Page 3 of The Mountain Man's Christmas Angel
Murmurs ran through the group and people dove in, tackling piles and opening boxes. I grabbed a pile and sat down to work, clearing a spot at one table. I hoped the busy task would pass the time.
Yet my hands shook.
My mouth went dry.
And I wanted to leave.
Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale.
Truth was, I barely left my cabin. I didn’t need to. Everything I needed was there. I enjoyed being alone. Wanted to be alone. Deserved to be alone.
So why was I here?
But now this woman…she made me want to stay.
Confliction tore at me, scratching and clawing its way to the surface.
“Have you ever built aLegoset?” Jewels appeared before me.
I met her eyes with mine and we held each other’s gaze, as if it were a lifeline. “Maybe as a little boy. I don’t remember. I enjoy building model cars.”
Her face lit up. “That’s cool. I love being creative. I have too many hobbies, including a craft room that’s full of too much stuff.” Jewels laughed. “Maybe one day I’ll get around to organizing it. You won’t believe the amount of fabric and yarn I’ve collected.”
As much as any type of clutter annoyed me, I wanted to see her craft room. I wanted to learn about her and surround myself with what she enjoyed. These feelings were foreign to me, and I didn’t know what to do with them besides shove them back down. “I have a coin collection, too. It’s the little things in life, hmm?”
“It sure is.” Jewels said softly as she placed theLegoset down on the table next to the other one I opened. We worked quietly beside each other and having her next to me calmed my mind, the thoughts settling. The chatter died away, and it was only her and me, no one else.
“I’m really glad you stayed, Wyatt.” She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, and her cheeks turned a slight pink.
“Me too.” I said, surprising myself. But it was the truth.
Loud chatter echoed from outside the back room, the sound of stomping feet and little yells the surefire sign children were close.
Jewels laughed. “The kids are back from school. They’ll be hungry. I’m going to go make them a snack.”
“Can I help?” I blurted out before I could stop myself.
“Of course. I’d really like that. I’m sure they would, too.”
I smiled for the first time that night. All because of her.
Kids gathered around us in the kitchen as we handed out bread with peanut butter and sliced bananas along with juice boxes.
Bracing myself for the onslaught of feelings I expected around kids, it was surprisingly manageable.
Another thing all because of her.
How did she do it?
How did she ease my pain when she didn’t even know it existed?
How did she calm my insides when she didn’t know they needed calming?
How did she change my soul? How did she change something so powerfully to where it finally felt like it wasn’t being burned inside my very body with every breath I took?
How?
I’d never know all the answers.
