“Then we should have our dinner so we’re ready when she gets here.” Megan tried to hide her unease over the situation, but it hung in her words, and Reid arched an eyebrow. She ignored him and returned to the oven to remove dinner.
“Go wash up, Ella,” she called out.
Ella went down the hall, and Reid joined Megan. “I’m sorry. I didn’t ask if you were okay with this.”
“I’m fine.” She pulled the roasted chicken from the oven and set it on the stovetop.
“No, you’re not. Something’s bothering you.”
“It’s nothing.” She reached for a large spoon to remove the vegetables from the pan.
He placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face him. “What is it?”
She didn’t want to tell him.
“I’m not letting you go until you tell me.”
“Fine,” she said. “I’m worried about how Ella will feel when you and Jessie are no longer part of our lives.” She paused to swallow the lump that had formed in her throat. “She’s been lonely for her father and wants to be a family. You’re so nice to her, and I think she’s wishing you could be there for her all the time.”
“I’m pretty sure it’s not me in particular.”
Megan wasn’t so sure. Maybe because she wasn’t positive she didn’t want Reid around all the time herself, and she wasn’t about to share that thought with him.
“You should wash up for dinner too.” She pulled away from him and got a bowl from the cupboard.
He didn’t move, but she didn’t turn to see what he was doing. Instead, she spooned the potatoes, carrots, and onions into the bowl. He finally went to the sink in the island, and the water gurgled into the sink. She took the bowl to the table, and Ella skipped down the hallway. No matter how much Megan was worried about Ella or herself getting hurt, she would make sure this last night with Reid was a special night for her daughter. And that meant no discussions or thoughts about Reid permanently in their lives. That would have to wait for another day—or better yet, never.
Dinner passed with small talk, at times almost stilted, as Megan tried to shut down any real personal exchange between Ella and Reid. Megan received a few strange glances from him for her effort, but she didn’t bother to explain. He served the brownies with Christmas sprinkles for dessert, and Jessie and Bandit arrived.
Ella raced to the dog and flung her arms around him for a hug then she hugged Jessie. “We’re having brownies. Come have one with us.”
Bandit went to curl up by the fireplace and Ella led Jessie to the table. The conversation changed to her grandparents while they finished dessert.
“So,” Reid said. “What say I get the lights strung on the tree while the three of you clean up from dinner?”
“I’ll do the dishes. Ella and Jessie can help you.”
Ella scooted off her chair and grabbed Reid’s hand. Jessie cocked an eyebrow at the two of them as if she wasn’t sure this was a good thing.
Reid reached out his other hand for her and tugged her close. “Glad to have you home, Bug. I missed you.”
“Missed you too.” She smiled at him, and the three of them crossed the room to the tree.
Megan gathered the dishes and made a few trips to the kitchen. She tried to ignore the trio, but their festive mood was contagious, and she soon found herself watching them, smiling and forgetting all about the dishes.
“Hurry up, Mommy,” Ella called out. “Mr. Reid’s almost done, and we can put the ornaments on.”
Reid caught her gaze, and the intensity of his expression made her self-conscious. She loaded the last few dishes into the dishwasher before moving into the family room.
Reid finished stringing lights and held out the plug. “So who’s going to light it up?”
“Me,” Jessie and Ella said at the same time.
They looked at each other and laughed.
“You can do it,” Jessie said, her eyes holding no disappointment. “I can plug it in other nights, and you’re only here tonight.”
“Thanks, Jess.” Reid winked at his daughter. “You can hang the first ornament.”
