Page 42 of Christmas Home

I sighed. “I hope that’s true. I have an idea what I want to build for myself. I just need to speak to Lance about it.”

Corey smiled. “Okay, so we’re set. Oh, Jake and Lance want us to go to the winery event this weekend. The vintner announced it’s time to harvest, and then there’ll be a party.”

“Weren’t we supposed to attend a class before we harvested?” I asked, remembering our first and only trip to the winery.

“Indeed, but the grapes are being harvested now, so we’re too late for that, but the party begins this weekend. It’s apparently a yearly celebration now. The weekend after the harvest, the town turns up to celebrate.”

“Sounds very Southern European,” I said, and Corey nodded.

My New York apartment sold for cash within a week of listing it. After the renovations, I wasn’t surprised. Aside from its location and views, I hadn’t lived in it since the upgrades, so it looked like new construction.

That also meant I was now officially homeless. My dad’s possessions had been distributed between family and a museum in Queens, and anything we found relating to Crawford City had been sent to its town library. Speaking of the latter, I still needed to reconnect with the librarian, Chris, after I’d had a panic attack last time I saw him.

I’d kept a few heirlooms I felt close to, and I wasn’t ready to part with my own belongings. All that had been sent ahead and stored in a climate-controlled storage facility in Nashville.

There were so many issues to face that the panic almost returned, but luckily, Corey remained strong, allowing me to lean on him through it all.

The flight was easy, a direct non-stop between New York and Nashville. The rental car was waiting for us at the airport, so all we had to do was climb in and go. I hoped it was indicative of the new future I…no,we, I thought, looking at Corey, were embarking on.

The drive from the airport to Crawford City took just under an hour. The fact that the airport was on the Crawford City side of Nashville made it faster and, for the most part, allowed me to avoid the city traffic.

See, I said to myself,another sign I’m doing the right thing.Damn, now I was looking for signs. I really was struggling withall the changes. I closed my eyes, laid back on the seat, and thought about all the things I’d enjoy revisiting in my new home.

I was excited to dig deeper into our development project, and I was looking forward to eating at the café. Never mind that it’d taken almost the entire time I was in New York to lose the weight I’d gained in the few weeks I’d been in town last summer.

I’d also enjoy the walks around town and visiting the winery. I bit the inside of my cheek. Damn, I’d tried to stop thinking about Clyde. Now I’d be back in the very town where nearly everywhere I looked held some memory of him. The café where he worked. The sidewalk we’d amble down on our evening strolls. The hotel where we’d tasted wine together, and where he kissed me afterward.

Crawford City was full of that man. I was fooling myself if I didn’t think he was a big part of why I’d decided to move. No, I wasn’t going to creep on him, but his grace had been a big part of my journey toward overcoming my trauma and fear. His sweet disposition helped open the door to my doing this transition.

I was determined to be a friend or, at the very least, a friendly acquaintance. Even if he never knew it, I owed him a lot. Since my life was completely changing, that meant more than he could possibly know.

thirty-six

Clyde

The celebration in thepark across from Dr. Gib and Dr. Allen’s home was amazing. I hadn’t been to a big community shindig since I was a kid, and even then, it wasn’t as fun as this one.

Mrs. Cole had helped the community put out a spread that went for days. We’d even closed the café that day so she could dedicate all our time to making sure the work was done and people were directed here instead of to the café.

Of course, I figured the café would be empty anyway, which was the main reason for closing.

The celebration allowed me to meet many of Crawford City’s residents in a different way. Even if I’d seen them in the café, I was usually running around like a chicken with its head cut off, so as I milled around, I had time to talk to people and learn about their lives. Mrs. Cole seemed to understand how important that was to me, and every time I tried to help her with the potluck, she shooed me off, telling me I needed to socialize.

It was just so strange how, after spending a lifetime alone, I was here, with friends and a community. Even though I didn’t know everyone in town, theyallfelt more like family than strangers. How was that even possible?

I sat down to listen to the teenagers who were performing onstage and smiled at their gritty sound. I’d never had a garage band like these kids apparently were. When I was young, an elderly neighbor used to have people over for music once or twice a month, and when my dad wasn’t on a rampage, which was rare, I’d sometimes join in. I could sing all the old bluegrass and gospel songs but never rock or modern country like these kids.

“Can I join you?” someone asked, and I looked over to see Derek, Jake’s younger brother, standing beside me. His adoptive mom was my counselor, and she’d talked enough about him that I felt I knew him personally.

“Sure,” I said, patting the chair. “Have a seat.”

He had a plate full of desserts that he dug into the moment he sat down. “They’re good, aren’t they?” he asked, looking toward the band.

“Yeah, I think they are. Do you know them?” I asked, surprised if he did since he lived in Nashville, not Crawford City.

Derek pointed at the drummer. “He and I went out for a while. Didn’t work out, but I think he’s got talent.”

“You gonna go work for your big brother scouting out talent and such?” I asked, mostly teasing since I knew he and Jake seemed to be carbon copies of one another.

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