Page 24 of A Gift of Time
I hadn’t put much thought into who Nick could be. To me, he was just some crazy old dude who ran an antique store and popped up at random times to give cryptic advice.
“I’m losing my mind,” I muttered to myself before taking another drink.
When I sat the cup back down, there was writing on it beside the man—writing that hadn’t been there before. Just one word, but it affected me nonetheless.
Believe.
Nick had talked about believing and how some people had to see to believe. It got me thinking.
Would I have learned my lesson if I had known the truth of the clock? As I sat there in the coffee place, looking at a hand drawn depiction of a man whocouldn’texist, I finally allowed myself to answer it: no.
Believe. Maybe it meant more than just believing in Nick… but perhaps in myself as well.
Caden had said he didn’t want to date. Okay. So, why not just hang out with him as a friend? He was the love of my life; the other half of my soul, and the man who had my heart. Maybe forhimto believe in love again, he had to be shown it.
If I could at least get him to agree to going out with me, maybe he’d feel what I felt: that we belonged together.
Hope blossomed in my chest again, and I quickly got out my phone.
Jack:Hey, Cay. Are you at the shop today?
His response was not immediate, but when my phone buzzed, I clicked the message with shaking hands, eager to read his text.
Caden:Yeah, I’m here. Why? Aren’t you at work???
Jack:I took the day off. I wanted to come by, see you, and see how the designing was going.
Caden:Oh. Well I’m here.
With a new determination, I stood from the table and threw my empty coffee cup away. The odds might’ve been stacked against me, but I wasnotgiving up.
Leaving the coffee shop, I welcomed the burst of cold air. It helped waken me and knock me out of the haze I’d been in. As I walked down the sidewalk, the amount of foot traffic died down as people went to work and kids went to school.
Caden’s store wasn’t too far away, so I headed in that direction, both anxious and eager to reach him.
When I got there, I entered the store and inhaled the lavender fragrance. I’d always associate the scent with him.
There wasn’t a whole lot in the store, just some framed photos of rooms and work places he’d designed, as well as his magic touch around the room. He’d decorated the seating area, and it was amazing how he could make such a small space look so open.
Beige chairs sat beside the large window and a small table rest between them, holding magazines. A fireplace was in one corner of the room—although it didn’t seem to work—and ivy laid on the mantel above it, as well as other simple Christmas decorations. Some areas of the room were carpeted and others were hardwood floor.
Caden’s style could be described as classy, but comfortable. He loved elegance, but he wanted it to feel welcoming as well. The decorations were beautiful, but not cluttered or cheesy.
A six foot Christmas tree stood beside the counter. The green branches were adorned with red and gold ornaments, and the white lights reflected off each one, giving the area that indescribable feel of the season. One that told of love and gratitude. Warmth and joy.
“Jack?” Caden poked his head in from the other room.
“Nope. It’s Mr. Claus,” I teased as I motioned to myself.
He grinned and approached me. Some red paint was on his nose and cheek, and my gaze lingered on the specks a moment before lifting again to meet his eyes.
“It seems you’re Rudolph,” I said, watching his expression go from amused to confused. Before he could question my meaning, I stepped forward and waved a finger in front of his face. “You have some red paint right here.”
“Oh my god. I’m a train wreck.” He laughed and wiped at his face. “I was testing out the shade I bought for your living room. Just seeing how it looked upon application and all that.”
“I like it,” I said, not taking my eyes off him.
His blond hair lay flat and his eyes appeared so pale, they almost looked gray instead of blue. Porcelain skin was only broken up by the pink flush in his cheeks. Long, blond lashes cast shadows on his eyes as he turned his head toward the Christmas tree.
