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“Oh, so now it’s something I owe you.”
“Absolutely.”
“I’ll let Millie know she’s got her first student then.”
She pursed her lips, rolling her head to look at me.
I chuckled, watching as the snow began to fall a little heavier. “She’s a wonderful teacher for a beginner.”
“Well, no kissing then.” She crossed her arms as we rounded a bend, and my cabin-like home came into view. The stone steps were dusted lightly with fresh snow, the icicles growing with each passing day, and they sparkled in the moonlight.
“I sure hope there’s no kissing, she’s only four.” I winked, pulling the Razor to a stop and threw it in park.
“I’m talking for you, mister,” she grumbled, quickly jumping out of the side-by-side.
“What? Why not?” Climbing out, we slowly began walking up the stone steps toward my house, making sure to not slip and fall. So close to a night of peace and quiet.
She clicked her tongue, jumping onto the porch before swinging to face me. With the most deadpanned, annoyed look I’d seen from her yet. My grin widened as I twisted the handle to my front door and laughed, a soft belly laugh. It felt so nice, so lighthearted compared to the anguish that had been rolling around within me just a moment ago.
At least for the moment, I could tuck that away in a box and simply be with Tenley. Forget about everything else, about all things that needed mending, perhaps only possible by a little Christmas magic that I was beginning to believe there was.
Holding the door open for Tenley, she stuck up her nose while walking past into my home. As she kicked off her black shoes and placed them neatly beside my row of boots in the entranceway, she refused to make eye contact.
Even when she wandered into the kitchen, flicking on a light switch, she sat down on the barstool without acknowledging me. I let the front door softly swing closed, watching as she continued to not move.
The clock on the wall in my living room ticked loudly, filling the silence as I leaned up against the doorframe, watching her back. Slowly, she reached up and slid the beanie from her head, revealing hair that stood up in every direction. I loved it, and chuckled at the sight.
This she spun around at and glared at me, though her eyes sparkled with humor.
Sighing, she finally let the charade end and slid down from the barstool.
“I’ll teach you to ride, if that’s what you want,” I drawled, and she smiled.
“I know.” She walked my way and rocked on her tiptoes, placing a gentle kiss against my lips. “Now—”
A knock pounded on the door, cutting her off.
“Seriously?” I muttered under my breath.
She blinked, wide-eyed, frantically scanning the room. “I should hide!” she quietly blurted out.
“Go downstairs. You can shower or whatever, and I’ll get whoever this is to leave with me. I’ll be back as soon as the lights are up,” I replied, and she nodded.
Knuckles rapped against the wooden door again.
“Go,” I whispered, nodding to the stairs on my left. She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and then quickly disappeared.
Taking a deep breath, a little frustrated, I turned around and opened the door.
Keaton.
“Hi,” his voice was super quiet, his cheeks rosy red.
A taller shadow danced in the distance, slowly approaching. I glanced over my nephew’s head to watch the shape eventually form into solid lines of a figure I knew all too well. Cash.
“What’s up, buddy?” I asked Keaton as his dad approached.
“I just… I was wondering… Are we still doing the lights? If not, I have to go to bed.” he cautiously asked as my best friend and Pearl’s husband, Cash, stopped on the bottom porch step.
