10. Luke

10

LUKE

W ith everyone safely buckled in, Luke headed down Sugarwood Lane, the shared dirt road of the Hayes and Parker families, named affectionately by Walter and his brothers when they were boys. The vehicle’s tires crunched through patches of snow and icy potholes. Overhead, the sun shed light from a blue-peacock-colored sky. Trees on either side of the lane had lost most of their leaves, their bare branches a silvery white. The meadow was blanketed in undisturbed snow, other than the tracks of bunnies, white-tailed deer, and perhaps an elusive moose.

Luke glanced over at Abby, who peered out the window with childlike wonderment, a dreamy smile lifting the corners of her pretty mouth.

“It’s gorgeous this time of year,” Luke said.

Abby played with the fringes of her red scarf, never taking her eyes from the scenery. “Like a winter wonderland. If only you guys could see the brown hills around Los Angeles this time of year. You wouldn’t believe how different it is here than where I’m from.”

“Do you have snow there?” Sophie asked from the back.

Abby shook her head, chuckling. “No. I don’t know that it’s ever snowed in Southern California. It’s often in the low seventies this time of year.”

“Christmas in warm weather?” Sophie asked, sounding appalled. “Weird.”

“It’s not a picture postcard like it is here.” Abby turned to look back at the kids. “You may not realize how beautiful Sugarville Grove is because you’ve always lived here. But I’m seeing it with fresh eyes, and it’s simply spectacular.”

Luke thought about that as he turned left onto Rabbit Run Road. He’d lived here all his life and had not traveled much. When he was young, he may have taken it for granted, but as an adult, he often marveled at the beauty of the place he was lucky enough to call home. The farm and surrounding areas were as much a part of him as the blood that coursed through his veins.

Abby’s appreciation pleased him, perhaps more than it should.

They continued on Rabbit Run Road, which had been cleared by the snowplow, leaving neat mounds of snow along the sides. Patches of ice appeared along the way, reassuring him that driving his California girl into town had been a good idea.

Fields covered in snow stretched out on either side of the road. Red barns and silos stood out against the pale landscape, their roofs piled high with snow. Soon, Little Bear Lake came into view. Snow-dusted evergreens and maples surrounded the partly frozen lake. Their public park, an open grassy field, was covered with snow, but in warmer months, families gathered for picnics or lawn games. Weathered wooden benches, partially covered in snow with frosted metal armrests, lined the lake’s edge. An older couple holding hands, dressed in thick jackets and knit caps pulled low over their ears, sat together on one of the benches. The woman’s head rested against the man’s shoulder.

What would it be like to grow old with someone? To have the privilege of sitting quietly and watching the changing of the seasons? Would he ever know?

A trail that wound around the lake was impossible to see today, but it meandered through a small copse of trees, leading to a bridge that spanned a narrow section of the lake. Ducks and geese were often seen paddling near the lake's edge. Today they were clustered in small groups in an unfrozen patch of water near the center.

“Are you a runner?” Luke asked Abby. There were so many things he didn’t know about her. He wished to know it all, every last habit and interest.

She cocked her head to the right, watching him. “I don’t plan on running, no.”

He chuckled under his breath. “I mean, jogging.”

“Oh, right. Duh. No, I like walking or hiking, but no running.”

Why had she assumed he meant symbolically? A sliver of doubt worried its way into him. Was running away an option for her? Would she disappear as Sarah had?

He let it go, telling himself that just because Sarah had run didn’t mean everyone would. “You can’t see it now because of the snow, but there’s a trail for walkers and joggers. Very popular during warm months.”

Despite the cold, a few hardy birds flitted around. In summer, visitors often spotted herons and beavers near the lake's marshy end, where reeds and cattails grew. This time of year, the brittle brown reeds still held a quiet beauty. To Luke, anyway.

A small wooden dock jutted out into the water, covered in a thin layer of frost. He and his brothers had fished there often as children. These days, they were all too busy to spend an afternoon with their lines in the water as they once had. A small playground with swings and a slide stood off to one side of the park, where he or his mother often took Lily to play. Today, the chains on the swings hung stiffly, frozen in place, and the slide had a thin sheet of ice at the top.

He shivered. The park in winter gave him a lonesome, abandoned feeling. He preferred it in the summer when it was filled with children’s busy play.

“Can you skate on the lake?” Abby asked.

“It’s not allowed these days. Back in my dad’s day, they lost some folks when the ice cracked, so they made it illegal. However, every winter, a temporary ice-skating rink is put up in town. That way, no one’s tempted to try it.”

As they continued along Rabbit Run Road, the open fields began to give way to homes and small cottages on the outskirts of town, their rooftops still covered in snow. Chimneys puffed out little clouds of smoke rising into the cold air. Luke could almost smell the woodsmoke, a scent he thought of as home.

“Oh, Luke, did you hear about the snowball fight?” Sophie asked. “The new owner of the toy store said it would be early this year because of all the snow. And guess what? He’s giving a really cool sled to the winner.”

“The one that looks like a pirate ship?” Jack asked.

“Yep, that’s the one. All the boys at school were talking about it,” Sophie said. “Like on and on, as if it’s the only exciting thing to ever happen here.”

“It is pretty exciting.” Luke grinned at Sophie from the rearview mirror. “Do you want to participate?”

Sophie shook her head. “No way. Not even for a sled.”

“I’m with you, Sophie,” Abby said.

“What about you, Jack?” Luke asked.

“I’m thinking about it,” Jack said. “I would like that sled. But I don’t know if I want to risk anyone messing up my pretty face.”

This made them all laugh as Luke slowed the vehicle to turn onto Maple Street—the main street of Sugarville Grove. Snow had been shoveled into neat piles along the sidewalks, and the brick storefronts were festively decorated for the season, with wreaths hanging on doors and lights already twinkling, even in the bright daylight.

