The Christmas Scarf(12)
“I remember when I was a little girl I would carefully plan out what to ask Santa for each year.”
“A planner, huh? Well, what are you asking Santa for this year?”
Missy looked at the man sitting beside her. “Well, every year for as long as I can remember I’ve wished to become a country singer.” She felt a warm blush creep over her face.
“Well, I bet you get your Christmas wish this year.”
“I don’t think so. I’ve kind of given up on it.”
“Maybe it’s time to make a new list. Maybe it’s not truly your wish anymore and it’s time to wish for something else.”
“That’s the problem. I don’t know what I want anymore.” Missy stared down at her hands.
“Ah, maybe you’ll get something for Christmas you didn’t even know you needed and wanted. Christmas wishes are like that sometimes.”
Missy looked across the park at the kids and their mothers. Living their lives. Happy. How had she managed to make herself so miserable in Nashville? “Maybe it is time for a new list.”
“Well, I better be going.” Mr. Nick stood up and wrapped the scarf around his neck, the ends of it hanging jauntily across his ample belly. “Nice talking with you.”
“Nice talking with you, too.”
Missy watched as the man strolled down the pathway, stopped to talk for a moment with the moms on the bench, and headed out of the park.
~ * ~
Dylan helped Missy clean up after the Christmas play practice. Things were coming together nicely. The kids had loved wearing their costumes today.
“That old coat Timmy is wearing as the stranger is huge on him.” Missy stood on the stage, holding up the coat.
“But did you see how much he loved wearing it?”
Missy laughed. “I did. Even when his brother Jeremy told him he looked like a dork.”
“Didn’t hurt that little Anna piped up and said he looked handsome in it.”
“It did kind of make him have a swagger to his walk after that, didn’t it?” Missy hung up the coat on the rack of costumes at the side of the stage. “I was so proud of all of them today. I think the play is really coming together.”
“Thanks to your help. Seriously, I just had constant chaos when I tried to hold the rehearsals. You have a magical way with them.”
“Well, I’m having a really good time.” Missy looked around the stage. “I think that’s everything.”
“Do you want to go to Magnolia Cafe with me and catch some dinner?” Dylan realized he was holding his breath just a bit, waiting for her answer.
“Sure. Mom and Dwayne have some kind of business party they are going to. They invited me, but I turned down the offer. Pretty sure Mom thinks she has to keep an eye on me all the time to see if I fall apart.” Missy paused and looked directly at him. “I told her about Nashville. How I couldn’t cut it there and I was moving back here.”
“And I bet she was great about it. Supportive. I’m sure she’s excited to have you back here in town.”
“She was great, of course. She’s always so supportive of anything I do. She reminded me that when one door closes, another opens.” Missy paused and looked across the stage. “I just wish I knew where to look for that opening door.”
“You’ll figure it out.”
“Hope it’s sooner than later.” Missy grabbed her jacket. “Let’s go, I’m starving. I’m getting a burger and topping dinner off with a piece of pecan pie.”
“I think I’ll have the same.”
They walked to Magnolia Cafe and pushed through the doors into the cheerfully lit restaurant. Becky Lee waved and motioned for them to grab a table. They sat at a table by the window.
Becky Lee dropped off two glasses of water. “Menus?”
“Nope. We’re good.” Dylan leaned back in his seat.
“Be right back for your order.” Becky Lee handled two tables then returned to them. “Guess y’all know what you want, huh?”
“Two burgers, two fries. Pecan pie for dessert.” Dylan placed their order. “What do you want to drink?”
“I’ll have sweet tea.”
“Same for me.”
Becky Lee hurried away, grabbing a handful of dirty dishes from a table, and pausing to say something to her friends Jenny and Bella sitting at a table in the corner.
“Becky Lee can handle about ninety-nine things at once.” Missy nodded towards her cousin.
“I’ll say.” Dylan watched at how effortlessly Becky Lee dealt with all her customers.
“Plus she’s taken in her wayward cousin now, too.” Missy glanced out the window, but not before he saw the pain chasing the corners of her eyes.