“Hey, Willow,” Ryan called out to her with a smile. “Jensen got you on the phone, huh? You guys were lucky you caught me when you did.”
So much for my escape.
The restof the morning passed happily enough. She dropped the car off in front of Carla’s Place, left it there, and walked over to the Co-op to buy a few ornaments and a single string of lights for her tiny tree.
When she got back home, she put on her Christmas pajamas, started soup in the slow cooker, and decorated the little tree while she played a Hallmark movie on her laptop to set the mood.
Before long, the tree was bright and festive, and the whole apartment smelled amazing.
Ransom had the old bins of family decorations at his place, since he had a whole house and kids, and they would all be celebrating over there. But maybe by this time next year Willow would have a few special ornaments too.
By the time she got everything cleaned up, it was time for her volunteer shift at the market. She changed into jeans and a sweater, pulled on her boots and coat, and headed out.
The area at the north end of town where the Trinity Falls Open Air Market was located was on a huge stretch of land. Soon, there would be a highway coming in, connecting Trinity Falls more directly with Philadelphia. During their talk yesterday, Ransom told her all about how some local businessman had purchased the land to keep it from being used for commercial purposes. But then his assistant, who sounded like a very smart woman to Willow, convinced him that the town could really use that land for community events and services.
Back when Willow was a kid, all of this had just been open fields and trees. But as she pulled into the area, she could already see that there was a nice big gravel parking lot, a wide grassy field, and a great big, covered space that was open on three sides, and currently lined with tables.
It was kind of exciting to think of all the cool stuff that could be done with a space like this. Sam, the young woman who was the coordinator at the veterans center, had mentioned that it was great for the farmers market in winter and even in the summertime when it was rainy.
But seeing it, Willow could imagine parties, dances, and fundraisers of all kinds happening here too.
“Hey, Willow,” Sam said, waving to her as she walked up. “I’m so glad you made it. We really appreciate you lending a hand.”
“I’m happy to help,” Willow told her with a smile. She meant it too. Nothing made her feel more like she was part of Trinity Falls again than joining her neighbors for a project.
“Well, follow me,” Sam said. “We’re thinking we’d like the First Aid booth to be set up in back near the bathrooms and the stage.”
Willow followed her toward the one closed wall of the big structure, where there were doors leading to bathrooms on each end of the wall and another that saidkitchen. Just in front of those things was a small platform stage.
On one side of the stage, someone was putting together a booth that looked like it would hold coffee and beverages. On the other was a booth that saidFirst Aid.
And squeezed in between the First Aid booth and the stage was a big table with a soundboard on it.
Jensen Webb stood by the soundboard, fishing something through a tangle of cables.
“Hey, Jensen,” Sam said brightly. “This is Willow, our nurse volunteer. Willow, this is Jensen, he’s in charge of setting up the sound, but he can also help with anything you need at your booth.”
Jensen glanced up in surprise and when his gray eyes met hers, Willow felt that familiar tingle rush through her chest.
I’m in so much trouble…
5
WILLOW
Willow headed over to her booth to see what kind of supplies she had to work with as soon as Sam scurried off to welcome more volunteers.
I’m not going to get distracted just because my old crush is here. I’m going to do my volunteer work…
“So much for avoiding each other,” Jensen said softly.
She looked around worriedly, but they were practically standing next to each other, and there was no one else around.
“Sorry,” she told him. “I didn’t mean to be unfriendly. I’m just thinking about Ransom.”
“Did you mean what you said on the phone?” Jensen asked. “Do you really think I can make things right with him?”
Willow looked up at him, finally making eye contact. His gray gaze was so serious.
