Page 101 of An Endless Memory

No “boss lady”? A low simmer of hurt started in my chest. He wasn’t used to kids bringing home presents like this. Was that why he was so wooden, or did he have the same concern over Cali’s attachment as I had?

“Mrs. Beeker said to write our whole family’s name on it.” Cali’s grin was huge.

Eliot’s brows lifted. “Yeah? It’s really nice.” Again, his voice was aloof, a little detached.

If only I could know what he was thinking. Would I want to?

He gave me a tight smile. “Want to see it?” He gingerly handed it over, like he was afraid to damage it.

“It’s so cute, Cali.” I looked over her meticulous letters before handing it to her. “Can you put it on the tree for us?”

She picked a special spot in the middle of the tree. Eliot’s gaze was on the floor, but when she turned, he shot her a bright smile. “Ready to open mine?”

The optimism of the morning had dimmed. I’d gone into Christmas morning like Cali, thinking we were a family. Eliot had drawn his line. Would he ever cross it? Did he want to but was scared? Chambers’s insight ran through my head. Did Eliot think he didn’t deserve this?

He was here. It was Christmas morning. He’d decided to come and celebrate with us. We were going to Aggie’s later with his family. Eliot would meet his two nephews and niece. Could my concerns from Thanksgiving be unfounded?

A small pool of uncertainty filled my stomach. Just because I wanted us to be together, and I thought Eliot deserved all the happiness in the world, didn’t mean he agreed. I couldn’t make that decision for him.

Cali tore off the candy cane wrapping on her gift. “Horses!” The box had a horse family inside—a mare, a stallion, and two ponies, along with a stable that could be snapped together and some picket fence segments for her to make pastures with.

A knot inside my chest loosened. A family-themed gift. I was overthinking. I nudged Eliot with my foot. “You chose well.”

“Thanks.” His eyes warmed when he looked at me, and he held his hands out for Kellan. “Time for the champ’s gift.”

Cali pushed another candy-cane-wrapped box toward the couch. I helped Kellan to the floor and he immediately started scratching at the paper like he’d seen his sister do.

“Go ahead and give him a hand,” I said to Cali.

Kellan’s horse set was more robust, made for babies who put everything in their mouths.

“You got a horse family too!” Cali said.

If I didn’t have my toes tucked under Eliot’s ass, I wouldn’t have felt him stiffen. Yet, when he looked at me and said, “Your turn,” he acted normal.

My anxiety rose, but I squashed it. It was Christmas and I wouldn’t tear myself apart with questions when I didn’t have answers.

His present to me was a small box, but it wasn’t jewelry small. I wasn’t a jewelry girl. I peeled off the paper. “Either you’re really good at wrapping, or you found someone who was.”

His smile was the first natural one I’d seen since we started opening gifts. “I paid to have them look pretty.”

Inside was a petite carved horse. Not just any horse, but a gorgeous chestnut Arabian.

I held it up, inspecting the intricate features. “Is this one of Jasper’s carvings?”

He nodded. “I saw him doing one and asked if I could commission him.”

On the side was a laser inscription of the day we married.

All my insecurities vanished. He’d put our wedding date permanently on the gift he gave me. Unlike the ornament Cali made, this horse wasn’t breakable. I was touched and so damn relieved. I ran my fingers over the cool, smooth surface. “Eliot, it’s gorgeous.”

“You like it?”

“I love it.” I turned the date toward him and smiled.

He lifted a shoulder. “Figured you’d have something to remember me by.”

My world skidded to a stop. Just as I was thinking the carved date signified the beginnings of a legitimate commitment instead of a responsibility, Eliot produced a shiny pin to burst that bubble.

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