A Christmas Delight

16. Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

Joel

W e clink our beers together, then we all take a long sip. A band is playing some blues tonight at the local bar, which Dad and Brent are enjoying. I like it too, but I haven’t been listening much. Been too busy thinking about Maisie. I was this close to asking her out yesterday, but I chickened out. Her friends were right next to us, and that made me feel too awkward.

Maisie seemed so embarrassed about the cup sweater. I don’t think she knows how much that touched me, the fact that she put time and effort, with me on her mind. And it works too. My fingers are unscathed when holding the cup now. Even if that didn’t work, I’d still use it.

I need to get over myself and ask her out. There’s no point in dragging it out. I just have to choose a moment when she’s not working. I thought about knocking on her door, she lives right next to me after all, but I can tell her mother isn’t fond of me. It’s better to find a moment when Maisie’s alone.

A small punch in the shoulder snaps me out of my thoughts. “Where are you?” Brent asks.

I shrug. “Nowhere. Hey, Dad?”

Dad turns away from the band to look at me.

“Maisie and Nina would like to be vendors at the fair. Do you think that’s still possible? Or is that too late?”

Dad’s face lights up. “They want to participate? That would be great. I’ll make sure to ask the organizers about it. I don’t think it should be an issue, they always have a few spots open.”

“Great, thanks.”

Dad turns back to look at the band playing, but Brent looks at me, a grin stretching his lips. “Wow. You clean up her driveway, you help her with her lights, and now you’re helping her get into the fair. You’re head over heels over that girl.”

“Shut up,” I say, but I can’t keep my mouth from quirking up.

“Did you ask her out yet?”

“No. But I’m going to. And I think she’s going to say yes.”

“Well, there’s something to celebrate. And I’m not just happy about getting free lunch.”

“Don’t get too excited. For all I know she won’t like me once she gets to know me better.”

Brent rolls his eyes at me. “I’m more surprised she liked you when she didn’t know you. The grumpy, recluse look isn’t that attractive.”

Dad turns back to us. He’s been listening to the music, ignoring the whole conversation. “Who wouldn’t like you when they get to know you? Maisie?”

“Yeah,” Brent says.

Dad raises his eyebrows. “Did you ask her out yet?”

I chuckle. If only he had listened.

“He’s going to,” Brent says for me. “Next time he sees her, in fact.”

Well, he made that up.

“Finally,” Dad says.

I cock my head. “What do you mean, finally? I’ve known her for a couple of weeks.”

“Took me less time than that to ask your mother out.”

“Yeah, I know the story—”

“It was love at first sight.”

“Oh boy, here we go,” Brent says, taking a swig of beer.

“Slow down on the booze, Dad, yeah?”

“Her eyes shone brighter than the Christmas lights.”

My brother and I shoot each other a look, chuckling, but we end up letting the old man tell his story. How Mom had just moved here and was looking to buy a Christmas tree. How Dad took her to the mountains to chop one up for her. As I listen, it occurs to me just now that I did exactly what my dad did, without even realizing it.

“I miss her,” Dad says as he finishes his story.

“I know, Dad. Me too.”

“Maisie wanted a Christmas tree. Maybe you should cut one for her.”

“Well, actually, I’ve already done that.”

Brent’s eyebrows shoot up. “Really?”

“Yeah. We had a picnic, too. She enjoyed it, I think.” I pause, looking down at my beer. “You should have seen her. She reminded me of Mom a little. She was just so excited about decorating the tree—and don’t even get me started of what her front yard looks like. And then, she made cookies for me.”

Dad and Brent give each other a look, and I realize I’m smiling like an idiot. I don’t even care.

“So, don’t waste your time, boy,” Dad says. “You never know what tomorrow will bring. And I want grandkids.”

Brent breaks into laughter next to me, and I shake my head. As I take a swig of beer, I look toward the window. The street is lit with decorations, making it easy to see people walking outside the bar.

Among them is Maisie, her dark, wavy blonde hair bouncing with each step.

“Well, look at that,” Brent says. “It’s your opportunity.”

“What, now? No.”

