Toyland
“Ronnie, would you just look at these handmade doll clothes?” Ava held up a pink knitted sweater with a matching hat and booties.
Ronnie turned from stacking toy soldiers in a row. “Cute! Those will sell out this weekend. Did your mom make them?”
“A few, but the rest came from the sewing club down at Whisper’s Edge Retirement Community. Clint went with me last night to pick them up.”
“Ava, you’re having a hard time keeping toys on the shelf. With less than a week before Christmas, we just might sell out of everything! But speaking of Clint, I’m guessing the rosy in your cheeks isn’t just from the successful sales. Don’t even try to deny it.”
“I won’t.” Ava lit a sugar-cookie-scented candle and grinned over at Ronnie. “With those pointed elf boots and crazy twirling hat, you look as if you should be living in Whoville.”
Ronnie rocked back on her heels, showing off the curled-upward tips of her boots. “Are the red-and-green-striped tights over-the-top?”
“Yes, but it’s totally you.”
“You mean that as compliment, right?”
“Of course!”
“Just checking.” Ronnie looked down at the painted face of the toy soldier. “The details on these are incredible. It makes me think that they march all around the shop at night when the lights go out.” Ronnie did a stiff-legged impression.
“You have a vivid imagination, my friend.”
“I know. It’s a curse, I tell ya. Have you picked out a present for Clint yet?”
“Gourmet pots and pans.”
“What?” Ronnie paused from her new task of placing plush teddy bears on a round display table.
Ava shrugged. “The man enjoys cooking. He’ll love them.”
“He cooks too? You are one lucky chick.”
“I know,” Ava admitted. They might have been separated for fifteen years, but the loss of time somehow made reuniting even sweeter. All week, every night after work, Ava walked upstairs to a long kiss followed by a hot meal, and although Clint had to leave to help out at the tavern, he returned to spend the evenings with her. The fast-paced routine they had fallen into was exhausting but in a good way. Ava had never felt happier or more satisfied . . . in more ways than one. The thought made her blush.
“There it is again, the rosy cheeks.” Ronnie grinned.
“Oh stop!” Ava said with a laugh. This Christmas she’d have Clint with her at her parents’ celebration. While she loved their family gatherings, Ava always felt like she was floating in a sea of her brothers’ wives and children, belonging and yet a little bit lost. But this year things were going to be different. Ava made a mental note to remember to invite Pete.
“I’m so happy for you. It’s like being in the middle of our own personal Hallmark Christmas movie. All we need is a soundtrack. And, you know, a boyfriend for me, the sidekick and scene stealer.”
“I can fix that,” Ava said, and turned on the piped-in Christmas music.
“A boyfriend?”
“The soundtrack.”
“Perfect!” Ronnie did a funny little elf dance to “Toyland” and then hurried across the shop to give Ava a hug. “We are kinda like babes in Toyland,” she said with a giggle.
“Well, then, babe, as for the boyfriend”—Ava put her hands on Ronnie’s shoulders—“when are you going to make a play for Braden?”
“I told you, Braden has a girlfriend, Ava. I won’t be a home wrecker.”
“That would only be if he were married.”
“Still . . .” Ronnie turned and busied herself pouring silver candy kisses into a big red bowl sitting next to the cash register.
“When I was over at the bakery ordering more cookies, I overheard that he broke up with Stacy.” Ava wiggled her eyebrows.
“Really?” Ronnie perked up at the news but then shrugged. “I mean, that’s cool but whatever.”
“Well, now, I have to wonder why Braden has come in here pretty often. He doesn’t have any kids to shop for.”
“To see you! You’re neighbors and you used to babysit for him.”
“To see me, right. That’s why he brought you a cookie from the bakery last week.”
“Because it was shaped like an elf and he thought it was funny.”
“And he knows you like Grammar’s cookies.”
“Who doesn’t?”
“Hmm . . . and here he comes walking across the street now.”
“What?” Ronnie squeaked.
