Chapter 34: Chapter 34

Cornerstone Baptist Church was nicely decorated for Christmas, with three large trees on the stage behind the pastor, twinkling with white lights, red and gold trimmings reflecting the Christmas spirit. That wasn’t what was keeping Dak’s mind from focusing on the sermon though—it was the woman sitting in the pew in front of him, all the way at the other end. He knew he needed to listen to what the pastor was saying, but Memory looked so beautiful in the bright blue sweater she was wearing. It made her eyes glitter like sapphires. Not that she’d even looked at him for more than a few seconds. But for Dak, it had been enough to keep his mind wandering.

Ellie was sitting next to him, one of her new friends and the woman’s husband on the other side, and they were all captivated by the sermon. Who wouldn’t be this time of year? The story of how God sent his son to Earth as a tiny baby who would save the world was one of the best stories in the Bible. Dak tried to keep his eyes on the pastor, even if his mind wouldn’t stay there.

Eventually, the preacher got to the altar call, and everyone stood to pray and sing a final hymn. Anxiety was building inside of him as he contemplated what he should say to Memory, if he even got a chance to talk to her. She’d left the park the day before while he was still talking to one of the other real estate developers who was in town, and he’d only gotten a chance to wave at her while she was driving away. On the way back to the inn, Ellie had explained Memory had gotten a very important email about a shipment. Dak understood her job was important, but that didn’t make him any less disappointed that he hadn’t gotten another chance to speak to her. Hopefully, he could at least say hi to her before she left church.

Once the song was over, Ellie and her friends attracted a bit of a crowd, other women their age coming over to chat. Now was his chance to approach Memory, but by the time he worked his way down the crowded aisle to where she’d been standing near her dad and her sister’s family, she had moved on. Memory was standing further down the aisle, talking to another woman about her age. He didn’t want to interrupt, but at the same time, the urge to say something to her was almost enough to make him push his way past the other churchgoers, elderly and children alike.

“Dak! It’s so nice to see you. Don’t you look nice in a tie! Red is a good color on you.” Sheila, from the coffeehouse, had a pleasant smile as always, but she wasn’t the person he wanted to talk to.

“Thank you, Sheila. It’s nice to see you, too.”

“I was just talkin’ to Kim this mornin’ about the animal shelter. She told me about the generous donation you gave. And then, after you two won the snowman buildin’ contest, she said so many people stopped by to visit the animals, the parking lot was full! There’s hardly any animals left. Someone even adopted a ferret that’s been there for almost three years! I’m thinkin’ about going by there myself tomorrow.”

Dak was having about as much luck listening to Sheila as he had the pastor. “A ferret. Wow. That’s... great.”

“Yeah, so anyway....” As Sheila continued to chat about pet adoptions and the upcoming Christmas caroling event, Dak tried to stay tuned in to what she was saying, but Memory was telling her friend goodbye. She looked around for a second, and he hoped maybe she was looking for him. Shouting her name over Sheila would be extremely rude, so he didn’t. Memory was making her way to the vestibule and the exit. “Are you goin’ to be able to join us?”

“For caroling? Yes, I will be there. Sheila, it is always lovely to see you....” He was about to excuse himself when Memory’s dad stepped over. “Hello, Mr. Wilson.”

“Please, like I said yesterday, call me Bryce.” He offered his hand, and Dak shook it. “Are you going to demand Memory give you fifty-fifty custody of that trophy sitting on my mantel, or is she keeping it?”

Dak laughed because he was certain it was meant to be a joke, even though it wasn’t that funny considering he was now talking about the person he wanted to be talking to. “She can keep it. Memory did the hard part—all I did was roll up a few snowballs.”

“Well, I think the two of you make a pretty good team,” Bryce said, which made Dak smile.

But Memory was out the door, into the hall, and he hadn’t even gotten a chance to say good morning to her. “That’s nice to hear,” he said, biting back the thought that she might not concur. “Do you happen to know where she is?” Maybe if he made it evident he wanted to talk to her, these people would let him go.

“Huh... I don’t know.” Bryce looked around for a second. “We drove separately today because she’s planning on going to the shop....”

“I think I’ll go look in the hallway. Excuse me?”

They both nodded, and Dak kept his head down so he didn’t accidentally make eye contact with anyone else who might want to talk to him. Strange that in a town he’d only been staying in for a week everyone felt like they were good friends. It was a testimony to the town’s spirit, but it wasn’t helping his cause.

