Page 86 of Merry Christmas, Cowboy

Cody took one look at Nicole and ran over to her. “You’re here!”

“I’m here.” She hugged him fiercely. “Cody, I came to thank you for my gift. I love it. I know you painted that ornament all by yourself.”

He nodded. “I did.”

“And my folks appreciated the lovely gifts you had for them too. My mom really loved the cookies, Cody. She might even share them with me.”

He giggled.

She looked at Garrett. “All of the gifts were appreciated. Thank you,” she told him.

He could hardly speak. He cleared his throat. “Welcome.”

“I have something for you too,” she told Cody. “Here you go.”

She handed him his gift.

He tore into it quickly, pulling out a snow globe from the box. “Does this remind you of anything?”

“It’s a ranch house, just like ours.”

The boy shook the globe and the snow came pouring down. He seemed truly fascinated by it.

“So, you’ll always have snow, Cody. And you’ll always remember Cottonwood.”

“Thanks.” He hugged her and then ran off.

She held one other gift and she handed it to him. “You can open it later, if you like.”

He set it down on the arm of the sofa. “Okay. Can you stay a little while?”

She immediately shook her head. “No, it’s too… hard.”

“Nicole, I never meant to—”

“Shh, Garrett. It’s okay. You don’t have to say anything.”

Two other cars pulled up, with the Coopers in one and Julie, Miguel and Muffy in the other.

“What are they doing here?” he asked, completely puzzled.

“You wouldn’t go to them, so they’re coming to you. It’s how we do it in Last Stand. Merry Christmas, Garrett.”

“Merry Christmas, Nicole.”

And within a minute, she was driving off, while the two families marched into his house, bringing gifts and food and chaos, totally delighting Cody. Muffy ran around in circles, the girls were setting out food, the men searching for sports channels on the television. He looked around at the people making themselves at home in his house. They were hisfriends, and they weren’t going to let him forget it. Garrett had never felt this way about a place before, a town that had more Christmas spirit than he could ever imagine.

But one thing was wrong. Nicole wasn’t here. And all he could think about was how much he missed her now that she’d gone.

*

“Time for bed,Code,” Garrett whispered. “You’ve had a big day.”

The boy had drifted off on the sofa, exhausted from playing with Cassie and Muffy most of the afternoon. The guests who’d bombarded his house with Christmas spirit left right before dusk, to have their own celebration at home, but they’d given the two of them a good memory to take with them.

Garrett picked Cody up in his arms and the boy draped himself over his shoulder, still half asleep. It was the part of fathering he loved the most. Holding Cody securely and tucking him in was one of those precious moments he cherished. Code was such a good little guy, he deserved so much, and Garrett hoped he was doing right by him. The little man had fun today, but kept asking why Miss Russell wasn’t there, why did she have to leave?

Garrett was asking himself that very question. He wasn’t sure of anything anymore. He thought the money from the sale of Cottonwood, would be the best thing for Cody. It would be enough to raise him properly and give him a good education when the time came. Garrett wouldn’t worry so much, since flipping houses wasn’t a guarantee to financial freedom. It was a business with a moderate amount of risk. Before it was only about providing for himself. But now he was providing for Cody too.

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