“But we just…”
He raised a hand. “It doesn’t matter that you had time off recently. Let me worry about the ranch. You worry about your boy. Deal?”
I nodded slowly, an idea forming. "Yeah. Yeah, I think I know what to do."
When the others dispersed to their various tasks, I found Tanner in the living room, his coloring book open on the coffee table and his new snack container beside him. He'd already opened the goldfish crackers and was munching on them absently as he colored.
"Hey, bud," I said, settling onto the couch beside him.
"Mm?" He didn't look up, focused on staying inside the lines.
"What do you say we do something fun today? Just you and me?"
That got his attention. He set down his colored pencil and turned to look at me. "Like what?"
"How do you feel about building a snowman?"
His eyes went wide. "Really? You want to build a snowman with me?"
"Really. Unless you'd rather stay inside and color?—"
"No!" He scrambled to his feet, suddenly full of energy. "I want to build a snowman! I haven't done that since I was a kid!"
"Then let's do it." I stood and ruffled his hair. "Go get bundled up. Meet me outside in ten minutes."
He practically ran for the stairs, and I heard his excited footsteps overhead as he changed into warmer clothes.
Corey appeared from the kitchen, smirking. "Building a snowman, huh?"
"He needs to play," I said simply. "When's the last time he did something just for fun? Something that doesn't have a purpose beyond enjoying it?"
"Probably never, knowing him." His expression softened. "You're good for him, Simon. Real good."
"He's good for me too," I admitted. "Better than I deserve."
"Bullshit. You both deserve each other." Corey clapped me on the shoulder. "Now go build your snowman. I'll tell Harlan to make hot chocolate for when you come back in."
Outside, the world was white and pristine. The latest snowfall had left everything covered in a fresh blanket, perfect for snowman building.
Tanner came bounding out a few minutes later, wrapped in his coat and scarf and hat—all the items from his Secret Santa. His cheeks were already pink from the cold, and his eyes were bright with excitement.
"Where should we build it?" he asked, looking around like he was surveying potential real estate.
"How about over there?" I pointed to a spot near the fence where we'd be visible from the house but out of the way of the main paths.
"Perfect!"
We started rolling snow, forming the base of our snowman. Tanner threw himself into the task with childlike enthusiasm, laughing when the snowball got too big to push and we had to work together to move it.
"Okay, now the middle part," he said, already starting on a new snowball.
I watched him work, watched the way he bit his lip in concentration and the way his whole body moved with the effort. He looked free. Unburdened. Exactly how he should always look.
We built our snowman together, adding sticks for arms and finding pebbles for eyes and a mouth. Tanner raided Harlan'sgarden for a carrot nose, and we used an old scarf we found in the barn to complete the look.
"He's perfect," Tanner declared, stepping back to admire our work.
"He is," I agreed, though I was looking at Tanner, not the snowman.
