Page 36 of A Christmas Bargain

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DEREK

Iparked my SUV at the overly crowded lot at the school. Even though I offered to drive Claire—because I knew how few parking spots there would be here—she opted to drive on her own because she was looking at a property further out in the country.

She sure was a businesswoman, set in her ways to work, work, and… work. I used to be like that too, stuck in the rat race and always wanting to get ahead. I scaled back when Jenna was pregnant, but it wasn’t until I realized I was it, that I was a single parent to Naomi, that I gave it all up for good.

I didn’t miss the stress and never-ending pressure to hit the goals, but sometimes, a fleeting sensation of being inactive hit me. I was never idle. Being a single parent didn’t allow for much downtime, even with her in school. It was a different sort of busy, though, and when I thought back to how much I accomplished at the successful investment firm I started and left behind, I wondered if that was what drove Claire to be a workaholic. That need to succeed. A confident woman didn’t scare me. The more she wanted to cement her life as a realtor, the more power to her.

But it did make me wonder if she could handle being a girlfriend over the holiday season—even under false pretenses.

I walked toward the school, nodding acknowledgments at the other parents and staff members I knew. Everyone was herded inside, toward the gym, but I lingered out in the cold, hoping Claire would be here.

It wasn’t like we were attending a grand gala or a black-tie affair. We wouldn’t be announced. There was no single point of entrance where everyone could see us come in. Adults and other spectators to the holiday recital were bottlenecked at the gym doors, and we were all supposed to squish in as a big mass before finding seats.

I didn’t want to lose her in the crowd, though. And I was hoping she’d enter with me so I wouldn’t have to suffer anyone coming up to me going in.

Derek:Are you on your way?

Claire:Yes. Got held up by a train.

That sounded about right. If she was looking at properties further from town within the county, any number of tracks could hold her back.

I sighed, wondering where my brother-in-law was. Nicky mentioned being free to come see Naomi do her part, but he stressed that he was busy wrapping up custom projects that customers wanted in time for Christmas. He wouldn’t be able to watch the whole thing, but I’d appreciate his showing up when he could.

I bet he can’t get away.

Keeping to myself and standing near the curb of the parking lot, I rocked on my feet and waited.

And waited.

It didn’t matter how many times I glanced at my phone, both to check the time and to see if she’d texted again. She wasn’t here.

“Come on…” I begged quietly.

She hadn’t been lying when she said she prioritized her career. If work was all that she devoted her time to, maybe she’d overestimated herself in being available to fake date me.

Or she’sthateager for my property?—

There she was. As I pivoted to watch the cars still coming into the parking lot, I caught sight of her. In another business-like pantsuit, her hair in a strictly tight braid, she jogged toward me. Like every other time I’d seen her, she was smiling and bright. Never down.

Doesn’t that peppiness ever exhaust you?

I tried it out, though, smiling in kind as she approached me.

“I forgot that the trains rule out here,” she admitted. “Am I late?”

“Nah. Lots of people are still coming in.” I gestured for her to walk with me to the recital. “And you’re right. Those trains are in control of anyone’s best-laid plans for punctuality.”

“Whew!” She stuck to my side, walking in with me and smiling at the people we squeezed in with. It was too loud to talk and be heard in the narrow vestibule jam-packed with too many bodies. Babies cried. Relatives laughed and chattered.

It was only when we were fully inside the gym and looking for seats that I could try to talk to her. “I’m glad you made it.”

“Oh, no. Did I have you worried?”

“No. But I can see what you mean about not making time for dates around your job commitments.”

“Even fake ones.” She winced. “It’s been tricky, managing the office remotely. Don’t worry, I’m vested in warding off the female population of Preston for ya.” Leaning toward me as we scanned the big room for seats, she patted my arm.

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