It appeared they were all serious about her joining the family at the farm.They were inviting her and Ella into their group.Into their home.
She wondered if they sensed how lost and alone Olivia had been feeling.Were they all natural rescuers?
Talk at the table turned to the farm.What they’d accomplished so far.What they could do during the winter and what they had planned for spring.
Charlie swallowed another mouthful of garlic bread.“What do you guys do for Christmas here?It’s only a couple of weeks away.”
Complete silence greeted his question.The adults around the table exchanged glances.Knox finally answered.“This will be our first Christmas together.Thea was here with Jay last year but none of the rest of us.”
Thea shrugged.“Jay and I didn’t do much.We made cookies together on Christmas Day.Then we sat here at this table drinking hot chocolate and ate them all.”
Charlie laughed.“That sounds good to me.”
Nash ruffled his son’s hair.“Anything with cookies or hot chocolate always sounds great to you.”
Charlie nodded.“It does.”
Jolie agreed.“It really does.Maybe we’ll have to make up batches of cookies before the big day.There’s a woman with a Christmas tree farm across the road.I don’t know much about it, but her sign says she rents Christmas trees.”
The boy’s eyes widened.“She rents them?Like rents real trees?”
He looked at his dad, and Nash shrugged.“We’ve never had a real tree before.And we’ve never rented one.We’ll have to find out more, but that sounds fun.”
It did to Olivia as well.She, Mary Mae, and Liam hadn’t spent money on a tree, but they’d made ornaments out of paper and had fun.“Last year, we strung popcorn onto string to hang up.”
Charlie grinned.“That sounds fun, too.”
Nash chuckled.“You just want to eat the popcorn.”
Olivia laughed.“That’s the best part.”
Nash looked at her with a soft smile.“Sounds like we should add that to the list.”
A shiver ran over her skin.It was easy to imagine herself sitting here at the table with Nash, stringing popcorn and making homemade decorations with Charlie and Ella.
Her heart wanted it.Badly.
Could she have it?Should she move into this amazing place?
Nash smiled, and she wondered again if he could read her thoughts.
The talk turned to environmentally friendly Christmas decorations and fun things the group could do on the big day.The group suggested lots of outdoor winter activities and included ways to adapt things for Ella if needed.
Her heart yearned.She wanted this.Badly.
She caught Nash’s eye, and he smiled.If the chemistry zipping wasn’t arcing between them, would he be on board with her and Ella joining the group?
What if they followed up on the chemistry and things fell apart?That would ruin her opportunity to live in this safe space with her girl.
Would she be any worse off than she was now?
At least now, she knew she hadn’t permanently lost her ability to trust.
Of course, her mind also wanted to imagine what it would be like if she and Nash did follow up on the chemistry and thingsdidn’tfall apart.What would that look like?
Perfection.
Olivia knew there was no such thing as perfection, but having a good man love her back?Having a family with these two amazing kids?That was pretty close.
