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“I found it.” Callie sat on the floor behind me, surrounded by boxes of ornaments and lights.
I set Teddy on the floor. The second his feet touched the ground, he darted for Tina, who was sitting on the sofa and holding out another bulb for him. Callie held up a heart-shaped ornament. It was decorated with an American flag and had an engraving set in the middle.
“Where do you want to put it?” I asked, assessing the tree and the shit ton of ornaments already adorning it. Most were clustered in about four or five spots.
She’d gotten agitated when we hadn’t come across the special memorial ornament they had gotten for Levi last Christmas. Luckily, we’d encouraged her to take her time sorting through the boxes, and that task had deescalated the situation.
“At the top.”
I nodded. “Want me to lift you up?”
“Yeah.”
I’d officially moved in the week before Thanksgiving, so we were all adjusting to our new normal. Callie had questions when we’d told her the plan. The biggest was about whether we’d get married. Myyeswas swift and sure. If I had it my way, we would be married by the summer.
Callie found the perfect place for the ornament, and when it was hung to her satisfaction, I set her back on her feet.
“Mom, where’d you put the”—she peered over at me quickly, then turned back to Tina—“otherone?”
I held back a sigh. The number of ornaments already on the tree was ridiculous. How many more could they possibly have? I cringed as Teddy hung a third bulb in the same spot at the front of the tree. At this rate, the whole thing was going to topple over.
“It’s in my closet. I’ll get it.”
When she returned, she handed Callie a small bag.
“We got you one too,” Callie said. She held her arm out, the handles of the package dangling from her fingers.
I knelt in front of her and pulled out the tissue-wrapped object. Inside was an ambulance ornament, personalized with my name on it.
“I thought you might like one for your new job,” Callie added shyly.
“I love it.” I’d spent the month of October getting the rest of my continuing ed credits knocked out. Then I’d renewed my certification, and a month ago, I’d officially started my new position as a paramedic with Half Moon Lake’s fire department. “Thank you.”
She bolted forward and wrapped her arms around my neck. I swallowed thickly and held her tight, soaking in the affection. From the day I’d returned from New York, she’d been okay with my presence in her home. Tina had talked with her at length, and there had been a few hiccups. Even so, I’d let her lead, never pushing or expecting any more than she was willing to give. I wanted our relationship and whatever my role was in her life to develop naturally.
She pulled back with a smile. “I’m happy you’re part of our family.”
My heart pinched, and I had to clear the lump from my throat before I could speak. “Me too, Callie.”
I stood, and Callie turned back to the boxes of ornaments. Still perched on the couch, Tina was smiling wide.
This small interaction only made me feel more confident about my plan to ask Tina to marry me. I already had the ring. Now it was time to decide when and how I’d do it.
When the tree was done, the kids had begged to watchThe Polar Express. So we’d set them up with bowls of popcorn and turned it on.
“I hate that I have to leave you guys tonight,” I said, wrapping my arms around her waist and resting my chin on top of her head as we stood next to the kitchen island, watching the kids.
“I know. But the great thing about a night shift is that we’ll get to spend most of tomorrow together.”
I shook my head and chuckled. There she was, looking onthe bright side again. Only she wasn’t taking into account that I would need to sleep when I got home. Regardless, I was looking forward to tonight. My buddy Owen was on shift as well. He was the one who’d given me the tour of the firehouse and attached EMS station. We’d been fast friends. He always had a hilarious story to tell about his pregnant girlfriend and the demon cat that had brought them together.
The whole crew was easy to be around. All but Owen’s friend Jay. He was a cranky son of a bitch, but I wasn’t holding that against him. I had been one of those too until a few months ago.
But now, I was where I was meant to be, and every day, I had a reason to smile.
Epilogue
TINA
