Page 35 of The Blessings of Christmas
Giving a gritty groan, Ryan sat up. “You got that right.”
“Come into the office and take a load off.” Stanley led the way. “You were working when I got here. It's past lunchtime.”
Since Ryan didn’t help out at The Full Cup on Saturdays, he was trying to put in a lot of hours at Branson’s. “I could use a cup of coffee.” Ryan could use a lot of stuff but nothing he could mention to Stanley.
Inside the glass-enclosed office, the noise level dropped. “So what’s your son doing today?” Ryan asked.
Pouring a mug of coffee that sure smelled good, Stanley smiled. “Phoebe's got him putting up their Christmas tree.”
Putting up the tree. It had been a long time since Ryan had done that. Memories rolled over him. The smell of pine and the sticky feeling of sap on your fingers. Working through knotted tree lights, only to find that they’d burned out. All things that used to irritate him now taunted him with their absence.
Ryan took the full mug Stanley offered and topped it off with cream and sugar. “She didn't even notice.”
Stanley lowered himself into the worn chair that rocked back to just the right angle. “She didn't notice what?” But the older man's eyes went to Ryan's boots.
“The way I walk now.” He extended a leg. “Not a word about it.”
After blowing on his coffee, Stanley took a sip and smacked his lips. “Get over yourself. You got to understand, Ryan. All women are different.” The old chair squeaked when Stanley rocked it.
“That's real profound, Stanley.” Ryan enjoyed teasing the old man and took another sip of coffee.
“Not that I'm an expert or anything because I certainly am not.”
“You helped get Ryder and Phoebe back together. That's saying something.” Ryder had been angrier than a wet cat in winter the whole year after his divorce from Phoebe Hunicutt until his dad stepped in. “Phoebe adores you.”
“Let's just say it's mutual.” Stanley wore a pleased smile. “I’m looking forward to Christmas dinner with them. Last year was the pits.”
“What hints did you give him for marital bliss?” Ryan was only half kidding.
Stanley got grumbly. “I’m not a man who hints at anything. You young guys sometimes have rocks for brains.”
“Thanks, Stanley, I needed that.” But Ryan wasn’t offended. After all, Stanley was the one who had a place to go on holidays. Sarah hadn’t mentioned anything yet about Christmas dinner.
Twiddling his thumbs, Stanley studied the overhead light. “I told him to hang in there. To put himself right in front of that girl’s face. You know Ryder had his pride. Sure, you’re there, baking and whatever. But are you showing her how important you could be in her life?”
Ryan didn't know what to make of that. “I'm working part time there. And then I barrel up here to work, not that I’m complaining. What else can I do?”
Stanley pressed a hand to his chest. “You poor thing. My heart pumps peanut butter for you. You all tired out?”
Absolutely no sympathy in the old man’s voice. Ryan took another gulp of coffee. “In some ways, yeah. Not in others.”
The two men shared a look. Enough said. Stanley went back to twirling his thumbs and Ryan went back to wishing. Time to put all the cards on the table. “I don’t know if Sarah thinks of me as anything but her brother-in-law. Maybe she’s just being nice to me.”
“What do you mean? She must want you around or you wouldn’t be there.”
Ryan ran a hand through hair that needed a trim bad. “Sarah’s always belonged to Jamie. She’s sweet and nice and...”
“And what?” Stanley looked puzzled.
“Did you just move here?” Not one for words, Ryan was sputtering. He knew Stanley was older than water and had been here all his life.
The chair creaked when the old man leaned forward. “Where we’ve been isn’t where we’re going. Everybody makes mistakes. If my own sweet Marietta was still here, she’d tell you all about mine. Sarah isn’t pushing you away, is she?”
“Not that I noticed.” He squeezed his eyes tight, thinking of Sarah’s arms around him, helping roll the darn dough.
When he opened them, Stanley was beaming. “Now son, it's Christmas time. There's a lot of stuff that has to be done. What is Ryder doing today? When Phoebe gets home from her hair salon, he’ll have the tree up and the lights will be on. At least that’s what he told me. You do something nice for a lady and she notices. You can’t just tell her. You have to show her.”
But Sarah wasn’t Phoebe and Ryan sure as heck wasn’t Ryder. “I see her every day, practically. After all, I work for her.”
