Page 25 of Maybe This Christmas
Caleb reached into his pocket and pulled out a dark-rimmed pair of glasses.Emma really tried to ignore the funny sort of feeling it gave her.
She failed.
He nudged his glasses up his nose.“Oh yeah?Do you notice little things like that?What do you do for work?”
She set the menu down and returned to her hot toddy.“Well, until a few days ago, I worked as a government affairs associate at a lobbying and law firm in DC.”She sipped on her drink.“I compiled reports, read the news, and watched TV.Looking for trends and data that our lobbyists wanted us to track.It wasn’t exactly thrilling.”
“Oh,” Caleb said.“So, what are you going to do now?”
She traced her finger along the rim of the glass.“I honestly have no idea.My life has kind of imploded this week.No job, no fiancé… I guess I can do anything.”
He leaned back in his chair.“So, what would you do, if you had the option?Like, if capitalism wasn’t a thing.”
She chuckled at that.“Well…I’ve always wanted to open a stationery store.I worked in one for years while attending college.I’ve always loved paper things.”She pointed to the menu.“Like appreciating the font and paper weight your sister chose for the menu.”
“Huh,” he said.
For a moment, she expected him to be dismissive.After all, it wasn’t exactly the kind of typical dream one had.
He reached for his drink.“I actually know a spot in Falling Leaves that would be perfect for a store like that.”
Her eyes widened.“Seriously?”
“I mean, not that you’re staying in town.I figured you could see it.Maybe it would inspire you to chase that dream, once and for all.”
Caleb had shown her more support in ten minutes than Davis had in years.Sure, he’d “encouraged” her to open a stationery business, but she’d always felt that was more of his idea of a potential investment than any real interest in her dreams.
“I would love to see the space,” she said quietly.“Although, honestly, I wouldn’t know the first place to start with running a business.”
“Well, the Ellis family owns several.Sabrina and I work with our dad at our construction business, Ellis & Daughter.She’s been spending more time up here on the mountain, though.Helping Brandon run the lodge.This place was his dream, and we all worked together to make it happen.”
A spark of hope ignited in Emma.
“My Uncle Gordon and cousin Dennis own the Missing Screw, the hardware store in town.Trust me, if Dennis can keep a business afloat, you should have no problem.”
They shared a smile before Dutch burst back into the room.“Are we ready to place our dinner orders, lady and gentleman?”He cast a glance between the two of them.“Or I could come back?It looks like I interrupted something beautiful.”
Caleb gave Emma a look that she could only describe as“Can you believe this guy?”before snapping up his menu.“Tell your mom it’s time to take you to the eye doctor’s, Dutch.I’m ready to order.”
While Caleb rattled off what he wanted, Emma let out a slow, shaky breath.Somehow, this place seemed perfect—Caleb included.It was best to keep her hopes level to the ground before they got away from her.
However, as she snuck a glance at Caleb, she wondered if it was a little too late for that.
Chapter Nine
Once Dutchfinallyleft them alone with their dinner, Caleb relaxed.The kid felt like a jack-in-the-box, just waiting to spring into the room to scare the shit out of him.
Not that it seemed to bother Emma.
He unfurled his napkin.“You know, I have to say you seem rather calm for someone who’s had an uncommonly awful couple of days.”
To that, she chuckled.“I don’t know that I’d call it awful.Honestly, I’m not sure what I was thinking about bringing Davis here.I don’t think I would’ve had the idea if I hadn’t been laid off from my job.”
“What gave you the idea to come here?”Caleb asked.
“An ad on my social media.This place looked perfect, and I wanted to be anywhere but DC.When Davis agreed to come, it felt like fate.Especially as things hadn’t been great between us for a while.”She unrolled her napkin and placed the cutlery on the table.“His departure wasn’t exactly unexpected on my end.I just expected it would take a few days before a mysterious ‘work thing’ came up and he returned to DC.”
“Yeah, but he’s not coming back, is he?”God, he felt foolish for asking, but he had to.It was all so new, he didn’t have a rulebook to follow.
