“Saving the farm is almost more serious than whatever might or might not happen between us in the future. Carrigan’s Christmasland is critical to me. If I trust you to be all in on the farm, what happens if you get spooked again? Are you going to run?” Noelle held Miriam’s eyes because she needed to know that Miriam had thought about this.

“I’m not running away from Carrigan’s again,” Miriam said seriously. “I promise.”

Noelle didn’t really believe her, but she was willing to give Miriam an opportunity to prove her wrong.

“You know it’s going to be awkward. With the…” Noelle paused, trying to think of the words.

“Constant desire on my part to do filthy things to your thighs? Yes. I know,” Miriam said. “I’ll try to keep my hands to myself.” She planted them on the table as if to demonstrate.

Noelle stared at her. Where had this Miriam come from?

“Sorry! That was too far. I seem to have lost my filter tonight. Blame it on emotional exhaustion.” Miriam giggled. “But if I’m staying, we should have all our cards on the table, know where we stand. I’m not ready to get into anything romantic again right now. I need to get my head on straight.”

“And I am going to have to do a lot of work on trust before I get involved with anyone,” Noelle agreed, relieved that she didn’t have to let Miriam down gently.

“Good. We’re on the same page. What about your shop?” Noelle asked. “Hannah made it sound like it was everything you’d ever wanted.”

Miriam’s eyes filled up. “It was. It was all of my dreams,” she admitted, running her free hand through her curls to shake them out. Noelle had to stop herself from audibly gasping. Miriam’s curls made her think about pillows and beds and what her hair would look like spread out on them. Now was not the time.

They were having a serious emotional moment. About feelings. Not pantsfeelings, but actual heart feelings.

Miriam continued, “I’m going to build new dreams of my shop here, to help me let go of that very beautiful dream of a perfect little shop in the city.”

“I’m sorry,” Noelle said.

“I’m not.” Miriam shook her head, her voice steady.

“Hannah needs you, to talk to about Levi,” Noelle said. “I’ll never understand why she loves him, so there are ways I can’t help.”

“That doesn’t sound like asking me to stay,” Miriam pointed out. “Wait, what’s happening with this duck?”

Noelle looked down at the piece of wood she had been whittling to keep her anxiety at bay. “I’m making Christmas gifts for the Green twins. It’s Carrigan’s pine.”

“That’s cute. Sorry. I distracted you.” Miriam looked up from beneath her lashes and grinned. “You were about to ask me to stay.”