24. Charlotte

24

CHARLOTTE

T he next day, Charlotte was pink-cheeked and ravenous by the time Tag helped her into his truck after an afternoon spent at the Sugar Snow Carnival with the kids.

Chance was currently sitting with his grandmother, eating a corndog from one of the stands. Charlotte was pretty sure he would eat his weight in other treats by the time the night was through, after all the running around in the cold he had done with his friends.

It had taken Tag and Charlotte fifteen minutes to track Olivia down and give her a few bills before they left, so she could buy some dinner too.

After her performance in the play last night, her phone had been lighting up almost constantly. She had wandered down to the kitchen early this morning and as Charlotte started up the coffee maker, she told her all about her new friends—the theatre girls.

“They said they didn’t ask me to hang out before because they all thought that I was only quiet because I thought I was too good for them,” she said, shaking her head in disbelief. “But then when I threw myself into the part, they started texting me. And they’re actually really nice.”

As soon as they’d reached the carnival today, a crew of five giggling girls had descended on Olivia, and with her father’s permission, she had disappeared with them to get in line for the rides.

“I know all their parents,” Tag had told Charlotte defensively.

“I’m so happy for her,” Charlotte had replied.

And she meant it too. She would have loved to spend the day with the precocious thirteen-year-old, but Olivia deserved to have some actual friends. And the ones who had chosen her seemed like lovely girls.

Though it would definitely be a new experience for Tag to have his daughter disappear to spend time with her peers instead of with him and Chance.

“Are you sure you want to leave?” she asked him when he got into the truck. “We can stick around tonight, and do a date night tomorrow.”

“My parents are there, and so are most of my brothers,” he said. “Both kids have got lots of eyes on them, don’t worry. Unless you’re trying to weasel out of having dinner with me?”

“Definitely not,” Charlotte told him. “I’m starving. And besides, I promised to give you a chance.”

They both knew that this was more than a chance. It was a beginning. Hopefully, a fresh and wonderful beginning, now that they could each admit what they wanted.

They traveled for a while in companionable silence as Tag drove. When he turned into town, Charlotte smiled at the beautiful sight of the little downtown and park, all decked out for the holidays with twinkling lights and boughs of pine and holly.

“You love that, don’t you?” Tag asked her.

“Do you ever get used to it?” she asked.

“Never,” he told her. “Sometimes I’m too busy worrying about something else to really appreciate it. But it’s always…”

“Wondrous?” she offered.

“Yeah,” he said with a crooked smile as he gazed out the window at his hometown and then his eyes returned to hers. “Wondrous.”

He took a parking spot near the ice cream shop and got out quickly.

Charlotte knew he was coming around to open her door for her, yet she still got the same little thrill as the first time he helped her down to the sidewalk.

“Look at this place,” he said, indicating the ice cream shop. “I hear it’s under new management. Much nicer than before.”

“But they ran out of ice cream last week,” she said, amazed at his silliness, but playing along.

“Only because it’s so delicious and the place is so much cooler now,” he said. “I hear the new manager is dating one of the owners.”

“Is she?” she asked, deciding she loved this playful side of him.

“Oh yes,” Tag replied, lowering his voice, like he had the juiciest gossip of all. “And I heard he made an idiot of himself over her, and his own family was furious with him for not making her his girl when he had the chance.”

“That does sound foolish,” Charlotte agreed. “But I heard he’s a smart guy. I guess that’s how he got her back.”

“I only wish I’d earned my second chance by being smart,” he said, suddenly not playing anymore.

“I think groveling in front of half the town was a pretty smart idea,” Charlotte said, unable to hide her smile.

“It wasn’t even my idea,” he admitted.

“But you recognized it instantly,” she told him. “You were very smart to listen to your sister.”

“I am a good listener,” he said thoughtfully.

Charlotte had to giggle. She hadn’t thought of it before, but he really was a good listener. Maybe not being a big talker made him a listener by default. But it wasn’t just about letting other people do the talking. Tag had a way of letting her know he was paying attention, and that he actually cared about what she had to say.

“What are you giggling about?” he asked.

“I just never noticed that you were so good at listening,” she told him. “But it’s true.”

He didn’t reply, but his lips quirked up, so she knew he was pleased.

They walked together back down Maple Street and up Bear Avenue to the corner, where the lights of the Moose Bar & Grill glowed beside the big wooden moose statue.

When they reached the big red double doors, Tag opened them up for her and she stepped into the delicious warmth of the pub.

“Hi there,” a hostess said immediately. “Table for two?”

“Yes please,” Tag said, stepping inside and placing his hand lightly against the small of Charlotte’s back. “Something with a view of the park, if you’ve got it.”

