AllFreeNovel
Share Us
This wouldn’t be her first Christmas without her mom.Sylvia had missed a couple in her life due to drugs and depression.However, it would be the first one with her mother gone.I wanted to make sure it was special.One she would have fond memories of and cherish years from now.Clearly, Wilder needed help with that.
“This is so exciting!I can’t believe you’re here.I was sad all day, and then you drove up.It’s the best day ever.”
I reached over and squeezed her hand.I felt the same.Anytime I was with her was the best day ever.
“Other than me showing up, tell me something good that happened today,” I said.
She was quiet for a minute.“Um … they had pizza in the cafeteria.”
I glanced at her before pulling out onto the main street.“Pepperoni?”
She nodded.
“That counts!”I agreed.
“What all are we gonna do while Dad is gone?”she asked, literally bouncing in her seat.
I started to list off all the things I had bought, the goodies we were going to make, and the movies I had brought for us to watch.She giggled with pure delight.By the time we pulled into the driveway of their house, I had almost forgotten that I had to face Wilder again.
Almost.
Sarah slung open her door and scrambled out.“What do I need to carry?”she asked.
I popped the trunk.“We need to get the groceries out first.”
She ran around to the back and clapped her hands giddily before grabbing some bags and heading for the house.I got as many as I could, then followed her.She was opening the door, calling out to Wilder, before I got there.
“I LOVE YOU, DADDY!”
Yeah, Wilder.You’re welcome.
Not that he’d be thanking me anytime soon—or ever.I headed for the kitchen with my bags, not waiting for Wilder to appear.He didn’t want to see me anyway.
Belladonna came rushing out of the house and straight for me.I couldn’t set my bags down to greet her because she’d go after the food inside them so I kept walking.
“That’s a much different tune than this morning.”Wilder’s voice carried down the hall.
“You let Oaky come!Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
I smirked simply because I knew he was having to fake it, like I had earlier.Act as if this were a friendly decision.Setting the bags down, I put the cold stuff in the fridge with Belladonna staying glued to my side before turning to head back to get some more.
Sarah and Wilder blocked my path.I could see the gratitude in his expression, and I bit back a laugh.Something I knew he didn’t miss.
Yep, I came and made your daughter smile again.No thanks to you.
“Is there more?”he asked, his eyes widening.
“SO MUCH MORE!”Sarah exclaimed so loudly that Belladonna barked.
“I’ll get it.The two of you can put it away or whatever,” he said, turning around.
I could go with him and help, but then that would mean I had to talk to him.I went back to the kitchen instead.
“I’ll put the groceries up,” I told Sarah.“If you want to help your dad carry the decorations in though, that would be nice.”
“Okay,” she chirped, then hurried to catch up with him.
Belladonna looked from me to Sarah, and I waved my hand at her to follow Sarah.
