“It is. I didn’t realize I was so behind on my reading. Some of my favorite authors have released books I didn't even know about.”
The lady smiled knowingly. “You’re not the first to struggle with that,” she offered kindly. “Life has a way of distracting us. But only in the very best ways. Are you staying in town long? We have book club nights here regularly and even get authors in to talk about their latest works.”
“That sounds charming…” I started, before realization kicked in and my excitement faded.
“Unfortunately, I’m just passing through. The storm…”
“Ah. Well, if your plans change…”
“Thanks.”
“You better get a look at that though,” she offered as she tilted her head and glanced in the direction of the door. Chris was sitting in an old, battered leather chair. He’d shed his jacket and made himself comfortable. But it was Noelle perched in his lap, reading him a book that made my heart stop. It was a memory I wanted to capture forever. I reached into my purse and pulled out my phone, quickly snapping a picture before they noticed and the moment passed.
I took a step toward them and listened. Noelle was reading ‘The Night Before Christmas’. Any time she struggled with a word or started to stumble, Chris was there to catch her. He patiently helped her sound out the word and put it together, making her reread the sentence in full. When he lifted his hand and brushed the hair out of her eyes, my own filled with unshed tears.
I forced myself to take a breath and turn back to the counter where the owner was watching on with me. “That’s a beautifulmemory for both of them,” she commented, and all I could do was nod my agreement.
“I’ll take that book, too,” I said, my voice cracking. With a shake of my head, I brought myself back to the here and now.
The lady reached across the counter and patted my hand. “That one’s on me,” she offered with a smile that made her eyes twinkle.
She rang up my purchases and it wasn’t until she was sliding the bag across the counter that Chris and Noelle realized what was happening. Noelle clasped the book to her chest, while Chris stood behind her, their jackets draped over his arm.
“You ready? Hey Rubes.”
“Hey Chris. Merry Christmas,” she offered with a festive smile only for Chris to grimace.
“Merry Christmas to you too,” he replied out of obligation. I was quickly learning that while Chris may be the Christmas Grinch, he didn’t miss when it came to his manners.
“Yep,” I said, popping the ‘p’. “Noelle, can you please put your coat on?” I asked, holding my hand out for the book.
She resisted. “Can I please have this book, Mom?” Noelle asked politely, looking up at me.
“It’s already yours,” I told her, only for her to throw herself at me, wrapping her arms around my leg almost knocking me off-balance.
eighteen
CHRIS
Damn,books were heavy, but it didn’t matter. The happiness on Holly and Noelle’s faces meant I would’ve carried the bags all damn day. We hadn’t even made it to the Christmas festival, and I was already ready for a nap. We’d thrown snowballs, drank hot chocolate, laughed, read books, ate cookies, and had a great day. At least I had, and from the way Noelle and Holly laughed, I guessed I wasn’t the only one.
Noelle walked between us, holding our hands.
“Can you lift me?” Noelle asked, her eyes bouncing from me to Holly and back again.
“Lift you?”
“She means she wants us to swing her between us. We don’t have to,” Holly confirmed, offering me an out. I didn’t need an out and I certainly didn’t want one. If Noelle wanted to swing, then Noelle was going to swing.
“Ready?”
“One, two, three,” Holly counted, and we lifted Noelle into the air, her legs swinging in front of her, her squeals earning us strange glances.
We closed in on the festival, still swinging Noelle betweenus. I could see people moving about, but it didn’t look like it was open yet. More like they were putting it back together after the storm had knocked it around.
“I’m not sure it’s open,” I admitted, strangely disappointed. For someone who’d spent years hiding and avoiding the holidays, I was definitely feeling festive this year and I suspected I had these two beautiful women to thank for it.
“Can we have a look?” Noelle asked, and I wasn’t about to say no.
