A Christmas Delight

23. Chapter Twenty-three

Chapter Twenty-three

Maisie

T he smells of donuts and coffee mix with the wafts of cotton candy and kettle corn floating around. This is our second evening at the fair, and I must admit that I’m still tired from the previous night. Working during the day and the evening, with nearly twice as many donuts to make is no joke, but it’s been worth it so far. We see new faces, people from different towns who swear they will come back to our shop after tasting our donuts. Nina and I float from excitement and happiness.

My mom hasn’t been very happy about it. When Randall mentioned the fair during dinner at his house, she hadn’t known what he was talking about, so he explained it to her. She acted as though it was great, but once we were home, she pouted and told me I should have warned her that I would be extra busy. Of course, I apologized. It wasn’t my intention to leave her alone, and I know she wants to spend time with me. To be fair, I’d like that too, but opening a brand-new business has made me a busy person. I told her to come see us. That it’d be nice for her to get out of the house and talk to people. That Randall would be there most evenings. But Mom isn’t fond of these kinds of events. She didn’t show up yesterday, and I doubt she’ll show up tonight.

There’s one person that never fails to show his support, though, and that is Andy, once again reporting for duty tonight and feeding us corn dogs while we work. Yesterday, he played one of the arcade games and won a stuffed polar bear with a red beanie and scarf, which he gave to Nina under the guise of “I wouldn’t know what to do with it,” but I know he got the bear specifically for her.

I also played some games yesterday during my break. Joel and I walked around the fair, and I felt so happy, so full. The cheery ambiance and all the lit Christmas trees do help, sure, but it was being with Joel, our fingers threaded together that made me float. I can’t get tired of this man. I can’t get enough of him. The only downside to that experience was the money I lost on a stupid claw machine, and I didn’t even win anything.

In between customers, I watch the Ferris wheel spinning lazily, blinking in the night. In the line are Brent, Joel, and Randall. Randall is waving at us. Nina and I wave back.

Joel trots in the direction of our booth. When he reaches the counter, I lean over it, and he meets me halfway for a kiss.

“You smell like sugar,” he whispers against my lips, making me shiver.

I didn’t think I could fall so hard for someone, but I’m officially addicted to this man.

“Wanna come on the Ferris wheel with us?” he asks.

Just looking at the wheel sends chills throughout my body. “I’m way too busy, sorry. I don’t know if I’ll get a break tonight.”

He makes a show of looking around, silently pointing out the fact that there are currently no customers.

“I’d rather eat dog food than get on that thing,” I finally say.

He bursts out laughing, and slowly backs out of the booth, a twinkle in his eye. “By the time the fair is over, I’ll get you on that Ferris wheel.”

“Yeah, right. Good luck with that.”

“Wait and see.”

He turns away, and I keep watching him until Nina wipes imaginary drool off my chin, making us both laugh.

“Isn’t he dreamy?” I say.

“Very.”

“What about Andy?”

She frowns, doing a double take. “What about him?”

“Are you guys having fun at your place?”

“Sure.” She eyes me suspiciously. “Playing video games, watching movies and stuff. The usual.”

“Do you find him dreamy?”

“What? No. We’re just friends. Plus, he would never see me that way.”

“What makes you say that?”

She shrugs, pretending to get busy dusting the coffee machine and avoiding looking at me. “I just know it.”

I’m tempted to tell her that she’s wrong, but before I open my mouth, a customer approaches the booth and speaks my name, forcing me to look away.

“Hi, Maisie.” Finn stands on the other side of the counter, smiling at me.

“Oh, hi. What can I get you?” I say numbly.

“Iced coffee, please. Black.”

Nina makes his coffee before I can reach the coffee machine. Damn it. I need to find something to busy myself in the meantime.

“I was hoping I could talk to you,” Finn says, preventing me from escaping.

“Um, okay.”

He hesitates, his eyes switching from me to Nina, who glares at him as she pours ice into his cup, looking just about ready to claw his eyes out. “Can we talk privately?”

“I don’t really have time—”

“Please. Just for two minutes.”

