Page 38 of The Blessings of Christmas
“He's very...responsible.”Hot. Sweet. Thoughtful.
“Responsible?” The way Lindsay tossed that out, you’d think it had become a bad word. “You sound like his mother.”
The comment reminded her of Ryan’s painful history. “His mother ditched them, you know. Poor boy, his parents took a one way ticket to Chicago. They eventually divorced and his mom remarried. Ryan rarely mentions her.”
“How can a woman do that?” Lindsay said as they pushed through the swinging doors. The boys were arguing about something. Justin was on the brink of tears.
“Nathan started it,” Justin whined.
“Did not.”
“Nathan.” Sarah fisted her hands on her hips.
“Sure reminds me of my girls,” Lindsay said in an undertone. “I should get going. My mother has them today, not that Mom and Dad mind. They’re headed to Florida after the holidays.”
“Sounds nice.” Her mother would probably love a vacation like that. She deserved one.
After Lindsay left, Sarah gave the boys a Santa puzzle she’d been saving for a moment like this. Even Nathan looked pleased. When the bell jingled in the shop, she hurried back to the front. A young family was picking out cookies and pastries. “Guests for dinner,” the young mother said. Chatting away, Sarah filled a bakery box. Their stock was getting low. Maybe she should make up a list of what she wanted to bake with Ryan this week.
The family left and Sarah wandered to the front window. Touching one hand to the glass, she watched the family drive away. Lucky family.
When the phone rang, she almost didn’t answer. Maybe it was her mother. She took the phone from her pocket.
“Hey, it’s me. Ryan.”
“Hey.” Warmth spilled through her.
“What are you and the boys doing tomorrow afternoon?”
“Nothing much.” So many chores waited for her at home. Decorate the house. Put up the artificial tree she’d bought with Jamie five years ago.
“The Grinch That Stole Christmasis playing at the old theater in South Haven. Would you and boys like to see it with me?” His voice wavered a bit as if he were uncertain.
By that time, Sarah had pushed through the door to the back. The boys were huddled over the puzzle. They’d made progress on Santa’s head and one of the reindeer. “Uncle Ryan wants to know if you’d like to see the Grinch movie tomorrow. You guys aren’t interested, right?”
Nathan jumped up so fast he knocked over the chair. “I want to go.”
“Me too,” Justin said. “You're coming right, Mommy?”
With a smile she went back to the phone. “I think that’s a yes.”
The boys had both settled back, heads almost touching over the puzzle. Looked like they were having a private conversation. Lately, they’d been so secretive.
Ryan’s laugh rippled over the phone and right up her spine. “Great. See you tomorrow then.” They set a time.
“You bet.” Ending the call, Sarah felt hungry. The gingerbread men were calling. Returning to the sunny front room, she grabbed a cookie and crunched down. Remembering their frosting fight brought on a fit of giggles.
She could hardly wait for tomorrow.
At least theroads weren't bad as Ryan drove Sarah and the boys up to South Haven on Sunday. So far this year people were happy to see the snow. The white stuff was “Christmasy.”Usually those were the women who didn’t have to drive in it. Stanley and the other guys in Branson Motors laughed about it all winter. The garage did a lot of plowing, and Ryder earned extra cash. Today the roads were salted and the blue stuff glittered in the sunlight.
Sitting next to him, Sarah looked amazing in a dark green coat and her red scarf. She smelled good too. Snow had caught in her hair and was slowly melting. Getting out of the shop was probably good for her. But the boys were suspiciously quiet in the back. Glancing in the rearview mirror, Ryan saw they had their eyes trained on the front seat. “What’s up with you two today? Cat got your tongues?”
“We don't have a cat,” Justin said very seriously.
“Ryan was kidding,” Nathan said with the tone of an older brother who thought he knew it all.
“Maybe we need some music.” Leaning over she fiddled with a knob on the dashboard. But she didn’t know the stations.
