Page 29 of Santa of the Creek
Tears prickle in the back of my eyes, but I swallow hard and nod. “I will.”
I press a kiss into the palm of his hand and leave him before I can convince myself to stay.
Collier’s Creek is one of those towns that does everything to excess. We ain’t subtle. If there’s an excuse for a parade or a celebration, we do it. Jake’s Day was last month, andThanksgiving was two days ago, but let’s light up the tree and celebrate the festive season.
Maybe I’m a little cynical now, but I can remember the awe I felt as a small kid being taken to see the big tree in the square burst into a million fairy lights, at least that’s what it seemed to me.
I wonder if old Jake Collier would have been pleased at the way his town enjoyed every moment of life.
The square is jammed with people and craft stalls and noise just as it is every year, while the tree stays dark, waiting for its moment of glory. I stop at CC’s stall for a hot chocolate. There are food stalls everywhere, but the last thing I need to do is eat after the feast this afternoon. I might never eat again.
“Dean.”
I turn at the sound of my name to see Hebe and her wife, Heather, waving at me. “Hey. How are you? Heather, I thought you weren’t back until Monday?”
Heather hugs me. “I missed her so much I had to come home early.”
Hebe and Heather look like twins or sisters at least, both tall and slender, with dark graying curly hair. Echo’s aunt once told me without Heather by her side my family would have destroyed her. Then she told me they might have done the same thing to Echo if she hadn’t been there. Families can do that.
“We’re fine.” Hebe beams at me. She seems to weave either side of me as if she’s looking for someone. “Is Echo here?”
I shake my head. “He’s taking the doc’s advice and resting his ankle. It’s really swollen up.”
Hebe raises an eyebrow. “Oh?”
“I’ve just come from there.” I know the second that’s out of my mouth it’s the wrong thing to say.
“Did you?” She waggles her eyebrows at me.
“I just brought him food,” I protest.
“Uh-huh.” Her drawl goes on forever.
“Leave him alone,” Heather chides. ‘You did the same for me when we first met.”
I haven’t heard that story and raise an eyebrow to drawl the same, “Oh?”
“Another time,” Hebe says hastily. “There are children around.”
“Of course,” I say, not even pretending to hold back my mirth.
Heather smirks at me, licks her finger and pretends to make a score one.
“I should never have introduced you,” Hebe mutters.
Heather links her arm with her wife’s. “Come on. We’ll leave Dean to his hot chocolate. He might want to get back to Echo.”
I force a smile. Not tonight. I have my usual plan for tonight, and I don’t need to dump my misery on a man I’ve only just met. But I wave them off and finish my drink, dumping the cup in a trash can. Then I skirt around the families, waving at people I know, heading to the stage where Danny is waiting for the big moment.
“Good people of Collier’s Creek.”
I grimace at the old-fashioned greeting and the feedback growl from the microphone.
“Thank you all for coming. Before our very own Kandi Kane presses the big button…”
I look at the local celebrity he’s roped in this year. Blonde, bouncing, and brainless. Then I scold myself because I don’t need to be nasty, just because I want to be back in a cozy room with a hot bartender and his cat. I know her, she’s sweet and pretty and goodness, she can’t sing. I wince as she bellows outthe first verse, but no one else seems to care. Kandi is perfect for lighting the tree. Danny’s good at picking the crowd-pleasers.
I smile and cheer and wave along with everyone else, and for a moment Danny’s eyes light on me, and I get a nod of approval. He’s annoying, but he’s my brother, and I’d do anything for him, as he would for me.
