Page 41 of The Christmas Lodge
“Stop trying to change the subject…”
“All right, all right.” Derek raised his hands in surrender, knowing Clark wasn’t going to be fobbed off with an excuse or by changing the subject. “Lacy is going back to St. Louis to pick a couple of things up, and she’s leaving tomorrow.”
Clark’s eyes softened and he clapped Derek on the shoulder. “I thought this might have something to do with Lacy.”
“Shut up,” Derek pretended to growl, but he couldn’t help laughing a little. “I know it’s just for a little bit and then she’ll be back for the party. I mean, the plans are well underway, so it’s not like she’s going to miss it after all the work she’s done.”
“But you’re thinking about the next time she goes back to St. Louis. When she leaves for good.”
Clark’s words, though they were the same ones Derek had repeated to himself a million times already, still cut him like a knife to the chest. He snapped his mouth closed, merely nodding by way of a response. Clark sighed.
“I’m sorry, man. Anyone with eyes in this town can see that there’s something between the two of you.”
Derek blinked, rearing his head back a little. “Are people talking?”
“If they are, what do you care?”
Derek shrugged. “I guess you’re right…”
“And that's not really what’s bothering you anyway. It really all comes down to what you’re going to do when Lacy leaves for good, doesn’t it?”
Derek shot Clark a look. “You run a hardware store. Since when did you become so perceptive? I feel like I’m in therapy or something.”
Clark laughed. “You know how people spill their deepest secrets to bartenders? Well, folks tell me a lot more than you’d think when I’m checking them out at the cash register.”
“Is that so? Wow, I bet you have juicy stories to tell.”
“Stop trying to change the subject!”
Before Derek could reply, they had to step aside to make room for an elderly customer pushing his cart to pass by. The man paused, realizing who was standing and talking to Clark, and his face lit up.
“Young man, I heard all about the Christmas party your girlfriend is putting on at the Spielman mansion! I have to say, I’m pleased as punch to see the old house gettin’ all fixed up. Your young lady is stayin’ true to Nicholas’s memory, God rest his soul, and all of us in town are right glad to see it.” The man reached one wrinkled hand out to shake Derek’s.
Derek, overwhelmed by the onslaught of the man’s speech, struggled to keep up. “Oh, Lacy isn’t my girlfriend—”
“Well, whatever you youngsters call it today,” the man said, waving Derek’s protest aside. “Me and my wife are lookin’ forward to the Christmas party, I can tell you that.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Derek could see that Clark was struggling to hold back a peal of laughter. Derek shot him a venomous look then turned back to the elderly customer.
“Well… I’ll be sure to pass your compliments along,” Derek finally said, his voice weak.
“You do that, son. You do that.”
The man continued pushing his cart and disappeared down the aisle. When he was out of earshot, Clark finally gave in to his suppressed hilarity. Derek gave him a playful slug on the arm.
“Come on, man! Pull yourself together.”
“Sorry, sorry.” Clark wiped at his streaming eyes. “Phew, I needed that today.”
“So glad my discomfort is a source of pleasure for you,” Derek replied, his tone dry.
Clark sobered then, his face becoming serious. “It’s really not. Mervin always cracks me up. He comes in a lot. No, what you’re going through right now with Lacy doesn’t make me laugh. I’m worried about you.”
Derek sighed, his defenses coming down before Clark’s kindly gaze.
“What should I do? I think I’m falling for her,” he admitted, and he realized how true it was as the words left his mouth. He hadn’t spoken them aloud to anyone, almost too afraid to admit it even to himself, but there was no denying it any longer. “I’m falling for her, and it’s the dumbest thing I could’ve done. I mean, she’s leaving.”
Clark chewed the inside of his cheek. “Have you told Lacy how you feel?”
