Page 21 of Make Me Swoon

“It was more than me. There wasn’t much to stock after the tours,” I say and he looks around the shop.

“Do you want to go outside, Bandit?” he asks and I look over to see the dog side-eyeing Teller. I didn’t even hear him come into the gift shop.

“Looks like that’s a no,” I say with a laugh and Teller grins, bending down to scratch Bandit’s ears.

“Smart boy,” Teller whispers and I smile, putting the last snow globe up on the shelf.

“I meant to ask, I heard about the fire last night over at Mrs. Mason’s place. Is everyone alright?”

Teller is one of the volunteer firefighters for Destiny Falls. Our town is too small to have a full-time department, so I’m sure that he went to help last night even though he was off duty.

He used to be a firefighter in New York City but he said that it was too expensive living in the city and he got sick of working two jobs just to barely be able to make ends meet, so he left and came out here. He just happened to see a help wanted sign when he was passing through town and Stan hired him on the spot, so he’s been living and working here in Destiny Falls for the last two years.

“Yeah, Mrs. Mason fell asleep with a lit cigarette in her mouth. She’s honestly lucky to be alive, but her whole house is gone now.”

“Oh, man. Does she need anything?”

“All of her possessions are gone now, so I think that they’re organizing some drive for people to donate to. The firehouse is planning it but I headed home before I heard all of the details last night.”

“Let me know when you know. I’ll donate some money.”

“I will,” Teller says with that affable smile of his.

“Is she going to go live with her son now?”

“No, I don’t think so. Last I heard was that he couldn’t take her in. She’ll be going to the nursing home down by him though, so at least she’ll be close by and she’ll get to see the grandkids more often.”

“That’s too bad. I’m sure she’d rather stay with her son and grandkids.”

“I know. I don’t think that Peter can handle it though. He’s got a lot on his plate with the kids and work. His mom is going to need a lot of help and supervision. Probably round-the-clock care. It sucks, but at least he’s honest with the level of care that he can provide for her. The home will be able to give her the care and attention that she needs and they do outings and activities there that she can go to.”

I nod and I wonder if maybe I messed up by taking care of my father by myself. Maybe he would have lived longer if he was in a place like that, with trained nurses instead of his flighty daughter.

“Can I ask you a question?” I ask him after a few minutes.

“Sure, what’s up?”

“You and Sutton, you’re perfect together.”

Teller smiles and it’s adorable that just the thought of his girl can cause that reaction.

“Is that the question?” he teases and I smile, looking down at the box of coffee mugs at my feet.

“How did you know that she was the one? That you loved her, I mean?”

Teller rocks back on his heels, blowing out a deep breath as he looks up to the ceiling for a minute as he thinks about his answer.

“Honestly? I don’t know.”

“Sutton will be so happy to hear that you said that,” Stan says as he comes into the gift shop with a huff.

Teller just laughs, not worried at all, and I bend down, starting to stock the coffee cups on the shelf.

“I guess we just had a connection. I just felt it as soon as I met her. Maybe even before that because I was intrigued as soon as her mom told me about her. I don’t know how to describe it. I’ve never had to put what being in love feels like into words.”

“Luckily you don’t have to. Literally millions of books and songs have done it for you,” Stan says with a straight face and I can’t help the bark of laughter that escapes.

I nod, remembering the look on his face when Sutton’s mom had shown us a picture of her daughter. He had looked dazed for the rest of the day and hung on her every word about Sutton for the rest of her visit.

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