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Knox’s face filled with understanding. “I didn’t mean to make you feel that way.”
I shook my head. “You didn’t.”
He nodded toward Addy. “I wanted to make her smile.”
“I was worried she was bothering you when you worked on the neighbor’s lawn.” A couple of weeks ago, Addy was home with a day off from school, and Knox was next door, working on flower beds along the fence line. Addy talked to him through the fence, but I didn’t say anything because it was only for a few minutes.
“Talking to her was the highlight of my day.”
That made me pause because Addy’s father went months without seeing her, and he never said he missed her and wanted to see her. But this man, a stranger to us, enjoyed her company. “Ever since she was a baby, I called her my sunshine because she brightens everything around her.”
Knox nodded. “I think so, too.”
I blinked away the unexpected sting of tears, unsure how to deal with this unexpected kindness and revelation.
The rest of his brothers said their goodbyes, and I thanked them for their help.
When they were gone, Addy asked Knox, “Would you like some hot chocolate?”
“I’m sure Knox has other places he needs to be.” He could have someone waiting for him at home, or maybe even a date. Just because my life was ruled by the elementary school schedule didn’t mean this man didn’t have a life.
“I’d love some,” Knox surprised me by saying.
“See, Mommy?”
I unlocked the door, and Addy stepped inside.
I hung back for a second to talk to him. “Seriously, you don’t have to hang out with us. I’m sure you’re busy.”
“I don’t have anywhere else to be. I’d love to spend more time with Addy and you.”
My cheeks heated. I’d secretly crushed on him when he was a nameless man who worked on various yards in the neighborhood. It was safe to have naughty thoughts about the way his muscles stretched the cotton of his T-shirt. I never thought I’d talk to him or that he’d be walking inside my house.
I followed him into the kitchen and pulled out the ingredients for hot chocolate. Addy piled toppings on the kitchen table, mini marshmallows, and candy cane shavings, and she grabbed the whipped cream from the fridge.
I heated the milk on the stove while Addy explained her favorite choices for toppings.
“I’ll have to try that,” Knox said, his deep voice resonating around the small space. I couldn’t remember the last time I had a man in the house who wasn’t my father.
When my ex, Gary, visited, he met Addy outside by his car and took her out for dinner or to the playground. He never came inside. He sent a check for child support every month but never asked how we were doing or if we needed any help or anything else. But then again, I wasn’t his concern, and he’d done his duty if he paid the child support.
“Do you have a Christmas tree yet?” Knox asked Addy.
Addy frowned. “Not yet. Mommy said we’ll go to the lot when we have time.”
My heart pinched. There never seemed to be enough time. I was always putting her off about something. Then there was the issue of how I’d get a real tree into the house. “We have a fake tree we could put up.”
Knox rested his palm against his chest. “First you said you were getting a tree from a lot, and then you said you had a fake tree. I can’t believe you’d say that to me.”
My forehead wrinkled. “Why?”
“My family owns Monroe Christmas Tree Farm.”
“I didn’t realize,” I said at the same time as Addy gushed, “You own a Christmas tree farm?”
“My family does. My brothers and I run it with our mother.” A hint of sadness raced across his expression, but it was gone before I could even register what it was about.
“Will you take me there?” Addy asked.
