“Thirty years.” She pointed with pride at a little gold apple pin on the white lapel of her pale blue uniform. “Thirty looong years.”
“Congratulations.” Kieran took the menu. “Guess I shouldn’t be surprised that word gets around.”
“That’s life in a small town. Everyone knows everybody’s business. I’ll be back in a sec to get your order.”
“Thanks.” He perused the menu, and he was suddenly hit with nostalgia again. When his father was alive, his family went to the diner together on Friday evenings for the Mistletoe Friday Fish Fry. Those were some of his favorite times with Dad. They both loved fish and would often try to outeat each other, with Kieran losing untilseventh grade, when he’d had a growth spurt and ate almost everything in sight. Good times. He’d had many of them growing up.
Cindy appeared again, pulling a pencil from her cloud of faded red hair and poising it over a small pad. “What’ll you have?”
It wasn’t Friday, but he decided to order the fish and chips anyway. After she left, his phone buzzed, and he pulled out his cell to look at the screen. Sheryl again, only this time she was texting him.
Sheryl:Now that you’re back, I’m going to put you to work.
Kieran:I’m at your service.
He read as his always-organized sister outlined her plans and gave him party prep tasks, which were mostly picking up stuff and keeping Mum occupied, and he’d already planned to do the latter. The hardest part would be keeping the party a secret.
Sheryl:Emmy volunteered to help decorate the community center with us the night before.
His attention perked up at Emmy’s name. He’d continued to think about her off and on last night. And a few times today too. He kept remembering her smile before she went into the post office. Warm, bright, and still pretty.
Sheryl stopped texting, and Kieran put his phone back in his pocket as Cindy showed up with his food. The diner fare was as tasty as he remembered, almost rivaling the fish and chips he’d eaten in Ireland and Great Britain over the years. During his meal, his former junior high school history teacher stopped by the table to exchange pleasantries. Kieran tried not to marvel at how old she was, which reminded him of how oldhewas. “Time flying” wasn’t just a cliché; it was the truth.
He paid his bill, left the diner, and walked out into a brightly lit downtown Mistletoe. Kieran paused, marveling at the shiny, picturesque display that would rival any TV Christmas movie. He’d seen the decorations during the day, but they didn’t compare to the sparkling splendor he was witnessing now.
Abandoning his plan to return home, he stuck his hands into the pockets of his coat and strolled down the street, enjoying the Christmas cheer. A few people were walking around downtown, but the diner was the only business open after five.
He passed by a building with a For Sale sign in the window, then stopped at the end of the street in front of Mistletoe Antiques. He had developed an affinity for antiques when he was refurbishing the castle.
The sign on the door said Closed, but the lights were on, and he couldn’t resist peering through the large picture window in front of the shop. To his surprise he saw Emmy Banks pulling Christmas decorations out of a plastic bin, silver garland draped around her neck. Almost two hours past closing time, and she was still working.
She was removing the Christmas decorations in a deliberate manner, and a stack of similar bins sat nearby. From his vantage point it didn’t look like there were any decorations in the shop, so he reckoned she was in the midst of bedecking her store. As he looked inside, he didn’t see anyone else there. Perhaps she could use some help. He knocked on the window.
Emmy startled, putting her hand over her chest.
“Sorry, lass,” he said, unsure if she could hear him through the glass. He jabbed his thumb toward the door.
Her eyes grew wide for a moment, then she stood and went to the door. “Hi,” she said, appearing a little confused. “Did Sheryl send you?”
“Nay, why?”
“She works here.” Emmy frowned, hugging her shoulders. “Didn’t she tell you?”
Kieran remembered her mentioning in the past that she worked at a store, but he didn’t recall the name or where it was.
“Is there something I can help you with?” Emmy asked.
He could see her breath as she talked, and she was wearing an emerald-green cardigan and slim black pants. Definitely not enough protection from the cold. “I was out for a walk and... Do you need some help?” At her bewildered look he added, “I noticed you gettin’ the Christmas decorations out.”
She glanced over her shoulder and then back at him again. “I’m running a little late this year. But I’ve got it all handled.”
“Ah. Well then.” His ego pricked a little, and that was puzzling. It wasn’t like he’d asked her out and she turned him down. Wait. Was she married? He hadn’t noticed a ring on her hand. Then again, he hadn’t exactly looked. But if she did have a husband, the bloke might not appreciate Kieran being alone with Emmy, even though they were... friends. Or had been. “Guess I’ll see you later, then.” He turned to walk away.
“Kieran?”
He faced her again.
“How about some hot chocolate before you go? It’s so cold out tonight.”
