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Before I could say anything, he headed back to the kitchen and disappeared between the swinging doors. I glanced up to two sets of curious eyes staring at me.
“What?” I asked, cutting off a piece of French toast and popping it into my mouth. I moaned softly while I chewed. Eggnog French toast was better than anything I’d ever had before.
Ivy waved her fork around my face. “You don’t get to sit there and moan over French toast when that just happened.” She thrust her fork in the direction of the kitchen.
“When what just happened?” I asked after I swallowed. “Oh, the coffee.” I jumped up to get it from the machine then poured us each a cup before I sat down again.
“All I’m going to say is, after seeing that interaction, I’m going to bet my diner that the first date went well,” Ivy mused.
“First date?” Mel asked curiously.
Ivy tossed her hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry, I forgot I wasn’t supposed to say anything.”
I tossed my head back against the booth and groaned. “You can’t tell anyone,” I hissed.
Mel put her hands up while Ivy whispered in her ear, to my groan and eye roll. “If it matters, I didn’t think that,” Mel said when Ivy finished whispering. “I was thinking, it’s about damn time.”
“What?” I asked, leaning forward again. “Time for what?”
“Time you two figured out you should be dating!”
I hushed her and glanced towards the kitchen, but Lance must have been in the cooler. “It’s more just like friends who go out sometimes.”
Ivy tried not to choke on the French toast in her mouth, but I could tell she didn’t believe me. When she swallowed, she confirmed it. “I’m going to give you a little piece of advice and it will be the last thing I say on the matter.”
“Oh boy,” I muttered as Mel snorted to hold in her laughter. Like we believed it would be the last thing she said on the matter.
Ivy tapped her fork on her plate once. “All I’m going to say is, Shep and I were just friends who went out sometimes. We did that for years because we were too afraid of what other people would think. Don’t give up years that you could have with someone because you’re worried about what other people will think. Screw what other people think and live your life.”
She popped another piece of French toast in her mouth, either to keep herself from saying more or because she had truly said her piece, I didn’t know. I did know her words would ring loudly in my ears for days to come.
Chapter Eleven
We’d been working for hours, but we were nearly done with our display. It was time for a break and then once the sun set, we’d be able to flip on the lights and see if we’d accomplished our goal of simple, but classy.
I was nervous about working with Indie and trying to hide the effects of my accident. That wasn’t easy, but thankfully, the work we had to do didn’t require much skill other than hanging lights and sorting out cords. I was afraid things were going to be awkward after the kiss the other night, but by the time I arrived home from work, she’d had a nap and was ready to decorate. She was playful and happy, but also pensive when she was working on her own. I didn’t know what had happened while I’d been working, but I suspected Ivy Lund had something to do with it.
They thought I was occupied in the kitchen, but I could see them with their heads down over their plates, a serious discussion being had. I did notice that Ivy had given a speech she punctuated with her pointy finger, the way she does when she’s imparting wisdom. Then I noticed Indie get up and leave within minutes after it. I smelled a fishy situation with Ivy, but I wasn’t going to ask questions I didn’t want to hear the answers to, and right now, I was happy that she was happy to be with me.
“Let’s take a break,” she said after she finished arranging a set of lights on the bushes near the front door. “I’m thirsty.”
“Me too,” I agreed, following her into the garage and grabbing us each a pop from the fridge in the back.
I handed it to her, and she cracked it open and took a drink, her perfect lips cupping the rim and making me want to kiss her all over again. Instead, I took a long swig of the cold fizz and hopped up on the concrete landing.
“I don’t know that we should light it up tonight,” I pondered aloud. “It’s missing something.”
She joined me on the landing and swung her tiny legs against the side. “What do you think is missing? I love the creche you made. It’s stunning in its simplicity, especially with Mary sitting there with Jesus. Nice touch with the pink dress. Why did you choose pink?”
I shrugged and took another swallow of my drink. “My mom’s favorite color was pink. I know the traditional color of Mary’s dress is blue, but it didn’t feel right when I was at the paint store. For me, this year isn’t about winning best display, which was always Mom’s goal. This year is about honoring her in any way that I can, so that’s why I went with pink.”
“If it matters, I agree with you,” she said, shoulder bumping me. She was so tiny it was like a tap and that made me smile. “Considering no one actually knows what color her dress was, I’m of the mind that it doesn’t much matter.”
I was staring out at the back of the creche trying to put my finger on what was missing, so I nodded. “What do you think about doing a living nativity this year?” Her surprised brows in the air made me sigh. “I said that aloud, didn’t I? I was just thinking about it when I was putting Mary inside the creche. Just ignore me.”
“I’m not going to ignore you,” she said, laughter on her lips. “I like the idea. Share with me the image you see in your mind.”
I took her hand and walked out to the front of the creche. “You would sit inside the creche on a comfortable chair that we drape with sheets, so it’s hidden. There would be a prop for your arm since you’d have to hold the baby Jesus for an extended length of time. The baby would be a doll, of course.”
