Once Upon a Winter by J.L. Jarvis

Author:J.L. Jarvis [Jarvis, J.L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781942767619
Publisher: Bookbinder Press

Twelve

Cooper took Laura to a restaurant on a hill, where they sat at a candlelit table overlooking the sea. Fresh evergreens wrapped in Christmas lights and red velveteen bows garlanded along the chair rails and beams lent a festive aura to the room.

Over dinner, Cooper said, “I moved back home because city life wasn’t for me. I missed the tight-knit community, the familiar faces, the friends you can count on, and the pace.” He paused, looking thoughtful. “It’s not so much the pace as it is the fact that people savor the process of living.”

Laura smiled. “That’s why I moved here. I’m still close enough to family, so I think I’ve found the best of both worlds.”

“And you’re able to work remotely. Mistletoe is too long a commute for most people. It’s our saving grace. We appreciate the tourism income, but it’s always a bit of a relief when the season ends—at least for me. Life gets back to normal.”

Laura said, “You’re lucky to have the sort of work that lasts all year round. These historic houses must be in constant need of repair.”

Cooper nodded, looking slightly amused.

“What?”

He shrugged. “I didn’t say anything.”

“But you’re thinking about something. What is it?”

“Laura, the handyman work isn’t for me.” Apparently sensing her confusion, he said, “I don’t need the money.”

“Oh.” She wasn’t sure how to interpret that. Even wealthy people she’d known behaved as though they needed—or wanted—more money. The only difference was that at some point, their goal shifted from survival to a challenge. It was a sort of game for some people. But Cooper didn’t seem overly focused on material wealth. His home, tastefully understated in style and perched on a hill overlooking the harbor, spoke of his wealth, but the fact that he downplayed it spoke even more of his character.

Laura waited while the busser cleared her plate, then said, “There’s something about a small town that makes the status symbols of life seem less important. I suppose it’s because of the things I enjoy in my daily life here. I love looking out at the sea, the way it looks different each time, a warm smile from a store clerk, shops that reflect the personalities of the owners, and the way people come together in good times and bad. I love it all, and they all have one thing in common—they aren’t laser-focused on their jobs or their money.”

Cooper’s eyes brightened with shared understanding. “Exactly. Life is about more than that. It’s about the beauty around us and the people we share it with.”

Laura chuckled. “Although it’s easy to discount money while sitting here sipping wine in a nice restaurant.”

Cooper dismissed what she said with a shake of his head. “The restaurant is nice, but we could be in a dockside shanty eating out of a paper-lined basket, and it wouldn’t matter to me. It’s the company I’m enjoying.” His gaze deepened. Nothing moved except Laura’s heart, which was pounding.

She realized her gazing had turned into staring but got lost in his eyes and in thoughts of the man she was getting to know.

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