Page 22 of Kit
I nodded vigorously.
“I have a brother, but he’s made plans to go to the mountains with friends,” he said. “I have an invitation for a Christmas Eve party from a friend. But I think I’d rather spend it with you.”
Christmas Eve! I was on the moon. My little couldn’t keep still. I bounced against the booth cushions. Out blabbed my littlewishes before I could stop them. “You mean with stockings and a tree and Rudolph on TV?”
Parker looked affronted. “Well, of course. What else would I mean?”
“I don’t know.”
“We can have a great Christmas Eve dinner, too,” he added. “And I make great blueberry pancakes for Christmas morning.”
“Morning?” That meant he was expecting me to spend the night. Yes!
“Am I moving too fast?” he asked.
I bounced even harder. “No. I mean yes. Yes, to all of it.”
His eyes twinkled. His dimples, how merry. I was losing my mind just gazing at him like a lovestruck Santa fan.
Parker let out a long breath. “Good. I was worried.”
“About what?”
“You make me want to move too fast, sweetheart. The last thing I want to do is scare you away.”
I clapped my hands. “I’m not scared. Other things, but not that.”
Parker smiled.
I put my hands to my warming cheeks. “I can’t wait for Christmas to start.”
8
Parker
It was lucky that both our jobs had a two-week Christmas holiday through New Year’s. We both had work the day after our lunch date on Monday, but that was the last day of work for the year.
That meant Tuesday and on, I could have Kit all to myself.
As we parted from the diner, I added more detail to my invitation as we walked through the parking lot. “If you would like, you can spend the week with me at my house. It’s not a command. It’s an invitation. You can bring your things and stay. I have a guest room if you want it.”
He scratched his head in confusion. “But things will work out. You’ll make sure, right?”
“Right.”
“Then I won’t need your guest room.”
“I just want you to know there is no pressure, Kit. I’m not the jump and run type of daddy, okay?”
When I said that, he’d hopped forward in the parking lot, hugging me hard. “I know that now. I’m so happy. I can’t wait for Tuesday.”
It was cold out. A strong wind blew over us. But his hug had warmed me to my bones.
Monday nightI rushed about my house getting things ready for my special guest. I vacuumed and dusted and made sure I had clean sheets. I brought out boxes of Christmas decorations and lights, knowing Kit would probably want to help me put everything out.
Excitement fizzed through my veins.
I did a bit of shopping, but I hoped we could do real Christmas shopping together as one of our activities.
