Page 40 of Hot Times in Heart Falls, Vignettes Vol 3

Kevin swallowed and leaned his hands on the edge of the island. He was the shit at finding gift ideas that were more than useless, meaningless trinkets. “I’ve been thinking about Christmas. About big picture stuff. I didn’t even think to plan tonight properly.”

Tansy turned, hands on her hips, head tilting. “You think he expects a grand gesture?”

“No. That’s the thing. Edison doesn’t make demands like that.” Kevin stared at the flour-dusted counter. “But I want to give more. He deserves something that feels intentional.”

“I like Edison.” Jeffrey poked a bun squarely in the middle, all attention on his finger as it sank into the soft dough. “Is he your boyfriend?”

Tansy gasped dramatically. “Nosy question, little tyke.”

Kevin couldn’t help laughing. “It’s okay. Yes. Edison’s important to me.”

“Good. I like him, too.” Jeffrey nodded, completely satisfied. “I know he likes snacks. Oh! You should get him a snow globe. That would make him happy.”

Kevin pressed his lips together. “We’ll see.”

Tansy leaned a hip against the counter. “You know, the gallery sells small prints and gift cards and hand-painted mugs. If you’re dead set on picking something up.”

He groaned. “I’m not great with ‘things.’ Not when it counts.”

“Well, then forget the things,” Tansy said, sharp and kind at the same time. “You’re good at being present. At showing up. Do that.”

Kevin let that sink in. Do that.

“I just...” He trailed off. “I don’t want to screw this up.”

“You won’t,” she said simply. “Not if you keep doing what you already do. Notice what he cares about. Listen. Ask him to show you what matters.”

One of the ranch hands wandered into the house at that point, and the day slipped away with other tasks. Both the poked and unpoked buns were cooling on baking racks by the time Kevin left the house for the final time later that afternoon.

He stepped into the cool November sunshine, checked the bottle of wine in the car, then double-checked it. It didn’t feel like enough, but at least it was something.

As he turned the ignition, he reminded himself. Eyes open. Ears open. Heart open.

Edison wouldn’t demand anything. But Kevin was ready to offer it anyway.

Kevin pulled up to the small house Edison rented near the coulee on the far side of town. His overeager date was already waiting on the porch. The porch light glowed behind him as he bounced down the steps. A knit beanie was pulled low over his curls and a long red coat was zipped and belted tightly at his waist.

Kevin rolled down the window. “I was going to walk all the way to the door. You robbed me of a very romantic knock.”

Edison grinned as he rushed forward. “I didn’t want you peeking inside. I have surprises planned.”

“That so?”

Edison opened the passenger door. “That is so.”

The scent of cinnamon and chocolate and good clean soap hovered around his passenger as Edison buckled in with deliberate care.

“You good?” Kevin asked.

Edison nodded. “Better than. You?”

Kevin chuckled. “Ask me again in two hours.”

His date hummed softly, face going serious. “If the art show’s not your thing, we could⁠—”

“Not worried about the art,” Kevin reassured him quickly. He reached across the space between them and squeezed Edison’s fingers softly. “Don’t mind me. My brain is tangling in knots for no reason. The company is fantastic, so the art could be crayon drawings for all I care.”

He found a parking space on Main Street. The shops along the wooden boardwalk were lit up with strings of twinkle lights. The town looked festive and bright and happy, and as Edison slipped his hand around the crook of Kevin’s elbow, some of the unwelcome nerves slid away.