Page 30 of Christmas Wishes

When I got inside the building, I made my way to the main hall, where the report of flickering lights stemmed from. The people who recognized me greeted me with relieved smiles and thank yous. However, Evie winked at me when I passed her table on my way to find Doris. Weird.

“Thanks so much for coming, sweetheart. I was just coming in for my volunteer shift when I saw the flickering. I think it was those lights.” Doris pointed to fluorescents in the southwest corner of the room.

They didn’t flicker while I stared at them, but that didn’t necessarily mean anything.

“I’ll go check things out.” Nico and I had been pushing for the nonprofit that operated the community center to make some critical electrical updates for years before a major and costly issue happened. At least the nonprofit manager had called to give me the green light to fix any urgent issues when I was on the way over. He probably made up the excuse about having an appointment in Flagstaff so he wouldn’t have to face me telling him how much work he should have done.

Doris followed me to the utility room. “I met Keaton.”

My steps faltered. “Oh?”

“He’s quite the young man.” Her calculating smile was unnerving.

“This is a trap.” I flicked on the utility room lights and walked to the electrical panel. I set down my toolbox and bent over to grab what I needed.

“You should say hello before you leave.”

“He’s here?” I banged my head on a beam as I straightened. Good thing I had a ball cap on.

“He’s become quite popular,” she said with mirth.

“Of course he has.” I shook my head.

“Did he tell you that you’re invited over for dinner? And you can help me with a few things.”

My gut dropped to my feet. “I’m sorry, Doris. I might not get done with appointments until after dinner.”

“Come over tomorrow. Keaton will keep me company until you get there.” Doris was impossible to say no to, and with her cooking on the table, I didn’t want to. But dinner with herandKeaton? Not sure I’d survive that.

Doris left me to my work. Fortunately, it was an easy fix, but I needed to remember to make a call and remind them to line up some repairs. The breaker box was thirty years old if it was a day.

When I got back to the main hall, I found Keaton holding court with a half-dozen people around him as he told a story about an ordering mishap at a restaurant he used to work at. A fluttering spread through my belly as I watched Keaton integrate with the town. That wasn’t how it was supposed to be. Keaton and the town were two separate things. We were a pit stop in his exciting life. Keaton shined brighter than the non-flickering fluorescents when he spotted me. That funny fluttering returned with a vengeance.

“Riggs! Did you come to save the day?” He looked at me like I was a superhero.

The group of locals I recognized turned toward me.

“I just changed a breaker.”

Keaton broke away from them with a promise to catch up later and fell in line with me as I walked toward the exit. “And you saved the fair. I’ve been told today’s the busiest day.” Keaton’s persistent smile crawled under my skin and made a bed.

“It’s nothing.” I tried to dismiss his kudos, but they felt good.

He shifted the purchases hanging from his arms.

“Find anything good?” I jerked my chin toward the bags.

“A few Christmas gifts for family and Arlo, my bestie. Grabbed myself a couple of things too. Self-care is important,” he said sagely.

“Want help?”

“You’ve got your own. Thanks though. But you can get the door.”

I held the door for him, and he flashed a smile at me as he passed.

“I changed my location to Juniper Ridge on a couple of dating and hookup apps. It’s dismal out here. No wonder you’re single.”

I nearly slipped on a snow patch. “I don’t have a hard time.” I clenched my teeth.

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