Page 45 of Tied Up In Tinsel
Ruby plopped down into the snow and I decided to sit, too. The snow still slowly fell, leaving flakes on her hat, and I imagined in my hair.
For a minute, we just sat there.
Then, she leaned against me without asking, like it was the most natural thing in the world. I wrapped my arm around her as we both seemed to be soaking up the comfort of the outdoors.
Snowberry Peak was beautiful. The view of the mountains is the perfect image for a postcard.
Her breath puffed little clouds in the cold air. Then she tilted her head back, all big eyes and messy curls under her hat.
“Brooks?”
“Yeah, kid?”
“Can you be my babysitter forever?”
My heart stuttered. Didn’t expect that one.
She kept talking, fast and earnest, like if she didn’t get it out all at once I might say no. “Because you’re way more fun than my dad, don’t tell him I said that. You don’t make me eat mac and cheese, and you don’t throw too hard, and you can carry me when I get tired, and—” She stopped, chewing her lip. “I just like that you’re here.”
I looked toward the house, half-hoping Annie would get home and we could have a distraction. No such luck. Just me and Ruby and her question hanging heavy in the cold air.
“Forever’s a long time,” I said finally, keeping my voice light.
“So? I’m only seven. I’ve got forever.”
Damn kid. Didn’t she know how sharp words like that cut?
I laughed softly, shaking my head. “You don’t make this easy, do you?”
“You make my mom happy, too. I like it when she is happy.”
Fuck. Me.
She leaned closer, stubborn as anything. “Please? You can live here with us. You can sleep in the extra room like you are right now, and I’ll let you borrow my stuffed animals if you get scared at night. And you can make pancakes. Clowns are good at pancakes, right?”
That made me laugh harder, the sound bursting out before I could stop it. “Never heard that about clowns and pancakes, but maybe you’re right.”
I didn’t feel the need to correct her by reminding her I’m not an actual clown.
Her face was so serious, though, it hurt to laugh. She meant it. She really wanted me here, in her world, part of her life. Hell, if that didn’t stir something deep inside me.
It fueled my desire to stay. To be in Snowberry Peak. But, that wasn’t up to me.
I cleared my throat, looking off at the tree line. “Tell you what. I can’t promise forever, but I’ll stick around as long as I can. Deal?”
She narrowed her eyes like she was negotiating terms of a contract. Then she thrust out a mittened hand. “Deal, but you have to pinky swear.”
“With mittens on?”
“It still counts.”
So I hooked my big gloved pinky around hers. “Deal.”
Ruby beamed, satisfied. I just sat there, chest heavier than I liked to admit, wondering when exactly this little girl had managed to carve out space inside me I didn’t know was there.
I liked kids.
I knew kids liked me.
