Chapter Fourteen

 

Mac checked the clock for the tenth time in a half hour. Despite the joy he garnered from teaching history to young minds, he couldn’t wait for the school day to end.

When the bell rang, Christmas vacation officially began, and he wouldn’t step foot in this classroom until next year. Even if that was only two weeks away, he needed the break.

More importantly, he wanted the free time to spend with Phoebe. After years of secretly pining for each other, they’d have their first date tonight. He struggled with where to take her. He wanted the evening to be special and memorable, but he’d drawn a blank.

Last night, he’d resorted to searching online for ideas, and he’d come across something called a penny date. He’d never heard of it until then, but the idea intrigued him. They’d pick a number, and that equaled the numbers of turns they would take. Then they’d flip the coin to determine if they turned right or left.

The idea required little planning, only a willingness to be spontaneous. It was better than taking in a movie where they wouldn’t have a chance to talk or grabbing dinner at Tippy’s. He loved Tippy’s, but they could eat there anytime.

A penny date could provide the memorable evening.

The bell rang, and an upbeat Christmas tune played over the intercom. Even the office staff had joined in the celebration. Thankfully, he didn’t have any after-school duties and could go straight home.

He grabbed his briefcase from the under his desk and fled his classroom. History would wait for another day. He stopped by the grocery store on his way home and bought a poinsettia for Phoebe. Because of her love of all things Christmas, she’d appreciate the potted plant more than a bouquet of roses or carnations.

When he got home, Mom stopped him in the hallway. “Christmas break looks good on you.”

He set his briefcase down by the foyer table and gave her a hug. “It’s not that.”

“I know.” Her eyes sparkled as though she harbored a secret. “I’ve prayed this day would come, but I didn’t know if I’d ever see it.”

“Stop planning the wedding,” he warned.

“Who said I was?”

“I know you too well.” He imitated the stare she gave him when he’d acted up as a child. “This is one date. Don’t jump too far ahead.”

She sighed. “Fine, I’ll try to contain my excitement.”

“I forgot to tell you, I’m meeting with a realtor tomorrow.”

“To look at rentals?” Her face fell even though she was the one who suggested he should consider moving out.

Should he wait? Maybe she wasn’t ready for him to leave. No, he had to move on. His dad needed to get his life back to normal. “Actually, I might buy a house.”

“Really?”

“On my way home from Farthington last weekend, I saw this home for sale at a great price.” It wasn’t the cabin he’d always dreamed of, but a stone house that called to him. “The bank pre-approved me for a mortgage, so if I like it, all I need to do is make an offer.”

“That’s wonderful. I’ll be praying.”

“Thanks.”

Mac went to the kitchen, grabbed an apple from the bowl, and munched on it as he climbed the stairs. As the minutes passed, he doubted his plans for the date. Would Phoebe see it as a lack of effort on his part? His heart and mind were conflicted. He wanted the night to be perfect.

Ultimately, his heart knew the real Phoebe who enjoyed the simple pleasures in life and would love the idea of a penny date. With his nerves assured and settled, he changed into a pair of jeans and a flannel, button-down shirt with a gray thermal underneath. He didn’t mind dressing up when the situation required, but he enjoyed the freedom to dress casually and comfortably.

Before he left, Mac grabbed the thermal bag with their dinner inside. He’d cheated and asked his mom to prepare a meal. Let’s face it, Phoebe will enjoy Mom’s food much more than anything I could make. He peeked inside, and the smell of chicken croquettes rose toward him. Mom included a small container of her homemade gravy to pour over them and a side of balsamic roasted root vegetables. For dessert, she’d made a peppermint cheesecake.

Could he sneak a piece of cheesecake now without anyone noticing? Instead, he exercised self-control and repacked the bag, along with the plates, utensils, and cups. On the way out of the house, he stuck his head inside the family room to tell his parents bye but stopped.

The image of his mom, curled up with his dad, burned into his memory. That’s the kind of strong marriage he wanted. One that could withstand strokes, financial difficulties, and a myriad of other struggles life threw their way. A relationship where, at the end of a long day, he could sit next to his wife on the sofa and know they had each other’s support no matter what.

He’d never pictured that in those few weeks with Deena. He’d spent years envisioning it with Phoebe.

Stepping quietly, Mac slipped out of the house so as not to disturb his parents. His heart pounded the entire way to Phoebe’s house. He’d waited years for this opportunity and prayed the date would go well.

Only one light shone inside her home. She must be ready and waiting for him in the living room. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Odd, he’d never been this nervous for a date with Deena, or anyone.

He lifted the poinsettia from the passenger floor and wrapped an arm around the potted plant. Out of nowhere, he remembered poinsettias were dangerous to some pets. Was it cats? He couldn’t remember if Phoebe had any. No, she wanted a kitten, but couldn’t have one per her lease agreement. He breathed a sigh of relief.

Phoebe swung open the front door and greeted him before he could knock. “I saw your headlights when you pulled in the driveway.”

He handed her the plant. “This made me think of you.”

“Thank you. I love poinsettias.” She reached for it and admired the bold red leaves. “It’s not Christmas until I have one.”

Her positive reaction emboldened him. “What about mistletoe?”

“Look up.”

He caught her wink just before he glanced up. A sprig of mistletoe with a red bow tied around it hung from the top of the doorframe. “Planning on kissing the mailman and anyone else who stops by?”