“You said you’d ask her out the next time you saw her.”

“You said that, not me. I said I was going to ask her out. You know, at some point.”

Dad points a finger at my face. “Time is precious, son. Don’t waste it.”

Maisie walks past the bar and disappears. Swearing under my breath, I grab my jacket and rush outside. My heart pounds my chest. I have no idea what I’m going to tell her. I feel so unprepared. All this time spent thinking about her, and I couldn’t take five minutes to think about how I would ask her out. It’s too late to back out now.

I burst out of the bar. Maisie’s walking a little further ahead, and I have to press my steps to catch up to her.

“Maisie!”

She whirls around, her eyes widening a little. “Joel?”

“Hey.” I stand in front of her. I have no idea what I’m doing. “How are you?” I ask instead like an idiot.

“I’m okay, I just… I don’t have a lot of time to chat right now.”

If I don’t do this now, I’m gonna lose my nerves. “I won’t take up much of your time, I promise. I just wanted to ask you if you’d be free one evening? To, you know, go out? Have dinner. Or something. Or go to the fair?”

Wow, how could she resist such a smooth invitation?

Maisie looks at me, trying to smile. “I—”

“Maisie?”

Her shoulders tense, and she closes her eyes for a second, then turns around. I look above her to see who called her name. Finn stands a few feet from us. Really? He had to be here just now?

“The restaurant’s over there,” he says, pointing at Di Giorno across the street.

Maisie glances back at me just long enough for me to see the expression on her face, which she already had when I called her. Worry.

“Just a minute,” she tells Finn.

Everything becomes clear, suddenly. I feel like a fool for thinking even for one second that she’d be interested in me. She only sees me as her neighbor, someone she needs to get along with. She probably thinks I’m old.

“It’s not what you think,” she says, turning back to me.

“You’re going on a date with him.”

“No—”

“We really need to get our table now,” Finn says.

“Can you wait for me inside?” Maisie says, glancing over her shoulder. “Please? I’ll be there in a minute.”

“Fine.” Finn shuffles away, and trots to the restaurant.

“Have fun,” I say, then turn away.

“Wait, Joel—” She grabs my arm, but I shake her away.

“This asshole? Really?” I say, turning back to her.

“I’m not interested in him. This is not a date.”

I can’t listen. I can’t hear her. Anger and disappointment are burning in my chest, and blood is pounding in my ears. “And here I was, asking you out like an idiot. I just thought… I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“Whatever you thought, you were right.”

“Oh, come on.”

“Listen, my mom set me up with him. I’m just doing this for her so she can get off my case, but after tonight, there won’t be a second date. I swear.”

I shake my head. “That’s bull crap, and you know it.”

“Excuse me?”

“You want me to believe that you were forced on a date because you can’t stand up to your mother?”

She sighs, searching for her words. “I know this is stupid. I didn’t want to do it. I just want her to leave me alone. This doesn’t mean anything.”

“Do you really lack personality that much?”

Hurt flashes in her eyes, and I instantly regret my words.

“You don’t know anything about me,” she says.

“I know enough to understand that you’re a pushover. Grow a spine.” The words leave a bitter taste in my mouth as they roll off my tongue, but there’s no taking them back now. “Have fun tonight.” I turn away and start walking the opposite direction, seething.

“Screw you, Joel.”

I pause, the shaky tone of her voice pinning me to the ground.

“You have no right to judge me.”

I should walk away, but I look back at her instead.

“You know what? I’m glad you found out about this date tonight. Thanks for showing me your true colors.” Maisie’s eyes shimmer with disgust as she turns away from me and walks toward the restaurant across the street.

I stay where I am, torn between my anger and wanting to go after her. Before I can make a decision, Maisie disappears in the restaurant, leaving me feeling stupid on the sidewalk. It’s better this way, really. I’m not ready to be with anyone, and I shouldn’t have let myself be lured into the fantasy that Maisie was different. She’s too young and too na?ve, and I’m past the point of trusting anyone else again.

Despite trying to convince myself, anxiety squeezes my chest. I decide to text my brother to let him know I’m going home, no longer in the mood for blues and beers.