It was an hour later when he saw Sadie sneaking down the hall, her arms full of presents to slip under the tree.She headed back to her room only to come back with more presents.He laughed out loud as he watched her make a third trip.How much money did she spend on that kid?He bet she’d dipped into her savings to pay for it.
With Sadie safely in bed, it was time to settle in and keep a sharp eye out.It would be just like Tinker to try and break in again, ruining their Christmas.He almost wished he did so he could end things once and for all.
He got up and threw a popcorn packet in the microwave, and made himself a cup of coffee.When it was done popping, he pulled it out and juggled it across the room, tossing it on the desk.
He almost couldn’t wait to see what happened in the morning when Oliver got up to see what Santa brought.Given the kid’s enthusiasm for just about everything, he was sure it would be entertaining.
He was proven right several hours later.Oliver tore through his presents, each one more exciting than the one before.Sadie smiled and took pictures or videos through it all.It was clear to see that his happiness and excitement brought her great joy.
He finished unwrapping his last gift and frowned.Did he not like it?Oliver crawled over to the tree and seemed to be searching for something.He pulled out the wrapped present meant for Jed and looked to Sadie.
“Where are your presents, Sadie?”
“Um.Santa brings presents to little boys and girls.Adults are the ones who buy for each other.”She bit her bottom lip.“Your dad was the one who always bought for me.”
“And he’s gone and can’t buy for you anymore.”He set Jed’s present back under the tree, then got up and went to wrap his arms around his aunt’s neck.She pulled him onto her lap and hugged him tight.
“I’m sorry you didn’t have any presents to open.I should have let you open one of mine.”
Her strangled laugh choked Jed up.
Oliver suddenly jerked back.“Oh my gosh!I almost forgot!”He jumped up and disappeared out of camera range, only to reappear holding a small package wrapped in silver paper and a red bow.“I got this for you at our school Christmas store!”
Sadie accepted the gift he held out and slowly opened it.Jed couldn’t see what it was, but whatever it was caused her to cry.
“Don’t you like it, Sadie?”His face fell, unsure of her reaction.He probably thought he had done something wrong.
She wiped her tears from her cheeks as she held the gift to her chest.“Yes.I love it.It’s exactly what I wanted.”She pulled him in for a hug and kissed his cheek.
“My teacher said you can clip it onto your book so you always have enough light when you’re reading.”He all but hopped up and down.
“She’s right.I love it, Oliver.Thank you so much.”
After that, the little boy dove into his toys as Sadie cut each one from its packaging.They might both be smiling and having a good time now, but Jed knew her brother Ryan was never far from their thoughts.
He fucked up.Now he had to figure out how to fix it.
* * *
Tinker
“Brrrr!”He jumped into the truck and slammed the door.As soon as he started it up, he cranked the heat on full blast.Son of abitch,it was cold.He rubbed his hands together, then blew on them, mentally reminding himself he needed to buy some gloves.Putting it in drive, he headed for the exit.
It was sheer dumb luck that he noticed her across the street.Tori, the whore who turned him down at the club, was coming out of a leather shop carrying a couple of packages.She wore some kind of skin-tight black pants and a white waist-length coat.She put her packages in the backseat, then got behind the wheel.
"Well, Merry Christmas to me."Fate appeared to be handing him an opportunity to right a wrong.Was he going to take it?Damn straight.He waited until she pulled out, then got in behind her.He allowed a couple of car lengths to separate them, not wanting her to notice she was being followed.She turned into a residential area, making a couple of rights, then a left, before pulling into the driveway of a small cream-colored house with a rusty orange-colored door and shutters.It had no garage, so she had to leave her car in the driveway.
He slowly pulled to a stop across the street.He watched as she gathered her packages and walked toward the front door.He waited for the door to close and the lights to come on before he hopped out and jogged across the street.He rapped his knuckles on the door and waited for her to answer.Her eyes widened in surprise.She looked around him as if she expected to see someone else with him to explain his presence at her house.She wasn’t going to find anyone.
“Hey.Tori, right?”
“Yes,” she replied hesitantly.
“Hi.I don’t know if you remember me from the club?I’m Tinker.”
“Um.Yes, I remember you.”
He just bet she did.“Good.”He widened his smile, hoping to put her at ease.“I was driving down this street when my tire blew out.I looked all over that damn truck trying to find the spare.I finally gave up and was going to call for help, but my phone is dead.”He pulled his phone out of his pocket and waved it at her, not letting her see the front of it.“I couldn’t believe my luck when I saw you pull up and get out.”He rocked back on his heels.“Is there any way I could use your phone?”
