Page 40 of The Blessings of Christmas
All too soon the movie ended and the lights came on. Helping the kids on with their coats and gathering the trash, he felt every bit like a father. Sure, he wished Jamie could be here, enjoying his sons. But sometimes life took a turn you never figured on. What else could you do but deal with it? Ryan squared his shoulders.
But Sarah was more than a duty. Much more.
As he moved up the aisle, he let one hand fall on her shoulder. She fell back a bit as if for comfort, her soft curls brushing his chin. Very softly, he kissed the top of her head. She never even felt it.
Outside, it was getting dark. Sarah waved to some friends. Lindsay and Tanner had just gotten married. “Well, look who's here.” She gave Lindsay a big hug. Two little girls were with them and from what he remembered, the kids belong to Lindsay.
Sarah introduced him to Tanner and then kept babbling with her girlfriend. “So what’s next on your Sunday agenda?”
“We’re going home to decorate our tree,” Lindsay said. “Gotta run.” With a wave, the four of them broke off. Ryan, Sarah and the boys continued down the snowy street.
“Have you put up your tree?” he asked when they got to the truck. Ryan opened the back door and the boys climbed inside.
“No, I haven’t gotten our artificial tree up yet,” she whispered to him. “I still have to put it together.”
“A fake tree?” He was falling down on the job. “Well then, I guess next week we should get one. I know a guy with woodsthick with real trees. You can’t celebrate Christmas without a tree, can you?”
“That’s wonderful, Ryan, if it’s no trouble.” She blinked up at him, her eyes turning green as any pine sprig.
“Trust me. You are no trouble.” Their eyes caught and held.
Then she dipped her head and climbed in. Unspoken words danced through his head as he circled to the other side.
Pulling away from the curb, Ryan thought he heard Nathan say to his brother, “See. It's working.”
The day had been special.The boys looked so happy as she helped them with their prayers and got them settled. That contentment carried her to bed.
“Oh, Jamie,” she said that night, his picture in her hand. “I know you’d want our boys to have days like today. This is just what you would do. And you’d be proud of Ryan. He’s turned into such a good man.”
But she couldn’t share everything that was in her heart.
CHAPTER 10
The smell of pine hung rich and heavy in the air as they trudged through the woods, looking for the perfect Christmas tree. The only sound was the soft thud of snow shaken free by the breeze. Sarah yanked her red scarf higher around her ears. Ryan walked ahead with the boys, chainsaw hanging from a strap around his shoulder. She enjoyed looking at the three of them.
“See anything you like, boys?” she asked.
Bundled into their jackets, only their faces were visible. Against Nathan’s protests, she’d made them both wear snowpants today.
“Not yet,” Nathan said very seriously. You’d think they were shopping for a car, not a tree. The idea of having a fresh tree this year had excited the boys. She pictured one a little taller than she was with thick heavy branches. In the attic were boxes of family ornaments.
“The trees are so big.” Justin’s voice was filled with awe. Sarah totally understood. Most of the pines towered above them. She didn’t know how they’d ever drag one of these out of the woods owned by Stanley Branson, Phoebe’s father-in-law.
Turning, Ryan smiled. Cheeks red from the cold, he was in his element out here. Snowflakes dotted the mane of hair that wouldn’t be contained by his green cap. “You look like Paul Bunyan,” she teased. “A mountain man.”
“Do I?” He shifted his shoulders, as if he liked the compliment. “What kind of tree do you have in mind, guys?”
“We don’t know yet.” Nathan continued to survey the trees.
“This is a new experience for them,” she whispered to Ryan.
“Sorry, Sarah. I should have suggested this sooner.”
“We’re not your responsibility, Ryan.” She didn’t want to be a burden.
“Yes, you are.” His intense gaze brought back last night’s dream. Blushing, she looked away. “I don’t want you to feel that you have to look out for us.”
Well, that didn’t sit well. Ryan stopped and she bumped right into him. Turning, he cupped her elbows in his gloved hands. The boys had wandered up ahead. “But what if I want to?”