“Hey, you’re starting to sound like an elf,” Ava teased, but Ronnie’s attention was fixed on the young man heading their way. Reaching up, Ronnie touched her funny hat, licked her lips, and smoothed her puffy little skirt. Ava put a hand to her chest, remembering that breathless, fluttering feeling when Clint walked into a room. She pressed her lips together, thinking that young love was so fresh and exhilarating. But it could also be fleeting and uncertain. What Ava had with Clint was built on young love but was now deeper, stronger, and more powerful. Ava smiled softly.
And, yes, better.
Just as Ava had thought, Braden gave her a brief wave and then walked over to where Ronnie pretended that straightening the bows on the bears was extremely important.
“Oh hi, Braden!” Ronnie did a commendable job acting surprised. “What brings you in here?”
“Aw, just out shoppin’ and I thought you might give me an idea of what to get my mom,” Braden said in that slow cowboy way.
“Oh . . .” Ronnie nodded. “But this is a toy store,” she reminded him with a grin.
“I know.” Braden tipped his cowboy hat back a notch. “But I was wondering if you might take part of your lunch hour to help me out? I’m heading over to the feed store, but I’ll take you to Wine and Diner if you can help me find the perfect gift for my mom.”
Oh, how in the world could Ronnie refuse Braden’s oh so cute request? Ava had to smile.
Ronnie glanced over at Ava. “Oh, I don’t know; we’ve been so busy.”
Braden didn’t miss a beat. “Ava? Can you spare Ronnie for a little while this afternoon?”
“Sure.” Ava nodded. “Ronnie, I’ll text you if we get swamped.”
“Thanks,” Braden said and turned back to Ronnie. “I’ll drop on by around noon.” And then, with a tip of his hat, he quickly went on his way.
“Well, now . . .” Ava said, but Ronnie had a deer-in-headlights look.
“I can’t go walking around town dressed like this!”
“I told you that you didn’t have to wear the costume every day.”
“The kids love it, but that’s here in the store. I can’t go to lunch dressed like this.”
“It’s never stopped you before.”
“And I wasn’t with Braden!”
“Besides, it’s kind of Hallmark movie–ish, don’t you think?”
Ronnie laughed. “I think we’re rubbing off on each other.”
“And I like it! It was about time I let my hair down and lived my life. Now get back to work, my little sidekick. We’re about to get busy.”
• • •
The rest of the weekend passed in a holiday-colored blur. By Monday afternoon, the lack of inventory coupled with the threat of snow had Ava sending Ronnie home and closing A Touch of Whimsy early. Her decision to close also gave Ronnie the opportunity to go out to the Greenfield farm for a bonfire and ice skating party. Ava remembered how she’d loved the bonfires down at the Sullys’ cabin by the river—sometimes shared with friends, but often just the two of them creating memories of their own.
“I know. I’m home early,” Ava said to her delighted puppy. “Gives me time to wrap presents before Clint gets home,” she said. She put her hands to her cheeks. “Home,” she whispered and then smiled. She and Clint hadn’t spent a day apart since the night of the mistletoe. While Clint rented the condo over by the stadium, she almost felt as if her loft had become his home. Their relationship had gone from zero to eighty in nothing flat, but everything about it felt right.
After changing into comfy sweatpants and a hoodie, Ava poured a glass of sweet tea and hauled out her Christmas gifts to wrap. She gave Rosie a pig’s ear to keep her busy and then turned on her favorite Amy Grant Christmas CD. Hopefully, she’d have the presents wrapped and beneath the tree by the time Clint walked through the door. Wrapping was usually a task that Ava rather dreaded, but she found herself humming along with Amy Grant and happily adding little decorative touches to the gifts. When she got to the big box filled with the copper-bottomed cookware, Ava laughed, bringing a curious doggie look from Rosie.
“I know. I’m acting silly. I guess that’s what being in love is all about. I just can’t stop smiling.”
When it got to be a little bit late, Ava began to wonder why Clint wasn’t home. But she shrugged it off. He’d mentioned planning something special, and maybe he was like most guys and doing some last-minute Christmas shopping. Perhaps Sully’s was simply too busy to allow him to take his dinner break. “I think I’ll just take a hot bath,” Ava said, getting an alarmed bark from Rosie. “Not a bath for you,” Ava assured her dog. “I just need to soak these tired bones. By the time I’m done, Clint should be here.”