“Close,” I say, slowly making it up my porch steps. “Socks.”
“Ah.” He sets the item on the other side of him. “Not often they come in a box.”
“They’re actuallyBig Bang Theorythemed. Advent calendar style.”
His face leans toward the socks. “Oh. An advent calendar? This late in the month?”
“Twelve days. Who knows how long it was sitting in front of your house.”
His eyes blink and he nods. “Right. I haven’t asked anyone to check. Didn’t even think about it. Certainly wasn’t going to ask the person who ended up bringing them by. Then he probably wouldn’t have. He hated it when I asked . . .” His features harden. “Sorry.”
“Hey, no need for that. It sounds like something you really need to get off your chest.”
“Yeah.” He tugs on his bottom lip with his teeth and I lick mine, wishing I was there to nibble on it too. It’s okay to think it. It’s not the same as doing. Oh, but I wish I could. I bet it’s as soft as it looks. Yeah, good thing he’ll be staying away from that park for a while. Maybe for good since he no longer has a reason to go there. “The socks areBig Bang Theory?”
“Yeah. That your favorite show?”
“Kinda.” He blushes. “Something we always watched together. It was what we did on Thursday nights. Binged three or four episodes until we both passed out on the couch.”
“Doesn’t sound like a bad way to watch a show.”
“No. Not at all.” His lips turn up and I’m happy to see him moving past the war he was in with himself only minutes ago. “I actually miss it. We both got busy, and she’s engaged now.”
“Yeah. Life tends to get in the way of good things sometimes.”
“It does. Um . . .” A muscle ticks in his cheek. “Let’s check out the next one.”
“Ready when you are.” I finally take my key out and place it in the door. Pushing my way inside, I enter the house after Huey and hang up my coat on a hook by the door right next to the purple leash that Huey is happy to be free of.
Henry hums a song I don’t recognize, and as I’m lowering myself onto the couch, I catch myself tapping my fingers on my knee to match the catchy rhythm. He brushes his fingers over both sides of the large envelope and then shows me the label.
“Doesn’t say. It’s from Amazon. Maybe there’s a card inside.”
There is and it’s buried between more sheets of tissue paper. It’s a burgundy hoodie with a tiny logo at the bottom of the corner. I squint my eyes, trying to get a better look as I lean closer. “I think it has a Nike check.”
“Must be from my mom. She seems to think it’s all I wear.” He holds up the card.
“Flip it to the other side.” I laugh when he does. “Yup. It says, ‘love mom’ at the bottom after saying ‘to stay warm’.”
He laughs softly and swiftly moves to the next one. This box is bigger than the first, and it also doesn’t have a name. There’s a card inside and it’s from another family member.
“Plaid slippers and a matching robe.”
“Oooh. I really will be staying warm.” He hums lightly, holding the soft-looking material to his face.
“Yes, and in style too. Your family really loves you.”
“They do. Not all of them are aware I’m here alone and would probably come banging down that door if they were to find out. My sister knows better than to try to talk me out of somethingonce I set my mind to it, though, and my friend gave up after the fifth attempt.”
A chuckle pushes past my lips. “Your friend sounds like my brother. He’s as stubborn as me but doesn’t like to admit it.”
“Is he as good at describing Christmas trees as you are?”
I grin. “No one is as good at that as me.”
“We can go ahead and pretend that’s true, so I don’t have to go back to watching movies with my robotic voice friend.”
I give half a laugh. “Hey, I’m here to tell you about all the trees you see whenever you need me to be. Even outside movies.”
