Page 21 of Kit
“Is that what you want?”
“Sometimes.”
“You will have to tell me. Because my way may not be like theirs.”
“What way is yours?”
“I think you need to be treated gently at first, so you can learn to trust. When I play, I don’t feel like I’m acting in a play. And discipline before we learn about how each other ticks is more like play-acting. For me, this is real.”
“Real?” No one had ever said that to me before. No one.
“Remember what you told me when you first sat in my lap at the Christmas party?”
I squinted, trying to get my brain to work. “I said a lot.”
“Well, I remember something that I thought was very important. You said quite distinctly that you need guidance but haven’t found it yet. I believe you mentioned you didn’t want it to be rough, but also not easy. And you told me you were about age five and needed more attention than you had been getting. Now do you remember?”
I nearly dropped my burger, which I had picked up and taken a big bite of. I gulped down the yummy goodness and said, “You remembered all that?”
Parker winked. “I’m an actor. I’ve got a pretty good memory for lines. Only those weren’t lines at all, were they? They were the truth.”
I nodded, taking a drink of my Coke, giving myself time to wrap my mind around the fact that he remembered so much about our first meeting. I had felt a connection to him that early on, too, but I didn’t know it was the same for him.
“I’m glad you told me the truth, Kit. I loved that your wish wasn’t a thing, or a mad hookup, or what I’d heard so much of that night from others. Yours was a deeper desire from the heart. You were looking toward a future wish, something you hadn’t found yet but wanted very badly.”
“You make me sound deep and tantalizing,” I teased.
“Just the truth.” He made his voice go deeper. “Santa knows.”
Those two words. My skin went hot all over.
I had a thing for Santa. This Santa. Then he said something even more magical.
“Do you have plans for Christmas?”
“Um.”
“Family? Friends?”
I was reeling. I could barely speak. Was he asking what I thought he was asking?
“Friends, maybe,” I squeaked. “My parents live on the other side of the country. I saw them at Thanksgiving. For Christmas they’ll be gone on a cruise.”
He scrunched his forehead. “A little shouldn’t be left all alone like that. Not on Christmas.”
I shrugged. What could I do?
“Kit, would you like to spend Christmas with me? My vacation time starts next week. And I have one more Santa gig at the club. That’s it. I’d really love to plan some fun things for us.”
I couldn’t believe it. Christmas. With Parker. Who I barely knew but already wanted to cling to as if he was meant to be my daddy.
“My vacation starts next week, too,” I replied softly. “For real, though? You’re asking me for real?”
“For real. I would love it if you have the time.”
“What aboutyourfamily?” I asked.
“Only my mom is left. She already has plans to travel, just like your parents. I guess you get to a certain age and time in life where holiday cruises are the thing.”
