“Sorry about earlier. I kinda lose my cool when it comes to Danny.” His voice was soft.
I glanced over at him. “You’re fine, and you kept him safe.” I turned the handle. It was two a.m., and I was exhausted.
“Wait.” Adam reached out and touched my arm. “I just…”
I took a quick breath and turned to him, searching his warm brown eyes.
“I wanted to thank you.”
“Thank me?” I tilted my head to the side. “I didn’t do anything.”
“You did more than you will ever know.” His voice and his eyes were soft. “You kept me calm, and you helped Danny feel safe.” Adam searched my face, and his hand moved up toward me.
But then he stopped, stepped back, and put it back at his side. “Thank you, Faith.”
I wondered how it would feel to have him say my real name. Was Astrid even my real name anymore? Who was I?
“I’m gonna get you a tree.” Adam nodded, bringing me back to the present.
“No, Adam, please don’t.” I rested my hand on his forearm. “Honestly. I’m not worried about it. I wanted the experience more than anything. Plus, I even cut two trees down!” I smiled at the memory. “Christmas looked a little different growing up, this was wonderful.”
Adam leaned against the house. “Where did you grow up?”
Crap!
“Um, on the East Coast.”
“And they don’t have Christmas trees there?” His forehead creased.
“Not like here, I guess.” I did not want to talk about my past. “It’s late. And I’m sure you and Danny are exhausted.” I turned to the door and twisted the handle.
“Good night, Faith,” Adam whispered behind me.
“Night, Adam,” I said over my shoulder. “And tell Danny thanks for taking me to get trees.” I went inside and shut the doorbefore I did something stupid like hug him or ask if I could see him again.
Sunday passedwith pine-scented candles and sugar cookies. The icing designs required a lot of focus, but somehow, my mind wouldn’t stop replaying Christmas tree scenes with Adam and Danny.
Rose had some family drama with her siblings and would be absent all day, which gave me space to bake and process. I thought about texting Adam several times to ask how Danny was doing, but I wasn’t sure if that was appropriate.
Was it bad not to text?
Would he think I didn’t care?
But if I did text, would he get the wrong idea?
Which was what? That I wanted to spend more time together… That wasn’t wrong…but was also so wrong. After I finished the snowflake pattern, I gave in to the impulse.
Faith: Hey Adam, I was just wondering how Danny is doing today. How’s your back?
I set my phone down and went to frost another cookie so I couldn’t obsess over whether he texted back. After I had finished five, I allowed myself to check.
Adam: Hey Faith, Danny is hurting a little and his pain meds make him sleepy, but overall doing much better. He is bummed that his sling is limiting his drum solos to Frosty the Snowman though. I’m also grateful for the pain meds, now that the adrenaline has worn off. But I’m good.
I chuckled.
Adam: I was going to ask you. Danny wanted to start decorating the Christmas tree later tonight and thought sinceyou helped get it, you might want to come decorate it. I told him I would ask. Zero Pressure though. I’m sure you have things to do.
I had things. Baking things, cleaning things, anything to keep my mind from thinking about how much I wanted to join them doing adorable family things.