Dak didn’t bother to stop and grab his coat off of the wrack where he’d hung it when he and Ellie had first come in. Memory wasn’t in the hall anymore, which meant she’d probably already made it outside. The faint scent of vanilla lingered in the air near the doorway, so he knew she’d come this way. He squeezed around a few people chatting and finally made it out the exit. Not even feeling the cold air, he stepped out into the snow and looked around. Memory’s Accord was headed out of the parking lot. Dak dragged his hand down his face....

“You didn’t catch her?”

Ellie’s voice made him jump. “Where did you come from?” He hadn’t even seen her trying to leave the sanctuary. It was like she had just appeared next to him.

“Originally? Hoboken.” She rested her hand on his arm, no longer joking. “Honey, I’m sorry. I guess she had things to do.”

“I guess so.” The idea that she just hadn’t wanted to talk to him entered his mind. Normally, he wouldn’t let that get to him. He didn’t mind a bit of a chase for a girl like Memory, someone who was obviously worth it. But two days in a row, she’d left without saying goodbye, which was a pretty good indication she wasn’t spending nearly as much time thinking about him as he was her.

“You could call her.”

“I could,” he agreed, the cold finally starting to get to him. Ellie had her coat on already. She was spry for an older woman. “Or I guess I could just stop by the shop tomorrow, now that I’ve moved in next door.”

“I think you should call her. Ask her to lunch. Let’s go get your coat. You’ll catch a cold.”

Dak snickered. She sounded like his mom. He followed her back inside, glad to get in where it was warmer until he could get his coat.

A crowd around the hangers kept him waiting for a few moments. Ellie was talking to another woman she’d met, so Dak stood with his hands in his pockets, trying to figure Memory out. She seemed to like him well enough when they were together, but then, any time she was reminded of what he did for a living, that anger he’d seen when he’d first told her bubbled to the surface. He’d hoped that by now, between himself and Ellie, she would be convinced that he wasn’t there for the reasons she thought he was. But Memory was more stubborn than she liked to admit, and just when he’d start to think she might actually be interested in him, she’d say something to remind him that she didn’t trust him.

Seeing an opening, he grabbed his coat and slipped it on, hoping Ellie would finish up her conversation soon because he was hungry and wanted to go. But then a pair of familiar blue eyes caught his across the hallway, and a smile took over his face. Ellie could keep talking to her friends. He hurried past her as Lorelei shouted, “Uncle Dak!” and launched herself up into the air.

He caught her and gave her a big hug. “How’s my favorite girl?” he asked as she wrapped her arms around him.

“I’m not your favorite girl,” she replied in a melodic tone. “Aunt Memory is.”

Dak shrugged. “It’s a tie.”

“Where is Aunt Memory?”

“I’m not sure. I think she went home.”

Lorelei looked disappointed. “We’re going to the diner for lunch. You wanna come?”

Kirsten stepped in behind her before he could answer. “Lor you are getting so fast! You gotta wait for Mama. Hi, Dak. How are you?”

“Good,” he said, not capable of telling her the truth. Kirsten was a nice woman and a great mom, though he couldn’t quite figure out why she and Memory were always at odds. It wasn’t as if he could just tell her he was disappointed to have missed speaking to her sister. “How are you?”

“Good, thanks. It’s nice to see you. We are headed over to the diner as soon as Maison gets Anson from the nursery. Do you and Ellie want to join us?”

“Oh, uh....” He had no idea what Ellie’s plans were, and he wondered if Memory would be at the diner. If she was, how would she feel about him showing up? “I have a lot of work to do....”

“Yeah, that’s what Memory said, too. She works all the time.” Kirsten rolled her eyes. “I thought having Ellie’s help would get her caught up, but she said she got a big order last night, right after the snowman competition.”

“That’s good. A big order is good.” Ellie had mentioned that, too, but he wasn’t sure if that was the case or something Memory had made up. Now, Dak’s mind was flooded with questions as he tried to determine if that’s really why Memory had left so quickly the day before and today, and not the fact that she didn’t want to speak to him.

“It is good. She can definitely use the money.” Kirsten shook her head, her lips pursed together, and looked down for a moment. “Anyway, if you two want to join us, we’d love to have you. I think Dad and Sheila are coming, too.”

His stomach rumbled again. “Let me ask Ellie.” Dak put Lorelei down, thinking he’d go by himself, but she grabbed his hand, which made him chuckle, and headed toward Ellie, wondering exactly what the situation was with Memory and money and if there was anything she’d let him do about it.