In Name Only (Pine Falls #2) - Jennifer Peel Page 0,100
We’d been lucky to obtain this location this year at the Pine Falls outdoor shopping complex. This place was much nicer than the old mall where we had been for the last several years. That eyesore had been dying for years and had been torn down a few months ago. Erin had worked her tail off to secure this place for us, free of charge, I might add. All we had to do was pay for the utilities. The space was beautiful, with newly painted walls, attractive lighting, and even marble countertops. However, my admiration for the space had nothing on how in awe I was of Brock. He was terrible at wrapping gifts, but he had a gift with people.
Several patrons and those donating gifts had gravitated toward him when they’d realized who he was. Many thanked him for serving our country. Others offered condolences about the baby. Brock graciously accepted them. No one would have guessed Charlotte wasn’t his. It made me believe that he truly would have loved her like his own. Now, though, he was speaking to a veteran of the Iraq War. A man in his mid-forties, I would say.
The man had his hands shoved in his pocket, and his green eyes spoke of how haunted he still was. Brock walked around the counter where he had been doing a terrible job of wrapping a garment box. He put his arm around the man, and they took a seat at the front of the store where we had placed a few chairs for people to sit while they waited to for their gifts to be wrapped. I watched how tenderly Brock spoke to the man about his own experiences. I was most proud when he told the man it was never too late to seek help. He even admitted he was still in therapy. My eyes welled up with tears when the man threw his arms around Brock.
The other patrons in the store did their best not to stare, though it was hard not to be interested. I, myself, was completely enthralled.
After several minutes, Brock gave the man his card and told him to call him anytime. The man wished him the merriest of Christmases and left with his wrapped gifts, looking more hopeful than when he’d walked in.
Brock stood and caught my eye.
“I love you,” I mouthed.
His smile said he loved me too. He went back to work wrapping gifts while I organized donations at the back. People’s generosity never ceased to amaze me, especially this time of year. Without fail, people would stop by and make large cash donations, wanting nothing in return, not even a gift wrapped.
Around midafternoon, we had a surprise visitor. Sheridan came strolling in, carrying several bags from some of the swankiest stores at the shopping complex. While always beautiful, she looked dead on her feet in her cream cashmere coat that was buttoned up to keep the cold out. It had stopped snowing, but there was a chill in the air.
I set down the Tonka truck I’d been adding to the spreadsheet on my laptop and rushed toward her. “Mom, how are you?” It had gotten easier while living with her to use the term of endearment. I reached for her bags.
She easily gave them up, which wasn’t like her at all. “Thank you, darling. I thought I’d donate some items.”
I looked at the designer store bags. Some lucky kids were going to be over the moon; that is, if they’d even heard of these stores. “That was kind of you. Thank you. Would you like to come sit with me in the back?”
“I would love that.”
Brock placed a big red bow on a package before waving to us as we walked by. He must have known Sheridan needed some girl time.
I helped her get settled on the chair next to mine before getting her a cup of coffee in the back room. She looked like she could use the caffeine and something warm to drink. I was back in no time, and she gratefully accepted the Styrofoam cup. “Thank you, dear.”
I took the seat next to her. “How are you?”
“Better now that I’m with you. You look absolutely radiant today.” She took a sip of the coffee before setting it down on the table.
I stared down at my red fitted sweater and skinny jeans.
“I’m not talking about your clothes, though you always look beautiful. I’m referring to the smile in your eyes.”