“Cool. The tree is large on the bottom.”
“Yeah, I realized it was very straight up and down, so I tried to make it bigger at the bottom. Do you think it doesn’t work?” Dahlia chewed her lip, appearing concerned.
“No, no, I think it absolutely works, and we’ll definitely take a photo of us wearing them on Christmas Day and send it to you.”
Gray would love that. Maeve had to hide her grin.
“Yay!” Dahlia bounced up and down, clapping her hands. “I’m so glad you love them. I even made some things for your friends. I’ll leave them in the bag for you to hand out. I wrapped them and put their names on them. I really, really hope they like them. I couldn’t knit sweaters for everyone, unfortunately. I just didn’t have time. Daddy keeps telling me that I’m doing too much and to rest. I have no idea what he’s talking about.”
“I get it. Gray isn’t happy about how much work I took on. He’s always on at me to take a nap.”
Dahlia eyed her for a long moment. “I don’t want you to take this the wrong way because you are always beautiful . . .”
“But?” Maeve asked.
“But you do look a bit tired. Are you feeling all right?”
Maeve grimaced. “I had a bit of an upset tummy, but I’m fine now. Must have been something I ate.”
“Are you sure? Do you want me to call Gray for you?”
“No!” she cried. Immediately, she felt terrible as Dahlia jumped. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“It’s all right,” Dahlia said. “I just didn’t expect such an emphatic answer. Um, is everything okay between you and Gray?”
“Oh yes!” she exclaimed. “Yes, everything is fine between us. It’s just that if I let on that I wasn’t feeling that great, he’ll make me get checked over by the Surgeon.”
“And that’s bad because . . . you don’t like the Surgeon? I get that. He’s an acquired taste. What kind of guy just calls himself the Surgeon? We get it, man. You’re a doctor. But does that mean you don’t have a name? Surely his parents didn’t call him Surgeon when he was born?”
Maeve nodded. She completely agreed. “It’s not that I don’t like him, although he’s not terribly friendly. It’s just that he might say that I can’t travel.”
Sympathy filled Dahlia’s face. “I get it. As long as you feel okay now?”
“I do. But if you don’t want to be around me today, just in case it’s catching, I understand.”
“Pfft. I’m not worried about any germs. I’ll stay and help. And don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.”
When Gray walkedin the door later that night, she was sitting on the sofa under a Christmas blanket, sipping on ginger tea.
She hadn’t been sick all day, but the ginger was a precaution, just in case the nausea returned. Better to be safe than sorry.
“Daddy!” she cried, setting the cup of tea aside.
As she fought the blanket, which didn’t seem to want to release her, Gray moved toward her.
He was a large guy, covered in tattoos with a thick, dark beard. The first time she’d met him, she’d been kind of intimidated. Now, she knew he was just a giant teddy bear.
Well, for her anyway.
Finally, the blanket freed her from its evil clutches and she ran to him. He picked her up, swinging her around before settling her against his chest.
“Hello there,” he murmured, kissing her. “I missed you.”
She snuggled into him with a sigh. “Missed you too, Daddy.”
“What were you up to? Watching a Christmas movie?”
“Yep. And drinking some tea. Do you want something? Did you eat dinner?”