I sigh, glancing at Nina, and she nods at me. I step outside of my booth and follow Finn a few yards away, then cross my arms.

“Make it quick.”

“I wanted to say sorry. For the things I said on our date.”

“Wow, some self-awareness. I’m impressed. It only took you three weeks.”

“I was out of line. I’m really sorry.”

I study his face, his expression. I honestly can’t tell if he’s sincere or not. He certainly looks like he is. “Okay. Well, thanks for saying that.”

“I’d love to be friends. Or at least, friendly acquaintances. We’re bound to run into each other often. I don’t want things to be awkward.”

“I guess that’s true.”

“So, what do you say?” He extends a hand toward me, smiling sheepishly. “Friends?”

The idea of running into him has made me more uncomfortable than I’d like to admit since our dinner. This seems to be a good opportunity to put what happened behind us, if only for my peace of mind. I shake his hand. “Sure, Finn. Friends. Or friendly acquaintances.”

Before I know what’s going on, Finn pulls me into a hug. It feels awkward. I try to get out of it as gently as I can, then walk backwards back to my booth.

“Nice to see you,” I lie.

He follows me to pick up his iced coffee and hands me a five-dollar bill. “I think I’m gonna walk around. Play some games.”

“Great. Have fun,” I say, giving him his change.

“If I win something, it’ll be for you.”

I offer a tight smile, which slides off my face as soon as he turns away. Nina looks at me with an expression I can only qualify as a what-the-hell look, which I mirror, shrugging. That was nice of Finn to apologize, I guess.

A customer is waiting to order, so Nina quickly retrieves her place behind the counter. “Hi there, what can I get you?”

The woman raises her head and returns the smile. Her auburn hair shines in the multicolored lightbulbs lining the stand above our heads. She’s tall and thin, looking elegant in a cream-colored coat that reaches her thighs. “Small black coffee and an apple cider donut, please.”

“Sure thing.” Nina glances at me. “Maisie, can you grab an apple cider donut while I make the coffee?”

“Yep.” I grab a paper bag and gently take the donut with the kitchen tongs to place it inside. “Will that be all for you?” I put the donut on the counter and look at the woman.

She’s studying me with a curious look.

I clear my throat. “Would you like anything else?”

“Maisie, is it?” she says. “I don’t hear that name often.”

“Well, so far I haven’t met anyone with the same name as me.”

“Right.” She looks me up and down, and suddenly, she doesn’t look as friendly as she did a second ago. “I think we have a common acquaintance.”

“Oh, really? I only moved here a few weeks ago so, probably not.”

“Joel.”

The smile slides off my face. The way she looks at me, her gaze piercing and a smirk lifting one corner of her mouth, makes me squirm. I try to keep my composure. “I guess you were right. I do know him.”

Nina chuckles as she puts the small coffee on the counter. “Yeah, you’re only dating him.”

“Do you live around here?” I ask the woman. Maybe they used to go to school together or something. “How do you know Joel?”

“I almost married him.”

My stomach drops, and I fight to keep my composure. “Oh. You’re—”

“Catherine. Yes.”

“And you’re in town because…”

She takes out her wallet and hands me a ten-dollar bill. “Oh, just passing through. Don’t worry about me.”

I wasn’t worried until she told me not to worry. I give her her change, still trying to appear friendly despite knowing how much this woman hurt Joel. Despite seeing how beautiful she is and wondering why the hell Joel likes me. That can’t be right.

Catherine takes her coffee and her donut in her gloved hands. “I don’t know if Joel spoke about me, and what he told you if he did, but I advise you to be careful around that man. He’s very jealous. And he’s got quite a temper.”

I open my mouth, but she leaves before I can utter a word. Truth be told, I have no idea what I was going to say.

“Well, that was weird,” Nina says, standing next to me and watching Catherine walk away. “What is she doing here? I thought she lived, like, hours away.”

“I don’t know.”

Catherine is walking toward the Ferris wheel. Is she looking for Joel? Does he know she’s in town? People crowd my view of her as they walk by, and soon she disappears among them.