are each other and my brother and sister. But I don’t have a ton of free time. Thank you for the offer, though.” She drums her fingers across the table, and I wait patiently. “For the record, what exactly would we do on this date? Something… woodsy?”
I’d guess by the way she fidgets in her seat that she’s out of practice too. It’s adorable, and it makes me want her all the more.
I let out a chuckle. “Perhaps, we could throw some axes or cut down a tree. I know this might come as a surprise, but I enjoy the occasional book or two. It’s the truth, and I have two bookshelves at home to prove it.”
She gives me a sheepish smile. An unexpected vision of Everly and her son at my home in the foothills of Findlay plays in my mind. I’ve always been fine on my own, but something about having them with me is undeniably pleasant.
Clank.Preston drops the wooden plank, and the moment is shattered.
Everly’s head turns on a swivel. “Listen, about the art. I’ll pay you back,” she rushes out. “Every cent. It might take a while, but if you can be patient with me, I’ll make sure you’re reimbursed.”
I lean back in the metal chair. “You know, his technique isn’t that bad. Don’t worry about it. I’ve had some cookies. We’ll call it even.”
She balks, clearly unhappy with this arrangement. “No, you deserve to be compensated. It’s a beautiful piece, and I’d hate you to lose out on what’s owed.”
“Then what do you suggest? Because I’m honestly okay if you’d want to forget about this whole thing. We can move on from here. Let me take you two for lunch at one of the food trucks. There are more than a few good options down by my booth.”
Everly puts her head in her hands. “Listen, I feel terrible. I—”
“I could work for you,” Preston pipes up.
We both turn toward him.
Everly’s eyes widen. “What?”
“I mean… I could work for free until my debt is paid off. I’m the one who did it, so I’m the one who should pay the price. You don’t have to worry about it, Mom.”
Everly looks up at me from beneath long, dark lashes and back at Preston. “That’s sweet, honey, but I’m sure he wants to be left alone.”
I like where this kid's head is at, especially since it seems like I won’t be getting a real date with Everly anytime soon. “It’s not a bad idea. I could use a strong man to help me at the shop. But only if it’s okay with your mom.”
She opens and closes her mouth a few times before nodding. “Okay. But if he starts to interfere—”
“I won’t,” Preston says, puffing out his chest confidently. “I’ll be good, promise.”
This seems to put her at ease. “Alright. It’s a deal. I’ll drive him up, and maybe you’ll have time to make another Christmas tree carving by next weekend.”
I generally sell through my inventory in a single weekend and wasn't planning on coming back into town for the next few weeks. But knowing Everly will be here makes me look at the situation differently. I think I’ll be here all of December, and I’m okay with that. I nod. “Sounds good to me.”
I scribble down my address on a piece of paper, adding details such as “take a left at the large boulder—you’ll know it when you see it,” as there aren’t exactly any road signs.
Everly hops up when customers approachJingled. It’s time for me to walk away, but I don’t care. I stay there for what feels like hours, asking her every question under the sun in between her helping customers. I notice how her smile comes so easily as she greets people. I notice the dimple on the corner of her mouth. I notice how every person is made better by their interaction with her. In the end, I know far too much aboutJingled,and I’m completely smitten with its owner.
By the time I head back to my booth, my body is on fire. Heat floods me, and I’m floating on air. I’m obsessed with the idea of Everly coming out to my place. She’s captivating. But it isn’t just her. I’m happy Preston is coming too. He’s a good kid, I can tell. I take a deep breath to steady myself. Can I be falling in love after all this time alone?
Chapter Three Everly
“You’re going to be nice, you’re going to be respectful, and don’t get in his way,” I lecture for the hundredth time. Preston, sitting in the back of the car, groans. “Listen to him when he tells you to do something. Woodworking is dangerous, so—”
“Be careful,” he finishes for me. “I know, mom.”
“I’m just making sure,” I tell him. “I’ll give you two space, but I’ll be right there the whole time.”
The rest of the drive is spent with me listening to Preston’s accounts of what happened on his last day of school and explaining how excited he is to spend a few days with arealwoodworker.
“I told all my friends I’m working over the holidays,” he tells me. “My friends thought it wassocool…”
