package and slid it across the table. “Here you go, Mrs. Cotton. The third package you’ve had me wrap today.”
She thanked him and slid a ten dollar bill in the donation jar. Which, like my jar, was absolutely stuffed with cash.
“You’ve done too much,” I told him. “You weren’t even supposed to be here today and you worked eleven hours.”
He shrugged his broad shoulders and wiped sweat from his forehead. “It didn’t feel right to leave. Especially since you needed the help! This is supposed to be one of the biggest donation days of the year, right?”
His thoughtfulness touched me in a way I didn’t expect. Before I knew it, tears were welling in my eyes and blurring my vision.
“Hey. It’s okay.” He grabbed my forearms and rubbed them reassuringly. “Was it something I said?”
“No! Not at all,” I said while wiping my tears. “It’s just that I’ve had a tough couple of weeks. What you did today… It really means a lot to me.”
His charming smile returned. “Glad I could make your day.”
It turned out Harper had stayed the entire time too. We packed up all the tables and materials, although there was only a roll and-a-half of wrapping paper remaining between the four of us. I collected the donation jars from the store office, and we walked back to the truck together.
“Your jar’s only half full?” Riley said to Harper. “Kind of embarrassing. Me and the ladies filled our jars to bursting.”
“Oh. Umm, my jar was full around lunchtime. I had to empty it into a bag.” He revealed a White House Black Market shopping back that he had been carrying in his other hand. Inside was a jungle of green bills.
“Holy shit,” Riley said. “You look like you robbed a bank!”
“Umm, don’t say that,” Harper looked around nervously.
We put the jars in the front seat of my truck and then stood around together in the dark. Our breath misted in front of our faces as I tried to think of what to say.
“I can’t thank you enough for the help. This could have been a disaster of a day, but instead it looks like we far surpassed our fundraising goals for November. I wish there was some way I could…”
Suddenly a thought occurred to me.
“I have at least ten pounds of Thanksgiving leftovers at home,” I said. “Would any of you like to come over for dinner?”
“Thanks anyways, but mom is waiting for me in the car,” Sandy said. “See you next Monday!”
We waved goodbye as she jogged over to her mom’s minivan. Then I turned to the two men before me.
“It turns out I accidentally skipped lunch,” Riley said. “I’m starving. I’ll gladly take you up on that food.”
“I would love dinner,” Harper said with a shy smile.
7
Christie
As I drove home, I began regretting inviting them over for dinner.
My place wasn’t clean enough for guests. I had not vacuumed since last weekend, and one of the Chihuahuas had been shedding all week. There were papers and vaccine records all over the table. The house probably smelled like dog.
Why had I invited them over?
It was too late now, though. Riley and Harper were following my truck down the road toward the farm. Whatever embarrassment my house might cause, it would be so much worse if I reneged on my offer of food. Especially after they had helped me all day.
I pulled down my driveway. An extra truck was parked in front of the house, behind Bonny’s truck. Was it someone from her family? Sometimes her grandkids came to play with the dogs. I hopped out of the truck and walked over to the fence where Bonny was standing. Out in the field a man was picking up dog poop with a retractable scooper.
“Are you putting Rusty to work?” I asked her while squinting at the man. “Or has one of your grandkids had a growth spurt?”
She gave me a funny look. “He ain’t one of mine. He showed up this morning and said he knows you.”
I blinked in surprise. “Uh…”
Riley appeared next to me by the fence. “Logan!” he shouted. “You helped after all!”
The man—Logan—walked over to us and came into view of the house flood light. He was wearing the same ballcap low over his eyes, and his leather jacket was zipped up tight.
“I’m tempted to make a joke about picking up poop,” Harper said, “but I don’t want to discourage you from helping again in the future.”
“It beats being in a mall on Black Friday,”