They left the Christmas tree at John’s house to warm up before they decorated it. Having released the disgruntled kitten from its captivity, Chance drove toward the NorthStar while John held the kitten in his lap. It seemed quite content there. John was quiet, obviously thinking about something, and Chance was reasonably sure he knew what.

“Quit thinking so hard over there.” Chance kept his eyes on the road while he gestured toward the kitten. “Aren’t they supposed to ride in a carrier or something?”

“My cats have always ridden in cars without a box. Would you like to ride in a dark box where you couldn’t see anything?”

Chance supposed he wouldn’t.

John directed him around a corner he recognized and let out a gasp of shock. There was a huge line in front of the theater. “What the hell is this?”

“This,” Chance used his chin to gesture at the crowd waiting to get inside to watch a holiday classic, “is the people of Skagit wanting to go to the movies.”

“What have you done?” John peered out the passenger side window as Chance slowly drove past the theater. The line extended from the box office around the corner to the alley where they’d rescued the kitten. “There must be two hundred people here.”

“I may have networked a bit.”

John whipped around to stare at him, narrowing his eyes. Chance saw him trying to think who Chance could have talked to, and when he figured it out.

“Gloria. She’s the only one who has this kind of influence. Hurry up and park. I need to get in there and help Reed; he’s got to be freaking out.”

“Reed is fine. His friends Kevin and Angel offered to help out. It’s not rocket science, John, it’s the movies. Reed even said he knows how to run the booth, but I thought you’d want to do that.”

John continued to stare out the window, not moving to get out now that they were parked. “Why would they all come? They have families and friends to be with. It’s Christmas Eve.”

“John,” Chance said softly, “these people, many of them, are your friends too, and they came here with their families and friends to support you. You don’t need to do this alone. But it is nearly five and the show must go on, so hop to it.”

“Right. Okay. Here, take the kitten. It really needs a name, by the way.”

Chance took the kitten from John as he opened the door and got out of the car. Without a backward look, he made his way through the crowd and around the corner to the front doors. Chance couldn’t see him but knew that was where he was headed. Carefully, with the kitten tucked into his chest, Chance got out, locked the car, and followed John inside, realizing as he did so that he would follow him anywhere.

---

Not surprisingly, given the size of the line, both shows sold out. John greeted folks at first but ended up hiding in his office toward the end of the night, overwhelmed by the show of love and generosity. Chance thought he’d shed a few tears and didn’t want anyone to see.

Reed was over-the-moon giddy, high on helping his friend and mentor and from being a part of something amazing. The community united and gave John and the NorthStar hope again. Most didn’t merely buy tickets to the show; they donated ten, twenty, even one hundred dollars to help keep the theater afloat.

The building finally emptied out around nine-thirty, Reed giving them a happy wave as he left with Kevin and Angel. His parents still hadn’t come around, although his mother had at least texted to ask where he was.

“I told her I was with friends. I don’t think she deserves any more than that. Merry Christmas; I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Merry Christmas, Reed.”

“Merry Christmas, Chance, good luck!”

“Good luck with what?” John joined them.

Reed blushed and stuttered, “Oh, uh, nothing—look, I gotta go. Kevin and Angel are waiting.”

They watched as Reed rushed down the street to hop into a waiting car.

“You told him, didn’t you?” John asked, though it was really more of a statement. “You told Reed you were honoring a promise to your mother.”

“I did,” Chance confirmed. “I also told him I was doing my best to stay.”

“It’s been two days.”

“Doesn’t matter.”

“I’m not ready to fall in love.”

Chance shrugged. “I can wait.”

John pulled the doors closed and locked them. Chance followed. Together they shut off the rest of the lights, put the trash in the alley, and collected the kitten from the office. John was quiet, and Chance knew he was thinking again about them and what was growing between them. John was a smart man. He knew what they had was real; he just needed a little time to accept it.

“Has anyone told you how irritating and arrogant you are?” John asked as they got into the rental.

Chance let a grin spread across his face. “All the time.”