“We don’t,” they both huff.
“Then believe in the wonders of Christmas and trust me, it will all be here for you.”
“If that were true then we’d be spending Christmas in California with our dad and this whole nightmare would be over,” the young boy says and then stomps off in the other direction, back to the house.
I stand up to follow him but Kinsey touches my arm. My whole body feels like it’s on fire with one simple touch. I hope spontaneous combustion isn’t a real thing because if it is, I might go up if she ever kisses me!
“Let him go. He’s having a hard time dealing with the divorce.”
“He shouldn’t take it out on you and your daughter.”
“He’s not. He’s just hurting. He kinda blames me for leaving California after his dad got remarried.”
“I can see that that would be hard. But he still shouldn’t take it out on the two of you. You should all be in this together.”
“We are. But he’s hurting. Wounded animals often bite the hand that’s trying to help them.”
Watching the dark figure in the white snow, I nod my head. I get it. I don’t like it. But I get it.
Kinsey’s eyes dart around and she sees the fresh cuts. “Did the attorney have someone come out and take care of the trees and the orders this year?”
“Yeah. Me.”
Her breath pulls in sharply. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I did.”
Her flaming red hair drifts in the wild wind as she nods. “For my brother.”
I shake my head. “Not just for him. For you too.”
Her gray eyes widen but she doesn’t say anything and the little girl smiles. “Are you going to finish cutting the tree down now? I can’t wait to decorate it!”
Dropping to my knees, I smile brightly at her. “You better believe it, kiddo. I’m gonna get this done right now and then we’ll have hot chocolate and decorate the hell out of this tree!”
“Pfft! He said a bad word, Mommy.”
“Oops!” I mime locking my mouth closed.
And she giggles, making Kinsey chuckle lightly.
It feels like I just won the most amazing prize in the world making them laugh.
I pick up the ax and vow that I’m going to do everything in my power to give them all the best Christmas they’ve ever had.
Karter would love that. Even if he wasn’t happy with my feelings for Kins.
CHAPTER 7
Kinsey
The kids are both laughing as Landon throws wads of tinsel at the tree like a crazy man. Tears fill my eyes as the blond-haired man of my dreams makes my children laugh.
Laugh like they haven’t in what feels like forever. Katy grabs her own fistful and throws it at the tree, giggling like a little demon.
And my son, the boy who’s hurting so badly that he hasn’t smiled in months, is smiling at the two of them even as he takes a few strands and throws them as well.
“Come on, Will! You can do better than that!” His sister hollers as she takes an entire box and whips it at him.
