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“Thank you.”
Downing a large sip of coffee, I made my way back to the office and quickly spied the keys hanging by the door. It was even markedcloset.
After a thorough scan, I didn’t find any extra wire cutters, but I did find three more forms of the correct size, making sure to let him know the last one was being used.
With a full box of supplies, I juggled it on my hip and heavy-stepped back to the office to drop it off. I hadn’t taken a good, long, and solid look before, but the tiny space was meticulous and super neat. On the wall beside his desk, I spotted a picture of a beautiful young lady in a frame resting on one of the shelves. It was tucked against the wall beside an ornate red vase with grooves etched into it.
Glancing around the space, I spied nothing even close to it. There weren’t other framed pictures, and certainly, there weren’t any vases. There wasn’t even anything remotely floral or green. However, as much as the vase commanded my attention it was the framed picture beside it piquing my curiosity.
“That’s my daughter,” Stanley said.
I gasped and jumped, my face flooding with a high heat as if I'd been caught with my hand in the proverbial cookie jar.
With a steady hand, he pointed at the picture. “She died seven years ago on the operating bed after undergoing a standard gallbladder removal. Some freak thing they couldn’t get under control. Sepsis I think?” He touched the container. “She was my Dahlia, and now she's here with me all the time.”
I took a small step back but couldn't remove my eyes from the container. The harder I looked, the more intricate the etched detailing of a flower appeared, perhaps in the shape of her namesake?
“So there’s a Daisy?”
“Her twin sister and my other daughter, yes. She and I had a falling out shortly after Dahlia's passing, and we haven’t spoken since.” His voice fell in the same slump as his shoulders. “She’s living near my sister in Uxbridge, so she’s keeping an eye on her and sends me updates.”
“I'm sorry, that's tough. I know what it’s like to lose family.” With that, my gaze fell to the floor as he clapped me on the shoulder.
Losing family was the toughest thing ever, and my heart went out to him. Having living family members you didn’t talk with was likely worse. They were around, and you knew it, and yet a part of your life but not really.
“Daisy’s about your age, I suppose.” He inched back toward the main part of the store. “Whereas Daisy is the spring lover, or at least was, Dahlia loved this time of year and all things Christmas. Especially these Grinch trees. The workshop fee barely covers the costs, but I put it on every year just for her.”
“Why don't you raise the prices a little? I'm sure no one would mind.”
The soft snort made his nostrils flare. “It's a small town. Trust me. They would mind. Excessively.” With an easy stride yet with a heavy clomping, he was back into the main area and putting a lid on top of a long box. “Truck’s in the back.” He nosed toward the back of the building. “Finish your coffee, and we’ll start hauling in the trees.” With a quick flick of his gaze, he stared at the analog clock on the wall just on top of the cooler. “Guests will start arriving shortly.”
Finishing my coffee was easy – hauling in twenty-two mini trees and just as many pots, that was taxing. By the time I set the last one on the table, Stanley had unlocked the door on the workshop side and the guests started milling in. With the music playing softly, the smell of Christmas in the air, and the good-natured mingling going on, it sure felt like the magical holiday.
All I needed was to keep my focus, do a good job, and wait until my date on Saturday.
Karma, however, had other plans.
One of the last two people to arrive for the workshop was Bea. As I was refilling the coffee and getting a fresh pot going, my heart hammered to a complete stop as I locked on her. Her beautiful blue eyes narrowed into thinner slits until the doorbells overhead jingled.
Turning her head, I instinctively followed her gaze to the man entering a few steps behind.
As if she was watching a volleyball match, her gaze jumped back and forth between me and her younger brother, who was sporting a wee bit of a dour expression as he stomped into the place, kicking the snow off his boots. She cocked her brow and twisted to face him, hands on his shoulders ready to push him back out onto the sidewalk.
He stepped to the side, scanning the crowds until he connected with me. The frown flipped and as his head moved in a slow bob, a giant smile formed.
Chapter Eleven
Pushing through the twenty other guests, Carter wove his way over to stand before me. One long, steady gaze down and back up was enough to take away any chill I may have had.
“I know when you said earlier that perhaps I’d see you sooner than Saturday, I had no idea it would be tonight.” He shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans, something I hadn’t seen him wear before as he always wore smart chinos or almost dress pants. Jeans were a first, but if things hadn’t changed, I bet they put a lot of focus still on the rear view.
Shaking the thought from my head, I tried to hide my growing nervousness. Seeing him at my place of work, especially on my first day, it sent a flurry of butterflies swirling.
My mouth went dry, and proper words disappeared from my vocabulary.
“You’re helping Stanley?” His left brow lowered enough to shadow his dark eyes. “Do you two know each other? Or were you passing by and just decided on a whim to help, because that sounds more like the Cara I know.”
I shrugged and plastered an innocent smile on my face. “You are partially correct. I saw the workshop help wanted sign and figured why not?”
