AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Theodore?" I asked softly.
"My wife would have had a field day here. We mostly went to the outdoor market and the Christmas parade on the Magnificent Mile. She would have liked us being here. And she would have liked you very much."
"Thank you." I put my hands on my chest. I was truly moved. "That's very kind of you to say." I looked over my shoulder to see if Dom was within earshot, but he and Dora were nowhere in sight.
"Where did they disappear to?" I asked. "They were right here seconds ago."
"I think Dora said something about buying mulled wine. She was probably fed up with my sunny personality."
I bumped his arm with my elbow. "I have to say, you're behaving well today."
"I'm doing my best."
"Now, what do you say about taking a few more selfies?" I asked him, taking out my phone.
He laughed, smiling into the camera, and I snapped a few pics. We had an inordinate amount of fun being silly in the igloo. There was plenty of room in here, so we didn’t have to hurry at all, and I loved making Theodore laugh.
"Someone's cheerful enough that they don't even need a mulled wine anymore," Dora said.
When I glanced up, I saw she and Dom were each holding two cups. I immediately took mine and sipped it, enjoying the warmth and spices.
I sniffed the air. "I'm smelling roasted almonds or peanuts with honey or something."
Dom looked at Dora. "I told you she'd realize we'd bought some before she even saw them." He took a paper cone from his pocket.
"Oh! Give me that!" In my excitement, I nearly spilled my mulled wine on me.
"Careful, Reese. Don't burn yourself, babe," he said.
I nearly melted. He'd called me "babe" right in front of his dad.
He opened the cone, and I snagged a few treats. They were nuts glazed with honey, cinnamon, and vanilla powder.
"These are good," I said after swallowing my mouthful. "And they go so well with that mulled wine."
"It was worth getting out of the house just for this," Theodore exclaimed.
I took small sips from my cup, alternating with eating a few nuts.
"They do go well together," Dora exclaimed.
"I know, right?" I said, grinning.
Once he finished his drink, Theodore said, "Dora, I think that's our cue. Let's go home and leave these two to enjoy the rest of the day."
"What? No. You can stay with us for as long as you want," I told him sincerely. But I knew there would be no convincing him. The way he held his head high reminded me of the way Dom looked when he’d already made up his mind.
"All right, then. Theodore, let's go," Dora said in her no-nonsense way.
I couldn't help myself and gave Theodore a hug.
He hugged me right back. "Take care of him, will you?" he said.
"I will. I promise," I murmured so only he could hear me. But Dom looked at me with narrowed eyes when I straightened up.
After we bid Theodore and Dora goodbye and they left, he turned me around so I was facing him. "What did he tell you?"
"That's a secret between him and me."
