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There wasn’t a square inch of the church that wasn’t decorated. Lights brightened the eaves and wreaths hung in every window. Even the statue of Jesus had a Santa hat on, and a sign hanging around his neck that read, Happy Birthday! It is because of Your incredible love that we celebrate this season.
Patti held onto his arm tightly as they walked up the ramp behind Josiah, her heeled shoes clacking on the metal.
Damon leaned down to her. “I didn’t get to tell you yet, but you look beautiful, Patti.”
The smile she beamed up at him and the kiss she stopped to place on his cheek warmed him through.
Inside the church, a wonderland of snowmen, gnomes, a little village of houses and shops, and even a train with a circuitous track spanning several tables decorated the sides of the followship hall.
Josiah went over to the train right away, watching it intently, as if it held the secret to something. Or maybe it was a favorite engineering subject of his. He did talk about trains a lot. Patti peeled away from Damon’s side to chat animatedly with a group of ladies around her age. Martha was among them. Despite his best effort, his eyes scanned the room for Valerie. She wasn’t there.
How could he feel disappointed? If it wouldn’t have been entirely nuts for him to, he would have slapped himself in the face. Wake up...she’s leaving again and there’s nothing you can or should try to do about it, he told himself. He had to find something to occupy his mind. Arnold Chelsky was ambling toward a long table decorated with a red, snowflake-bedecked tablecloth that held numerous pastries and large jugs of hot chocolate and apple cider.
Damon headed for the man. He’d always liked talking with Arnold, and a conversation about preparation for the coming summer was just what he needed. Some of those little apple tarts that Martha had probably brought would no doubt make him feel better too.
“Arnold,” he greeted. The other man nodded vigorously and held up a finger as he gulped down whatever pastry he’d stuffed in his mouth just a moment before.
“Good to see you, Damon.” They shook hands, and Arnold clasped his shoulder. “They tell me you got that bear that tried to take down our horses. We’re all thankful for that.”
“It was a group effort. Jason had a tranquilizer gun and was able to knock the bear out to transport to a sanctuary.”
“And we’re all very grateful. Say, did you hear about that lovely young lady of Martha’s? I don’t think it’s a daughter.” Arnold frowned in confusion.
“Yeah, Martha’s niece.” How could a conversation with Arnold, who’d never met Valerie, nor was he active in the small social circle around here, bring them to the one person Damon didn’t want to think about? That phantom pain in his heart and stomach wasn’t going anywhere, but at least he was trying to get his mind elsewhere.
“She was so nice and brought some cookies over and an offer to help us out when the horses had been attacked. It was kind of her.”
“Yes, she also helped capture the bear.” Damon swallowed away the bitterness that rose with the words. She did help, and she deserved to be acknowledged for it. He changed the subject and hoped it stuck. “What are your plans for next season’s planting?” Like Damon, the Chelskys had fields of their own hay they harvested to keep the cost of purchasing feed for the winter down.
The men talked for a few minutes until Kenzie came over and planted her fists on her hips.
“Have you both taken this territory purposefully?”
Damon knew he wore the same confused expression as Arnold when he looked at her.
She gestured, lips tugging into a smile. “You’re standing directly in front of the desserts table so no one else can get any. I feel this was a strategic decision.”
Both men chuckled.
“Dang, you caught us.” Damon stepped aside so he wasn’t blocking the table anymore.
“There’s another reason I came over. There are some decorations that we can’t reach in the Bible study room.”
Damon’s eyebrows went up. “You’re trying to hijack the church’s decorations, and you expect me to help?”
Kenzie huffed, and her fists went back to her hips. “Absolutely not. They’re stored on the shelf and we need them for the Nativity in two days.” She shook her head and muttered, “Stealing from a church...”
Damon couldn’t believe there were more decorations in this place when there wasn’t an area of the church that wasn’t extravagantly decorated. An older version of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” came over the speakers, the crooning voice Damon wasn’t able to place. Not that he was so into music he’d be able to place any singer they played.
When they stepped into the room, Kenzie announced, “I have a tall person to help. Can you believe he thought we were trying to steal the decorations?”
“To do what? Nefariously decorate more of the town?” Valerie turned around, and her eyes widened when she saw him.
Damon’s own heart clenched, and he set his jaw. He felt set up. Blowing out a breath that did nothing to calm him, he shifted his weight uncomfortably. Kenzie most likely had no idea what was going on and that it hurt him to see Valerie.
Valerie recovered quickly and flashed a small smile. “I already feel like I woke some grumpy, ethereal being, and it’s purposefully upsetting my life in retribution. I think stealing from a church would seal my fate.”
Kenzie laughed, but Damon didn’t, instead directing his attention to the box Kenzie had looked up at when they entered the room. The top of the shelf was nearly to the ceiling, and even Damon had to stretch to get a hold on it. He handed it to Kenzie.
“Thank you.” She accepted the box. “These are the horse blankets we’re going to put on the animals for the Nativity.”
“I hope Sir Charles isn’t going to be sassy about it,” Valerie muttered. Damon could barely hear her words. The sweetness of her voice and the cheeky comments, which were an endearing part of her personality, had him struggling not to talk to her, to allow her to make him vulnerable. More so than he already had been with her. That’s why he’d gotten hurt. He’d been a fool.
Damon waited while the women headed for the door, letting them leave so he could put his mind in order before going back out. He had to make peace with the fact that she was here, too, and he would see her through the events for the next few days. It made him want to find a reason to stay home. As if Patti and Josiah would put up with that. Valerie paused at the door and opened her mouth, but then she closed it and left without a word. For the best, he told himself.