Page 40 of Saved By Noel
“What do you mean?” I ask, pretending not to know. I focus on Addie scratching her fingers in my beard instead.
“I mean, are you going to be okay being here around Clara? I’m sorry I pushed things too far at the bar back in February, and I’m sorry if inviting you both over tonight is uncomfortable for you. But I honestly don’t understandwhyyou get this uncomfortable around her.”
“I’m not uncomfortable,” I bluff.
“Liar,” Syd calls me out, hand popped on her hip. “You lock up like the Tin Man the second Clara steps into view. I know she’s pretty, but I’ve never known you to act weird around pretty women before.”
I bite my tongue from correcting her that Clara isn’t just pretty. She’s gorgeous, stunning, bewitching.
“I’m fine, Syd. I guess I feel awkward about our conversations about the Christmas stuff when she first got here,” I lie again. “I’ll try to loosen up, though.”
I know Syd’s not buying my explanation, but she knows me well enough to drop it. She hands me a stack of plates to carry with my hand that’s not holding Addie, and we rejoin the crowd outside.
Davis has finished cooking the meat, so everyone makes their way through the buffet and takes seats around the tables. In addition to Paul, Emily, and Pops, Syd also invited James and Becky, who are a few years older than us but have a son Junior’s age. Becky owns the coffee shop, Becky’s Brews, next to the grocery store. As a result, she and Emily are good friends. Syd frequents the coffee shop as often as possible when it’s open during tourist season.
I overhear Clara’s conversation with Becky as we move through the line. “You didn’t grow up here in Noel?” Clara asks.
“Goodness, no!” Becky responds with a laugh. “I grew up in Austin, Texas. But I went to the University of Arkansas for college and met James there. Since his family owns the cabin rentals along the river, I knew saying yes to marrying him would mean saying yes to moving here. Not gonna lie—it was an adjustment at first, going from big city to small town life. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I love it here now. Although, I do sneak back to Austin occasionally to get coffee ideas,” she adds with a wink.
I go through the line last and take the final seat open at the table—directly across from Clara and Madison. The troublesome twinkle in Madison’s eye lets me know she’s happy with this arrangement. Her opening comment also lets me know she’s locked and loaded, ready to fire.
“So, Clark, I hear you hate Christmas,” Madison says, before taking a big bite of her burger.
“Mads!” Clara whisper-scolds, elbowing her friend in the ribs for a second time. I notice Syd and Davis fighting smiles, and a stifled laugh escapes from Emily.
I exhale before answering. “I don’t hate Christmas. Granted, it’s not my favorite time of year, but I have no personal animosity toward the holiday.”
“Just a professional vendetta as mayor against public displays of Christmas spirit?” Madison quips, one eyebrow raised.
I glance briefly at Clara, whose cheeks are fiery-red as she tries to give Madison an evil eye. Madison isn’t looking at Clara, though, because she’s waiting for me to respond to her prodding.
“Long-standing town tradition goes against major holiday displays, but individual residences and businesses are more than welcome to decorate however they choose,” I answerdiplomatically. My eyes can’t help but flit toward my truck and means of escape from this social interaction.
“Madison, tell me about what you do at Clara’s company. She mentioned you work together.” Syd jumps in, rescuing me for a second time.I must really have her worried—I need to get a grip, so she gets off my back.
Madison shares about her work as a proofreader, but I’m only half-listening until she starts talking about Clara as her boss.
“Clara’s the perfect boss for anyone who actually comes to work and does their job, but a terrible boss for slacker employees,” Madison says with an eye roll.
“Hey! Rude,” Clara responds with a joking tone. But I sense some genuine hurt, or maybe annoyance, beneath the surface. This must be a conversation they’ve had before.
“What do you mean?” Becky inquires, saving me from having to be the one to ask.
“She’s too nice to be firm,” Madison says. “There’s this one writer on the team who’s always making up excuses for not getting his work done. But rather than fire him, Clara just writes his articles for him. She’s a total pushover.”
“There’s nothing wrong with being nice!” Clara defends herself. “And you have no proof that Michael’s excuses aren’t legitimate. I can choose to help him if I want.”
A flare of jealousy sparks hearing Clara mention another man—a man who gets to see her almost every day.Does Clara give this guy special treatment because she’s attracted to him?I tamp the jealous spark down, reminding myself that I don’t want to see Clara every day. I try to coax my thoughts: Maybe if she did have a man back home, she wouldn’t be here meddling and causing trouble for me. Yes, that’s what I truly want.
“Michael has exactly zero legitimate excuses. His never-ending litany of medical emergencies and fights with hisgirlfriend can’t be valid. He’s capitalizing on your lack of backbone to be lazy,” Madison scoffs.
A wave of anger rushes through me at the thought of Clara’s sweet disposition being exploited by this guy (who has a girlfriend who isnotClara). “You shouldn’t let him take advantage of you, Clara.”
Everyone turns to me with shock, surprised that I spoke up. No one is more surprised than I am, though.
Except maybe Clara. She appears mostly dead in response to my interjection. Miracle Max might need to whip up a concoction to bring her back to consciousness.
“I just mean, every employee should pull their weight. It’s okay to make exceptions when you deem appropriate, but you shouldn’t let someone continually mistreat you,” I conclude, wishing I hadn’t spoken in the first place.
