Big Man for Christmas - Penny Wylder Page 0,48

see her. “It’s all right. Hopefully it won’t be an issue too much longer.”

“Same. Good luck!”

“You too.”

We part ways, and a little part of the weight is lifted off my chest. I’m glad that’s out of the way. I really didn’t want to hurt Megan, or Red, or Carley for that matter. This worked out well.

Wild blonde hair catches my eye, and I see Carley to my right, sitting with a giant pile of Christmas lights in her lap while she tries to untangle them. Tyler is walking away, and she looks miserable sitting in the dirt just working on the lights alone.

Food can wait.

“You need some help?”

Carley looks up with a start. Her eyes rove over me like she doesn’t believe I’m real, staring so long that I think something might be wrong.

“Sure,” she says finally. “I’m not sure what’s got them so tangled. Every year whoever puts them back swears that they wrapped them up neatly, and every year they come out of the box like the devil himself reached in here and knotted them. It doesn’t make any sense.”

“Maybe it’s the ghosts of Christmas future, trying to make sure that we have more than enough to do to set up.”

Carley snorts and looks around. “I think we have plenty to do without busy work.”

“It’s coming along.”

“I’ve seen you,” she says quietly. “You’re practically raising the village all by yourself.”

I grab a handful of wires and start to help untangle them. “That’s not true. Everyone’s doing their part.”

“Not everyone,” she says it so quietly that I’m not entirely sure I heard it.

Footsteps alert me a second before I hear the voice that’s tested my control all day. “Hey there. Tyler Harding, nice to meet you…”

I stand and shake his outstretched hand. “Casey Bowman.”

Tyler puffs his shoulders up, mimicking my stance and trying to make himself look bigger than he is. “Bowman. I’ve heard your name a few times today.”

“I live on the farm next door.”

He nods. “Excellent, so you know Carley then?”

“We grew up together,” Carley says, not looking up at either of us.

“Interesting.” Tyler’s tone makes it sound like it’s just the opposite. “Do you farm flowers too?”

I’m surprised that he actually knows what the Farrell Farm supplies, but I shake my head. “No. My farm is cattle. Primarily dairy. I supply the milk for several local creameries.”

He crosses his arms. “And do you like doing that?”

“I do,” I say. “Though it’s a job. It’s not my entire life.”

Carley does look up at me then, eyes wide, and I grin. I may not know where we stand, but I can make the differences between us crystal clear.

“I heard you’re a lawyer? What kind of law do you practice?”

“My firm mostly deals with high end business clients. Everything from hedge funds to pharmaceutical companies. The occasional politician in trouble.”

I nod. “Sounds demanding.”

“It is. But you know I always make time for the things I love. Like you said, it’s just a job.”

The look on Carley’s face is enough to make me burst out laughing, but I control myself. “I’m glad you’ve found such success. Are you enjoying your time in Elgin?”

He looks around at the field. “It’s charming. I told Carley that we’ll have to come back in a few years and visit again.”

A few years? Wow. I grit my teeth trying to keep my face completely neutral. “Well I hope you enjoy your stay. I’m going to grab some food. I’m sure I’ll see you both tomorrow at the fireworks.”

“Sure thing.”

Carley looks like she wants to say something, but she doesn’t. Just, “See you later.” She doesn’t seem like she’s completely coherent, and that protective streak that’s blazed to life with anything to do with Carley, I want to march back there and make sure that she’s okay.

But I can’t. She made it clear what we are, and until she tells me otherwise, making sure that she’s okay is Tyler’s job. Just thinking that makes my teeth ache because I’m gritting them so hard.

I grab some food and throw myself back into the construction until the very last stall is raised, the lights are strung, pathways constructed, and trim attached. A cheer goes up from everyone when the last nail is hammered into place. It’s hard work, but knowing the magic of Firework Night makes it all worth it.

It feels almost like the raising of a circus. We all came together in the morning to make the magic happen, and just as quickly we start to disperse.