"Let's do two. We can always come back for more if we have bare spots."
"I'll wrap the ornaments and have them ready for you if you want to grab something to eat first."
"Can we get hot chocolate and look at the tree in the square? You know the one by Santa's workshop?"
"Of course." I was enjoying the present moment with my daughter. I wasn't worried about what anyone expected me to do. I didn't have to put up the fake tree we had when Marla was alive or use our old decorations. "What do you think about getting a live tree? There're some in the parking lot for sale."
"A real tree?" Sofia asked while I checked out.
"It's going to smell like pine, and the needles will make a mess on the floor." Real life was messy too. "We'll have to remember to water it every day. Can you help me with that?"
Sofia nodded solemnly. "Yes."
Clara smiled. "You two are sweet."
I'd never had anyone say that to me. Sometimes I got comments about being a good dad, but her compliment hitdifferently today because I'd made the conscious decision to be a better dad.
We finished checking out, and then we stepped onto the sidewalk, the wind pulling the door as I tried to shut it behind us.
Sofia lifted her face to the cloudy sky, the wind whipping her hair around. "Are we going to get snow?"
"I haven't checked the forecast lately." I'd been so caught up in the parade; I hadn't had a chance to do that.
"Miss Eve is leaving," Sofia said.
"We should talk to her," I said as I took her hand and led her across the street. "Are you done for the day?”
Eve turned with a smile. "I think that's it.”
Sofia dropped my hand and took Eve's. "We're going to get hot chocolate. Will you come with us?"
I expected Eve to list all the tasks she needed to do. It's not every day you run a parade in your own town. "You know? That sounds lovely. I'd love to go with you."
Sofia beamed.
Eve was a good addition to our life. A female figure outside of my mother Sofia could look up to. I tried not to think about what could happen if whatever was brewing between us fizzled out. Would we stay friends?
Eve shifted her attention to me. "As long as your father doesn't mind, of course."
I smiled. "Do you want to go to the coffee shop or the diner?"
"I'm starving," Sofia said dramatically.
I barely restrained myself from rolling my eyes. "Of course you are."
"I don't know where you put all that food," Eve said.
"Dad says I'm a bottomless pit."
Eve laughed, and I wanted to remember this moment forever. The wind was gusting, and it was bitter cold. But at thesame time, flurries were falling from the sky, and everywhere we looked, shoppers were carrying bags and talking and laughing.
Everyone was happy, and it was easy to fall into a general sense of well-being. I just hoped it would last. That we'd have our first Christmas where we could breathe easier and let go.
"Let's get something to eat at Merry's Diner." Then I paused. "Unless you want to go somewhere else."
"Merry's is perfect," Eve said, falling into step with us. "Did you find an ornament at the Christmas shop?"
"We got enough ornaments for the whole tree, and we're getting a real one this year," Sofia said all of that with wonder in her voice, as if she hadn't considered that we could make new traditions and do new things.
