Big Man For Christmas

“It’s coming along.”

“I’ve seen you,” she says quietly. “You’re practically raising the village all by yourself.”

I grab a handful of wires and start to help untangle them. “That’s not true. Everyone’s doing their part.”

“Not everyone,” she says it so quietly that I’m not entirely sure I heard it.

Footsteps alert me a second before I hear the voice that’s tested my control all day. “Hey there. Tyler Harding, nice to meet you…”

I stand and shake his outstretched hand. “Casey Bowman.”

Tyler puffs his shoulders up, mimicking my stance and trying to make himself look bigger than he is. “Bowman. I’ve heard your name a few times today.”

“I live on the farm next door.”

He nods. “Excellent, so you know Carley then?”

“We grew up together,” Carley says, not looking up at either of us.

“Interesting.” Tyler’s tone makes it sound like it’s just the opposite. “Do you farm flowers too?”

I’m surprised that he actually knows what the Farrell Farm supplies, but I shake my head. “No. My farm is cattle. Primarily dairy. I supply the milk for several local creameries.”

He crosses his arms. “And do you like doing that?”

“I do,” I say. “Though it’s a job. It’s not my entire life.”

Carley does look up at me then, eyes wide, and I grin. I may not know where we stand, but I can make the differences between us crystal clear.

“I heard you’re a lawyer? What kind of law do you practice?”

“My firm mostly deals with high end business clients. Everything from hedge funds to pharmaceutical companies. The occasional politician in trouble.”

I nod. “Sounds demanding.”

“It is. But you know I always make time for the things I love. Like you said, it’s just a job.”

The look on Carley’s face is enough to make me burst out laughing, but I control myself. “I’m glad you’ve found such success. Are you enjoying your time in Elgin?”

He looks around at the field. “It’s charming. I told Carley that we’ll have to come back in a few years and visit again.”

A few years? Wow. I grit my teeth trying to keep my face completely neutral. “Well I hope you enjoy your stay. I’m going to grab some food. I’m sure I’ll see you both tomorrow at the fireworks.”

“Sure thing.”

Carley looks like she wants to say something, but she doesn’t. Just, “See you later.” She doesn’t seem like she’s completely coherent, and that protective streak that’s blazed to life with anything to do with Carley, I want to march back there and make sure that she’s okay.

But I can’t. She made it clear what we are, and until she tells me otherwise, making sure that she’s okay is Tyler’s job. Just thinking that makes my teeth ache because I’m gritting them so hard.

I grab some food and throw myself back into the construction until the very last stall is raised, the lights are strung, pathways constructed, and trim attached. A cheer goes up from everyone when the last nail is hammered into place. It’s hard work, but knowing the magic of Firework Night makes it all worth it.

It feels almost like the raising of a circus. We all came together in the morning to make the magic happen, and just as quickly we start to disperse. Tools are packed up and the boxes that hold the lights and trim are loaded onto the trucks to go back to storage. In less than fifteen minutes, the Farrell’s field is nearly a ghost town. The sun is setting and people are heading home for dinner.

Which is exactly what I should be doing.

Jack waves me down as I’m walking to my truck. “Come on over for dinner.”

“That’s okay, Mr. Farrell. I’ve got leftovers waiting for me at home.”

“Don’t be silly. We have more than enough food to go around and we’re happy to have you.”

I stop and look him in the eye. “Thank you for the offer. Truly, but no. You have company now, and I think it’s better if I don’t intrude.” There’s no way that I’ll be able to sit at the same table as Tyler and be civil. I can’t watch Mrs. Farrell gloat, and I can’t watch the woman I love disappear, overshadowed by a man who doesn’t seem to care.

He looks at me carefully for a moment. I’m not sure what he’s looking for, but he seems to find it. “Is that so?”

“Yes.”

“I’ve always liked you, Casey,” he says. “I’ve watched you grow up, and I’ve seen the way you treat people. It doesn’t matter who they are or what they do, you always treat them with dignity and respect. And today in particular, I’ve come to appreciate that. I’m glad your parents did right by you. They taught you that you’re free to make your own choices, no matter what anyone else thinks.”

I read between the lines of what he’s saying, and anger burns in my stomach. He doesn’t like the way Tyler treats Carley either, but he knows that his daughter is an adult, and he can’t interfere with her choices. And he doesn’t like the way Mrs. Farrell is pushing her toward him.