Page 59 of Through the Snow Globe
Linus scoffed. “As if. She has a daughter, who she showers with gifts. It’s no wonder the boy acts out. With parents like that, who needs enemies?” Linus flinched. “I’m sorry. It’s a figure of speech.”
He was thinking about Diana’s own parents. “It’s okay. It didn’t bother me.”
“Good. Because word on the street is that there will bethingsin my future. I don’t want to mess up my chances.” He winked. “So, I’ll meet you at home?”
Diana tipped her head to one side. “Or you could . . . meet me in the back room.”
“With the toys? That’s a bit creepy, don’t you think?” he teased. “I don’t think I can with the new Wetty Betty doll staring back at me.”
Diana just didn’t want to be on the roads. The roads are where everything spun out of control—literally. She couldn’t lock the doors and hold him prisoner here, though. Could she? “Fine. But we’re putting your bike on the rack and I’m driving just as soon as you close up the store.” Because if she drove, she could control the speed limit. She could keep watch over everything. She could save Linus and this horrible day.
“Deal,” Linus said.
“And we aren’t talking on the drive home,” she said, wringing her hands. “Not one word. I need to focus.”
Linus furrowed his brow, but the corners of his mouth curled into a tiny grin. “Okay. No talking. That just gives me time to think about all thenon-talking things we’ll do when we get home.”
Chapter 15
It wasn’t dark yet. Diana could see clearly through the windshield. Ice hadn’t formed on the roads. She clutched the steering wheel with two hands and kept her eyes pinned in front of her.
“Tell me about your meeting,” Linus prompted.
“Shh. No talking, remember?”
“I thought you were kidding about that. Why wouldn’t we talk?”
“Because I need to focus.” Diana was hypervigilant, attending to the side roads and the left lane. Traffic was light tonight and they were only ten minutes from home. No taking the long way this time.
Linus reached over and touched her thigh, running his hand down its length toward the knee.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Teasing you. T-minus ten minutes to closed doors, right?”
Diana didn’t look over. “Yes, but only if you keep your hands to yourself and stop talking.” She lifted his hand off her thigh and pressed it back in his direction.
Linus shifted in the passenger seat. “You’re acting very strange today, Di. And what was that conversation you were having with Dustin in my store?”
Diana pulled up to a STOP sign and looked both ways. There were cars passing in front of her so she finally looked over to meet Linus’s gaze. “He thinks Santa won’t come because he hasn’t been a good boy. And he told me what he wants for Christmas.”
“Yeah? What is it?” Linus asked, looking interested.
Diana’s throat felt tight just thinking about it. “A family.” She swallowed thickly, checking the roads again. Cars were still coming. She heard the sirens of an ambulance nearby and sat up straighter. “Do you hear that?”
“Of course, I do. He told you he wanted a family?”
Diana nodded. “I hate that he lives with that awful woman. I wish I could take him home with me.” It was out of her mouth before she even realized what she was saying.
Linus grinned and reached for her hand. “We’ve never discussed having kids before. It’s interesting to hear you talk like that.”
They actually had discussed children. He just didn’t remember.
The sirens were growing louder, making Diana anxious.
“I would take Dustin home with me if I could too. Especially now that I know you wouldn’t be opposed.”
Diana met his gaze. “I’m not sure I’d be any better than that woman, though.”
