Page 63 of When We Were More
Leo stares at me for an uncomfortably long amount of time. “Do you want to ask any questions?”
“Did you always have a thing for his wife? Were you my dad’s best friend and longing for my mom the whole time?” Christ, I’m almost thirty-five, and I hear the anger and bitterness in my voice.
“No! It’s not like that at all. In truth, I was a lot like you when I was a younger man. I wasn’t interested in a relationship. Definitely not in love. I had a string ofunderstandingsover the years. Friends with benefits, I think you guys call it these days.”
I don’t like how I feel when he describes how he used to be, and that he perceives me as being the same. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a good man. But something about being like him when it relates to women in the past bothers me. It’s not only that Mom obviously has talked to him about my relationship status. Otherwise, how would he know where I stand?
“What are your intentions with her?”
“When your mom and I caught back up, I honestly was only looking for friendship. She was as well. We’d meet for coffee, talk about fond memories of your dad, and catch up on how all you boys were doing. Eventually, it turned into meeting for lunches and later, into dinners. I knew when I fell that it was going to be hard. Like slamming into the ground from fifty feet above, hard.Because there’s something about your mother at this point in her life that speaks to my soul. We’re basically best friends. But I do care about her, very much romantically, and I’m interested in seeing where this goes. I don’t see it ending. I’m not the same as when I was younger, and I’m not looking for the same things.”
I stare at him, wanting to be mad, but understanding. I believe that he cares about my mother.
Leo is the man who helped hold me together when our dad died. I’ve known him for as long as I can remember. When Dad died, I had just finished my general carpentry apprenticeship with him and Leo, and I was heading into an advanced framing apprenticeship. When I thought I’d have to withdraw from the program, I was offered an option—because of the extenuating circumstances—where I could do my training three days one week and two days the next. That way, I had my time split between the business and the apprenticeship. It took me longer than it would if I had done five days a week, but our situation—a family business to run—kept me from doing that.
Leo staying on was the thing that kept the business up and running while I trained. He worked extra to ensure that we were meeting the demands of our customers. In reality, it was Leo working extra—sacrificing his time—that afforded me the opportunity to pursue the apprenticeship and keep the business going strong. It was his way of honoring his friendship with my dad, I guess.
I run my hand through my hair and stare at the floor for a few seconds, then suck in a deep breath and then let it out slowly. My gaze meets his.
“It’s going to be weird for a while.” He nods at me in understanding. “Don’t hurt her, Leo. You don’t know how broken she was after losing my dad. I don’t ever want her to go through that kind of hurt again.”
“I care a lot about her, Henry. As long as I’m around, I’ll do everything in my power to make sure nothing ever hurts her again.”
I stare at the man and see nothing but sincerity in his eyes. I guess this is the best-case scenario if my mom is going to date. Right?
She’s dating a man my brothers and I know and trust. A man who retired from my own business only about five years ago. A man who centered me and kept me looking straight ahead when I was a damn mess after losing Dad. I lean across the table separating us and stretch my hand across to him. When he takes it, I tell him, “Welcome to the chaos of Christmas at the Aron house.”
He chuckles. “I’ve been here for Christmas before, Henry, when you were younger. Much younger.” He grins.
“I don’t think you’ve been here since all these kids have been running around. Trust me, Leo, it’s a different experience.”
He nods and asks if I’m ready to head out to spend time with the rest of my family.
I smile at him. “You go ahead. I’ll be out in a minute.”
“You sure, Henry? You’re okay?”
I nod. “I’m okay, Leo. I just need a minute to gather myself before I go out with my girls.”
Now it’s Leo who’s smiling. “Your mom says you’re a sensational father. A lot like your dad was, from how she describes it. I imagine your dad would be proud of not just the man and business owner you’ve become, but of the father you’ve turned out to be. He loved you boys and your mom more than anything.”
I swallow past the lump in my throat but can’t respond. Leo stands, pats my shoulder, and leaves.
It’s only when I’m completely alone that I let the wave of emotions wash over me. God, I hope he’s right.
CHAPTER 24
Tillie
Today’s the day—my favorite day of the holiday season. I arrive at Lester’s store around two o’clock to prepare for the early rush we anticipate every Christmas Eve. The thing about our small town is that no matter where someone comes from or how long they’ve been here, a special time of year never goes by without everyone having an opportunity to celebrate with people who treat you like family.
Aron Falls is all about community. It’s not one of those small towns where new people aren’t welcome. In essence, I think the townsfolk particularly love bringing new people into our fold and their traditions, like this evening.
Every Christmas Eve in downtown Aron Falls, there’s a celebration with something for everyone. It starts at five thirty p.m. and continues for several hours, sometimes longer if you’re one of the residents who likes to hang out at Rudy’s Bar and have a Christmas ale afterward.
I never got to come to these as a child, but since I’ve been here these last five years, I haven’t missed one.
Downtown comes alive. The businesses decorate their storefronts, and the newest couple to be married in the town getsto be the judge of which one is best that year. The winner gets bragging rights and an enormous, gaudy trophy that someone picked up at a thrift store and repurposed years ago. That trophy is a thing of pride around here.
