Christmas on 4th Street (Fool's Gold #12.5)(54)

Felicia hurried to let in the other woman.

“Patience!” she exclaimed.

Patience, a pretty woman with brown hair, held out two take-out trays with to-go containers.

“I heard you’d been at it all night,” she said. “So I opened up a little early to bring you your morning coffee. I have regular and decaf.”

“I’ll take the decaf,” Norm said. “Honey, you want the same?”

Karen nodded. “I’m going to try to sleep this morning.”

Patience passed out the containers. She handed one to Carter. “Hot chocolate with extra whip.”

“Thanks.” Carter flashed her a smile.

The rest of them took the regular coffees. Patience held out a bag of donuts. “Fresh from the bakery,” she said. “The window looks great.”

Karen took the bag and opened it. After drawing in a deep breath, she sighed. “I love this town.”

Her husband looked at her for a second, then turned to Patience. “Thank you for bringing this. I remember when I got up this early every day.”

“I’m used to it now,” she said with a laugh. “The first few weeks were tough. Now I need to get back to my store. I have a surprising number of regulars who are in line by five.” She started to leave, then turned back. “Oh, Police Chief Barns said to remind you to lock up before you leave.”

“Of course she did,” Gabriel murmured, thinking that was so like Fool’s Gold. Everyone looked out for everyone else.

Carter and Gideon went outside to watch the window display as it cycled through the five songs they’d programmed. Karen and Norm headed back for the house. Gabriel joined Felicia in the cleanup.

“Thank you for asking for our help,” his future sister-in-law said. “I like giving to my friends, and this was a unique opportunity.”

“I should be thanking you.”

Felicia smiled as she collected the leftover gift wrap. “You know, your parents are thinking of moving here permanently.”

He hadn’t known that for sure. “Okay, an interesting concept.”

“Gideon doesn’t know what to think, but I’m pleased by the news. Carter will enjoy having his grandparents around. Aside from his father, they are his only direct biological relatives. Having grandparents will add to his sense of connection and stability. When Gideon and I have a baby, your parents will be helpful.”

“Won’t that bother you? Don’t you worry they’ll get in the way?”

She shook her head. “I grew up without any family. My parents...” She drew in a breath. “I was on my own from an early age and an emancipated minor by the time I was fifteen. I welcome family, even if they are only related by marriage.” She picked up several spools of ribbon. “Gideon says I have to let you be. It’s the only reason I haven’t asked you about staying in town.”

“You listen to my brother?” he asked, mostly to distract her. “You’re ten times smarter than him.”

“I have more intellectual knowledge, but he’s much more in tune with how regular people think and feel. I depend on him.”

She was so sincere, he felt bad for teasing her. “He’s a good guy and he’s lucky to have you.”

“Thank you. I’m lucky, as well. I’m sorry you don’t have anyone special in your life. There must be a reason.”

Which sounded uncomfortably like Ana Raquel’s comment that he’d reached an age where he was going to have to explain why he was still single.

“Gideon believed love would make him weak,” she continued. “That the only way he stayed strong was to be emotionally separate.” She studied him. “I hope you don’t think that.”

“Life is short. It could all be gone tomorrow.”

Her green eyes regarded him thoughtfully. “You don’t want to take the chance.”

“Something like that.”

“I could provide some statistics on the likelihood of you losing your wife at an early age. Based on actuarial tables, of course.” Her gaze turned speculative. “If you had someone specific in mind, I could factor in any known lifestyle or health risks.”

“Asking about me and Noelle?”

“I’m curious as to the status of your relationship.”

He crossed to her and took the ribbons from her hands, then hugged her. “Like I said, Gideon is lucky.”

“You’re attempting to distract me with a show of affection. I’m not going to forget the question.”

He chuckled as she hugged him back. “And I’m not going to answer it.”

She sighed. “You can’t blame a girl for trying.”

“No, I can’t.”

“You went to a lot of trouble for someone you won’t admit you care about.”

He thought about how happy Noelle had been as she’d planned for the contest and how everything had gone wrong. He thought of how distant he’d been, for reasons he still couldn’t explain. How he’d probably hurt her.

He should have explained, he thought grimly. He should have told her...what? What would he have said? That he liked being with her more than he’d liked being with anyone else? That she was sweet and funny and with her he could almost believe in forever? But then what? He wasn’t staying and even if he was, he didn’t want to care that much. He didn’t want to take the risk. What if he loved her only to lose her?