Merry Takes Main Street: A Christmas Prequel by M. J. Padgett

Author:M. J. Padgett [Padgett, M. J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MJ Padgett Books LLC
Published: 2023-11-27T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Brenner Thomas

There was no mistaking the tension in Audrey’s body when I told her goodbye. I’m not sure she knows what her time has meant to me, but as I decorate my tree and relay the events of the day to Ella Beth—whom I’ve spoken to more this week than usual—I realize I might be farther along in my grief recovery than I realized. I find myself laughing almost uncontrollably when recounting the snowball fight.

“I don’t think I have ever heard you laugh like that, Bren. This woman is good for you.”

Fear grips my heart for a moment, but hope quickly overwhelms me.

“You don’t think it’s a little fast for me to suddenly want to spend all my time with her?”

“I didn’t say that. You have to be sure of your feelings before you drag that poor woman into something you’re not ready for, but Brenner, you have to know you’ve been the only one holding yourself back from digging out of that hole of grief.”

I hang another ornament and sigh. “I know, and I’m beginning to realize that I’m dishonoring Jodie’s wishes by moping around and pushing everyone away. I spent all day with Audrey today, and I didn’t think of Jodie until I dropped her off. Even then, it didn’t feel like it usually does.” I pause and wonder why that’s true.

“You mean it didn’t feel like betraying Jodie?”

“Yeah. It felt like moving on. Truly, I feel lighter. Freer, as if God set this up, and He’s just been waiting for me to get my head out of my own rear end.”

“The right woman can work a miracle, my friend.”

I pause again when a scraping sound distracts me. “Hey, hang on a sec. I hear something.” Once it’s quiet, I hear shuffling on the front porch again, which brings a smile. “I think my Santa is at it again.”

“If you don’t go all in with that woman, you don’t deserve this gift dropped in your lap.”

I take a deep breath and let it settle my nerves. Audrey is the first and only woman to ever pique my interest since Jodie. She’s someone worth getting to know better, to take on dates and really enjoy life with, and I decide that after Christmas, I want to do that. I want to ask her to the movies, to go on walks, to take a ride into the country with me, to go sledding and biking, and to eat dinner with me. I want to experience life again, and I want Audrey Merry beside me through all of it.

“I want to, Ella Beth. I want to very much, but I can’t risk hurting her. I have to take my time and be present and dutiful about this. That banquet is tomorrow, so I hope it can be our first real date.” The shuffling ceases, so I whisper, “Let me go see what she left this time. Hang on a sec.”

“You finish your work, and I’ll talk to you soon. It’s already late, and I’m an old lady.

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