AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Definitely time to fix that. Let’s go get some.”
Putting my hand on the small of her back, I guide her through the crowd, locating the booth with chestnuts. As we approach, she sniffs the air and smiles. I try not to stare but the way her eyes dance around makes my heart go wild.
“Hi Nancy. This is Penelope and she’s never had roasted chestnuts before. We’re here to change that.”
“Oh my! Here ya go honey. I hope you like them,” Nancy says as she hands Penelope a bag and then hands one to me.
We both watch as Penelope takes her first bite of the Christmas staple, waiting in anticipation to see what she thinks of them.
“These are so good!” She laughs. “I can see why everyone talks about them and why they are in a song” Then she looks directly at me. “Thank you, Brent.”
“You’re welcome,” I whisper as we make our way to more booths.
It seems like every single person in town has come out for the festival, yet the only person I see is Penelope. I love watching her light up at the different vendors. She wears a smile on her face even as she loses miserably at a game of Christmas Candy Cane Toss.
“Wow, you’re really bad at that,” I say as she finishes the game. I try not to laugh. She wasn’t even close to landing the candy canes on the ledge like she was supposed to.
“Oh yeah, like you are any better.”
“Sweetheart, I’m the master at this game. Stand back and prepare to be jealous of my skills.”
Paying for another round, I receive five plastic candy canes, and within thirty seconds I successfully toss them all onto the highest ledge. “Told ya.”
“Okay, I’m a little impressed. But only a little. I bet you’ve played this game a million times over the years,” she teases.
“Maybe, maybe not. I guess you’ll never know.” I wink.
As the night progresses, we fall into an easy banter. Luckily, teasing and flirting replace the earlier awkwardness. And it’s not one-sided.
We continue walking through the festival, stopping at all the booths and playing each game.
Penelope’s excitement is palpable, and it fills the space around us.
“So, I have a question for you,” she says as we walk, sipping the hot cocoa we got from Sally. “Why have you been avoiding me?”
I was hoping she hadn’t noticed. “What do you mean?” A cop-out, I know, but hopefully it’ll buy me time to think of a good answer.
“Come on Brent, I’m not stupid. All of a sudden, you have a big case and can’t come to dinner with your parents? Or stop by and see Sally? Did I do something?”
I want to tell her the truth, that I can’t be in the same room as her without wanting to be near her, but I can’t.
“I haven’t been avoiding you,” I lie. Right through my teeth. “Trust me, you did nothing wrong.” That part is true.
It’s not her, it’s me.
She eyes me suspiciously and I hold my breath in anticipation for what she’ll say.
“If you say so. You can tell me though if I did or if me being at the inn is bothering you.”
“Nah, no reason to think that. This time of year is always busy. I was actually planning to come to dinner tomorrow night, if you’ll be there.” Lies, so many lies. I had no intention of going there for dinner until she was safe and sound back in the city.
“Yep, I’ll be there in all my glory.” She laughs at herself, and I can’t help but smile.
“So, since you asked me a question, now I get to ask you one,” I say. I’ve been dying to hear her story since I found her on Main Street.
“Dad! Look what I got!” Nora interrupts. She comes running from the other side of the park, with my parents in tow, shattering the moment. “Isn’t she pretty?” She holds up a stuffed pink unicorn for me to see.
My girl and all things pink.
