Lauren swatted at him. “Be nice,” she hissed.
Ethan gave her a fake who-me look that had Lauren grinding her teeth. She still hadn’t found her center and her nerves were a half-inch away from frying.
A while later, they’d eaten a Christmas feast. Foster hadn’t looked up from his phone for longer than thirty seconds. His behavior mortified Lauren. Her family did their best to be joyful, despite his rudeness.
After washing the last platter, she stomped into the dining room and shoved his shoulder. “It’s time to go to the sing-along at the park. Are you coming?”
His eyes lit up. “You bet.”
Taken aback by his sudden excitement, she blinked several times. “Well, you’d better bundle up; it can get cold.” She left him there, still miffed by the cold shoulder he’d given her family.
“But I’m too full.” Collin stomped his snow boot. “Can you carry me?”
Ethan knelt in front of him and held out his coat. “Santa will be there.”
Santa lead the music every year. Lauren smiled at the memories of standing next to a barrel fire to stay warm while the jolly old elf shook sleigh bells to keep time.
“He already gave me presents,” Collin said, testing the waters. The old I know when you are sleeping, I know when you’re awake, argument lost its power once the gifts appeared under the tree.
Lauren giggled. “Tonight isn’t about presents. It’s about spending time with people you love.”
Collin narrowed his eyes. “Is he coming?” He pointed at Foster, who was scanning a text.
Lauren nodded seriously. “Of course.”
“I don’t like him,” Collin announced.
Ethan scooped him up. “Okay. We are going to get dressed in the family room.” He tossed Lauren an apologetic look. Maybe he should have set a better example for his kid and not teased her about Foster all evening long. Of course, most of it was silent–a look or a nudge under the table–but still. Collin was smart and picked up on the overall awkward feeling in the room.
Lauren shrugged in reply. It wasn’t like Foster had gone out of his way to make friends with her nephew. He should have, but he didn’t. She drew in a breath. Children weren’t in Foster’s wheelhouse. Raised by nannies and an only child to boot, his education had taken priority in his life–even at an early age. She couldn’t imagine the pressure he’d been under as his parents pushed him to get straight A’s at eight-year-old. At eight, she was running through sprinklers in the backyard.
Foster leaned over and kissed her head. “I’m so excited for tonight–aren’t you?”
She cocked her head as she considered him. His eyes were bright like he had a secret, and he was suddenly completely engaged at the moment. Maybe he was stressed out by work and overloaded. “Yeah. I mean, I always look forward to caroling.”
He nodded as he shoved a stocking hat on his head. “It’ll be a night we’ll remember forever. Our first Christmas!” He kissed her again.
She shook off all the doubts and worries that plagued her throughout the afternoon. Work had distracted him, but he was here now–being the wonderful guy she’d fallen in love with.
“Ready?” Dad asked as he and Mom slid on their gloves. They’d gotten dressed in their room.
“We are.” Ethan appeared with Collin on his shoulders. It looked like the kid got his wish to be carried.
Mom threw open the door, and he had to duck to avoid knocking Collin to the floor. Collin giggled and hung onto Ethan’s forehead with his mitten-clad hands.
“Come on!” he called back to the adults. “We’ll miss it!”
“Right behind you, kid.” Foster tugged Lauren through the door, and Mom and Dad followed behind. Just as they reached the sidewalk, the Morris’s door opened, and Jacob and his mom stepped out.
Lauren sucked in a lungful of cold air at the sight of just Jacob and his mother alone for Christmas. The house used to be full of chaos and love. Her heart dipped in sympathy at the dark windows. Where were his brothers and sisters? They should be here for Christmas.
“What’s the matter?” asked Foster, shaking her hand to get her attention.
She cleared her throat. “My neighbor’s husband passed away.” She pointed ahead of them to where Jacob and Mrs. Morris joined Ethan and Collin. “It feels like there’s a hole, shaped like Mr. Morris, walking next to them.”
Foster put his arm around her and pulled her to his side. “The holidays bring out your tender side, don’t they?”
She nodded. Though it wasn’t so much the holiday as it was Jacob Morris.
