1105 Yakima Street - Debbie Macomber [119]
“You didn’t need to do that.” Her thoughtfulness caught him unawares.
“I know.”
She was about to leave when Will stopped her. “Would you care to join me?”
She hesitated and then nodded. “Sure.”
“I’m afraid I don’t have much furniture in the house yet.”
She didn’t appear to mind. “I’ve eaten sitting on the ground more than once in my life.”
“Me, too.” Although Will couldn’t remember the last time. A picnic, probably, and that would’ve been years ago. He didn’t have much interest in that sort of thing.
They sat in front of the gas fireplace. Will turned it on with the flick of a switch. That was a good thing because he doubted he was capable of building a fire. A lot of years had passed since he was a Boy Scout.
The chicken was delicious. Will didn’t make a habit of eating fried foods so this was a rare treat. The biscuits were good, too, especially drizzled with honey.
“What prompted this?” he asked, setting a leg bone aside and reaching for a second piece.
“I don’t know… . I was halfway home and trying to figure out what I should do for dinner when—”
“When you realized how foolish you’d been to turn down an invitation for a meal with me,” Will finished for her.
“No. I thought about you hauling those boxes to the house by yourself and…” She paused and shook her head. “I probably shouldn’t have come.”
“I’m glad you did.” And to his astonishment he meant it. Until the doorbell rang, Will had been wrapped up in memories of his childhood and starkly aware that he was alone. His mother had Ben, plus him and his sister. Olivia had Jack, her two children and a handful of grandkids. The reminder that he was by himself, in his sixties and without a family of his own, had left a hollow ache in the pit of his stomach.
Miranda polished off a piece of chicken and wiped the grease from her hands with a paper napkin.
“I should be completely moved within the next week,” Will said, making small talk.
“So you’ll be settled before Christmas.”
“That’s the idea. You can start bringing your stuff over to the apartment anytime after that.”
She nodded.
“What about Christmas?” he asked, knowing she didn’t have children.
“What about it?”
“What are your plans?”
“I…I’m not sure yet. Shirley and her kids are going to California to be with Larry.” She seemed to be watching him for a reaction.
“That’ll be nice for them,” he said carefully. “It’ll be their first Christmas together.”
“It will, and I’m pleased for Shirley, really pleased. She found the right man for her and…”
He’d be alone at Christmas. Olivia’s family would include him, but much as he loved his sister and Justine and everyone, he couldn’t help feeling like an obligatory guest. Uncle Will, who had nowhere else to go.
“And,” Miranda said, interrupting his thoughts, “well, this is totally selfish of me to admit.”
“Oh, go ahead,” Will urged. He’d begun to feel that this impromptu dinner was a turning point in his relationship with Miranda.
“Well, Shirley almost always had me over for Christmas.”
“So you’ll be alone this year.”
“I have other friends,” she said defensively.
“Of course you do. But as it happens, I’ll be alone, as well.”
“You?” Miranda seemed stunned at the prospect. “What about Olivia?”
“She’ll invite me for dinner,” he said. “But I feel like I’m intruding on her family time.” They’d all make an effort to involve him in their activities. Yet it wasn’t the same as having a family of his own, belonging to someone. Even during the worst years of his marriage, he’d felt as though he belonged.
“I know what you mean,” Miranda said in a low voice.
She glanced down at the carpet, and Will realized she wasn’t just saying that, she really did understand how he felt, because she’d experienced the same feeling herself.
“I don’t suppose,” he began. “No, never mind.”
“Suppose what?” Miranda asked.
“You’re alone. I’m alone.” He paused, waiting for a sharp retort, a negative comment. When he saw none, Will continued. “Would you like to get together here at the house, make dinner together, share Christmas Day?”
“The two of