Chapter 14: The Winter Festival
Westlake’s annual Winter Festival was a massive affair held in the town square. Strings of warm, Edison-style bulbs crisscrossed above the cobblestone streets, illuminating dozens of wooden stalls selling everything from roasted chestnuts to handcrafted ornaments. The air smelled of cinnamon, pine, and woodsmoke.
David walked alongside Noah, keeping a relaxed but watchful eye on him. Barnaby trotted happily at the end of his leash, occasionally stopping to sniff a fallen piece of popcorn. Noah was vibrating with excitement, entirely focused on a stall displaying elaborate, spinning wooden tops.
"Can I look, Dad?" Noah asked, tugging on David's sleeve.
"Go ahead, just stay where I can see you," David replied, handing him a five-dollar bill.
As Noah approached the stall, David leaned against a nearby lamppost, taking in the festive atmosphere. He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to find Sarah Evans holding two steaming paper cups. She was out of her scrubs again, wearing a stylish camel-colored coat and a maroon beanie.
"I saw you two from the cider stand," Sarah smiled, offering him one of the cups. "Thought you looked like you could use some hot apple cider. The line was a mile long."
"You are a lifesaver," David said, accepting the cup gratefully. The heat radiated through his leather gloves. "Thank you. Are you here with family?"
"Just me tonight," Sarah said, taking a sip of her cider. "My sister usually comes, but her kids are battling a nasty stomach bug. As a pediatrician, I love kids, but I know better than to walk willingly into the line of fire."
David chuckled. "Smart move. I'm just playing bodyguard for Noah tonight. He's on a mission to spend his entire allowance on wooden toys and funnel cake."
They stood side-by-side, watching Noah interact with the vendor. The conversation flowed easily, drifting away from hospitals and medical charts. David learned that Sarah grew up on the East Coast, had a terrible habit of adopting overly aggressive house plants that she couldn't keep alive, and was an avid hiker. In return, David found himself talking about his architectural firm, his passion for mid-century design, and the quiet peace he found in the woods.
It was the first time in over a year that David had spoken to a woman without the heavy, suffocating filter of Marissa’s expectations clouding the interaction. Sarah was grounded, authentic, and incredibly easy to talk to. There were no hidden agendas, no sharp edges.
"He's doing really well, David," Sarah said softly, watching Noah successfully purchase a bright blue wooden top. "You can see it in his posture. He's not guarding himself anymore."
"He is," David agreed, a deep sense of pride welling up in his chest. "We still have rough nights, but they're getting further apart. Barnaby helps a lot. But honestly... I owe a lot of this to you. If you hadn't insisted on taking that cast off when you did, if you hadn't stood your ground with..." He trailed off, not wanting to say her name.
"I was just doing my job," Sarah said firmly, though her eyes were warm. "But for what it's worth, I think you're doing an incredible job as a father. It takes a lot of strength to rebuild a safe world for a kid after it's been shattered."
Noah came running back, proudly displaying his new toy. "Look what I got! Hey, Dr. Evans!"
"That is a very cool top, Noah," Sarah smiled. She looked at her watch. "I should probably head home and let you two enjoy the festival."
May you like
"Actually," David found himself saying before he could overthink it. "We were just about to go grab some dinner at the diner down the street. Best burgers in town. You're welcome to join us, if you don't have plans."
Sarah looked surprised, then a bright, genuine smile lit up her face. "I would love to."
