The lobby of the hotel was a whirlwind of activity. Coats were whisked away by a smiling young woman, and a young man Charity knew as Jimmy escorted them to a quiet table in the back of the dining room.
“Thank you, “Jimmy,” Jason told the young man.
Jimmy whispered back, “For tonight, sir, it’s James. The manager wants all of us to act formally.” He followed his statement with a wide grin.
“Very well, then thank you, James,” Jason added.
Jimmy seated Charity, and Jason settled into the chair across from her.
Charity noticed that along with the red and green Christmas decorations still in place, the hotel had added colorful gold bunting giving the dining room a festive air.
“The room looks lovely,” Charity commented to Jason.
Before he could answer, a young woman approached the table.
“Good evening, Charity, Mayor Shepherd. We’re happy to see you joined us tonight. The cook has made roast turkey, roast beef, and of course, we always have our famous steaks.”
“Good evening, Katie. It’s nice to see you again,” Charity answered. “Or should we call you Katianne?”
Katie rolled her eyes. “Katie is perfect. Only my mother calls me Katianne, and only when she’s angry.”
Jason smiled at the young woman and asked Charity if she knew what she wanted to eat.
“I think I’ll have the roast turkey, thank you.”
“And for you, Mayor Shepherd?” Katie asked.
“Steak is always a winner for me,” Jason responded.
Katie nodded and hurried away to place their order.
James suddenly appeared at their table with a bottle of wine and two glasses. He filled the glasses quickly and asked if they wanted coffee or tea while waiting for their meals.
“Tea would be nice, but I didn’t ask for wine,” Charity said.
“Compliments of The Paradise for New Year’s Eve,” James explained.
“I’ll have some coffee,” Jason told the young man.
James smiled and disappeared as quickly as he had appeared.
Charity wrinkled her nose. “I don’t care much for the taste of wine.”
Jason took a small sip and said, “It’s a good wine.”
Squinting her eyes at the glass and then at Jason, Charity lifted the glass and took a small sip. She shook her head. “I still don’t like it. I’ll enjoy my tea.”
Jason, also trying his best to make small talk, said, “You don’t need to drink it just because it was free.”
Charity let out a small breath and smiled at Jason.
“Were the children upset that you were out tonight without them,” he asked.
“Not really. They had a lot of questions about what New Year’s Eve is, but Holly picked them up from Miss Barber’s and promised them fried chicken at the café for supper. Those two love fried chicken, so they quickly forgot about what I was doing,” Charity said as she stirred sugar into her tea.
“I’ll remember that,” Jason mumbled.
Katie returned with two plates heaped with food, and soon Jason and Charity were busy eating and grateful they had some time to collect their thoughts before speaking again.
When Katie returned to collect their plates, she asked if they wanted dessert, and both declined.
“If you’d like,” Katie said “there’s music playing in the back private dining room and cookies and punch available. Cray and his son were here early this afternoon practicing, and they’re quite good. I hope you enjoy your evening.”
Jason stood and asked, “Shall we?”
Charity nodded, and Jason pulled her chair back and offered his arm again.
Several couples were dancing when Jason and Charity entered the back dining room. A small table was set up next to Cray and his son that held a large crystal punch bowl with red punch and several plates of cookies.
As Cray began playing Johann Strauss’ Blue Danube waltz, Jason took Charity’s hand and said, “This is a beautiful piece I heard last year at a playhouse when I visited St. Louis. Please let me have this dance.”
Charity nodded, and Jason led her onto the small dance floor. As they whirled around the dance floor, their minds also whirled.
Jason wanted to hold Charity closer, but propriety kept him from pulling her to him as they danced. She smelled of lilacs, roses, and something else sweet he couldn’t place. His heart beat fast as he held her and thought of how long he had loved her. He loved her when they were still in school, but at fifteen, she was far too young for his eighteen years, and when he returned from school three years later, Charles Rossman was courting her. Jason still loved her now. He always had. Could she love him in return?
Charity’s thoughts whirled along with Jason’s. She remembered the tall, gangly boy from school who would always smile at her when he rode over to spend time with her brother. He was cute, but he left for school without saying a word to her. Then Charles asked if he could court her and life changed dramatically. She would never change her years with Charles or their children for anything this world offered, but if Jason had stayed and not attended school, would her life be different?
After several more dances, two glasses of punch, and a few cookies, Charity was surprised to see the clock read nearly ten o’clock.
I should be going home,” she told Jason.
“Of course, I didn’t realize it was this late. Perhaps next year, we can see the new year in properly.”
“Next year?”
Jason nodded. “By then, if you’re still willing to be seen with me, the town won’t be shocked if I keep you out past midnight.”
“Perhaps not,” Charity agreed as they walked back to the
