He took her hand in his. “I think that’s a perfect idea.”
A few minutes later, they’d left the mansion behind and were walking around the block.
They stopped in front of the St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church that was next to the mansion. It stood majestically on the corner of Adams and S. Figueroa, towering high above the palm trees that dotted the immaculate landscape.
A large Nativity was in the yard, but the manger was empty.
“Hey, someone stole Baby Jesus!” Samantha said.
Holding her hand tightly, Kendrick leaned over and kissed the top of her head—a feat he could easily accomplish since he was about a foot taller than she was.
“No. It’s tradition. The manger is empty during Advent until Christmas Eve.”
“Oh!” She laughed. “I should have known that.”
“Hey, I’m not Catholic. It was a new tradition to me. Isaiah explained it.”
“He’s Catholic?”
“Episcopalian. Close enough. Matteo is Catholic, but he’s never explained the traditions to me.”
The couple admired the Nativity, as well as the lit wreaths that hung on the church’s beautiful doors before they started walking again. They only went a few feet before Kendrick realized the direction they were heading. “Let’s go the other way, back toward the mansion but we’ll keep walking. That’ll take us into the neighborhood and there are some houses with pretty lights and decorations I want to show you.”
They walked in silence for a while. It wasn’t uncomfortable by any means. In fact, it felt right. As if they could simply exist in each other’s spaces. Words weren’t necessary.
Stopping in front of a house that had red and white icicle lights hanging from it, Samantha said, “Whoa! That’s the coolest! Those lights even change color!”
They watched the long lights go from red to white and then back again several times.
“Want to hear something that makes me sound lame?”
Kendrick squeezed her hand a little tighter. “I want to hear anything you want to share.”
He had the impression something was on her mind, that maybe she’d suggested this little walk so she could clear the air about something. There was no reason to rush her, though. She would share whenever she was ready.
“I never once saw Christmas lights in Kentucky. Not on a house. One time, the tiny town I’m from strung a few strands up outside the courthouse, but it didn’t amount to much. Still, I thought it was the coolest thing I’d ever seen. And I vowed one day I would go see lights somewhere fancy. A place that did it up big!”
He kissed her hand. “And where did you go?”
“Nowhere yet. But I’m here tonight, seeing these lights. And they’re beautiful.”
“You’re beautiful,” he said. He turned to the side, directed her to do the same until she was facing him, and then put his arms around her waist to draw her close.
The kiss was powerful and hungry. Kendrick didn’t want it to end, but knew he couldn’t stand there on the sidewalk, kissing her all night.
So, eventually, he stopped, kissed her forehead and then the top of her head, before they continued walking.
“You work tomorrow, huh?”
“A double,” she confirmed.
“You think we could see each other after?”
“Uh-huh. I sure hope so. That is, if you want to.”
He chuckled.
“What?” she inquired.
