usual way then maybe you need toââ
âI can fix it.â Andy took two long strides and in seconds both of them had their hands on the button, Greer between them.
ââ¦try something new,â Corrie murmured, her eyes locked in Andyâs gaze, her face just inches from his.
âWe have a connection.â Mrs. Walker raised her arms to make a show of plugging two thick orange extension cords together. âGo for it!â
Greer hit the button again and thousands of tiny lights came on all at once like scads of twinkling stars just a few feet away from them. They lit Andyâs face and shone in his eyes.
Corrieâs heart didnât just beat faster, she knew in that instant what people meant when they said their heart leapt. Was this how her mother felt when she met her father? Or was it just a trick of the moment, the meeting of sentimentality, excitement, possibility and Christmas?
The crowd cheered.
Corrie decided that it didnât matter why or how thishad happened, she would be forever grateful for it. Years from now, even if she had to go away without ever having found her father, she would have a wonderful memory of this place to cherish.
âIsnât it pretty?â Greer asked in awe.
âBeautiful,â Andy said softly, his eyes never leaving Corrieâs.
Christmas or pretty lights, Corrie didnât want to over-think why she felt the way she did or allow herself to remember that it couldnât last. For just one moment, just one time in her life, she didnât want to have to think fast or make new plans or wonder if she was really alone in the world.
âItâs perfect,â she whispered.
âYou guys arenât even looking at the lights!â Greer said so loudly that everyone in the park seemed to hear and burst out laughing.
Andy shut his eyes and groaned under his breath.
Corrie pulled up straight. She pushed her glasses up and fidgeted with the fringe on her scarf as she turned to address all those faces peering curiously at her. âI just want to let everyone here knowââ
âYouâre not Andyâs girlfriend,â a fair number of the crowd filled in for her dutifully.
Corrie managed a laugh through a wincing smile. She had been going to say something about how she had fallen in love with this little town even after only being here twenty-four hours.
âEnough!â Andy took charge, waving people off as he reminded them, âWe didnât come here to speculate we came here to celebrate. I say letâs get back with the program.â
The mayor called for everyoneâs attention. The choir launched into another song. People began to shuffle around to look at the lights and talk to one another. Greer ran up into the center of the bandstand and began to twirl around. Andy went after her.
Back with the program. Back on track. Thatâs the way it would be when Corrie left. Andy would see to that, probably welcome it. Earlier today, alone in the museum, she feared she would always be alone. Now in a crowd she had that same feeling. She supposed it might seem silly that she would think she could make Andy open up to the idea of not just giving but accepting help.
She gathered her purse and Greerâs backpack and slipped quietly away from the Christmas activities. Still, she couldnât help thinking that she was the best person of all to teach Andy that lesson. It was all she had to offer him.
She turned to catch him pretending to skate around the floor of the bandstand holding his little sister up just high enough to keep her feet off the floor. She thought of the conversation theyâd had about loving the inn. She saw how the man felt about his family and community. He could not be that hard to reach, she just had to find the right time and place.
Chapter Seven
âA ndy!â
Unsure if he had actually heard his name or dreamt it, Andy pried open one eye and searched the darkness
âI can fix it.â Andy took two long strides and in seconds both of them had their hands on the button, Greer between them.
ââ¦try something new,â Corrie murmured, her eyes locked in Andyâs gaze, her face just inches from his.
âWe have a connection.â Mrs. Walker raised her arms to make a show of plugging two thick orange extension cords together. âGo for it!â
Greer hit the button again and thousands of tiny lights came on all at once like scads of twinkling stars just a few feet away from them. They lit Andyâs face and shone in his eyes.
Corrieâs heart didnât just beat faster, she knew in that instant what people meant when they said their heart leapt. Was this how her mother felt when she met her father? Or was it just a trick of the moment, the meeting of sentimentality, excitement, possibility and Christmas?
The crowd cheered.
Corrie decided that it didnât matter why or how thishad happened, she would be forever grateful for it. Years from now, even if she had to go away without ever having found her father, she would have a wonderful memory of this place to cherish.
âIsnât it pretty?â Greer asked in awe.
âBeautiful,â Andy said softly, his eyes never leaving Corrieâs.
Christmas or pretty lights, Corrie didnât want to over-think why she felt the way she did or allow herself to remember that it couldnât last. For just one moment, just one time in her life, she didnât want to have to think fast or make new plans or wonder if she was really alone in the world.
âItâs perfect,â she whispered.
âYou guys arenât even looking at the lights!â Greer said so loudly that everyone in the park seemed to hear and burst out laughing.
Andy shut his eyes and groaned under his breath.
Corrie pulled up straight. She pushed her glasses up and fidgeted with the fringe on her scarf as she turned to address all those faces peering curiously at her. âI just want to let everyone here knowââ
âYouâre not Andyâs girlfriend,â a fair number of the crowd filled in for her dutifully.
Corrie managed a laugh through a wincing smile. She had been going to say something about how she had fallen in love with this little town even after only being here twenty-four hours.
âEnough!â Andy took charge, waving people off as he reminded them, âWe didnât come here to speculate we came here to celebrate. I say letâs get back with the program.â
The mayor called for everyoneâs attention. The choir launched into another song. People began to shuffle around to look at the lights and talk to one another. Greer ran up into the center of the bandstand and began to twirl around. Andy went after her.
Back with the program. Back on track. Thatâs the way it would be when Corrie left. Andy would see to that, probably welcome it. Earlier today, alone in the museum, she feared she would always be alone. Now in a crowd she had that same feeling. She supposed it might seem silly that she would think she could make Andy open up to the idea of not just giving but accepting help.
She gathered her purse and Greerâs backpack and slipped quietly away from the Christmas activities. Still, she couldnât help thinking that she was the best person of all to teach Andy that lesson. It was all she had to offer him.
She turned to catch him pretending to skate around the floor of the bandstand holding his little sister up just high enough to keep her feet off the floor. She thought of the conversation theyâd had about loving the inn. She saw how the man felt about his family and community. He could not be that hard to reach, she just had to find the right time and place.
Chapter Seven
âA ndy!â
Unsure if he had actually heard his name or dreamt it, Andy pried open one eye and searched the darkness
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