James cracked a smile. “What if I tell you my wish has already come true?”
She swallowed hard and opened her mouth to speak, but then Jake said, “I’ve written my wish.”
“Already?” Doreen asked.
“Yes, Bash and I gave it a lot of thought on the way here.” Jake dangled his star from his finger.
“You did?” Doreen asked. “I’m impressed.”
“Yeah, we want Mom and Dad to be there at the dog show to see us win our rosette,” Jake explained.
Doreen clenched her jaw and looked at James. All he could do was offer a smile and his silent support as she kneeled down to Jake’s level, her hand resting lightly on his shoulder.
“That’s a wonderful wish, sweetheart,” she said gently. “And I know your parents would love to be there… if they can.”
“They will be,” Jake said with the confidence of a child. “Can we go hang it on the tree?” Before Doreen had a chance to answer, he shot back to the tree, with Bash at his heel.
“Are you okay?” James asked.
“Yeah,” Doreen said, but a shadow flickered through her eyes. Worry, hope? Whatever it was, she was trying very hard to keep it carefully under control.
She doesn’t look okay,his bear said.
No, she does not,James replied.
So do something,his bear demanded.
“Doreen?” James reached out and touched her arm.
Doreen looked up at him. “I’m just afraid Jake’s mom and dad will not be able to get here for the dog show, and Jake will be disappointed that his wish didn’t come true.”
James nodded as he watched Jake hang his wish. “Well, if it doesn’t happen this year, there’s always next year.”
Doreen cracked a smile. “You’re right. There’s always next year.”
“Deputy Pike!” Jake called, waving them over. “Come see where I put it!”
“We’ve been summoned.” James offered his arm to Doreen, who took it after only a moment’s hesitation.
The moment her fingers curled lightly around his sleeve, heat slid through him in a slow, sure wave, the kind that made his bear settle down with a pleased rumble.
Doreen tucked her wish-star in her pocket as they walked together toward the tree, where Jake was pointing proudly at his star, now nestled among hundreds of others. His excitement radiated outward, bright and uncomplicated. For a fleeting second, James could imagine a Christmas morning with kids of his own, their faces filled with excitement as they opened gifts tucked under the tree.
“I put it right next to a snowman ornament,” Jake explained. “Because Bash loves snow, and Mom loves snowmen.”
“It’s perfect,” James said, giving Jake’s shoulder a gentle squeeze.
The tree towered above them, its branches heavy with ornaments that sparkled in the winter light. Tinsel caught the breeze, dancing like silver rain against the deep green needles.
“What did you wish for?” Jake asked, looking up at James with curious eyes. “The one that came true.”
James smiled. “Well, wishes are supposed to be secret.”
“But since yours already came true,” Jake reminded him. “So it’s not a secret anymore.”
“He’s got you there,” Doreen said, her dimple appearing as she smiled.
What am I supposed to say?James asked his bear.I can’t tell her I wished for her… And I don’t want to lie.
