Page 46 of Santa of the Creek
“It’s not okay,” I grumble. “You don’t deserve this.”
I’ll be lucky if he doesn’t dump me for being the useless boyfriend of the year.
“It’s all right, Echo. It’s December. People get sick, and it’s always busy.”
Great, now he’s trying to pacify me when it should be the other way around.
I’d asked him to take me to Gustoso after we’d discussed it the other night. I seem to have spent December working or staring at my four walls. Admittedly I got to stare at the walls with Dean which made it a lot more fun, but I just needed to go somewhere else. I left Dean to book the table on my next day off…today. At least that was the idea.
“What time do you have to start?” he asks suddenly.
“Five. I told him I wasn’t going to cover all afternoon too.”
“Then let’s go for a late lunch. That way you’re not working on empty all night. Wait a minute, I’m just going to use the other phone.”
He’s the only man I know who still has a landline, saying it makes him feel connected in the way a cell phone doesn’t.
Then I hear him speak again.
“Hi there, it’s Dean Hobart. I know I booked a table for later, but we can’t make that now. Would you have a table free at two? You do?” He broke in a smile that clutched at my heart. “That’s great. We’ll see you then. Definitely the lasagna and whatever Echo loves. You know him? He’s a regular? Fantastic.”
“Back again. Two it is,” he says.
“You know I might have wanted to order something different,” I grumble.
“And yet you always order the same pizza,” he coos.
I slump against the counter. “You know me too well.”
“You’re tired and grouchy. You want familiar to make you feel better.”
Dean is right, dammit. I would have ordered the same pizza I always eat.
“I’ll take care of you,” he promises me.
You know what? He can take care of me today because one day I’ll be there for him.
“I’ll meet you at Jake’s at one-forty-five,” I suggest, meaning the statue of Jacob Collier, the founder of Collier’s Creek. “I’ve got chores to do that I’d been putting off until today.”
“See you at one-forty-five,” he says. “I’m reading at the library in…gotta go! I’m going to be late!”
And he’s gone. I’ll train him to be on time if it kills me. Which means I’ll be calling him from one to make sure he meets me on time.
I run around the Creek all day, shopping first, then visiting Aunt Hebe, and finally sending parcels with small presents to my two sisters and my brother. I never bothered with my parents. I don’t even know why I bother with my siblings, but I guess I want them to remember they have a brother who they loved once upon a time, even if they hate him now. I don’t even know if they receive the gifts, but I can hope.
By the time I reach the statue, my mood has dropped again. I sigh. I feel like I’ve been nothing but on and off crankiness. But the sight of Dean, wearing a long navy wool coat and a matching cream hat, scarf, and gloves, makes me smile. He looks dressed for the office, not to read to a bunch of toddlers.
I check my watch. One-thirty-five. “You’re early,” I call out.
“I’m on time for you,” he says, his smile happy when he sees me. He looks around, then kisses me on the mouth. “I didn’t want to keep you waiting.”
“Thank you for thinking of me.” I cup his jaw, kiss him gently, then I link arms with him, and we head to Gustoso.
The restaurant is run by an Italian couple who for some reason settled here. I have no idea why. But then, haven’t I done the same thing?
Mrs. Tomoso hugs Dean as soon as we enter and bursts into a heated discussion. This is when I discover my boyfriend can speak Italian. Maybe not as fluently as Mrs. Tomoso, but I’m just staring at him.
He catches my gaze and flushes. “I’ve spent a lot of time on my own.”
