Is Ronan coming over tonight? I want to show him my nails. And Hazel is giving me some glitter polish so I can do his.
I laugh. Ronan will let her do it. I know he will. But I’d bet he has no idea how hard it is getting glitter nail polish off. He’s going to have flecks of glitter on his nails for days.
Yes, he’s coming over. We’re going to have grilled cheese and tomato soup, and watch Christmas Vacation.
The three dots on the screen blink briefly.
I can’t wait!
Then another message comes in.
Hazel has the games all ready. I have to go. Love you.
I smile at the screen.
Love you too, Hale.
As I look at our text exchange, the same contentment I felt earlier sweeps over me.
Things are good. Really good.
I have a wonderful daughter. A great boyfriend. A job I enjoy. It’s almost Christmas, with all the festivities and traditions that come with it. And before I know it, I’ll be entering a new year filled with possibilities I didn’t dare hope for before.
Oh, and I can’t forget about Hazel. My lovely friend who never gave up on her matchmaking skills even when I insisted I wasn’t interested. “I know I’m not a single mom,” she told me a while back, “but I understand how it feels, thinking that love isn’t a possibility. But there it was. Right here in Bliss. With someone I’d known for years. Maybe the same thing will happen to you, Angel. You never know unless you try.”
Back then, I didn’t put much credence to her words. But now? I’m realizing there might have been something to them.
Now that I’m thinking about Hazel, I shoot off a quick text.
I hope Haley’s being good. If she gets to be too much, you can always bring her to Blissful Brews. She can do homework there until I’m done.
While I wait for Hazel to respond, I walk over to the mirror on the back of the coat closet and give myself a cursory glance. From the neck down, everything looks normal—skid resistant shoes, jeans, and a green long-sleeved shirt with Blissful Brews printed across it. But when I look at my face, there’s a glow to it. There’s a spark in my eyes.
I look happy. Just as I feel.
Haley’s great! Don’t worry. We’re going to play Jenga using the rules Alec’s friends came up with. Well. Not the drinking ones. But the others. And then I thought I’d take her to Barks n’ Bliss to play with the dogs. Rory said they just got some puppies that are super cute.
I try to take Haley to the shelter once a month or so to play with the dogs, so I know Haley will be thrilled by the impromptu visit. I tell Hazel that, along with thanking her profusely for taking Haley. I wrap it up by reminding Hazel that I’m always around if she needs anything.
Who knows,Hazel replies vaguely.Maybe one day you’ll be returning the favor.
Her comment gets my curiosity going.
Are Hazel and Alec trying? She told me a few months ago that they wanted to take time just to enjoy each other. After everything she’d been through with her ex, and then those awful men from her video game, I didn’t blame her. But now…
Maybe theyaretrying. Maybe they’re even pregnant right now. And I’ll get to be Aunt Angel, and Haley will want to babysit when she’s older, and what if Ronan and I end up having a baby and it grows up with Alec and Hazel’s?—
I shake my head at myself. Years of trying to be practical, and now my imagination takes off at the drop of a hat.
I glance back at my phone to see it’s ten-thirty. Which means I have fifteen more minutes to kill before I leave for work. Normally, I’d be glad for the time to myself. But after spending all night and part of the morning with Ronan, I’m not enjoying the alone time as much as I used to.
Casting my gaze around the room, my attention slows as it passes over the cabinet that houses my infrequently-used art supplies. With a wry laugh, I amend that. More like almost-never-used. I think about getting them out occasionally, but there never seems to be time for it.
Maybe this year, though.
I walk over to the cabinet and open the door. Inside are neat stacks of paints and pencils and charcoal and pastels. My eyes are drawn to the pencils, and an image of Murphy racing across the snow comes to mind. The snow would be tipped with shades of blue and silver and yellow. Murphy’s deep red coat would be touched with bronze and gold. And I’d make the sky a bright blue, with a few wispy clouds floating across it.
Then I imagine Ronan getting the drawing for Christmas. First, his eyes would go wide with surprise. Then, as he realizes what it is, his expression brightens. A pleased smile curves his lips.
