Page 38 of Follow My Heart

Violet nodded enthusiastically. “Yes.”

I wanted to extend the conversation, but she yawned. “I’ll let you get some sleep. You’ll need energy to spend the day with my family.”

Violet smiled tiredly. “I can’t wait.”

Her reaction was so different from Stacy’s. She was never excited to visit the farm.

“I’ll pick you up tomorrow.” The year before, we had an ice storm, and Claire and Sutton ended up staying overnight. It might have been selfish, but I hoped for some kind of weather delay so I could spend more time with her.

“Should I bring some of my ice cream? Vanilla would be great with whatever pies Daphne’s serving.”

“We can pick it up on the way.” Violet only lived a few minutes from me anyway. It wouldn’t be any trouble, and then I could have her to myself for a little bit. Faith usually listened to a book on her earbuds in the truck.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

We hung up, and I settled onto my pillows. I might have been in a rented house, but now it felt more permanent. I felt content in a way I hadn’t in a long time, even though my life was more in upheaval than ever.

I didn’t have a permanent place to live. The divorce wasn’t final. And I wasn’t sure how it was going to work with me in Maryland and Stacy in Virginia. But I didn’t think I wanted to move back. I was tired of Stacy dictating my life.

And I thought this was one more way she hoped to do so. I’d move close to be near Faith while Stacy dated other men. What if I could get more time with Faith? What if we could make it work with me living in Maryland?

It felt selfish, but Faith loved spending time with my family. Why couldn’t I make this move permanent? I had to believe there was a way for us to make this work. And Faith was getting older; a judge might take into account her preferences. I just wasn’t sure what she wanted.

I’d need to talk to her about it soon. I wanted her to be involved in any plans I made. I went to sleep with hope that I could make this work. Maybe I would get another chance at happiness.

The next morning, Faith was awake early, excited to decorate the tree. I played holiday music and cooked us a huge breakfast while Faith sorted through my boxes of decorations.

Faith marveled in each ornament, begging me to tell the story behind it.

After we ate, we changed into holiday sweaters, something Stacy wouldn’t have let us wear. Then we tackled the tree. I hung the lights, and then we took turns hanging the ornaments.

“I love that each of our ornaments has a story,” Faith said, and my heart squeezed. Stacy only wanted decorations elegant enough to grace a magazine cover. But this was so much better. I snapped pictures of Faith in front of the tree, hesitating to send them to Stacy.

Would she say something mean? I wanted to keep this moment to myself. I couldn’t bring myself to send it.

“Let’s get one of you, Dad.” Faith snagged my phone and maneuvered me in front of the tree. Then she stood on a chair so she could get the perfect shot.

“Smile.”

I thought about my conversation with Violet. How she looked in front of the tree she’d cut down. How happy I felt when I spent time with her.

“That’s perfect.” Faith hopped off the chair and showed me the screen. “You should send these to Violet so she can see that our tree fits.”

“She was worried about that.” I dutifully sent one of me and the tree.

Violet sent a picture of her tree that was full of lights and Santa ornaments and candy canes. I showed it to Faith.

“I haven’t had candy canes in?—”

“Forever.” Stacy insisted they were for decoration and not to be eaten.

Faith sighed. “I wish I could spend Christmas with you too.”

My heart broke. “We’re sharing holidays. I’d love to have you here all the time, but you need to see your mom too.”

“I know, but Mom is different.”

I wondered if she was only just now seeing those differences like me. “We can make our own traditions, and Mom will do what she does. Are you ready to pick up George and Violet?”

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