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Wiz laughed, softly. Sam, Deb, and Erin joined them. “What are you laughing about?” Erin asked.
“Oh, Tom is comparing me to an angel. Which is ridiculous.” Wiz smirked.
“I don’t know about that. I can totally see you in white with a pair of wings.” Sam squinted. “No, not pure white. With your coloring, it would look terrible. A nice ivory would be lovely.” She nodded sharply. “Yup, wings it is.”
Tom agreed but didn’t want to put Wiz on the spot. “I was talking about her actions, not what she looks like.” He grinned. But maybe her self-esteem could use another boost. “But you’re absolutely right. She’d look marvelous in a pair of wings. And she’s tiny enough, I could pick her up and perch her on the top of the tree there, no problem.” He didn’t have long to wonder how she’d react to his teasing. She hauled back a fist and socked him in the arm, hard. “Dang, woman, that hurt!” Tom rubbed his arm.
“Serves you right.”
“I have no doubt about your ability to defend yourself without a weapon in sight.” Tom rotated his shoulder, flexing his arm. “That’s going to hurt tomorrow when I’m feeding the cows.”
“Then maybe you’ll remember not to belittle the mighty Wiz!” Deb raised her arms high.
Wiz jumped to her feet in a Superman pose. “That’s right. I’m a superhero, not a useless tree-sitting angel.”
Tom smirked. “I was thinking more of the angels who smite evil-doers with fire and the sword, but superhero it is.”
“Oh, well, that’s different. If it’s a smiting angel, Wiz is definitely one.” Ryan swung an imaginary sword.
“Who won?” Erin asked.
Craig poked his chest with a thumb. “I did. Of course. Pilot here, not one of you mortal beings. Me and Wiz can go hang in the clouds together, far away from you dirt huggers.”
“Yeah? Well, let me know how that works out for you, trying to sleep on clouds, while I’m curled up on the comfy couch in front of the fire.” Amy raised her brows. “Not that your head will fit through the front door anymore.”
Tom smiled at the circle of people surrounding him. Wiz had built herself a great family, and he was really lucky to be a part of it. Now, if he could just manage to play a little bigger part in that family, it would be perfect. He joined the rest, teasing Craig.
Within an hour, the party wound down. Erin, Ryan, and Deb left first, so they’d be up for the after Christmas coffee-and-treats rush. Dad left with Deb, saying he was exhausted, which was probably true. Extreme emotions were tiring, even when they were happy. Amy, Craig, and Sam were next. Tom rose, pulling Sam’s coat from the entryway and helping her into it while Craig got Amy’s.
“You’re taking what’s left of the roast back with you.” Wiz pointed at him.
“Why don’t you keep it for sandwiches, Wiz?”
She shook her head. “Because it would take me a month to eat it all.”
Amy picked up her bowl. “Wiz, sorry to interrupt, but we need to get going. Got a dog to feed. Thanks again for having us.”
“You’re welcome. I’m glad you could come.”
Sam waved. “Bye, Wiz, thanks!”
Wiz closed the door behind them. She turned away, crooking her finger over her shoulder.
He followed her into the kitchen, grinning. She trusted him enough to have him at her back—real progress. She picked up their platter, covered in foil, and she pushed it into his hands.
He took it. Dad would never forgive him if he dropped his grandmother’s platter. “All right, I guess I don’t have a choice. Did you keep some for yourself?”
She nodded. “Yes, I did. And I gave some to everyone else. So, you get the rest. The two of you probably eat four times what I do. And you brought it.”
He had to give in gracefully, not that he had any choice. He carried it to the front entry and handed it back to Wiz so he could get his coat and hat on. Gripping the antique firmly, he left Wiz’s house, turning back after he dropped one step. He was still taller than she was but wasn’t looming, he hoped. “Thanks for having us. It was fun, and you definitely made this the best Christmas Dad and I have had for a long time.”
“Like I said, Tom, this is the very best Christmas I’ve ever had. If anyone owes thanks, it’s me.” Wiz put her hand over his, holding the roast, rose on her toes, and brushed a kiss across his lips. She twirled and sprinted into the house, the door closing behind her. He stared at the door until his fingertips tingled from the cold. He turned and put the roast on the passenger seat of their side-by-side ATV. He put it in drive and laughed, loud and hard, then grinned the whole way home. There was hope—he’d gotten a real kiss.
Tom didn’t stop grinning until he fell asleep. And maybe not then.
Chapter 14
Not bothering to read it, Wiz saved her ex-husband’s email in the harassment folder she shared with her lawyer and blocked Jeff’s new email address. She’d already blocked his phone number. Take, take, take, that’s all he did. She’d had more than enough. If he truly believed he deserved some additional consideration, he could talk to her lawyer. He’d quickly find out he deserved less than nothing, legally and morally. But she was successful, so he kept bothering her. But she didn’t have to fight him personally—she paid her lawyer to do that for her.
