Page 50 of A Match Made at Christmas

“’Bout time we got some color around here,” he said. “Seems like everything is white these days.”

She smiled. “Hey, do you have a minute?”

“Sure thing.” He gave the chef a nod and followed Pru off into the crowd. She knew the plan. She passed by the coat check where a young kid named Tad was working. As she walked by, he handed her a coat, then gave her a nod. He’d done his part to earn that handsome tip Hayes had slipped him earlier in one of their turns around the room.

“Where are we going?” Howie asked as she led him through the crowd and up the stairs.

“You’ll see.”

“You know that chef was about to give me the secret recipe for his lobster rolls, Pru,” Howie said, trailing behind. “You interrupted what could’ve been a really important conversation.”

She didn’t bother to tell him the really important conversation was the one he’d have in a few minutes. Instead, she pressed on until she came to the door that led out to the rooftop. In the summer, it was a coveted wedding venue. In the winter, it was cold.

But it was also the only private spot in the museum she and Hayes could think of.

Howie chattered on as they made their way up the stairs. “Aren’t they going to introduce you as the artist of the year or something? Seems like maybe you should stick close to the action.”

“Not artist of the year,” she said. “Just designer of the talking tree.”

“But this is like, your coming out party. Didn’t you always want to be a society girl?”

She laughed. “Do you know me at all?”

She pushed the door at the top of the stairway open, and a chill hit her lungs. Howie might not appreciate what was about to happen, but she hoped it would be worth it. They walked closer to the edge of the rooftop, and Pru handed Howie the coat. “Would you hold this for me?”

“Sure, but what are we doing out here?”

“Enjoying the view,” she said. “I mean, you were the one who taught me if I didn’t like something in my life, maybe I just needed to change my view.”

He pushed a hand through his longish salt-and-pepper hair, then pulled his suitcoat tighter. “So, you don’t like something about your life?”

She heard voices behind them. They turned and found Peggy and Hayes standing in the doorway. Peggy stopped at the sight of Howie, and Hayes seemed to be pushing her forward.

“Did you guys need some air too?” Hayes asked.

Howie hadn’t stopped looking at Peggy since she appeared.

“Hey, Peg,” he said. “Did you get the flowers?”

Peggy glanced at Hayes, then back at Howie. It looked like she might bolt right off the roof and back to the party at any moment.

“Yes,” she said quietly. “Thank you.”

Well, that was a start. At least she wasn’t heading for the door.

“Didn’t know anyone would be out here,” Hayes said. “Peggy was showing me the roof because I have an event this summer that I thought might be perfect up here.”

“Is that right?” Howie asked, not buying it for a second. Peggy, on the other hand, seemed oblivious.

“You’re right, Peggy,” Hayes said. “It’s got a killer view.” He glanced at Pru. “How many does it seat?”

Peggy stuttered for a brief second, then seemed to gather herself, launching into what sounded like a well-rehearsed sales pitch. Peggy knew everything about this building the same way she knew everything about every other historical building on the island. Her love of Nantucket was well-documented. She took a few steps off to the side, chattering about the seating and the view and the best time of day for a summer party.

Pru glanced at Howie, who seemed enamored with this plain schoolteacher. The way he looked at her—like she was the only person in the world—well, it could turn even her into a romantic.

At some point during her speech, he must’ve realized he was holding Peggy’s coat, because he took a step forward and helped her put it on.

Peggy stopped talking and looked out over the dimly lit island, a hush coming over them.

---