Big Man For Christmas

I turn off the country lane and head toward the highway to continue my errands for the day, running through why Red would pull this right now and forcing thoughts of Carley Farrell out of my head.

I haven’t been back to the Farrell Fireworks since that night. Not that it matters all that much. The Farrell’s property is right next to mine. I can sit on my porch and watch the fireworks—which I do—every year without having to wade into the carnival and relive memories I’d rather forget.

Another reason Red’s request is a little ridiculous. Picking him up to go to the fireworks is a big trip out of my way. Not that I mind, but the ride clearly isn’t his goal. It’s not exactly a secret that Red’s been trying to marry his granddaughter off to various men around town. And it isn’t the first time I’ve been conveniently arranged with daughters and granddaughters.

Everyone in Elgin hates that I’m not married. Comes with the territory of living in a small town. Everyone is up in your business, especially when you don’t want them to be. But nevertheless, I like Red, so I’ll indulge his request. Even if his hope of me sweeping his granddaughter off her feet is close to zero.

I turn off the highway toward Helenwood and head toward the general store. I need a few things, and I have a delivery to Mr. Doubleday just down the road. It will be good to see how he was doing.

The goal is speed. Efficiency. Get in and out of the store quickly so I can make the delivery and get home. But true to Elgin fashion, there’s no such thing as a short trip to the general store. I’m picking up some chicken out of the freezer when Big Sal waves me down. “Haven’t seen you around much, Casey. How you been?”

“Good, Sal, busy. You?”

“Good, good. Got some new equipment coming in that I’m excited to try out. But I wanted to know if you heard about the Farrells?”

I raise my eyebrows. Seems like my neighbors are the talk of the town today. “No, what about them. Everything all right?”

Sal grins. “Yeah. I just figured you might know seeing as you live so close. But Carley is back in town. And she’s alone.”

“What?” I swear my heart stutters. I don’t need to pay attention to what was happening in Carley Farrell’s life. It doesn’t matter. But she is the one that got away and my heart desperately wants to hear more.

“I don’t know,” he says. “But she’s here without her husband. Guess there was some kind of big falling out and she’s back here to recover. Oh.” Sal nods to my basket. “Also heard a storm is coming in, so get some extra.”

The girl stocking the fridge with meat turns to us. “I don’t know why everyone keeps saying that.”

“Saying what?” Sal asks.

The girl—I think her name is Shonda—rolls her eyes. “That Carley Farrell is married. They never got married. Engaged yes, married no.”

“How do you know that?” I ask.

She laughs. “You remember the engagement photos? Mrs. Farrell showed them to everyone who had eyeballs. If she’d have gotten married she would have papered the town hall with pictures of Carley’s big city wedding. And grab some milk while you’re here. Gonna freeze over for a couple days.”

She has a point. Mrs. Farrell does love to brag about her daughters. I nod to both Sal and Shonda, ducking past them as they continue on about the Farrells and I pick up the rest of my groceries.

I do pick up a little extra just in case. That’s another rule about town gossip—if more than one person gives you the same information, even in different ways, it’s more likely to be true. Since they both mentioned the bad weather, I take their advice and stock up on a couple things. Last thing I want to do is drag my ass all the way back here because I didn’t get enough to last through a few days of snow.

Setting my things on the counter, Shonda appears behind it. “You’re working up here too?”

She shrugs. “Mary called in sick so I’m handling everything today.” While she’s ringing up my groceries she keeps talking. “I hear Carley is a lawyer too now, and she’s coming back to help Elgin. She’s going to take on that Dollar General that’s taking our business. And I’m glad you’ve got enough for a few days. There’s going to be a whiteout blizzard. I can feel it coming.”

I blink, trying to process the sheer amount of information that she just threw at me. “Thanks.”

“Anytime.”

I have no doubt that most, if not all, of what I heard just now wasn’t true. But going by the rules of gossip, one thing is confirmed: Carley Farrell was back in town. Funny that I was just thinking about her.