“I’m glad.”
She gave me a warm hug and stood, heading to the Christmasween tree. I still laughed every time I looked at the Christmas-and-Halloween-infused tree.
“Doodle, you didn’t have to get me anything.”
She scowled. “Oh, stop that. Here, open it.” She thrust the present on my lap.
When I opened the box, my smile was warm and genuine. “Kaia, it’s stunning.” She had gotten me a gorgeous necklace with a sunflower attached to the golden chain. White diamonds sparkled in the middle of the sunflower. It stole my breath away.
“You like it? It’s not too much? I just saw it and immediately thought of you. I know it’s your favorite flower, and I call you sunny, and?—”
I cut off her rambling with a kiss. This woman was absolutely special. I pulled us apart and smiled at her flushed cheeks. “You’re perfect… it’s perfect, I mean. Thank you, seriously.” She had this gleam in her eyes, but I got up to get her another present before I could contemplate it any further.
We exchanged a few more small presents. Socks, Ipad and phone covers, even some books we’d both wanted, before giving Duke his gifts. My heart grew about four more sizes when Kaia presented him with his own stocking, filled with toys and treats, and patted him on his head, whispering something I couldn’t see.
When she returned to the couch, I had her last gift in my lap and a question on the tips of my fingers. “What did you say to him?”
She blushed and shook her head. I grabbed her chin and turned her head so she had to look at me. I gave her a pleading look and she blew out a breath.
“I told him Merry Christmas, that I love him, and I thanked him for taking care of you. That you are very special to me, and I appreciate him.”
I bit my lip, not out of desire but out of determination to keep a sob from breaking free. Kaia was one of the sweetest people I’d ever known, and the love and adoration she showed my dog warmed my heart more than I could’ve ever known.
I didn’t know what to say to that, honestly. I should’ve told her she was special to me and I couldn’t find the words to express just how much. I hadn’t realized how much until this moment.
“Here. The last one,” was all I said instead, smiling with complete affection for the woman sitting next to me and tracing circles on my leg as we exchanged gifts.
She took the gift, and our fingers brushed, causing my breath to catch slightly. The warmth of her touch spread throughout my whole body.
I impatiently watched her take her time to remove the bow and ribbons like they were the most precious things in the world. She laid them on the table and unwrapped the gift, revealing the matte black box underneath.
She opened the box and stopped to look at me. “Daisy, you got me a necklace with my initials on it? It’s beautiful.” She smiled.
“Open it,” I said, motioning to the locket.
She looked at me with her brow furrowed and did as I suggested, picking up the necklace. She traced her initials and threw me a soft smile before opening it. Her hand came up to cover her mouth.
“If you don’t like it, I can return it. I just saw it and thought it would be perfect. I’m sorry if I overstepped.”
She said nothing as she shook her head, tears falling from her eyes. I patiently waited for her response. For her to tell me she hated it and I had no right, or to tell me she loved it. Both options made me nervous.
Finally, she wiped her tears and seemed to gather herself, although the tears kept falling. “Daisy, I don’t know what to say. This is the most thoughtful thing anyone has ever given me. You didn’t overstep; you stepped just right. You got me a meaningful gift that I can never repay you for. You got me a locket with pictures of my mom and dad side by side.”
I smiled. “I did. I thought you’d want to carry them wherever you went. You see the stone on the top that’s filled with something?”
She looked closer and nodded. “Yeah, what is that?”
I looked at her, nervous to admit, “It’s your dad, Kaia. I thought?—”
She cut me off with a press of her lips against mine. I felt her tears against my face, and I took the moment as a sign she wasn’t upset with me.
When she pulled back, I wiped her tears away and kissed her forehead. “Do you like it? I wasn’t sure how you’d take it, but I wanted to do something to show you how much you mean to me, Kaia.”
Her smile was nothing short of affectionate. “It’s amazing, Daisy. I absolutely love it. I can’t believe you did this for me. Not only do I havea picture of each of them but I now have a piece of him with me at all times. I cannot thank you enough.”
“Your smile is all the thanks I need. I’m glad you like it. Are you hungry? I can make us an actual breakfast.”
She took my hands in hers and gently caressed my thumbs, giving me the warmest look I’d ever gotten from her. She mouthed,Thank you, before leaning in for a kiss. I was all too happy to give in, and when our lips touched, I disjointed our hands and wrapped mine around her, pulling her closer to me.
