Huey lays across my feet, and I lean back with my arms folded behind my head as I stare up at the darkening sky. “It got darker within the last five minutes. Hopefully whatever you needed didn’t need to be done while it was still daylight.”
“It didn’t.”
“Good. You going to tell me what it is now?”
“Making you work during a relaxing sleigh ride? No way.”
I chuckle lightly. “It’s okay. My eyes could use a break from the starless sky.”
“Not a single one?”
“Nope. We don’t get many out here with all the light pollution. Maybe five max.”
He shuffles around. “That’s what sucks about living so close to the city. One of the reasons I love coming out here. Guess it can’t really be one anymore.”
“Why not? Did you forget . . . you have me here to describe them to you.”
He makes a small sound. “I think I might call you too often. At first, I was worried about asking for too much help, and now . . . now I can’t stop feeling like I need it.”
“In general, or just from me?” My tone deepens.
“I . . . I don’t know.”
I sigh, and look straight ahead at the dancing Santa. “Well, whatever the reason, I think you should know that I like helping you and I don’t even really see it as helping.”
“No?”
“Nah. I mean, I feel I’m benefiting from it too. I finally get to hear how much someone else can’t stand that fucking Christmas song.”
He sputters a laugh. “That’s all?”
“No. It’s been nice having someone to enjoy all this holiday stuff with. Someone who doesn’t bite my ankles and snort.”
He makes a high-pitched sound. “I mean . . . give me some time. I might do some of that too.”
My throat tightens. “You still haven’t told me what you called for.”
“My mail. I . . . my ex stopped by and left it on my porch. He, of course, waited until he left to call me to tell me it was there. I wanted to see who they were from.”
“You didn’t order anything?”
“No. I haven’t quite mastered online shopping yet. Last time I asked Alexa to order me something, it was the wrong kind of mixer.”
Laughter crawls up my throat. “So, they’re gifts, then?”
“I’m assuming so. My best friend and sister both like sending them every chance they can.”
“Okay. Show me these packages and we’ll see how far they went this time together.”
“Let’s,” he says, his voice sounding lighter than before. It has my heart fluttering and feet feeling light as I climb down from the sled. Huey moves with me, leading the way home, deciding for the both of us where we’ll go next. I let him take me there as I keep my eyes mostly on the phone screen. The camera shakes and stops moving when Henry is sitting on the couch next to a stack of boxes.
Reaching for the one on top, he rests it on its side on his legs, leaning forward. “Can you see the name?”
“Yeah. It’s from Janie.”
One side of his lips lifts and he rips open the center. After pulling out several layers of tissue, he shakes a small box with a number on it and pictures of socks.
“Sounds like some kind of clothes. Underwear maybe?”
