“Rock, paper, scissors for it?” Brad lowered his chair to the floor, shooting a smirk in his cousin’s direction. “Loser gets the floor.”
Tyler put one fist on top of his flattened palm. “Best out of three.”
It almost felt like old times watching his friends battle for the couch—just three nineteen-year-olds messing around after a full day of classes.
But they were no longer those guys, and he couldn’t keep living in the past. He could only look to the future with the hope of sharing it with Hallie.
Late Saturday morning, Hallie carried a giant popcorn bowl in her arms on her way to the basement prior to the start of the family’s annual Christmas movie marathon. She passed through the Lucases’ entryway just as Tyler and Brad came through the front door.
“Where have you two been?” She shifted the bowl enough to grab the handle of the door leading downstairs.
“We were on an errand.” Brad glanced at Tyler.
“That was a long errand.” Hallie looked back and forth between the two, their guilty expressions triggering warning bells in her brain. “No one has seen either of you since yesterday afternoon.”
Tyler shrugged, though he struggled to hold back a smile. “Duty called, and we had to answer.”
Duty? What duty?
Before she could contemplate their strange behavior, tiny, erratic taps came from the front door, more like scratches than actual knocks.
“It looks like someone’s at the door.” Brad sounded like a bad actor in a low budget film. “I wonder who that could be?”
Tyler choked on a snort. “Maybe you should answer it, Hal. Here, I’ll take that.” He snatched the popcorn bowl from her arms before booking it down the stairs after their cousin.
What was up with them? They seemed eager that Hallie get the door for this mystery guest. But why should she care who it was?
Unless …
Had they magically talked Christian into driving all the way up here?
They didn’t.
Did they?
Insides buzzing, Hallie yanked opened the door. Christian wasn’t on the porch. In fact, he was nowhere in sight. Yet her heart still burst at the two small figures bundled in thick sweaters and hats. They each held a piece of paper, and Penelope also clutched the last few stragglers from Aunt Claire’s white daisies still going strong despite the late season.
“Hallie!” She shook with excitement, dropping her picture. The flowers were practically goners in her tight fist. Isla, though more understated in her reaction, smiled so big her brown eyes almost disappeared.
The warmth charging through Hallie threatened to bubble over, and she laughed. “I’m so happy to see you!” Crouching to the girls’ level, she took them both in her arms for a tight hug. “I’ve missed you both so sosomuch! What’re you doing here?”
“We surpise you!” Penelope squeaked.
“You sure did.” Hallie scrunched her nose, touching her forehead to the child’s. “This is the best surprise.” She sat back on her heels to study their angelic faces. “And you brought me flowers?”
“I pick them for you.” Penelope held out her fist with pride.
Hallie relieved her of the wilted bouquet, and the flowers fell over her hand. “That’s so sweet. Thank you.”
“We drew pictures too.” Isla bent to pick up her sister’s from the cement.
Hallie took both drawings, Penelope’s on top. It was only a series of multi-colored scribbles, but Hallie saw a priceless work of art she’d cherish forever. She gave the child another squeeze. “I can’t wait to go home and hang it in my room.”
She flipped to Isla’s picture next. Four stick figures took up most of the page. Two small ones stood on the outside, holding the hands of the ones in the middle. A slightly larger one with yellow hair and oversized blue eyes came next. And the fourth was so long, Isla had run out of room for more than a tiny circle for the head at the very top of the page.
“It’s us. There’s me and Nellie, and you and Daddy.” She pointedat the indecipherable words written in crayon along the side. “And this says thank you for being my forever friend.”
Hallie didn’t think her smile could grow any bigger. “I’m so happy to be your forever friend. Awww, you’ve even got Princess Pumpkin in there.” She studied the brown doodle somewhat resembling the golden retriever. “I love it.”
