Page 46 of The Bear's Christmas Wish
His smile faltered. “Everything okay?”
“Not really.” She glanced back at the house where Emmy’s pale face was pressed against the window. “Liam was supposed to pick up Emmy for a sleigh ride, but he’s late. Again. I can’t leave her, not when she’s waiting for him.”
Understanding filled Michael’s eyes, followed by something that looked like determination. “It’s okay,” he said, stepping closer. “We can wait with Emmy.”
The kindness of his offer made Sarah’s throat tighten. “You’d do that? Wait around on the off chance my unreliable ex-husband doesn’t show?”
Michael shrugged, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Of course.”
“Why?” The question slipped out before she could stop it.
He met her eyes steadily, the intensity in his gaze making her breath catch. “Because I care about you. Both of you.”
Sarah blinked back the unexpected sting of tears. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Shall we go inside?”
“Sure,” Michael said.
“I’m so sorry about this,” Sarah murmured as she opened the front door. “He promised he’d be here.”
Michael’s expression darkened briefly before smoothing back to careful neutrality. “No need to apologize,” he said, his voice filled with understanding. “These things happen.”
“They shouldn’t,” Sarah said, unable to keep the bitterness from her voice.
Michael’s hand brushed against hers, so quickly she might have imagined it. “No,” he agreed gently. “They shouldn’t.”
Ten more minutes passed. Then fifteen. Sarah tried Liam’s cell twice, both calls going straight to voicemail. Each passing minute felt like a weight pressing down on her chest as she watched Emmy’s excitement slowly drain away.
“Maybe he got lost,” Emmy suggested, her voice smaller now. She’d moved from the bedroom window upstairs to the one in the living room, her face pressed up against the glass.
“Maybe,” Sarah agreed, though they both knew better.
Twenty-five minutes after Michael had arrived, Emmy’s shoulders finally slumped in defeat. She turned away from the window, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “He’s not coming, is he?”
The question broke Sarah’s heart. She kneeled beside her daughter, taking Emmy’s small hands in hers. “I don’t know, sweet pea. But even if he doesn’t make it today, we can still have a special day together.”
“How?” Emmy asked, a single tear spilling down her cheek.
“Well, you could still go on a sleigh ride,” Michael suggested and then winced.
“We could?” Emmy asked, her eyes lighting up with excitement.
“I…” he stammered as he glanced at Sarah apologetically.
Sarah saw Michael’s hesitation and read the concern in his eyes. She could tell he wanted to help but was worried about overstepping. Placing her hand gently on his arm, she felt the solid warmth of him beneath his sleeve.
“Go on,” she urged. “What were you thinking?”
Michael’s shoulders relaxed under her touch. “I can drive you both up to where the sleigh rides start. It’s not far from here.”
Emmy’s face fell, disappointment etching new lines around her small mouth. “But it’s too late. Everyone will have left by now.” Though her words were resigned, the hope lingering in her eyes was heartbreaking.
Sarah’s chest tightened. There really wasn’t anything they could do to salvage the day. Another memory ruined by Liam’s carelessness. She opened her mouth to offer some small consolation when Michael cleared his throat.
“Well, yes, that’s true,” he admitted, crouching down to Emmy’s level. “But if you happen to have anexpertsleigh driver, there’s a chance you might catch up with the others.”
Emmy’s eyes widened, a tentative smile playing at the corners of her mouth. “Areyouan expert sleigh driver?”
Michael arched one eyebrow dramatically, his expression so perfectly serious that Sarah had to bite her lip to keep from laughing.
