“Not that, Pop.” Allen sighed. It had been a while since he talked one-on-one with his father about women. “It’s a…”
Allen’s father sipped from his cup. “Woman?”
“Bingo.”
“You know what to do. You like her?”
“I don’t know. You know I’m not…”
His father stepped closer and gave him a side hug. “I know but it was out of your control. I’m still working on forgiving Crystal. I know how your mother and I raised you. You couldn’t have done any more than what you did to make it work.”
“I don’t know if that’s true. I think I missed the signs. I can’t do that again.”
His father walked back over to sit in his easy chair. “Whatever you decide, you’ll do the right thing. Just because it didn’t work out before, doesn’t mean it never will.”
Allen rubbed at his chin. Easier said than done. Heather Shaw was risky.
***
“This is a lot of boxes.” Desmond set a cardboard box in the hall, while Allen grabbed another one.
“We have to find the other Christmas decorations.”
“I only came to ask if you wanted to hang out. I didn’t think Ms. Diana would put me to work.”
Allen chuckled. There was no negotiating with Ms. Diana. Though he signaled Desmond to leave, Ms. Diana already spotted him in the cafeteria and volunteered him to help Allen find the rest of the Christmas decorations.
“Is that all?” Desmond asked.
“Where’s your Christmas spirit?”
Desmond straightened after setting another box on the floor. “Since when do you like Christmas?”
“I never said I didn’t.”
“Is it growing on you?”
Allen shrugged. “It’s okay. I’m not putting a snowman in my yard if that’s what you’re asking.”
Desmond bobbed his head as Allen passed him another box and the men carried them to the cafeteria. When they sat the boxes down, Abigail hugged them both.
“You two are the best,” she said.
Allen smiled but then his eyes diverted to the back table, spotting Heather untangling more Christmas lights. He gazed upward at the ceiling that already possessed stringed lights. How many more did this fair need?
His eyes focused back on Heather. With her head tilted to the side, she untangled the bunch in her hands. The sensation of being flooded with warmth overwhelmed him.
Heather. Even the sound of her name made him tug at his shirt collar. She reached for another string of lights on the table only to lock eyes with Allen. Facing him straight on, her eyes brightened.
Desmond nudged his arm. “What’s up with that?”
“What?”
“You and Heather?”
“I’m her physical therapist,” Allen said.
“I don’t think it's common to gawk at your patients.”