Ella was pretty sure Dove couldn’t see too much more than she’d seen before, but it was enough to ease her restlessness.
As she watched the two of them, it occurred to Ella that this was a unique moment.
Dove didn’t really have anyone around to sweep her up in their arms and carry her like that.
Maybe she’s happy because this is a kid experience she hasn’t had before…
But as Ella’s heart melted, she realized that it also wasn’t an experience she’d had as a mother. There was something incredibly moving about seeing the big man hold her small daughter with such care, an expression on his face that was almost tender as his strong arms cradled her.
As she was watching, Dalton’s eyes slid to hers.
She tried her best to smile up at him in a normal way, but she knew she had given herself away by the look in his ocean-blue eyes.
“It’s beautiful,” she said, tearing her eyes from his as fast as she could, and indicating the light display.
“Everything is beautiful,” Dalton said softly.
They waited patiently, breathing in the crystalline air and listening to the happy conversations and theoohsandahhsof the people on the lawn.
By the time it was their turn to step into the beautifully lit garden, Dove could barely keep her eyes open. She stayed in Dalton’s arms and was carried between the lit-up creations like a queen.
The other side of the lawn ended in a small alleyway between the shops. Plenty of folks were gathered there chatting, while others filed back out to Park Avenue to wait for Santa Claus.
They were back on the sidewalk and ready to wave to the friendly saint when Ella glanced up and saw that Dove was fast asleep, her little face tucked in the crook of Dalton’s neck.
“Oh dear,” Ella said. “Is she getting heavy?”
“Not at all,” Dalton said softly, shaking his head.
“We’ll just wake her when Santa comes,” Ella said, relieved. “She had an exciting day.”
“It was a good one,” Dalton agreed with a half-smile.
Down the street came the sound of sleigh bells and a ringingho-ho-ho.
“I’ll wake her when he’s closer,” Dalton said, pressing his cheek to the top of Dove’s golden head.
Ella’s heart fluttered like it was trying to break free, and she watched the two of them, wondering how she was supposed to keep it confined to her chest.
16
DALTON
Later that night, Dalton stood by the pool table in a local pub called The Barrel, trying to focus on the moment instead of thinking about the day he’d spent with Ella and Dove.
The low sounds of conversation and chuckling mingled with the classic tunes playing on the jukebox to make the dim space feel cozy. Back at the table, a bunch of the guys from the veterans’ group were sitting around exchanging old stories.
Dalton had heard so many tales of the times before he had set foot in Trinity Falls that he could probably write a pretty convincing town history himself at this point. But somehow, he never got tired of laughing at the old antics of his new friends, or trying to picture them as lanky teens instead of muscular former military men.
When Grayson Ward had asked if he wanted to play pool, Dalton figured it would be good to stretch his legs a bit.
Besides, he had the feeling the other man had something on his mind. All Dalton knew about Grayson was that he used to be a big personality. And that now he had a little baby, no wife, and few traces of his former bravado. Dalton didn’t need to hear any more than that to know that the man was under pressure.
And then there was the fact that he had just come home.
Serving in the military had its challenges. It required sacrifice, and much more for some than for others. But leaving was its own struggle. In spite of the warm welcome he’d received at the Barretts’ place, Dalton still had so many moments where he felt off-balance, or nights when he couldn’t sleep alone in his quiet room, without the sound of his unit all around. He even missed the strange comfort of the rigid routines that defined his life while serving.
But something in Grayson’s eyes was different—haunted and hungry. Dalton figured that if they got alone, he might start talking.
