Page 57 of Tied Up In Tinsel
“Mom!” Ruby’s voice rang with scandalized authority. “Language!”
“I’m sorry,” I sputtered, my heart still racing, “but someone just blinded me!”
Brooks’ low chuckle rolled from behind me, warm and rich.
“It’s just Brooks,” Ruby said matter-of-factly. “He has a surprise for you.”
I froze. “So… you didn’t fall? You weren’t playing tea party?”
“Oh, I definitely played tea party,” Brooks admitted with a grin in his voice. “But that was earlier. No, I didn’t fall, we just needed an excuse to get you here fast.”
I exhaled, equal parts relief and exasperation. “A simplehurry upwould’ve worked just fine.”
Still blind, I was ushered forward—Ruby tugging on one hand, Brooks’ hands still covering my eyes.
The panic settled.
Anticipation churned through me. Whatever these two had concocted, it had me wary and oddly emotional all at once.
The back door opened, which meant we walked through the kitchen. Why was he taking me back outside?
“Careful. One more step. And… there.” Brooks’ voice rumbled near my ear, his hands warm and protective as he guided me. “Stay right here. Keep your eyes closed.”
Ruby released my hand, and Brooks let go. I stood waiting, heart hammering, eyelids squeezed tight.
“One…” Ruby’s sing-song voice counted.
“Two…” Brooks followed, his tone lower, teasing.
“Three!” they said together.
My eyes fluttered open, and my breath caught.
Sunlight spilled over the backyard, golden and crisp in the winter air. Brooks stood there with Ruby perched on his hip, both of them beaming, and behind them was apony.
A real, honest-to-goodness pony.
“Merry Christmas!” they cheered in unison, arms thrown wide in celebration.
Ruby’s face glowed with excitement. “Mommy! This is what you always wanted Santa to bring, remember? And he did! He came early while I was asleep this morning!”
Tears blurred my vision as I stepped closer, my hand rising instinctively for the small, soft nose of the pony as it whinnied.The enclosure behind them was new, too—clearly set up for this exact surprise.
Brooks’ grin was boyish, unguarded, and so full of mischief and heart it nearly undid me. He winked at me, pride and something deeper shining in those whiskey-colored eyes.
“You’re telling me Santa made a special trip to our house?” I asked shakily, offering the back of my hand for the pony to sniff.
“Yup,” Brooks said easily, his mouth twitching with amusement. “Turns out he’s a pretty generous guy.”
I shook my head, utterly overwhelmed. This man—this man I’d known less than two weeks—had somehow seen me clearer than most people had in years. He’d given me the one gift my inner child had never stopped dreaming of.
“You bought me a pony,” I whispered, awe and laughter tangled together in my voice.
He shrugged, casual but with warmth in every line of his body. “Guess I did.”
I stepped into them both then, wrapping my arms around Ruby and Brooks together, my chest so full I thought it might split. Happiness, disbelief, and a bone-deep tenderness surged through me all at once.
Brooks didn’t hesitate. He dipped his head and kissed me, right there in front of my daughter, his lips gentle but sure against mine.
