Why?
I was the grumpy old guy next door who should stay far away from Elle Evergreen. Even though she texted me one more time to remind me that Faith was expecting me to come by after school to practice for her Christmas concert.
Christ, you’ve got to be shitting me.
I had made a promise to Faith that I intended to keep. Her mother better not get in my way with those damn blushing rosy cheeks, her full mouth begging me to kiss her, or her teeth biting at her damn lip.Goddamn.This visit would be a challenge, but I’d have to accept it.
TWENTY-TWO
Surprising Gift
Noelle
Jack better show up. Faith was excited to see him, and I had to keep her entertained while she impatiently awaited his arrival. I wanted to text him, call him, and pester him to learn the plan, but I resisted.
Jack had ignored me since I last spoke to him, and his usual early morning wood chopping routine was nonexistent. I enjoyed the peace, but in the pit of my stomach, a stirring ceased to quit. Nervous knots tightened inside of me and put me on edge for the rest of the day. Jack wasn’t his normal self. Grumpily roaming around his yard, being a nuisance or causing me trouble. He was quiet and absent.
“What color of glitter do you want?” I asked Faith while I held up three different bottles. “We have gold, silver, and blue.”
“Silver and gold.” Faith beamed and grabbed the containers. “I want my picture to be just like the song in the Rudolph movie.”
“Perfect idea.” I smiled as I squeezed out the glue and passed the tube to her. “I’ll use the blue glitter for the snow.”
Faith stuck out her tongue while she concentrated on where she wanted the glue to go. She pushed the sticky white liquid out and onto Santa’s sleigh and spread some out behind it. The lid popped open for the silver glitter, and she sprinkled it on while tapping the container.
“Santa has tons of magical powers.” Faith tilted her head and admired her creation. “And his sleigh too.”
The glitter gleamed in the light, and I scattered some blue dusting over the snow on the ground underneath Santa’s ride. In the picture, his reindeer pulled him up into the sky as they set off to deliver toys to girls and boys all around the globe. He’d bring them joy on Christmas morning after the sun rose and the world awoke out of their warm beds where they had dreamed of dancing sugarplums in their heads.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, and Faith shot up out of her chair. Her mouth sprang open, brown eyes round with wonder, and she knocked over the glitter container. The contents fell onto the table, shimmering with brilliance, and she made a mad dash for the front door.
“I’ll get it!” Faith hollered.
I couldn’t have contained my daughter even if I’d tried because her eagerness was in high gear. The major role she’d play in the Winter Wonderland Christmas Concert as a compassionate girl during the holiday season was all she could talk about ever since Jack had promised to help her. She couldn’t contain her excitement.
Faith told all her friends about Mr. Timber lending a helpful hand in his mean and green costume, and she had become the talk of the school. It would devastate Faith if Jack let her down, and the embarrassment among her peers would crush her.
I should never have put my trust in Jack with Faith’s emotional well-being. He didn’t give a shit about anyone until he showed an interest in my daughter and spent far too much time around her. I should’ve put a stop to thisnewfound attention he’d been giving to her, but there was something nice about having him around, and Faith wouldn’t understand.
I dusted up the mess Faith had made and brushed the particles into the palm of my hand. I wanted to appear busy and ignore the flutter in my belly whenever Jack was around. The constant need to strike an argument with him. The banter between us caused my pulse to race and my cheeks to flush at the madness he created everywhere he went. He made my blood boil twenty-four fucking seven, leaving me uneasy and full of tension I couldn’t escape—pent-up frustration that needed an outlet, and I wanted him to be the one to ease the bottled-up resentment.
I hated Jack. I loathed the feelings he brought out of me and how he tempted me to express our emotions with our hands doing most of the talking while our lips clashed. I couldn’t stop fucking thinking about him. His mouth, body, and those goddamn talented as fuck hands.
Faith returned to the dining room, and my neighbor wasn’t anywhere in sight yet. She wore a frown, but there was an Amazon package in her hands. My heart dropped, breaking into a thousand pieces, and I came to her side.
“It wasn’t Mr. Timber. Only a stupid delivery.” Faith slouched down into her seat, and she slid the cardboard box toward me. “Here, Mommy. It’s for you. It has your name on it.”
I narrowed my eyes and shook my head. “But I didn’t order anything.”
I further examined the box with blue tape wrapped around it and, sure enough, my name was on the label. Therewere scissors nearby from our crafting session, and I glided the blade along the tape. My fingers worked at the flaps of the box to open the package, and I blinked in shock. There was a note inside.
I thought you’d need this. See you soon, kiddo.
Your neighbor, Mr. Timber.
Jack had bought Faith a gift. He had taken the time to prepare for her. He had been ignoring me, but he hadn’t been dismissing my daughter.
Jack had restored my heart. The organ pumped with renewed joy. Another man wouldn’t let Faith down, and he had put in an effort to help her.
