Page 23 of A Bright Winter Season

Jacob gestured to his dirty work clothes with a smile. “I usually try to not look quite so sloppy when I’m going out to lunch. I’m here to work on the vents.”

“Hmm, you can’t blame me for being unsure. It is lunchtime.”

Jacob shrugged, smiling. “Aw, I usually skip lunch on my workdays. No time to slow down.”

“You skip lunch?” Hazel squeaked. “Jacob, no, you need to take care of yourself.”

“It’s okay, I usually eat a big breakfast.”

She shook her head. “Well, right now you’re working in a place that serves food. Would you like something to eat before you get started?”

“Thanks for the offer, but I’m okay. I’ll grab something on my way home this evening.”

“This evening? No, sorry, Jacob. You’re eating lunch first.” Hazel grinned and stood up, making her way to the kitchen door. She pushed it open and called inside, “Hey, Allison! Can you make a plate of the special for Jacob Dorsey?”

“You bet I can. With all the trimmings?” Allison called back.

“Yes!”

Hazel turned back to Jacob with a smile. “Sorry, you’ve been outvoted. People eat lunch here.”

Jacob laughed. “Okay, you win. Thank you. I guess it would be pretty hard to work in a place that smells this good on an empty stomach.”

“Exactly. You go take a seat in one of the booths and I’ll bring you a cup of coffee.”

“Wow. The last time I worked at such a nice place, it was in your kitchen, Hazel.”

He winked at her and went to sit down in the booth. Hazel smiled, pleased that he felt appreciated in the moment, and also that he’d felt appreciated whenever he’d come over to repair things at her house. She had to admit, she’d often gone a little out of her way to be kind to him, and she’d usually given him coffee or cookies while he was working for her.

But he’s my friend,she thought cheerfully.I can still be nice to him. And it’s clear it makes him happy. Besides! Not eating lunch? Men. Sheesh.

She brought a mug and a coffee pot over to his booth and poured him a cup.

“Tell me about the state of our vents, doctor,” she teased. “Are they going to make it?”

He laughed. “Well, I am going to have to operate. But I think the chances are excellent.”

“That’s what we like to hear.” She chuckled. “Make yourself comfortable, and your food should be out in a little bit.”

“Thank you again. I really appreciate how nice you’re being.”

“Hey, you’ve got an important surgery coming up. You need to be at your best.”

Hazel left Jacob’s booth and went to sit down across from Alexis again, on the other side of the dining room. Alexis’s hands were moving rapidly, continuing to roll silverware, but her eyes were on Hazel.

“You’re doing great,” she whispered to Hazel.

Hazel frowned, confused. “With what? Planning the event?”

Alexis shook her head. “No, with Jacob. You’re doing great with the way you’re acting with him.”

Hazel smiled, waving her hand through the air dismissively. “I’ve moved on! That was months ago. So there’s no reason to act weird, is there?”

Alexis shrugged. “Well, moving on has different levels, you know. And yes, it’s been a few months, but you’ve had a crush on him for like a decade. Isn’t there still a little part of you that’s attracted to him?”

Hazel gave her sister a look. “Even if there is, it doesn’t matter because he has a girlfriend!” Her voice rose slightly in volume as she said it, and she glanced hurriedly at Jacob to make sure he hadn’t heard her. He seemed to be fully absorbed in eating his food and reading the newspaper, however, and she couldn’t help smiling when she saw how happy he looked.

“Okay, okay, down tiger.” Alexis laughed. “You’re right. Him having a girlfriend would mean that you shouldn’t be thinking about being attracted to him.”

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