The warmth of his small body brought back a flood of memories from the day she’d brought him home from the hospital. She remembered the overwhelming joy she and Paul had felt as they’d carefully strapped their newborn into the infant car seat. Their hearts had been brimming with love and dreams for the future.
Standing in their little house back then, they’d imagined countless moments like this, filled with laughter and the simple happiness of being a family. Though things hadn’t turned out how they’d planned, she felt a deep sense of gratitude for the way her son continued to light up her life.
Dropping her keys on the hall table, she rubbed Oscar’s back. “Would you like some of your favorite spaghetti for dinner?”
Oscar lifted his head slightly, his eyes still heavy with sleep. “Yes, please,” he murmured.
Oscar wiggled out of her arms and sat at the kitchen table. In a few quick motions, Chloe warmed up the spaghetti she’d made earlier. The aroma of garlic, oregano, and basil filled the kitchen. Moments later, Oscar was happily twirling noodles around his fork, a contented smile spreading across his face.
Chloe added some spaghetti and tomato sauce to her plate and joined Oscar at the table. “You and your friends did such a great job at the rehearsal. How are you feeling about the big performance?”
Oscar swung his feet under the chair. “I’m okay. Mrs. Thompson said to have fun, even if we get tingly tummies,” he admitted. “Will lots of people come?”
Chloe nodded. “I spoke to Mrs. Terry from the general store the other day. She said it’s one of the most popular events Sapphire Bay has each Christmas.”
He grinned. “Will Liam like the singing part?”
“I’m sure he will. Everyone likes Christmas carols.”
Oscar ate the last mouthful of spaghetti. “Do you think Daddy would like the play?”
Chloe felt a slight catch in her chest, but kept her smile gentle. Oscar was barely four years old when she’d left Paul. Even though their marriage had ended, he’d always be Oscar’s dad. So she’d made a photo album of family pictures. At least that way Oscar had some kind of connection to his dad.
Chloe wiped some tomato sauce off Oscar’s chin. “I think your dad would be very proud of you.”
Satisfied, Oscar’s mouth opened with an enormous yawn. “I’m sleepy.”
“Sounds like someone’s ready for bed,” she said, standing up. “Let’s get you tucked in.”
As they headed into his bedroom, Oscar reached for her hand. “Mom, can we read a Christmas story tonight?”
“Of course we can. Which one would you like?”
“What about ‘The Night Before Christmas’?”
Chloe smiled. That was one of Oscar’s favorites. “I thought you might say that. Let’s brush your teeth and get your pajamas on first.”
After he’d brushed his teeth, Oscar changed into his cozy pajamas covered in reindeer prints. Chloe pulled back the covers and he climbed into bed, snuggling his stuffed dinosaur close.
She settled beside him and opened his well-worn book. As she read, Oscar’s eyes grew heavier with each page. By the time she finished, he was fighting to keep them open.
“Mom?” he murmured sleepily.
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“I like being here for Christmas.”
Her heart warmed. “Me too, Oscar. Me too.”
He yawned again. “Do you think it’ll snow tomorrow?”
“It might,” she said softly. “We’ll have to wait and see.”
“Can we make a snowman if it does?”
“Absolutely, but only if a certain little elf gets a good night’s sleep.”
He giggled softly. “Okay. Night-night, Mom. Love you.”
