“Trust me, I know. He made me come with his damn voice. Not even a touch.”
“I know it sounds hot.” Lily fans her face.
“You’re telling me?”
She grins. “There’s my girl.”
“I thought I could bake them something.”
“My vote goes to your deep-dish apple pie. Not only is it stunning to look at, it tastes divine.” She sighs. “Yet another reason I’m missing you horribly this Christmas.”
“You want me to send it on dry ice?”
“Don’t toy with my emotions, Foster.” She wags her finger from side to side.
“Okay, so planning. After I bake the perfect pie, I’ll do what?”
“Casually drop by the store. Charm the pants off Nona and pump her for info.”
“Ha. I’m sure with Nona, it’ll be a mutual exchange of facts.”
“Even better. Get that family approval.” Lily claps as she says each word.
Clarity gained, and plan in place, I shift gears. “How are things with you and Dave?”
“Good? I don’t know.” She sighs. “I love him. I do. But we’re still living in separate homes and ‘dating’.” She makes hand quotations. “I need him to fish or cut bait. I’m not expecting a proposal but at least a request to cohabitate. I mean, we’re going on three years, Ro.”
“Have you told him how you feel?”
“Oh, he knows.” There’s weight behind those words.
She and Dave complement each other well. I’d hate to see them end things, but I also need my girl to be happy like she deserves to be.
“Have you thought of giving him an ultimatum?” I suggest.
“If I feel like I forced his hand, it would take the joy from it.” She runs a hand through her hair. “Do I sound crazy?”
“No. This is how you feel, and that’s okay. I understand why you don’t want to present Dave with an ultimatum, but what about yourself? Set a timeline and reexamine the situation then. It’ll keep you from going crazy, but you’ll know you’ve done something about it.”
“I like that. I can give it another six months.”
“Whatever I can do to help you. I’m here at any time.”
“I know, and I love you for that.”
We finish our chat, and I suit up to face the cold. I have a pie to make.
THE NEXT DAY
Standing outside of Bits and Baubles, I feel a foreboding sense of déjà vu. Silly.
I open the door and enter. The scent of ginger and molasses waft through the air. The store is full of people browsing, but I don’t see any small, unattended children hellbent on taking me out at the knees. I see two employees, but none are the dark-haired man I was hoping for. Slightly disappointed, I scan the shop for Nona. Near the cookie station, Nona talks with her hands to a Hispanic man with olive skin and wavy dark hair. His square jaw leads down to nicely-shaped lips and large, brown eyes. A prominent nose balances out all the powerful features he was gifted. What the hell is in the mountain air? I’m not shocked to notice a ring on his left hand.
Nona glances over at me and lights up. “Romy.” She waves me over. “Come and meet Ollie.”
“Hi.” I smile sheepishly.
“Ollie, Romy just moved here.”