Page 44 of 5 Golden Flings

“Heavens no,” he laughed with an expression of mock horror lighting up his face. “Even if I enjoyed Christmas, I wouldn’t do that. No, I drove my dad’s truck. Then I spent an hour hauling down boxes of decorations from the attic so he could put them up. I made chili while he worked in the living room. He was sitting in his recliner listening to Bing Crosby croon and watching the twinkle lights on the tree when I decided I had to get out of the house for a while. And I’m glad I did, so I could run into you here.”

“Me too. How long until you have to return to your watch?”

“Eh,” Foster lifted his wrist to eye his watch. “I should probably head back in a few minutes.”

As if on cue, the Christmas tree lit up. They both turned to look, dazzled by all the lights. The workers surrounding the tree cheered. Then, just as quickly as it lit up, the tree went dark again. “Let’s pack it up, boys,” one of them shouted.

“Was that it?” Foster asked.

“Well, yes. That was just a test before the big tree lighting ceremony,” Alice explained. “They’re done for tonight. And so am I.” This was her cue to pack up and head home, but she wasn’t ready to let go of Foster’s hand quite yet.

Foster stood and kept a hold of Alice’s hand to help her up. He didn’t seem to want to let go either. “Can I walk you to your car?”

“I actually walked today. I don’t live far either, but if you live where I think you do, I have to pass by your way. How about I walk you home instead?”

“I’d like that.” He smiled. Foster continued to hold her hand as they walked beside the edge of the courthouse and along the west side toward the library.

“If the last few days are any indication, when I get to the house, my dad will be out cold in his recliner beside an empty bowl of chili and a half-eaten sleeve of crackers. I’ll put away the dishes, and turn off all the lights, but he won’t budge. He sleeps in his chair more than his bed.”

“Maybe it’s more comfortable there,” Alice offered. “My grandfather slept in his recliner a lot when he got older.”

Foster shrugged. “Yeah, except he’s been doing it for years, now. I think it keeps him from having to sleep in his bed, alone.”

“I can understand that,” Alice said. “Of course, sleeping alone is my normal. I’m not sure that makes it any easier. It just gets old.”

They stopped at the intersection of Third Avenue and Main Street, looking across the two-lane road at the little house on the corner. Alice knew it was Leo’s place because of his truck and Foster’s Mustang parked in the driveway. Through the open picture window, she could see a sparkling Christmas tree and Leo asleep in his chair beside it, as predicted.

Alice moved to step across the road, but the weight of Foster’s hand held her back. “What is it?” she asked.

“I’m not ready to say goodbye to you quite yet. I know we barely know each other, but I’d like to change that. How about we make your night abnormal?”

Foster waited for the ever-practical Alice to shake her head, tell him it was a school night, and send him home to his sleeping ward. Instead she smiled—a genuine smile—and tugged hard at his hand until he stumbled off the curb after her. They took a left away from his dad’s house, and up another block past the funeral home until they arrived at a tiny white house with blue shutters and a Christmas wreath on the front door.

“You’ll have to ignore the Christmas decorations,” Alice said as she unlocked the front door.

“I think I may have other things to look at,” Foster said with a grin and followed her inside.

Her place seemed very homey. Very Alice, if he thought about it. There was a woven welcome mat and a pair of white rocking chairs on the porch. Her living room had a comfortable-looking couch with too many pillows, a feminine floral wallpaper, and a bunch of thriving house plants. A nicely decorated Christmas tree stood near the small wood fireplace where a single stocking hung from a hook.

There wasn’t anything particularly different or special about the place. The layout was actually quite similar to his father’s home. But after living alone or with his dad for most of his life, the definitive lack of a woman’s touch in their lives seemed more obvious than ever.

Foster told himself he wasn’t lonely. He dated from time to time, but being single made it easier to write. He could see someone like Alice bringing havoc to his deadlines. But perhaps that was exactly the kind of change he needed. His editor told him his last manuscript felt a little flat. His time in Rosewood could inspire some excitement both on and off the page.

“Make yourself comfortable.”

“Sure thing,” Foster replied in a chipper tone, slipping out of his jacket and laying it neatly across a wingback chair near the window. He fidgeted with smoothing his flannel shirt, rolling up his sleeves, and then changing his mind and undoing it. His attempts at exuding outer confidence to smother his internal anxiety weren’t working.

He didn’t know why he was suddenly so nervous. This had been his idea, after all. Foster had done nothing but pursue Alice since they moment they met outside the jail. It should be so easy to transition from the flirtation to the seduction. He was great at putting on the charm. He did it at reader events and book signings all the time. But those people took their autographed copy and left. And now that he was standing in Alice’s living room watching her cast aside her bags and keys on the little kitchen table, it was suddenly very real.

“I know this is kind of fast,” he said. Foster wanted Alice. Badly. There was no question of that. But he also didn’t want her to think he did this kind of thing often. Or ever. He usually moved about as fast as a tortoise when it came to women. But the ticking clock on his time with Alice urged him to make the most of every moment he could have with her. He hoped thatwith her distraction, the next few weeks in Rosewood wouldn’t be as painful as he’d anticipated.

“Mmm hmm...” Alice responded, disappearing into what he assumed was the kitchen.

“I just want to make sure I’m not pushing you,” he spoke louder so she could hear wherever she was.

“I appreciate that.”

“So if at any time you want...”

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