Page 14 of The Wish List
Ash Davis was a prince among men. Even before knowing his story, that much had been apparent. She might attract losers, but she knew a good man when he was staring her in the face. The fact that he supported his late wife’s mother told her even more.
“Thank you,” he said, his full lips pressing together. “We’re fine.”
That word again.Fine.Trinity believed Ash as much as she did herself. She might have the word on repeat in her mind, but no matter how many times she said it to herself or out loud to the people in her life, fine was a lie. An obvious one to anyone who took a hard look at her. She and Ash shared that lie, and the connection of it felt like a blanket wrapped around her shoulders.
This man would suss out her secrets if she let him. Even in the pale light coming from her mother’s kitchen window, she could feel Ash studying her.
“Pumpkin or pecan?” he asked.
Trinity blinked.
“Pie,” he clarified.
“Pumpkin,” she said with a genuine smile. “Buried in whipped cream.”
“Homemade whipped cream?”
She shook her head. “My sister Freya and I have a longstanding tradition of spraying it in each other’s mouths. It used to make Beth crazy. She wanted to pretend like we were a normal family when we were anything but after our mom published her book.”
Ash inclined his head. “You were famous by proxy?”
“We were invisible to her.” Trinity blew out a breath as she realized the words didn’t elicit the same emotions they had in the past. “Mom loved the spotlight and was in demand as a speaker and on the daytime talk show circuit. She left for long stretches and didn’t seem to give much thought to us.”
“You were kids. Who took care of the three of you?” Ash asked, disbelief obvious in his tone.
“We took care of ourselves for the most part,” Trinity admitted. “Beth did most of the heavy lifting. Our dad wasn’t in the picture, and we didn’t have any other family to step in. Somehow we all understood that if people found out how often Mom left, the situation would end badly.”
“Your mother wouldn’t have let you be put into foster care.”
“You’re probably right,” Trinity said with a shrug. “But we didn’t feel confident of that when we were younger. She loved the fame that came from being a bestselling author. The whole premise of the book and the subsequent workshops she did was practicing purposeful selfishness. Making it acceptable for a wife and mother to go after her own dreams. Three young girls weren’t a part of that image.”
“But you were her responsibility.”
“She didn’t abandon us completely.” Trinity glanced again at the house, unsure why she felt compelled to defend her mother now. “And when she came back after a media tour or being a guest lecturer, she was brighter than the sun. When my dad left, Mom was so sad and unhappy. I can’t speak for my sisters, but I liked the happy version of her better. I didn’t want to be the reason she couldn’t have that.”
Ash rocked back on his heels as he seemed to digest what she was saying. It had been a long time—possibly forever—since Trinity had shared so much with anyone, let alone a man she barely knew. One who a couple of nights earlier had been on the verge of arresting her when he’d thought she was driving drunk.
There was something about his quiet solidness that made her feel safe. When was the last time Trinity had felt safe?
“What about you?” she asked as the Christmas lights decorating a house across the street flicked off. Trinity liked it when people kept their holiday lights on all night long. “Why are you hanging out in the cold night instead of in the warm house?” She leaned forward. “Tell me you’re a closet smoker. I love when upstanding people have secret vices. I always imagined Beth hiding a whole host of wickedness, but sadly she’s genuinely perfect.”
Ash didn’t smile again, but his eyes crinkled ever so slightly at the corners. Trinity’s mom used to have a huge crush on Jimmy Stewart, insisting they watchIt’s a Wonderful Lifeevery Christmas Eve. Stewart’s character from that movie, George Bailey, had been a stand-up guy and he’d had crinkly eyes. Her stomach did a funny flip that had nothing to do with her pregnancy. Ash could almost make her believe in Christmas magic.
“I’m not a smoker, but I’m also far from perfect.” His chest rose and fell as he looked over his shoulder at his mother-in-law’s house. “Helena and Michaela are watching some Hallmark movie. Not exactly my style, and I wanted a bit of fresh air.”
“And to admire the stars,” Trinity added, surprised when she sounded breathless.
He tipped up his face to the night sky. “They’re impressive on a clear night like this. It’s supposed to rain starting next week, and Michaela is hoping the temperature drops enough to get a dusting of snow.”
“I’ve been living out West for the past few years,” Trinity told him. “A bit in Colorado but mostly Montana.”
“Big sky country.”
“It lives up to the name, but I got used to it, you know? When all of that rugged beauty is in your face every day, it stops feeling special. That’s the norm.” She tugged on the end of one braid. “Sleeping in my childhood bedroom and being surrounded by family makes me appreciate the quiet and the stars more than I have in a long time.”
“I like talking to you,” Ash answered. There went her stomach swooping again. “If you’re back in town for a while, maybe we could—”
“I’m pregnant,” she blurted, pulling back the oversized coat she wore and sticking out her belly.
