12 Days of Forever(3)

Whimsicality isn’t crowded, mainly because of the expansion it recently went through. When the business next door ceased trading, Liam and Josie purchased that space, making the café larger. The band plays here occasionally, which brings in a lot of fans. They play impromptu shows and use social media to tell fans when they’re happening. Right now, Whimsicality is decorated for the holidays. There’s a Christmas tree in one of the corners and lights everywhere. Garland hangs on the walls – I know it’s garland because I was asked to help to hang it. We spent a Sunday in here doing everything by Josie’s instructions while she made those fancy center things that sit on the tables.

I choose to sit by the fireplace to take away the chill. During the remodeling phase, Harrison uncovered a massive brick fireplace that had been covered in plaster. He worked for hours to clean each brick and even replaced the cement to make it look brand new. It definitely adds to the winter ambience of the café.

“Hello, Xander. What can I get for you tonight?” Dana asks while she sets a cup of coffee in front of me. I’m a regular. I know the menu by heart. Dana has been here for about six months. Once the expansion was done, Liam convinced Josie to hire some help. He wants her to travel with the band when they go on tour this coming spring. She’s had a hard time letting go and just being the boss. Katelyn still helps out but not as much. It’s mostly while the kids are in school. Jenna stays primarily in the florist shop. Josie finally gave in and hired Dana as well as Sarah and David. David works mostly behind the counter and Dana and Sarah wait on tables. Josie hasn’t said anything during our sessions that would lead me to think she’s unhappy with the lesser workload.

Aside from the gym, that’s the one thing that has been a constant for me – personal training. It started with Jimmy, but Liam liked the idea of the band staying in shape. He also liked the fact that he trusted me enough to help Josie tone up, not that she needed it. I work with the girls three days a week, and the guys four days. That alone keeps my gym in business.

“I’ll have the turkey on rye, please.”

Dana nods and walks away. She’s a cutie and a gym member. She goes to college and works here to help pay for her tuition. Her parents came to the United States when she was three and left her on the orphanage steps before returning to China. She was adopted quickly and has lived a pretty privileged life from what she tells me. She also doesn’t resent her biological parents and hopes to meet them someday. I’m not sure how I’d feel if my parents did that, but I understand why hers did – to give her a better life.

The door chimes, and I look over my shoulder to see if I know who’s coming in. That’s small town life for ya. Everyone knows everyone, or they know your parents, brother or sister, etc. Liam is the shyest person I know, but he knows everyone. We can’t walk down the street without someone coming up to him. They either want to talk to him about coaching the high school team, which he’s politely declined many times, or they want to ask him when his next single will be out. Rarely does he get asked for autographs; that’s all Jimmy. Regardless of the fact that he’s married and a dad, he still has girls chasing him, especially on Twitter. He tried to get me hooked on his favorite social media site, but I told him it’s not for me. I have my business page and that’s about it. My business is simple – I help you get in shape and stay in shape.

Dana brings my food along with a glass of water. She knows that’s what I like to drink while eating. I’m here nearly every day. It’s better than being home alone and eating in front of the television. If I could, I’d have clients until it was time to go to bed, but no one wants to work out at nine at night.

I’m getting to that point in my life where I want to settle down. I want to find someone to spend my nights with, someone that I can hurry home to at the end of a long day in the gym. I want to walk into my house and feel warmth and comfort. Right now, it’s barren and there’s no life. I’m a bachelor and actually had to stop myself from putting up my psychedelic posters and plugging in my black light. I don’t want to live the dorm life anymore.

I’ve recently realized that I can’t trust a lot of people. The few women I have dated since I moved to town just wanted to get close to the band. I felt bad, but the guys understood. They said it wasn’t the first time something like that had happened. So now I’m leery. I have to find someone who wants me for me, not for my client list and at whose house I happen to hang out on the weekends. I need to be enough. Whoever I end up with needs to like kids, too. All my friends have them and those kids are the centers of their universes.