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“Toodles!” I called out as I swept past her and made my way to the lobby.
The moment I saw Aiden, the tightness in my chest eased.
He leaned down and kissed me. “Everything okay? You look tense.”
“I ran into Nancy, but everything’s perfect.”
He groaned. “Let me guess. She told you I’ll get bored with you.”
“Yep. And that she was patiently waiting in the wings.”
“She’s going to be waiting there forever.”
I chuckled. “Let’s go. I’m starving.”
“Someone told me there’s a pot of Emma’s famous chili at the house,” Lance said.
“Dad, you’ve never had her chili, so how do you know it’s famous?” Aiden asked as Lance swung Hadley up onto his shoulders before we walked out into the frigid night air.
“I’m sorry, son, have younoteaten any of her food?”
Patty laughed. “Hadley, sweetheart, are you riding with your daddy and Emma or us?”
Hadley looked at Patty and covered her mouth to keep from giggling. “You and Papa.”
I gave Aiden a questioning look, and he shrugged.
Once we were in the truck, Aiden mentioned he needed to make a quick stop for gas.
Nodding absently, I said, “I have to tell you, I’ve never been so happy in my entire life, Aiden. I don’t think this year could get any better.”
Aiden turned the truck on and put it in drive. “Really? And what’s made it the bestest year ever?”
“Well,” I said, chuckling at his use of Hadley’s favorite word. “You and Hadley are the major reason for my happiness. And now, being able to play with the symphony? It’s a dream come true.”
He reached for my hand. “Emma, you were amazing tonight. And I know you’re exhausted after five nights in a row of playing. That Beethoven song tonight, was that planned?”
“It was. Doug thought, with most people in the crowd just there to listen to Christmas music, if we could play one piece that might move them to come to non-holiday performances, it was worth giving it a shot.”
Aiden grinned. “Well, you moved me, and I know plenty of others who now want to hear more. You should have heard the people talking about your playing. I was so proud, and so were Hadley and my parents.”
“Thank you, Aiden. Thank you so much for supporting me and letting me give Hadley lessons. She’s so good already, a total natural, and I think she’ll be playing better than me in no time.”
The smile he wore made my heart trip over itself. There was nothing sexier than a father who loved his daughter.
After stopping for gas, Aiden said, “I’ve got one more stop.”
A few minutes later, I frowned when we pulled into a store parking lot. “What are we doing? Nothing’s open, Aiden. It’s Christmas Eve.”
“Dalton needed to give me a report on the roads in the park.”
“Oh,” I said, as I belatedly noticed Dalton’s truck. I waved. He had his window rolled down, and he waved back. Turning my attention to my phone, I pulled up an app to see if the gift I’d ordered for Aiden had been delivered today. I sighed in relief when I saw it had been. I quickly texted Patty and asked her to put it in my apartment so Aiden wouldn’t see it.
After a few minutes, Aiden came running back to the truck. He jumped in and shook his body. “Brrr. Man, it is cold outside.”
“Aiden, look! It’s starting to snow. I’ve never seen it snow on Christmas Eve. Or Christmas Day.”
“Stay with us tonight.”
