"Don't worry about me."
Ruth reached a hand across her body and gave Katie's hands a pat where they were holding onto her arm. "I've had a few Missus Guthrie's in my life." Ruth's reassuring tone made Katie smile, but Nick could see the tightness at the corners of Ruth's eyes and mouth.
"The day someone like Missus Guthrie could stop me helping you, is the day I hang up my apron and whisk. And that, my dear girl, is never happening!"
Katie stared at Ruth like she hung the stars and Nick kind of agreed with her.
"Seriously, since we talked and you two tasted some of my cookies, I've been online looking for inspiration and seeing what other dance companies do for their tea parties. I've got ideas!"
Ruth turned to look at him and Nick was fairly sure he stopped breathing.
Her gaze was pretty intense.
He just wasn't sure what her ideas were when it came to him.
Crazy enough, he had a feeling he'd give in to almost anything if she asked him to do it.
He just wasn't sure when Ruth would put him out of his misery and say it.
"There's one that I saw in Hawaii where Santa comes out and hands out candy canes to children. I think you'd be a great Santa!"
Nick opened his mouth to beg off, but Ruth had picked the right moment.
Maybe fate had even lent a hand.
The brownie sundae hit the table just a second after his daughter lit up like a Christmas tree. "Dad! That would be so awesome!!! You'd make the coolest Santa!"
Nick wasn't sure but it looked like Ruth was barely holding back a triumphant look.
And just like that... he found himself as Santa for the Sugarplum Tea for his daughter's dance company.
Dinner lasted almost two hours and by the time they got home, it was almost Katie's bedtime, which was why Ruth had begged off going back to the dance studio to get her car.
For Nick that led to a couple of benefits.
First, he was going to take her in the morning on the way when he took Katie to school to get her car.
Second, after watching Katie unlock the front door and drag herself in to bed, he was still standing on the sidewalk between their front walks, hemming and hawing like he was a teenage boy. He was barely keeping his feet on the ground and not shuffling around.
"Well," Ruth shifted her weight to one leg and he had a feeling she was going to walk away, "it's getting late-"
She didn't take more than a step before he reached out and managed to take hold of her hand.
They turned, almost at the same moment, looking at each other.
"You don't have to go." "Do you want a drink?"
Their words fell away, and they just looked at each other.
The world around them went on. Crickets sang their songs.
The wind brushed through the trees.
He couldn't find it in him to let go of her hand.
And she didn't seem like she wanted to pull it free.
"I really should get back to my house."
