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“They’rediamonds.”
“Small ones,” I say again, watching her reaction, reading her face in the glow of the tree lights.
“They’re perfect. They’re too much.”
“They aren’t. I’ve wanted to give you something for so long. Something that says how I feel—”
“And diamonds are how you feel?”
More than she knows. If I didn’t think she’d black out on me, there would be a ring inside that box. “Yes. Diamonds are how I feel.” I swallow. “I love you, Annie.”
She blinks, her makeup-less, tired eyes finding mine. “You might have mentioned that.” She grins.
“One more,” I tell her, handing her the wrapped framed photo.
Annie undoes the paper, glancing up at me once or twice while she does so. Her eyes blink and water when she looks down at the photo of the two of us. We look so right together—she sees that, doesn’t she?
“This is…” She shakes her head. “Really sweet, Owen.”
A light in the kitchen comes on behind us before I can really gauge her thoughts.
Kayla stands in her robe, her brown hair tousled. She sighs. “Every single year,” she says, staring at her sleeping sons beneath the tree.
“Every year? They were babies just a couple years ago.”
“Well, that’s true,” she says, walking over with a mug in her hands. She doesn’t even seem fazed to see me at her house at five thirty in the morning. “Here.” She hands me a warm mug of black coffee and then heads back for another.
“Thanks again, O.”
“Thanks?” Kayla says. She holds two mugs this time and passes one off to Annie.
“You know, you could have warned me that they get up in the night. They scared me to death.”
“And spoil the fun? No way.” She lifts her chin. “Thanks for what?”
Annie clears her throat, fingering back a lock of her hair. “Um, my Christmas gift.”
“Oh, yeah? Tim always gets me a new kitchen gadget. You know—so I can cook for him. If I didn’t love that man so darn much, I’d give it right back to him as his own gift.” She sighs. “He means well.”
“I’m sure he does,” I say, unsure how to respond.
“So, let’s see it.” Kayla waves her free hand toward Annie.
Annie lifts the small pink box and says loudly, “Earrings!”
Little Steve stirs on the ground beside me.
“And this.” She hands Kayla the framed photo.
Kayla’s brows arch. “Sweet. I knew you were a keeper, Owen.”
Annie blinks ten times too many at her sister’s comment.
“I’ve been telling Annie that for years.”
“Kayla.” Annie growls.
“What? He bought you diamonds, Annie. I’m getting a pasta-making attachment for my mixer.” She lifts one shoulder. “I peeked.”