Luke turned down Moose Avenue and then took a left on Red Oak, immediately coming upon Ford’s Animal Hospital. He found a spot in front of the building. “This is it,” Luke said. “And the dance studio’s just another block up on Red Oak.”

“Next to the bookstore,” Sophie said. “The two best places in the whole world. Miss Edna always knows what books I’ll like.”

“Edna’s the owner. She’s been running the place since I can remember. Great lady.” Luke turned off the engine and wrapped his left arm around the steering wheel. “I could take the kids up to the bookstore and let them pick out a book while you’re in your interview. If that helps?”

“Tremendously,” Abby said. “Doc Ford said to bring them, but it would be better for all of us if they were with you.”

“My ballet class starts at one,” Sophie said. “We can’t be late.”

“We can go to lunch afterward,” Luke suggested. “At The Moose. They have great burgers.”

“I feel so nervous I can’t even think about food.” Abby dug through her purse and pulled out a lipstick. “But sure. That sounds great.” She took in a deep breath and pulled down the mirror that hung on the sun visor, then dabbed her lips with a soft pink shade of gloss. She snapped the visor back into place, dropped the lipstick in her purse, and gave all three of the children a smile before turning back to Luke. “Thank you for driving me. I’m a wreck. Wish me luck.”

“You can do it, Abby,” Jack said.

“Do your best,” Sophie said, sounding remarkably like her mother.

“You’ve got this,” Luke said. “And we’ll be waiting for you when you’re done.”

She thanked him again and then shoved open the car door and stepped down to the concrete. Luke watched her smooth her coat and then walk through the doors of Ford’s Animal Hospital.

He twisted around to talk to the kids, all three of them sitting in a row, looking totally adorable. “You ready to pick out a book?”

The question was met with cheers.

They walked down Red Oak Street toward Clever Fox Books. The younger children chattered away in high-pitched voices, exclaiming over the lights and decorations. Sophie stayed quiet but kept pace with Luke, surprising him when she slipped her gloved hand into his. Soon, they were in front of the bookstore, with its brightly lit bay windows displaying new and best-selling books. Housed in a quaint brick building, the front gleamed in robin's-egg blue, with several chairs inviting people to sit, read, and sip a warm beverage nestled on the sidewalk. Festive white lights twinkled around the windows and under the roof's awning.

The bell over the door jingled as he ushered all of the young people inside. They quickly headed to the children’s section.

Luke breathed in the scent of new paper and freshly brewed coffee. Soft lighting made the room feel inviting, as did two cozy armchairs nestled in one corner. A table near the front showcased staff picks, signed editions, and seasonal recommendations. Bookshelves lined the walls, each one packed with a well-curated selection of books.

Edna took care of her customers from a central desk near the back. At the moment, she was gift-wrapping a book for an older woman he recognized from church. He waved to them both before heading to the thriller section, the wooden floor creaking softly underfoot.

He perused book descriptions for something of interest and settled on a spy thriller set during the Cold War. Tucking his pick under his arm, he wandered over to check on the kids. The little ones were looking at picture books at one of the short tables. Sophie sat cross-legged with a book open in her lap, already lost in the pages. Seeing as they were occupied, he went over to say hello to Edna.

Edna was a good friend of his mother’s. They’d gone to school together and to this day spent a lot of time together. He waited for her to finish with the other customer before approaching.

“Luke Hayes, I swear, you get better looking with age.” Edna smiled at him, playing with the quarter-moon charm that hung from a gold chain. In her typical style, she wore a bright purple tunic blouse over black leggings. Her silver hair was cropped short and spiked up with gel that paired well with oversized black glasses. When she came around the desk to give him a hug, he caught her familiar scent of patchouli mixed with oranges.

“Thanks, Miss Edna.” He returned the embrace, always happy to see her. She was such a bright light in their town. Everyone trusted her, of course, to advise them on books. In addition, like a local bartender, she often listened to people’s confessions and troubles, doling out wisdom as needed.

“How are Ramona’s sweet babies?” Edna asked. “I can’t stop thinking about them.”

“They’re doing as well as can be expected.”

“Your mother says Abby’s wonderful, albeit green, when it comes to children.”

“She’s doing a great job so far.” Her assessment left him slightly defensive. Abby might be green, but she had the biggest heart and had changed her entire life. “You can imagine what a shock it must have been.”

“Without a doubt. Your mother says she’s stepping up in the most remarkable way.”

“That’s right.” He gestured in the direction of the veterinarian’s office. “She’s interviewing with Doc Ford for a job.”

“Your mother mentioned that to me this morning. I do hope it works out for her.”

Was there anything Edna didn’t know? Between her and his mother, there wasn’t much that went on in this town that they didn’t know about and were not at all reticent to share with each other.

They chatted for a few more minutes before another customer came in and made a beeline for Edna. He glanced at his watch. Too early to head back. Abby’s interview was sure to run an hour.

The children were still happily occupied, so he collapsed into one of the lounge chairs and opened the book he’d picked. However, he found he couldn’t concentrate. His thoughts kept returning to Abby. Had she seemed distant this morning? A little. Yet he could see that she was happy for his company. He understood how comforting it was to have support when it came to parenting. Could it be more than that? Did he want more than a casual friendship?

Yes. Yes, he did.

Which he could not believe. After all these years, his heart had finally opened to the possibility of a woman in his life. He’d not thought he had it in him to try again. But Abby was special. Still, she was skittish and terrified of this new life she’d been thrust into. If he were to win her heart, he must tread carefully. Unfortunately, he had the grace of a moose when it came to women. Success in that regard might take a miracle.

Was he too old to pray for a Christmas miracle?

No, he decided. He most certainly was not.