Daniel watched as Holly laughed, her hand automatically steadying Teddy when he wobbled on his stool. The casual touch, the ease with which she interacted with his son, made something in Daniel’s chest expand painfully.
His bear was all but ready to roll over and offer his soft belly for her to tickle.
“Can I have juice, please?” Maisie asked, climbing onto the stool on Holly’s other side.
“Of course.” Daniel moved to the refrigerator, but Holly was already sliding off her stool.
“I can get it,” she offered. “If you tell me where the glasses are?”
“Cabinet by the sink,” Daniel said, surprised by her initiative. Most guests sat and waited to be served; Holly was already moving as if this were partly her kitchen too.
His bear hummed with contentment.See? Perfect.
“Can we build a blanket fort today?” Teddy asked through a mouthful of pastry. “Since it’s still snowing outside?”
“Chew, then talk,” Daniel reminded him automatically.
Teddy swallowed dramatically. “Sorry. Can we? A blanket fort? Please?”
“What’s a blanket fort?” Holly asked, settling back onto her stool.
Teddy’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You don’t know what a blanket fort is?”
“I guess I never made one,” Holly admitted.
“Never?” Maisie looked equally shocked. “Not even when you were little?”
Holly shook her head. “My mom was very... neat. She didn’t like messes.” There was a faint brittleness to the last word, like it held a whole childhood of straightened toys and carefully folded blankets.
Something in her tone made Daniel look at her more closely. There was a shadow behind her words, a hint of old hurt that made his protective instincts flare.
“Then we definitely have to build one,” Daniel decided. “It’s a Brooks family tradition on snow days.”
“Can Holly help?” Teddy asked, bouncing on his stool.
Daniel glanced at Holly, suddenly uncertain. “Only if she wants to. She might have other plans…”
“I’d love to,” Holly interrupted, her face lighting up. “I have absolutely no plans, and building my first blanket fort sounds perfect.”
For a moment, Daniel allowed himself to imagine this as their normal…Holly sat at his breakfast counter, laughing with his children, planning their day together.
His bear sighed dreamily at the picture.
As soon as they’d finished breakfast, they headed to the living room, which was soon transformed under the children’s direction. Chairs were dragged from the dining room to form a framework, and blankets were draped with careful consideration. Holly proved to be an enthusiastic, if inexperienced, fort-builder, following Teddy’s increasingly elaborate instructions with good-natured laughter.
“No, no, the blue blanket goes ontop,” Teddy insisted, his small face serious. “The stripey one is for theside.”
“Of course,” Holly agreed solemnly, adjusting the blankets. “Silly me.”
Maisie, ever practical, arranged pillows inside the growing structure. “We need more,” she declared, looking up at Daniel. “Can we use the ones from your bed, Dad?”
“Sure thing, Maisie,” Daniel agreed, unable to deny them anything with Holly’s encouraging smile spurring them on. “I’ll go grab them.”
When he returned with an armload of pillows, he paused in the doorway, the sight before him stealing his breath. Holly was on her knees, holding up a corner of the blanket while Teddy directed her with all the authority of a tiny construction foreman. Her laughter filled the room as she tried to follow his increasingly complicated instructions, her face flushed with pure joy as the tree lights twinkled behind her, casting little sparks of color in her dark hair.
“No, no, Holly! You have to make it higher so we can all fit!” Teddy was saying, his small hands gesturing emphatically.
“Like this?” Holly adjusted her grip, raising the blanket higher.
