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“Yeah.”
There’s a resonance to the silence I don’t recognize. “Okay. Good.”
“But you’re sure you’re enjoying it too?” I add, suddenly slightly anxious. “I know all these crafty things aren’t everyone’s favorite, just because they’re mine.”
“Of course I’m enjoying it.” He sounds surprised and slightly indignant.
“Why of course?”
“One, I’ve almost never had any sort of vacation of any kind, other than twice going to the beach when I was a kid. So I’d enjoy it only for that.”
I swallow as I process his words. “And two?”
“Two, why the hell wouldn’t I enjoy it simply because it’s making you happy?”
I swallow again—more of a gulp this time. “W-what?”
“It’s a lot of fun to be with someone who is in her element, who is doing exactly what she wants to do. So I’m enjoying it only for that.”
“Oh. Yeah. That makes sense.” I’m filled with a rush of both relief and disappointment at the way he’s explained what he meant.
He clears his throat. “So yeah, I’m having a great time. I’m glad you asked me to come.”
“I’m glad too.” I let out a long breath. “Good night, Chase.”
“Good night.”
Four
PAIGE: Sorry. I’m done talking. Where are you?
Chase: Outside by the blow-up Santas. Good conversation?
Paige: Yeah, she knows a bunch of artists and was excited. Hope you weren’t too bored.
Chase: I’m never bored.
Paige: Really?
Chase: Why would life be boring?
Paige: LOL. Don’t know. But a lot of people get bored all the time when nothing’s happening.
Chase: Something’s always happening. Folks just don’t see it.
Paige: Probably so.
Chase: You coming to me?
Paige: Yeah almost there. Ok – see you.
THE SECOND DAY OF OUR trip is just as good as the first. We sleep in until almost nine—very late for me—have a huge, delicious breakfast, drive less than two hours to a large craft store and antique mall, and spend most of the afternoon there before checking into the hotel.
There aren’t any good bed-and-breakfasts around here, so we stay in a regular chain hotel. We have dinner in a local hole-in-the-wall place that has delicious barbecue pork and corn bread, and we get back to the room by nine.
It’s a good day, and Chase clearly enjoys it just as much as I do.
On the third day, we only need to drive an hour so we don’t leave until almost eleven. Since there’s not much to do in town in the morning, we bring breakfast to the room and watch one of the Chase’s favorite Christmas movies—a silly screwball comedy that makes both of us laugh.
