Eventually the two ladies came out, still laughing like school girls, and Sarah rang up the old clock her friend had picked up. “Bill is going to love this,” the woman, dressed in a loud red coat with shimmering rhinestones across the lapel, mused.
“I certainly hope so,” Sarah replied, her face beaming. “All right, Ruth. Here it is, darling. Now you two kids stop by and say hello before the parade. Melody and I will be right out there on the bench in front of the store.”
“Bill will be excited to see you,” Ruth replied with a giggle, “but not as excited as he will be to see this clock!”
“Take care, dear,” Sarah said as her friend headed for the door.
“See you in a bit, hon,” Ruth shouted back and then added, “Goodbye, Melody!”
Turning to smile in her direction, Melody said, “It was nice to see you again, Ruth,” and tried to commit the woman’s name to memory.
Once the door was closed, Sarah came back around the counter laughing, and leaning against it, she crossed her arms. “That Ruth sure is a spunky one. I wish I had her energy.”
Melody looked at her mother, duster in hand. She wasn’t even fifty yet. She had many years ahead of her. “You do have her energy, Mom. Maybe not her—giddiness,” Melody said for lack of a better word. Zaniness, maybe? “But definitely just as much energy.”
“Thanks, honey,” Sarah said, “and I was going to tell you, if you think Reid wouldn’t mind, I’d be happy to take Michael back to our house for a little while after the parade, so that you and Reid can have some time to yourselves.”
Melody nearly dropped the glass figurine she’d returned to dusting. Setting it carefully back on the shelf, she turned to face her mother. “You’d do that?” she asked.
“Of course,” Sarah said with a shrug. “Why not? Michael’s delightful. I’m sure we’ll have a great time together. And you and Reid need a chance to spend some time alone. What kind of a date would it be with your mother and his son there the whole time?”
Melody had been wondering the same thing ever since Reid had asked her out, though she was willing to take what she could get. Still, having even an hour or so of Reid to herself would make it so much easier for them to really get to know one another better.
Before Melody could express her thoughts, Sarah asked, “Do you still have his booster seat in your truck?”
Sparing the chuckle at her mother’s term for her SUV, Melody said, “Yes, it’s still in there.”
“Why don’t I drive it over to our place, and Reid can bring you home and pick him up? That is, if you think Reid will trust me with his child.”
“Why wouldn’t he trust you?” Melody asked. “You were a teacher and a child care provider—not to mention a mother.”
“I know. He just doesn’t know me that well.”
“I’m sure he’ll trust you. What about your car?”
“We can come get it tomorrow. I know how much you hate that Oldsmobile of mine, and I think a proper date needs to end with a gentleman dropping a lady at her front porch. Although, I will remind you it is a first date, and there’s a chance Michael and I will be peeking through the windows to make sure everyone minds their manners.”
Chuckling, Melody imagined what that would be like and had no doubt her mother meant it. There’d likely be no first kiss at the end of this date—and Melody was okay with taking things slow. Still, the chance to have Reid to herself was enough to make her heart sing, a sensation she hadn’t allowed herself to experience for a long time. “Thank you, Mom,” Melody said, not knowing what else to say.
“You’re welcome,” Sarah said, turning back around to straighten a few items on the counter. “It’ll be time to close up soon. Are you excited for the parade?”
Melody had been so ecstatic all day, she could hardly stand it, but it had nothing to do with the floats, marching bands, and antique cars that would soon be making their way down the street out front. “I’m very excited,” she replied. She just prayed that this evening would turn out even half as well as it had when she’d played it out time and again in her imagination. As she finished dusting the shelves, she wondered if Reid was as excited as she was, what he was doing, and if he’d be willing to take her mother up on her offer. Whatever he was doing, she was certain Michael had to be driving him crazy asking if it was time to go yet. The idea made her giggle out loud. She figured the customers who had just come in must think she really enjoyed cleaning, but she didn’t care—it was almost time for the Christmas parade!
***
“Is it almost time for the Christmas parade?” Michael asked for at least the hundredth time in the last ten minutes. “I want to go see Miss Melody!”
Reid was standing in front of the mirror in the master bathroom trying to decide if he had made a mistake wearing his blue sweater over the top of his blue-and-white plaid shirt. “Will this be too hot with a coat on, too?” he mumbled to himself. He’d already changed at least four times, and it seemed odd to him to even care what he was wearing for a change, especially since he’d likely have his coat on the whole time, but he wanted to look nice for Melody, even if she couldn’t see it, and he was lost in his own reflection when Michael’s yelling from the attached bedroom became more invasive.
