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“What are you trying to tell me?”
Levi didn’t answer. He saw someone. He waved—holding up Maggie’s hand with his.
Maggie turned in the direction he was waving. There was Forsythia, not in a chef’s jacket—smiling from ear to ear and giving them two thumbs up.
What on earth is happening?
Levi didn’t explain—and Maggie badly wanted him to. He walked with her, his hand still in hers, along the sidewalk as they checked out the small booths.
A number of people recognized them and smiled at their interlocking hands. Maggie almost wanted to buy a hat of some kind and maybe a pair of sunglasses to hide under, but the bazaar didn’t sell those today.
They stopped at Jacinda’s booth, which she shared with another resident of Midtown Village. Maggie knew that they had been crocheting and knitting since the summer.
Jacinda had come a long way since losing her seventeen-year-old son more than two years ago. Since then, she had gone back to school, and now operated a hair and beauty salon. Her friend, Gertrude, was an avid quilter and knitter, who gave the newly minted entrepreneur a new knitting hobby.
Jacinda saw Maggie and instead of saying “Merry Christmas!” she said, “You go, girl!”
“These are so pretty.” Maggie picked up a knitted crossbody bag. It was in a few shades of teal. “I like this. Oh, you have it in tangerine too. Mom’s favorite color. Okay, I want both of these.”
Maggie was about to take out her purse from her shoulder bag. Levi stopped her.
“I got this.” He swiped his card.
Jacinda made a silent “ooh” with her lips. “Office romance, I see.”
“We’re not?—”
Levi cut her off. “Technically, we’re in different departments and don’t work in the same office. She’s in the women’s ministry and I’m in the warehouse.”
“Same church.” Jacinda cooed. Then she got busy helping another customer.
“Why did you cut me off?” Maggie asked as they walked away.
“I’m trying to send you a message, but you don’t seem to get it yet.” Levi stepped on the lawn, its dry grass the color of winter brown. They were standing by the tall Christmas tree.
“What message?” Maggie wanted him to spell it out clearly. She didn’t want to guess.
“The man you love is loving you back,” he whispered softly in her ear.
Maggie couldn’t breathe.
The man you love is loving you back.
“I never said a word.” Maggie’s eyebrows knitted together.
“You don’t have to. I can see that you care for me and you cry for me.”
“So?” Maggie tried to keep her voice calm. “Not leading indicators.”
“But it’s true, isn’t it? You do have feelings for me.” He held her hands.
Maggie felt the warmth of Levi’s hands and how their fingers fitted like they belonged together.
She couldn’t speak, but Levi continued talking.
“I thought something was developing between us, but I denied myself the happiness of knowing you as more than just my best friend. I thought we had a good friendship and that was enough for me…until it wasn’t.” He squeezed Maggie’s hands gently.
“I gather that you’ve prayed about this.” It was all Maggie could think of to say.
