“A Dallas charity—Thompkins Charities, Ltd. They also want me for director of public relations.”
“Another prestigious group that does a lot of good. That’s old oil money. I have several friends there.”
“The third one is No Hungry Children in Dallas who want me for a coordinator-of-services position. The only one I’m considering is the Barlow Group in Houston. I’m seriously thinking about taking that job. It pays more than I make now. It would be in Houston, which would be nice. I can help a lot of people—that would be my dream career.”
“Congratulations on the offers. Frankly, you’re needed in Royal, though.”
“Royal is beginning to mend. They can get along without me.”
“People have talked to me and I think the whole town wants you to step in and become acting mayor.”
“I definitely don’t think it’s the whole town. The town council would be the ones to select someone and they haven’t said a word to me. I can’t imagine the town really wanting me for that role.”
“Wednesday we’re going back to Royal. Are you moving out of the Cozy Inn Friday?”
“Yes. My town house is all fixed up, so I’m going home. Friday or Saturday I’m getting a Christmas tree and decorating it.”
“I have appointments Thursday in Royal and Friday I have to go to Dallas. I hate to leave now, but this is a deal I’ve worked on since before the storm hit. A wealthy family from back east wants to move to Dallas and build a new home. He was a college buddy, so there is a personal interest. I made a bid for R&N on building it. Now they’ve finally decided to go with R&N Builders. It’s a five-million-dollar house, so I have to see them and be there to sign the contract. Cole could, but that would take him away from Royal and this is really something I’ve dealt with and I know the family.”
“Aaron, go to Dallas,” she said, smiling. “That’s simple enough.”
“That’s what I have to do. I just wanted you to know why. I still can move you in early Friday morning before I go to Dallas. Also, I’ll help you get a tree on Saturday if you’d like.”
“I’d like your help on the tree,” she said, smiling at him. “I don’t have a lot to move, so I can move home all by myself. Will you stay in Royal through Christmas and New Year’s?”
“Yes. Probably about January 3, I’ll go back to Dallas for a little while. I’ll still be back and forth.”
That thought hurt. She would miss him, but she had known that day was inevitable.
Sadness gripped her and she tightened her fist in her lap. “Next week is the TCC Christmas festival. It should be so much fun, Aaron. We’re getting lots of presents and I haven’t been there this week, but I’ve had texts from Lark, from Paige and from Megan Maguire.”
“You’re right—it will be fun. You’ll be shocked by the number of presents that are coming into the TCC. That doesn’t count the ones dropped off at businesses, fire stations, all over town.”
“We have envelopes with checks for individuals and families that are on our list. I’m so grateful we’ve been able to do this.”
“The Christmas drive is a great idea,” he said.
She smiled. “Right now I’m excited over the Christmas festival,” she said, thinking it would be another chance for her to spend time with Aaron. When January came and he returned to Dallas, it was going to be hard on her without him. She knew that, but she pushed aside her fears. Friday she would move out of the Cozy Inn. She would never again see it without thinking of Aaron.