Page 58 of Through the Snow Globe
“There you are!” The child’s foster mother turned onto the aisle and glared at Diana just like she had the day before.
“Hi,” Diana said, feeling guilty even though she’d done nothing wrong. “We were just . . . um, chatting.”
Dustin went to the woman. “She’s reliving the same day over and over again too,” he told her excitedly.
Diana felt her cheeks burn. “Um, or it just feels that way. Being patient for Christmas is tough.” She let out a nervous laugh.
The woman didn’t look amused. “Come on, Dustin. Let’s go home. We never should have stopped here. With your behavior lately, you’ll be lucky to get anything at all.”
Dustin turned back to Diana as his foster mom tugged him down the aisle. Diana watched the duo leave the store. Then Linus turned onto the opposite end of the aisle and headed in her direction.
“Why are you here? And why are you sitting on the floor?”
Diana reached up a hand for him to help pull her up. “I bombed the interview with Mr. Powell and had an argument with Rochelle. My day has been miserable so far.”
Linus rubbed his hands along the sides of her arms. “So you decided to try your luck with me? Should we argue about something?” he asked, teasing her.
Diana smiled. “I don’t want to argue with you again. I just want to spend a little time together. Maybe I can help out at the store? Or . . . ?” she said, trailing off.
“Or?” he asked.
“Maybe you can close early and spend some private time with me.”
He narrowed his eyes. “You know I can’t do that.”
“Why not? You own the store, right? It’s cold and icy outside. People should be going home anyway.” She went up on the tiptoes and kissed his mouth. “We could do things,” she whispered.
“Things?” he asked.
“Things.” She waggled her brows, hoping he got the message.
“Oh. I see.Things.” A grin lined his lips. “That’s tempting. You haven’t been all that interested in ‘things’ lately. I was starting to take it a bit personal.”
She tilted her head, wondering if that was true. “Well, I’m interested now.” At least in one of the things. “Say yes. Close the store for the evening. It’s just fifteen minutes early.”
“Then what’s the rush? Can’t you be a little patient?”
“No.” She shook her head as Linus grinned wider.
“As soon as this woman and boy leave, I’ll lock the door. How’s that?”
“They already left. Just now. You’re right. That woman really is awful,” Diana said.
Linus gestured for her to follow him back to the cash register. “When did I say that?” he asked.
Diana cringed. He’d said it on a day that he no longer remembered. “Oh, maybe you were talking about someone else.” She cleared her throat. “Do they come in a lot? The boy and his foster mom?”
“Dustin usually comes in on his own. He doesn’t live too far from here. He likes to look even if he can’t afford to buy.”
“That’s sad.”
“I don’t have a lot of sympathy for people who steal, except for him. I’ve caught him hiding items in his pockets a time or two.”
Diana took a seat on the stool that Linus pulled up to the counter for her. She had a momentary flash of the first time she’d seen Dustin. He’d been hiding something under his coat. “Oh, no. Really?”
“I called his foster mom the first time. After I witnessed how she reamed him out, I never contacted her again. That woman has no business caring for children.”
“If she’s so awful, what was she doing here today? Is she shopping for Dustin?”