Phoebe’s smile reached her eyes. “I didn’t hang it there until tonight.”

The invitation to kiss her didn’t hit him until she’d disappeared inside the house with poinsettia.

When Phoebe returned, she adjusted her purse strap on her shoulder. “Ready to go?”

“Not yet.” He wouldn’t miss the opportunity a second time. Without giving it another thought, he slid his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. “We can’t waste the mistletoe.”

Her voice had dropped low and breathless. “That would be a shame.”

Full, pink lips greeted his mouth. He wished the kiss could last forever, but he kept it short and innocent. One day soon, if his prayers were answered in the way he wanted, they’d have the liberty to indulge in longer, more passionate kisses.

He held her hand for the brief walk to his truck and then opened the door for her. She would never complain about his vehicle or think it beneath her, no matter what destination they had in mind.

She buckled her seat belt and twisted to face him. “Do I get to find out where we’re going yet?”

“It’s a surprise.” He smirked and reached for the penny hiding in the dash. “I don’t even know yet.”

“Then how do we know where to go?”

Grasping the penny, he held it up. “This. Have you ever heard of a penny date?”

She clapped her hands, and her eyes opened wide. “I saw that on the internet a few months ago and loved it. Is that really what we’re doing?”

He nodded and pointed his thumb to the rear seat. “We’ll have a picnic dinner wherever we end up.”

“In the cold?”

“If need be.” He wagged his brows. “I’ll keep you warm.”

“Hmm.” A lazy smile tugged at her lips. “I like the sound of that.”

“Before we leave, you have to pick a number from one to twenty.”

She tapped a finger against the corner of her lips. “Twenty.”

“You know the rules, don’t you?”

“Why do you think I said twenty?” Mischief danced in her eyes. “More time together.”

“Twenty turns it is.” His heart grew two sizes. “I like this side of you.”

“What side?”

“Bold. Flirtatious.”

“Now that I don’t have to hide how I feel, I’m free to let it out.” She flipped the coin, and it landed on heads.

He took a right out of the driveway. “Freedom is good.”

“I’d have to agree.”

Bittersweet joy surrounded him. “We wasted a lot of years not being honest with each other.”

“All we can do is learn from our mistakes and pray we don’t make them again.” Her reassuring smile lit the dark car. They came to a stop sign, and she handed him the penny. “You flip this time.”

He flicked his thumb, and it landed on heads again. “At this rate, we’ll make a circle.”

“Don’t you mean a square?” She giggled at her own joke.

“Only you.” Amused, he shook his head and made the turn. “Eighteen more to go.”

“This is fun. I wonder how someone initially thought of this?”

“They probably got bored with going out to eat all the time and never finding good movies playing at the theater.” He’d rather watch her but had to keep his eyes on the road, especially at this time of year and in the evening when deer showed up often. “Or lived in a small town with few options.”

“Or,” she drew out the word, “maybe the person was a romantic with a whimsical side who enjoyed exploring with the person they loved.”

“Whatever the reason, I’m enjoying this. It’s different.”

“Me too.” She opened her purse and took out her phone. “I want pictures to remember this by.”

“I doubt you’ll capture much. It’s too dark out.” They came to another stop, and the flash blinded him temporarily. “You’re lucky we weren’t moving.”

“I wouldn’t have taken a picture if we were moving.” She stared at the screen. “And you’re wrong. I captured what matters.”

Taking a look, he saw the picture of himself on her phone. He kept one hand on the steering wheel and wrapped his other around hers. “We both did.”

They found themselves on a long stretch of road, and it was seven miles before they made another turn. Phoebe had quieted down, and it concerned him. “Penny for your thoughts?”

“I’m not sure if I should say.”

“No more hiding, right?” He squeezed her hand. “We should be free to say anything to each other.”

“Okay.” She sucked in a breath and let it out slowly. “I was wondering if you’ve heard anything from Deena?”

“No, and I don’t expect to.” Mac shrugged off the reminder of his short-term relationship.

“It’s strange, though. There’s nothing online about it either.”

He jerked his head around, surprised she’d looked and not sure how he felt about that. “You searched?”

“No, Darla told me.”

“That makes more sense.” His muscles relaxed.

“You thought I went around being nosy?” Her tone darkened with sadness.

“Well… yes. I’m sorry.”

“I’m teasing—I would have thought the same.” Her voice lightened, and he heard her smile. “I told Darla about us. Is that okay?”

“I told my friends and family, and I’m sure everyone at church figured it out on Sunday when we showed up together, sat together, and you made eyes at me.”

“I did not make eyes at you, whatever that even means.”

Laughter rumbled from deep in his chest. “Just making sure you were still listening.”

She swatted his arm. “Anyway, as soon as I told Darla, she must have gone online because she came back twenty minutes later to report she couldn’t find any mention of a breakup. She’s checked every day since.”

“Who knows?”

“The filming is supposed to wrap up Wednesday, and today our office got the notice of her vacating the cabin.”

Mac stopped the car and gently guided her face to look at him. “Tonight is about us, not Deena. She’s in the past, and even if it’s the recent past, I’d rather leave her there and focus on you and me.”

“You’re right.” She covered his hand with hers, and whispered, “You and Me. Us.”

“Together at last.”