“Dad? I wanna go!” the kindergartner said, coming in and slamming his hands down on the counter.
“We will. In just a few minutes. I promise,” Reid said, running a comb through his hair one more time, trying to make sure the part was just right.
“I thought you were wearing your red sweater,” Michael said, sitting down on the edge of the whirlpool tub he’d helped Reid install over the summer.
Reid turned to look at Michael. “What—you don’t like the blue?”
“I like the blue,” Michael said, shrugging. “I liked the red. I. Just. Wanna. Go!”
Reid glanced at his watch. “It’s not quite time yet, Mikey. Chill out.”
With a loud groan and a death march only an angry child can pull off, Michael exited the bathroom. “Fine, then I’m eating more candy.”
It took Reid a moment to process what he had said, and Michael was down the hall before he shouted, “No, you’re not!”
There was no response, so Reid could only assume he’d already broken back into the goodie bag of sugar Michael had received at the party. Thinking the crash would hit about the same time as the first float went by, he took one last glance in the mirror, decided that would have to do, and went off to attempt to pry the candy out of Michael’s grubby hands.
Just a few minutes later, they were on their way downtown. Melody had warned him that it would likely get crowded and that he may as well plan on parking in one of the remote lots and walking. Sure enough, there were cars lining both sides of the street for blocks before they could even see the shops. Eventually, he pulled his Sierra into a spot and got Michael out of the back seat, hoping they would make it to their meeting spot in time. Michael slipped his mittened hand into his dad’s, his smile visible above the red scarf he had wound around his neck, and they headed off in the cold toward the lights and the sound of music.
Along the way, they ran into a few familiar faces and some not-so familiar ones, but everyone had a smile and a greeting of “Merry Christmas.” As friendly as the people in their hometown in Montana had been, there was nothing quite like the feel of small town West Virginia, and Reid was glad he’d chosen this place to raise his son.
The sidewalk was crowded with people getting in position so that they could see the parade, and all the way from Delaney’s to the antique shop, Reid had to say, “Excuse me,” and frequently turn sideways to slide through, keeping a tight grip on Michael’s hand. Despite the throng of people, it was all worth it when he saw Melody sitting on the bench outside of her mother’s shop, a smile on her face, her green eyes twinkling in the soft glow of the Christmas lights around her. She didn’t see him at first, and he took a second to admire her unassuming grace as she flipped her long brown tresses over her shoulder. She was stunning, as always, and as difficult as it had been to finally take the leap and ask her out on a proper date, he was glad he had done so.
“There’s Miss Melody!” Michael shouted, and before Reid could even attempt to stop him, he shot through the crowd shouting her name.
Melody looked up in surprise and opened her arms just in time for Michael to dive into a hug. “Michael! You’re here!” she said smiling and righting his hat that had gone slightly askew with the hug. She looked up and smiled at Reid, too, who had just caught up with his son. “Hi,” she said, the rosy glow in her cheeks turning just a bit pinker.
“Hello,” he said, trying not to stare, though it was difficult. “Sorry we’re a few minutes late. You weren’t kidding about the traffic.”
“It’s unbelievable how many people are here this year,” Sarah said, scooting over on the bench to make room for him next to Melody. “It’s wonderful to see so many happy families out for the parade.”
Reid took a seat between the two ladies as Michael wiggled his way onto Melody’s lap. He considered saying something to his son about asking first, but he could tell by Melody’s reaction that it was absolutely fine with her. “How are you?” he asked Sarah. “I bet you made a lot of sales today!”
“We were busy,” she said. “I’m good. Did you have fun at the Christmas party at school?”
“The best time ever,” Reid replied, trying to hide any hint of sarcasm. “No, it really was nice to get to spend time with Michael and his friends.”
“I got a whole bunch of candy,” Michael said, more to Melody than anyone else.
“You did?” she asked, peering around his hat to see his face.
“Yep. And I made something for you.”
“Oh, I can’t wait. What is it?” she asked.
Shaking his head, he said, “You’ll have to wait until Christmas.”
“I will? All right,” Melody sighed, pretending she didn’t think she could wait that long. “Well, I bet it’s the best present ever.”
“It is,” Michael assured her. “’Cause I made it.”
Melody nodded, and Michael hopped down off of her lap, spying one of his friends from school nearby. Reid yelled at him to stay nearby and then shook his head at the impulsivity he couldn’t quite seem to get a grasp on.