Page 23 of Merry Christmas, Cowboy

They hit other game booths, ate warmed cinnamon buns, and entered in a few more contests. Cody had fun playing, even though he didn’t win a prize.

“Look, Cody, there’s some of your classmates.” Nicole pointed to a table where they were making paper snowflakes. “Looks like there’s room for you.”

“Can I? I don’t know how.”

“Of course, you can. And I’ll show you. C’mon, let’s find a few seats.”

Garrett should have been installing his granite countertop instead of cutting paper into snowflakes, but Cody was having fun, and Garrett didn’t mind the company. Not at all. Nicole was good with children. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, she taught kindergarten, yet he admired her gift, her spirit. She was stronger than she thought she was, and a whole lot of fun.

“Cody, great job.” She praised Cody’s first snowflake. “Looks a whole lot better than Uncle Garrett’s.”

Cody giggled.

“Hey!” He took his eyes off the paper he’d been cutting, to give her a hard look, but her eyes were twinkling and the sweet smile on her face, kind of hit him in the gut. “This is my first snowflake too. A little praise would be nice.”

“Your first?” she asked. “Well then, you’re doing pretty good for a rookie.”

After making three snowflakes each, they walked further down the street, looking at vendors’ goods. From handmade quilts and pottery to Santa’s Village and personalized ornaments, Cody took it all in, finding something interesting in every booth.

About half an hour later, Cody put his hand on his stomach. “I’m hungry,” he said, giving Garrett an expectant look. He glanced at his watch. It was approaching the dinner hour. “How about we pick up some sandwiches and take them back to the house?”

“Absolutely not,” Nicole said. “You’re both having dinner with me. I’ll make you a home-cooked meal.”

“Okay!” Cody nearly jumped out of his skin.

Garrett shook his head. “You don’t have to do that.”

“Are you kidding? You need to eat something that isn’t microwaved. Both of you do. And after cutting your workday short to help me with the car, I’d really like to return the favor.”

Garrett tugged on his ear, looking at two hopeful faces. The truth was, he would love a home-cooked meal. Especially one from Nicole Russell. “Are you a good cook?” he asked, giving her a wink.

“Uncle Garrett!”

The boy was outraged, until he winked at him too.

“You tell me, after I’ve made you my mama’s family recipe of fried chicken and bacon mashed potatoes with yeast rolls.”

Garrett’s stomach was growling already.

“Can we, Uncle Garrett? Can we?”

“Thank you. I guess you’ll have two more for dinner tonight.”

She clasped her hands together. “Wonderful. I don’t live far from here. You can follow me in your truck.”

A short time later, they entered Nicole’s apartment. It was good-sized for a woman living alone, with two bedrooms, a decent working kitchen and a comfortable living area. Everything seemed pristine and tidy and cheerful, Nicole’s style of homey.

A Christmas tree sat in one corner of the room, lights bright and twinkling. Cody ran over to the tree and peered with boyhood wonder at the decorations. Every single branch held ornaments or ribbon or candy canes. “It’s pretty neat, Uncle Garrett.”

“It is.”

“Thanks,” Nicole said. “I put a tree up the first of December, every year.”

Cody turned his head to peer up at him. “When do we get our tree, Uncle Garrett?”

“That’s a good question, Code. I just don’t know where we’d put it, with all the work going on in the house right now.”

The boy frowned and Garrett felt like a heel.

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