Page 34 of Two Canes, One Cup
A frigid gust of wind meets me when I make it to the living room.
Then Reece’s large body blocks the door, dragging an entire tree?
“We have to have one, it’s Christmas.” His grin splits his dark beard as he tugs in his snowy prize.
Glancing to the ceiling, he pauses. “Oh, the power’s back on?”
“Yep,” I say morosely.
It’s a signal that real life is looming over us.
He must feel it too. His smile falters and his shoulders droop. “That sucks.”
“It does. Wild, huh?” I start the coffee, pouring it out of habit from the tea kettle by the fire instead of heating it on the electric stove.
Propping the fir into the corner, he steps back to admire his work. “It’s kinda perfect, though. Think she’ll like it?”
Her squeal erupts through the living room, sending a hot flash through me.
“Oh my god, it’s amazing!” She rushes in, wrapping Reece in a hug, then erupts into giggles. “You’re covered in snow,” she shrieks.
But he tugs her closer, laughing as scoops a cold handful from the bough to sprinkle over her.
Shit, it makes me chuckle watching them.
My two favorite people in the throes of delight.
It isn’t long until she’s curled on his lap, staring at the green addition. “It needs some decorations.” Her lower lip pokes out as it always does when she’s thinking.
Soon that tip of her tongue follows.
I love watching her think.
It’s explosive when she leaps up. “I have an idea!” she yells, running for my room where most of her luggage still resides.
In moments, she returns with a sketch pad and a bundle of markers. “We can use string or something to hang them.”
As she folds over the pages, I catch glimpses of drawings in pastels and earth tones.
For some strange reason, anger flares through me.
“Let me see that,” I growl at her, holding out my palm.
“I thought we could make some ornaments.” Her lips purse as her forehead furrows, but she obediently hands me the pad.
Within seconds I’ve flipped through some of her artwork. “Stacy,” I exhale in awe. “These are incredible. Why didn’t you show me?”
She shrugs, turning to the blank end when I pass it back to her. “They aren’t very good, I was just playing around.”
Tearing off a sheet for each of us, she sprinkles the markers on the table.
“I can’t draw worth a shit,” Reece chuckles. “I do better with a lens.” His dark eyes meet mine as he sits next to her.
We still haven’t revealed what we really do. At first it was to protect ourselves.
Now, it’s to pretend that world doesn’t exist.
“Here.” She quickly sketches a candy cane and pushes it towards him. “Let’s see how good you are at staying in the lines.” Her teasing smirk is laced with affection as she hands him the red pen.
