There'd been a time, when I was in my early twenties, when I'd thought myself intellectually superior to people like that. But that notion had long been put to bed by exposure to the foibles of fate and the realities of just trying to survive in our current world.
Hell, in 2020, any man with health insurance benefits was a man to be admired and envied.
But something else was making me feel off. Sean had said Dan was known for being nice and spending time with others, chatting. So maybe his recent interactions with me were nothing special. Maybe he felt sorry for me because I was new in the area, like he apparently felt sorry for Sean's neighbor, John. Or maybe Dan took it as a point of pride to get to know everyone on his route, and my recent spate of packages had provided an opening. Nothing more.
The most revealing thing about that conversation with Sean? Was that it bothered me at all.
I was surprised to realize that I was already more invested in the idea of Dan Partridge than I'd realized.
Chapter Four
December 18
I watched for Dan all through the afternoon. Usually he stopped at my place between one and two p.m. But he didn't appear.
No package today? Did that mean my mystery man was done? Or perhaps today's package had gotten delayed. It was, after all, Christmas time. Maybe I'd get two packages tomorrow.
I forced my mind back to my editing. It was difficult. The disappointment lingered no matter how sternly I told myself I was being childish.
I was making dinner in the kitchen at six when I heard a truck out front. I hurried to the window. It was dark out, but the light outside the garage showed Dan strolling toward my front door with a small box.
I hurried to turn off the burner under the pan with fish. I waved my hand in the air to hide the aroma, walked quickly down the short hall to the front door, grabbed my mask, and looped it over my ears.
"Hey!" I said, opening the door. "I didn't think you were going to come today."
"I saved your package for last. I hope you don't mind." Dan's tone was apologetic as he held out the package.
He'd saved me for last? What did that mean?
Could that possibly mean that he wanted to be able to spend more time here? My palms were suddenly damp. "Oh. Um. Would you like to come in? Or... I guess we don't do that right now, do we?" My laugh sounded phony.
Dan answered me seriously. "I know you've probably been super careful about exposure. But I'm a delivery guy, so I'm more at risk. Not that I'm not careful. I am."
"I know you are. I mean, you're very conscientious. I appreciate that."
Since I'd moved here after COVID broke out, I'd never seen Dan without a mask. It suddenly struck me that I didn't even know what his face looked like. That gave me a little stab of sadness. What a world.
"I have to be conscientious." Dan said. "I have a lot of older people on my route, and I'd feel terrible if I got anyone sick. I get tested weekly. So far so good."
"You do? That's impressive." I was at a loss. Damn this stupid pandemic, that I couldn't even invite someone into my home. "Well.... I can open this here. If you're interested in today's mystery prize?"
"I sure am." Those crinkles around his eyes appeared and he leaned against the pillar again—the pillar that was rapidly becoming his pillar. "Yesterday's Swan Winery Merlot was for seven swans a-swimming. I have to see what your Mystery Man came up with for eight maids a-milking."
"Okay. Just a sec. I'll grab a knife."
I shoved the package back into his hands and went inside. My blood thrummed happily, a smile was on my face, and I felt like I was practically dancing on my feet. It was ridiculous how much Dan affected me, as if I were a teenager again. And he wasn't even the mysterious someone currently courting me with gifts. It was all so very unlike my normally staid and boring life.
I took the knife outside. He held the package in both hands while I cut the tape. This brought us in closer proximity than we'd ever been before. There was something in the solid bulk of him, in his thick brown UPS parka, that sent a thrill through me. I really liked the kindness in those