Page 16 of The Blessings of Christmas
Avoiding Stanley’s eyes, Ryan focused on the pricing list posted on the wall. “She’s a good woman.”
“I know that, son. I’ve met Sarah. She’s fun. Cheerful. The kind of woman who keeps a good house and probably can make a pot roast last for six days. But that’s not what I’m asking.”
Man, it was hot in here. He opened his jacket. “I don’t think of her, you know, romantically.” The words felt strange on his tongue.
“Maybe you should.”
Ryan’s mind drifted back. The soft brown hair that framed Sarah’s rosy cheeks. The hands that fluttered when she talked. This was crazy. Just thinking about her made his heart race.
“So you’re taken by the widow woman.” Stanley was cackling. And there was no other word for it.
Feelings surged through him and Ryan had to clamp them down tight. “Wouldn’t do much good, Stanley. Sure I can help in her bakery. Take my nephews go-karting. But...”
“But what?” Stanley looked mystified.
Couldn’t the man see? Lurching to his feet, Ryan limped to the door. “Maybe you missed something but I’m a gimp-legged fool. Sarah was married to Jamie––honor roll student, football star and war hero. What would she ever want with me?”
Outside a storm was brewing, rattling the doors on the service bays. After today, he might lie in bed tonight and think of Sarah, all warm curves and sparkling eyes set off by that darn red scarf.
“Ryan, there’s a lot more to a man than the way he walks.”
“Easy for you to say. I feel like a reject, and I did this to myself.” The words cast a familiar gloom over him. “And I’ll probably pull something just as stupid in the future.”
“Not if you think first. Don’t be so hard on yourself.” Stanley laced his hands behind his head, staring up at the fluorescent light like it had some answers. “Every man makes mistakes. My wife was a patient woman. Sarah seems like that kind of girl, someone who’s interested in more than looks.”
“Easy for you to say. Your son can walk into the Rusty Nail and have the attention of every woman in the place without even trying.”
Stanley snorted. “Yeah and look where that landed him. He’s lucky he got Phoebe back after that one indiscretion. You can be a sour puss but you’re not hard on the eyes.”
“Thanks, Stanley,” Ryan gritted out. “That’s real comforting.”
“Look, that accident could have been worse. You weren’t wearing a helmet and you might have left your face scraped right off on the asphalt.”
“I really need to be reminded of that.”
Stanley was pleased with himself, like a father who’s delivered a speech he’d had stored away. “So it’s the limp, is that it?”
He wished the old man would give it a rest. “Yeah. I’m the gimp with a limp.”
“No, you’re the man who has to learn how to woo a widow.” With one leg resting on his other knee, Stanley patted a black boot. “Seems to me you’ve been punishing yourself instead of looking for solutions. Listen, I know this shoemaker up in St. Joe.” And Stanley laid out a plan.
“Is it all right if I take some time off tomorrow?” Ryan asked, slowly digesting Stanley’s idea.
“I’ll have to ask the boss.” Stanley stood up and yawned. “Yep, fine with him. Now I have to drive home to bed and you need a good night’s sleep. Courting a widow woman requires energy.”
Ryan chuckled all the way up the stairs.
Sarah barely hadtime to feed the boys and get them ready for bed. Her book group was coming. Although they’d talked about skipping this month, in the end they decided to bring their favorite cookies and talk about classic Christmas stories. Then no one would have to read a new book. At least that was the plan.
But this group hardly ever stuck to the plan.
“Why do we have to go to bed so early?” Nathan complained as she tucked him in.
“Because Mommy’s friends are coming over. And you have school tomorrow.”
“You sound just like my teacher.” He sounded way older than kindergarten and it broke her heart. “But we’re going to see Santa this Saturday, right?”
“You promised,” Justin threw in from the other twin bed.
