“Maybe he just needs a hug.”
I doubted a hug could cure my father of his disposition, but I wasn’t about to burst his bubble. “Maybe.” Tori seemed to think there was something worth redeeming in him, and I had agreed to give it a try.
He scrambled out of his seat and ran to mine, throwing his arms around me. “I’m glad you’re my daddy.”
Clinging to him, I murmured, “So am I, and I’ll spend every moment making up for the time we lost.”
“When you marry Mommy?” He squirmed from my hold and put his forehead to mine.
“Yes, but that needs to be a secret. Just you and me because I don’t want her to know yet.”
He made a gesture like a zipper closing his mouth, and I laughed, giving his hair a tussle. “Drink your hot chocolate, and we’ll get something special for Mommy for Christmas.”
When we finished, I threw the cups away while he waited at the door for me. “Come on, Daddy, let’s go get something pretty for Mommy.”
My heart stuttered, my feet almost tripping over themselves. The burning behind my eyes had me blinking the sensation away. I scooped him into my arms and walked us out of the shop. “I love you, buddy.”
His arms flew around my neck. “I love you, too, Daddy.” And the space in my heart that Tori hadn’t reached was healed with those five words.
We spent the next two hours shopping for Tori and her family. I let Reid pick his own present out for Tori, a bracelet with three heart charms on it. One for each of us he had told me as the salesclerk wrapped it and handed him the bag. Every moment I spent with him left my heart fuller, and by the time we returned home, I felt like I was living a blessed life. After years of thinking it a cursed one.
Tori was on the phone when we walked in. I hung our coats and walked over to her, wrapping my arms around her and bringing her back into my chest. Kissing her cheek, I pressed my nose to it. She squealed and wiggled out of my grasp.
“Your nose is cold,” she complained. “Sorry, Mom. Gabe and Reid just walked in.”
“Tell her I said hello,” I added, hearing Reid shout, “Hi, Grandma,” from where he had taken a spot on the couch with his tablet.
“Gabe says hi and so does Reid.” She was quiet for a moment, then said, “Grandma says hi back to both of you.”
Quiet again as I poured myself a glass of water.
“Okay, I’ll ask and text you if she does. Love you, Mom. Can’t wait to see you and Dad.”
She hung up and gave Reid a big hug over the back of the couch. I couldn’t help taking in the view, and she snapped her head around. “Stop looking at my butt.”
“But it’s such a nice butt.”
Her cheeks bloomed with the blush I loved to see in them. “So what did you guys do?”
“Just some shopping and some guy time,” I told her as she walked into the kitchen, leaning her hip on the counter.
“And if I ask Reid what you bought?”
“My mouth has a zipper, Mommy,” he piped up from the couch.
The corner of her mouth rose. “Not even a hint?”
“Nope. My mouth has a zipper, too,” I said, caging her in. “Although you can try to unzip it.”
“I bet I can,” she teased, wrapping her hand around my head and bringing my lips to hers. Kisses from Tori were like precious jewels that I wanted to hoard.
“Reid and I had a talk,” I said, nipping her lip.
“About?”
“Us. Our past.”
Her eyes scrunched, concern lining them.
