Page 9 of Let Me Hold You

Someone called his name. It was one of his security guards at the warehouse, here this morning to help get the Christmas Village set up. He waved to Levi.

Levi spotted Forsythia in the hallway near the security guard, and Levi made a beeline to his colleague and gym friend standing next to a pushcart.

“Pete called in sick and we need an extra hand.” The guard wore the same Christmas sweater from last year—that his grandmother had knitted for him. “The donation trailer is out back, and Miss Forsythia wanted it emptied today. We areshorthanded and need to move some giant boxes to the kitchen pantry.”

“For next week’s soup kitchen.” Levi had been the one who decided to park the trailer in the Village parking lot instead of at the church warehouse fifteen minutes away.

Another reason to get Maggie to the warehouse to look over the inventory.

Chapter Three

Compared to Alden—always upbeat and rarely showing what bothered him—Maggie might be too easy to read, often wearing her feelings on her sleeves.

How could she not when Levi was over there at the far end of the community center where the kitchen was, practically following Chef Forsythia around like a puppy.

Maybe that was a bit harsh.

Maggie closed her eyes, drew a deep breath, and tried to pray. No words came. Who would she be praying for? Herself? Levi?

In fewer than four weeks, she would leave Atlanta and none of these things would matter. Levi could date anyone he wanted. She’d try to move on and start over in Florida.

It would be hard for her to let Levi go, since it had been three long years of seeing him daily. On Sundays, they attended the same Sunday school and church service. On Mondays through Fridays, they worked at the same church. And then on Saturdays, sometimes Levi went over to her house to test new breakfast recipes in her kitchen. He said it was easier to cook for two people than for one.

However, she had to let him go for her own sanity.

After all, she could never tell him that she had developed feelings for him. It would be too embarrassing. Besides, Levi treated her like a platonic friend—leaning toward becoming siblings rather than anything else.

She sighed.

A large waving hand appeared in front of her.

Maggie blinked.

“You’re facing the wrong direction.” Alden put two hands on her shoulders and turned her around to face the wall behind an eight-foot ladder and two big boxes filled with either wreaths or string lights.

Bolted to the wall was a series of four connected panels showing a giant panoramic painting, à la Currier and Ives, spanning from one end of the wall to the other. Three art students from church had painted this trompe l’oeil that showed a winter scene beyond a sidewalk of lampposts.

“Ah yes, the lampposts.” They were life-size. And why Maggie and Alden were there today.

“Which end shall we start at?” Alden asked.

“Doesn’t matter. I guess we could go left to right. There are five lampposts, and we just need to hang wreaths on the posts. Then we hang lights on the trees.”

“Are there nails for the wreaths and lights?” Alden stepped toward one of the panels. “Yes, I see. There are hooks.”

“The artists made sure we don’t hammer on their painting.” Maggie laughed. “They even picked the wreaths for us that are not too heavy.”

Alden started moving the ladder. “Why don’t they just hang the wreaths and lights themselves?”

“Got to leave us something to do, right? After all, the painting is free for us to display.” Maggie pushed the box of wreaths on the floor behind Alden.

When she got the box where she wanted, Levi was standing in front of her, a hot cup of something in his hand. “Want some cocoa?”

Before Maggie could say anything, Alden spoke up. “We barely started and you’re taking a break already? This thirty-minute project could take all day.”

Maggie took the mug from Levi and handed it to Alden. “For you.”

Levi didn’t say anything.

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