Page 40 of Christmas for Keeps

“Of course. Do you think it will be today?”

“Yes. We’re going to eat lunch in town, so I’ll tell him I forgot something here.”

“Pay when you come back, then, so he doesn’t see. I promise to hold onto it. If you get delayed, call and I’ll keep it until tomorrow. My name’s Kerry.”

She took the plaque behind the counter, and I moved on to look at some metalwork butterflies. Zach caught up before long, and we talked about the ornaments we’d found.

“They’re great for our first year back together,” he said. “Beautiful glass, a lucky acorn, and preserved mistletoe to guarantee plenty of kisses through the years.”

“I agree. Let’s get them.”

While we paid, I hoped we’d still be kissing under that mistletoe when we were old men.

Don’t get ahead of yourself. That’s a sure road to being hurt.

And if I build a wall? I already learned how painful that is.

Liz gave us our wrapped packages, and when we left the shop, I asked where we were going next.

“There’s a great bookstore up the street,” he said. “It’s locally owned, and they have an amazing selection. They’ll order anything they don’t have, and it usually comes in a day or two.”

We both loved books, and we’d spend hours in there if we didn’t set a time limit. “I love that it’s local. Half-hour limit, then go to lunch?”

“Deal, unless you’d rather eat now, before the bookstore.”

“No. I’m just starting to feel hungry, so let’s wait.”

“You’ve got it. We can come back to the bookstore anytime since you’re staying a while.” He stopped and pulled me to the side, leaving a path for passersby to walk. After looking at me like he was trying to decide if I was real, he said, “I love you, and I’m so lucky you still love me.”

We kissed, and when he drew away and looked into my eyes, I knew I was home. Home with him, home in Stowe, home in my heart.

Don’t let this be a holiday fantasy. Please don’t let me lose him again.

In the bookstore, we both found things we liked and agreed to buy them for holiday gifts. I would have another present for him, but the book was a good decoy. After we paid, he led me across the street to The Flying Monk, which he said was one of his favorite places. Inside the door was a counter with a cash register; behind it was a large dining room with booths around the perimeter and tables and chairs in the middle. Framed ski posters hung on the walls, and a young waitstaff scurried around.

We shared a feast of pepperoni and mushroom pizza, meatloaf, and poutine—a delicious combination of French fries and cheese curds topped with brown gravy. Two in-house brewed ciders rounded out the meal. I looked into my glass after I finished eating. “This is strong stuff.”

“Want another one?” Zach asked, finishing his. “I’m driving, so one’s my limit, but you can have more.”

“Are you forgetting my low tolerance for alcohol?”

“Not at all.” Twisting his lips into a naughty grin, he tilted his head. “I know a good place to pull off the road between here and home, and if I get you drunk, you might think it’s a good idea.”

I shook my head. “In your dreams, silly man. There’s a nice, warm house waiting for us to bless every room in it.”

“When you put it like that…” He bounced his eyebrows.

There was still food on his plate, so this was my chance. I pushed my leftovers in front of him. “Will you finish this, please? I need to run back over to that first store.”

“Hold on while I eat, and we’ll both go back.”

“No, I should go right now. I think I left my phone over there when I was taking pictures.”

“Go get it then. I’ll be finished when you come back.”

Kerry must have seen me coming because she was taking the plaque out from under the register when I walked in. Liz was there with her, and they both greeted me warmly. “You chose a beautiful piece,” Liz said. “Kerry told me you asked if it was Zach, and it does look like him. I hadn’t thought about that before.”

“What a perfect gift for your boyfriend,” Kerry said.

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