Ethel rambled. Dakota loved to listen to her tell stories of the townsfolk. Ethel knew everybody. It’s how she got to know everyone in town. . When she paused, Dakota reminded her of his name.
“Tristan Hart and he is their cousin. Today was actually the second time he literally almost ran into me.” She laughed as she remembered both times and wondered if fate was in her corner. Dakota filled Ethel in about the near-accident and how they’d met. The thought of asking him out still kept her stomach in knots. She decided to tell Ethel about the Love List.
Ethel reached across the table and patted Dakota’s hand.
“Be brave, my dear. Ask him out. Back in my day, that kind of thing would never have happened but it’s not that we didn’t want to.” She winked and then giggled. Dakota loved the woman’s laughter. It filled the kitchen with warmth and love.
“I’d love to, Ethel; I just don’t know if I have the courage to.” She took a sip of her tea and then snorted it through her nose with Ethel’s next comment.
“Well, if you don’t dear; I might. He’s a fine catch.”
Chapter Seven
The town square in Vinegrove had been lit with strings of sparkling lights. Dakota strolled through town on her way to Finn’s place for a Thanksgiving dinner celebration. Delighted that she’d been a part of the decorations committee, she cherished every moment of the scenery along her way. She’d met Marion, Dr. Withers’ wife, during their committee meetings to decorate. She appeared as kind and sweet as her husband John—Dakota respected and called him Dr. Withers and not John, or Dad as she wished. Christmas carolers, horse-drawn carriages and snow-capped roofs had been visions in her mind for years. Vinegrove was about to make those a reality. A light snow had fallen late in the day and the thin layer surrounded the magical lights perfectly.
“Dakota, come in. I’m so happy we’re all together for the holidays. I see your snow is finally arriving for you.”
Finn looked over Dakota’s shoulder as if she’d been searching for something other than snow.
“If you’re looking for Tristan, he’s not here, unless someone else had the courage to ask him.” She laughed at her own inability to be brave.
“You haven’t asked him out yet?” Finn closed the front door and took Dakota’s coat from her. She hung it on the oak stand beside them and then wrapped an arm around Dakota’s waist. “Let’s have a good time tonight with friends, food and wine. By the end of the night, we will have you convinced and rehearsed to be courageous.” She cackled after her comment. Dakota rolled her eyes as they entered the living room filled with her new friends.
“There she is. I was worried that you’d walk by the town square and stay there with all those pretty lights,” Kady declared and stood to welcome Dakota with a hug.
“Almost did,” Dakota confessed. “They’re so pretty. It felt magical as I passed by.”
Dakota had rambled at their last wine and chat night about how excited she’d been to be a part of the town’s Christmas committee; especially since she’d dreamed of a white magical Christmas her entire life. This year that dream would come true.
“You did a fabulous job on the lights, Dakota.” Maisey hugged her next. “I must admit I took a picture on the way here. I may even use it for my blog about holiday weddings.”
“Thanks, ladies. I’d never been so eager to belong to a committee. Let alone, a Love List group. So I guess I’m not alone with the hesitation part of that group?”
She looked around the room only to see Finn’s new man, Keaton. Kady piped up first to remind them that she hadn’t picked a name from the basket. Dakota remembered that night and how adamant Kady had been. She didn’t need a man. But Dakota knew there was something brewing with the guy that had shown at one of their meetings. Dakota turned to Maisey and raised an eyebrow. “And where’s this Sean Marshall we’ve heard so much about?”
“Serving and protecting the fine people of Vinegrove. I wish he could have been here to meet you all, but he will soon.”