Charlotte’s heart warmed at the evidence that he didn’t mind being spotted with her now. Sitting by the window would put them on full display for anyone passing by.

As they were seated, a waiter was already there with a smile and a pair of menus. They each ordered a Coca-Cola, and when the waiter dashed off for their drinks, they were suddenly alone in the dim, romantic light of the restaurant.

She looked across at Tag, wondering how she had ended up here. He was so handsome, gazing at her with his beautiful blue eyes, like he wanted to see what was written on her heart. The tiny lines at the corners of his eyes only made him more attractive. This was a man who had seen hard times as well as good ones. He was the kind of man who would be able to stay the course through thick and thin.

“What do you want from life?” he asked her suddenly.

“Oh,” she said, leaning back. “Wow.”

“Sorry,” he said, shaking his head like he was frustrated with himself. “I’m rusty when it comes to dating. I guess I should ask how you’re liking the ice cream shop, and whether you had fun with Allie the other night and all.”

“I love the ice cream shop and I had fun with Allie,” she said. “Obviously. But that other question was good. It was just kind of a big one. Let me think about it.”

“The reason I asked,” he said, “is that if scooping ice cream isn’t what you want to do with your life, then Sugarville Grove might not be the place for you after all.”

She stopped mid-thought, letting his words sink in and trying not to get her feelings hurt. Were they somehow back to square one?

But then she thought about what Tag had been through, and what he was risking by opening his heart, and she found that she didn’t mind having the conversation. He probably just didn’t want to feel like he was keeping her from some grand plan.

“That’s a fair point,” she said carefully. “So, first of all, I’m not the kind of person who has a ten-year plan or anything. I love working in the shop, and I could see doing that permanently, yes. I like working with people and there’s definitely an element of creativity in keeping the public engaged.”

He leaned forward, resting his arms on the table and nodding.

“I might also like to consult with other small businesses,” she realized out loud. “It looks like there are plenty of them coming in who might be able to use a hand setting down roots. Though I don’t know if anyone would hire a consultant without a degree.”

“Allie said you were going to try and finish it online,” Tag said.

“I might,” she allowed, feeling a little embarrassed to talk about money. “I did talk to the school, and they said they would allow it, but of course there are fees and things. It’s basically a whole new semester. Anyway, it’s on the back burner for right now so I can focus on the shop. When we’re really up and running, and I have a little bit in my savings again, I’ll probably start attacking the question of school.”

“But you want to stay?” There was pain in his eyes, but a note of hope in his deep voice as well.

This is what he’s really asking. He doesn’t want to risk his heart or his kids if I’m going to leave.

“I know this is a small town,” she said carefully. “And I know that means certain options won’t be open to me. But the same was true in the city. I couldn’t visit a farm there. I couldn’t leave a key under the mat. I couldn’t go to a holiday festival and hope to know everyone’s name one day.”

He was nodding now, his eyes brightening as he listened to her.

“And besides,” she added. “There aren’t as many things to hit my head on way out here in the boonies.”

Suddenly his blue eyes were crinkling and Tag Lawrence was chuckling, a rare and radiant smile on his handsome face. She smiled back at him, happy to be chuckled at—life was funny, and sharing in that silliness was a blessing she would never take for granted.

“You’re a Christmas miracle, Charlotte Kendrick,” he said, his voice suddenly serious as he covered her hand with his, wrapping his warm fingers around hers like he would never let her go. “Did you know that?”

“Excuse me,” the waiter said. “But the gentleman at the back table sent this over.”

He placed a slice of warm pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top on the table between them with two spoons, and then he placed a napkin beside it, on which were scrawled a few words.

Life is sweet - sometimes you have to eat dessert first! Here’s to making Christmas wishes come true!

-Kris

Charlotte turned to see an older gentleman sitting a few tables away. He had a beautiful white beard, and as she gazed at him, he smiled and winked.

“Do you know him?” she asked, turning to Tag.

“He’s our mailman,” he replied. But he had a funny look on his face.

“What does he mean by making Christmas wishes come true ?” she asked.

“Hey, I think this is maple pecan,” Tag said, scooping out a decadent bite instead of answering. “It’s kind of their specialty. You have to try it.”

He held out the spoon and she took it from him. The moment she closed her mouth around it, rich, sweet flavors and the contrast of hot and cold danced on her tongue.

“Oh,” she said. “Oh wow. That’s kind of amazing.”

“Come on,” Tag said with a smile, pushing the pie closer to her. “Let’s eat it before it melts.”

As they each took another spoonful, Charlotte savored the special treat and the special company, and wondered if this could really be what her future looked like.

Maybe life really was sweet.