Page 68 of Single Dad's Christmas Cookie

The woman cackled again. “You don’t look like you knew that. I doubt Nova knows it. You'd better go catch your kid before she makes promises you don’t plan on filling. Come on, David. Let’s get out of here.”

I turned and followed Amelia, taking the stairs two at a time. When I got to the top of the landing, I found Amelia standing in front of one of the apartments, staring inside. The door was wide open.

“What is it, sweetheart?” I asked.

She pointed. Her lower lip quivered. She was on the verge of tears. As I got closer, I understood why. Nova lay in a heap on the floor just inside her door. I skidded. I fell to my knees and pulled her against me.

“Nova? Nova, what’s the matter?” I don’t think she even knew we were there.

She looked up at me, blinked a few times, and turned her head to look at Amelia. She reached out and crushed Amelia to her. As Nova continued to sob, she held onto Amelia, and I held them both.

I don’t know how long we were there, letting the cold air into her apartment.

Finally, Nova let go of Amelia, wiping my daughter’s tears away first. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you sad. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry, Amelia.”

I caught Nova’s chin and tilted her face so that our eyes met. “Nova, what’s wrong? Talk to me.”

“You’re here?” Her voice cracked.

I nodded, and then her arms were around me, and she was sobbing again.

Amelia sat on the floor and curled up against Nova’s side, and I stroked my hand down her back and over her hair. Her braid ran through my fingers. Her hair was damp.

“I don’t understand.” Her voice was small and somewhat muffled against my coat. “Why are you here?”

“We had to come get you,” I said.

“You had to come get me? I don’t understand. You said I wasn’t going to have to work today.” She sucked in a stuttering sniffle.

I held her close and gently rocked her from side to side. “Not to work. To be with us. It’s not Christmas at home without everyone who belongs there. You belong there.”

“I do?”

“Yes, Nova, you do.” I was quaking as I held her, or maybe she was shaking and I was reverberating around her nerves.

“Did Santa come?” She looked at Amelia and touched her arms and straightened her hat on her head. “Did you get anything good?”

Amelia looked from Nova to me and back at Nova. “Santa came, but I didn’t open anything yet.”

“Why not?” Nova asked as the tears continued to stream down her cheeks.

Amelia, uncertain of how to deal with such intense emotion from adults, had her own tears streaking her face.

I pulled Amelia back to me so I had one arm wrapped around my daughter and one wrapped around Nova.

“She didn’t want to open presents without you.” I spoke softly against the top of Nova’s head.

“I don’t understand.” Nova sniffled, tears still in her voice. “I don’t understand anything that’s going on this morning.”

“I agree. Why don’t we get up off the floor and close the door, get you inside, get you warm, and then maybe we can figure out what’s going on together. Okay?”

Nova nodded and began to push away from me. I held her hands steady as she shakily got to her feet. Amelia was next, and then she wrapped her arms around Nova’s hips. The two of them took the few steps needed before they were sitting on a couch. I got to my feet and closed the door.

“Who were those people?” I asked.

“What people?”

I glanced at Amelia. I was supposed to be a good example for my daughter, but those people were hateful. “Some harpy with long, dark hair and an asshole who needs a haircut.”

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