I picked up the coffee for Gabe and headed over to his bench. He didn’t seem to be cold or even in need of anything really. He was just watching people and smiling when I approached.
“Afternoon, Gabe. I thought you might like a coffee to keep warm.” I handed over the paper cup.
“That was very kind of you to think of me,” he replied.
“You’re welcome,” I said.
We sat silently for a moment before he finally broke the ice on our conversation.
“So, are you all ready for Christmas, Jason?” he asked me.
“I think so. I had a few errands to run today, some last-minute gifts and such.”
“Will your parents be joining you and Emily for Christmas?” he asked me. His question surprised me, but he seemed to know things, so I answered.
“No, they’re in Maine now. They retired there, and we all agreed that with the impending weather, it was better that they stayed off the roads.” I paused. “How did you know my parents don’t live here?”
; “I told you, Jason, I know all kinds of things.”
“Who are you?” I asked pointedly. I didn’t want to befriend some weirdo stalker guy who knows about me and my kid, and if he thought he was going to get something out of us, he was mistaken.
“Oh, I’m just a harmless old man, Jason. You needn’t worry.”
“How do you know so much about everyone in this town? Are you from here?” I asked.
“Oh no, I’m not from here. I’m just a very good listener. You’d be surprised how much people say around someone who they perceive as invisible,” he replied.
“How did you find yourself in Friendship?” I asked. Feeling bad that he felt invisible, I wanted to know more about him. No one should feel that way, and maybe he was just a kind old man.
“I tend to go where the magic is. Friendship is full of Christmas magic, you know,” he said. His gaze drifted back to the people shuffling around the square, and he smiled. “Just look around you. I know you can see it too.”
He was right. I always felt that way about Friendship. But how he knew that was still lost on me. And it was a weird conversation to be having. Yet I didn’t cut and run either. “This town definitely takes its Christmas celebrations seriously. There’s no doubt about that. Have you been here before?” While he seemed familiar, I was quite sure I’d never met him before, and no one else seemed to know who he was or where he came from.
“No, this is my first time here.” He smiled joyfully.
“How long have you been here?” I asked.
“I just arrived recently. And I told you before, I listen.” He turned to me. “Have you seen Samantha yet?” he asked.
“Samantha?” I repeated, buying myself time to come up with an answer. “I don’t even know her.”
“That isn’t what I asked, now is it, Jason?” He grinned. Even through my embarrassment, I couldn’t help but smile back.
“No, I suppose it isn’t, Gabe.” I chuckled at the situation and at how I was feeling. Even though there was nothing to be embarrassed about, I couldn’t help but feel a little uncomfortable talking to him about her. I had only had a single encounter with her, which was awkward at best. Yet she’d been on my mind constantly, and somehow he knew. “I have not seen her,” I admitted.
“You will,” he replied.
“Gabe, what’s all this about Samantha? Seriously?” It was one thing to have a new woman in town on my mind, but it was entirely another to have this homeless man weighing in on the situation.
He took in a deep breath. “Jason, some things you’ll need to figure out for yourself. But here’s what I can say.” He paused as I leaned in, on the edge of my seat. “Samantha is someone that should be in your life.”
“How could you possibly know something like that?” He was back to sounding crazy again.
“May I ask you a question?” he asked, ignoring mine.
“Sure, go ahead,” I replied.