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She’s been telling me all about her family, the town, and pretty much anything that comes to mind for the last few hours. She’s spunky, sassy, and quite the gossip. She’s also my first friend here in town. I’d say Walker is my first friend, but I have a feeling he’s going to be so much more.
My mind wanders to when he held my ice-cold hands in his and pressed the sweetest kiss to my forehead. I hardly know the man, but he seems like the type who is formal, maybe even a little bit rigid. But I felt the warmth of his deep blue eyes all the way through. I’ll admit, certain places warmed up more than others at his touch…
“So, Walker, huh?”
“W-what?” I stutter out, my cheeks heating up at the mention of his name.
“Walker, dear. He’s quite the catch, don’t you think? So strong and handsome. And a doctor to boot!”
I can’t suppress my grin at how unsubtle Mable is. “He certainly is intriguing,” I agree. He really is. I can’t explain it, but I feel like my new purpose in life is to get him to loosen up a bit.
“Intriguing? Child, the man is fine, and he’s got eyes for you.”
I nearly choke on the last sip of my hot chocolate as I sputter out a laugh. “I don’t know about that last part, but I won’t argue that he’s nice to look at.”
Now it’s Mabel’s turn to laugh. “A painting is nice to look at. Walker Evans is holy hotness personified.”
My mouth drops open at her words. I’m unable to form a response, but luckily, I don’t have to.
“Are you trying to set Walker up again?” Mindy, our waitress asks. I bristle at the mention of Walker being set up with anyone.
Mine.
The thought grabs hold of me – mind, body, and spirit. I’ve never had a reaction to anyone like this before. I’ve never had a reaction like this, period. Never felt something with my whole being before. Never knew it to be true in every cell, every breath, every beat of my heart.
“I think Indie here will be my last attempt. Just look at the jealousy written all over her face,” Mabel says with a knowing grin.
I clear my throat and stare down at my napkin, not sure what to do with this kind of attention.
"So I see," Mindy says. I can hear the amusement in her voice. "Good for you, hon. He needs someone to shake him up a bit." I finally lift my head up to look at Mindy. She winks at me, letting me know she’s no threat. “I hear you’ll be working here soon.”
“Yeah, my first shift is Monday. I’ve never done the waitressing thing before, but I’m a quick learner.”
“You’ll be great.” Mindy pats me on the shoulder before moving on to her next table.
“We better get you back to Walker for that lunch date,” Mable says, gathering up her stuff.
“It’s barely ten in the morning! We saw Walker only two hours ago.”
“I bet he would agree that’s two hours too long.” I open my mouth to protest, but Mable cuts me off. “And I’m betting you’re feeling the same way about him.”
There’s no use arguing with the woman, especially with the knowing look she’s directing at me in full force. My face turns red for what feels like the tenth time since meeting Mable. She insists on paying for our breakfast, and I’m in no position to fight her on it. We chatted about damn near everything, so she knows how tight my budget is for the time being. Maybe I should be warier of telling a near stranger my life story, especially one so prone to gossip, but I trust her. I trust everyone I've met in Christmas so far.
My dad would tell me I'm being naïve and unrealistic. He'd try to convince me the world is a harsh place full of bitter, selfish people, and I shouldn't trust anyone except myself. That might be true in his world, but not in mine. I choose to see the good and contribute in any way possible. If that makes me naïve, so be it. Better than turning into my father.
Mable walks with me back to Christmas Medical, her arm in mine as she chatters away. “Here we are,” she says once we’re standing in front of the door. “Now go get your man.” She winks and squeezes my arm before continuing on her way.
I take a deep breath and close my eyes, breathing in the crisp, cool winter air. I allow myself to feel,reallyfeel the energy around me. It might sound dumb to people, but I truly believe you can sense when the universe is about to reveal something big. And right now? Right now I feel like everything is about to change.
“What are you doing standing out here, pixie?” Walker’s rich, velvety voice pours over me and fills me up.
"Just listening to the universe," I tell him with a smile on my face and my eyes still closed. I can feel Walker standing next to me, his warmth and quiet strength taking up my space and blanketing me in safety. I somehow know in my very core that he's watching over me. Protecting me. From what, I'm not sure. Everything, maybe. I never want him to leave.
“What’s it telling you?” he murmurs, taking my gloved hand in his.
I open my eyes and look up at him. Walker is staring down at me with such a genuine, serious look on his face. I can see questions swimming around in his ocean eyes. Is he looking to me for the answers? I can’t imagine there’s anything this man doesn’t know. He seems so...capable. Intelligent. Decisive. I don’t think I’ve ever been called any of those things.
“It’s telling me we’re opposites in a lot of ways.” Walker grunts, making me smile, and I squeeze his hand. “But it’s also telling me we’re the same in all the ways that matter.”
