Page 114 of When in December

“Just one!” yelled Gavin.

“Who said that we did that?”

“Please?” both the kids begged, cupping their hands together.

“Just one,” Sarah sighed, glancing at Aaron’s gifts under the tree. “Do you mind?”

He shook his head. “Go ahead.”

Cheers rang out through the living room, startling their father awake.

I giggled, causing Aaron to return to stand next to me.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Uh-huh.” I forced a small smile, hiding that I’d heard what was discussed between him and his sister.

For the rest of the night, I watched as a spectator among the gratified family. After the kids ripped open a single present, Sarah led them to bed and tucked them in good night. I watched as she and Nathan came back out for one more glass of wine, sitting together in front of the fireplace and talking softly, just the two of them.

It was perfect. This home. This day. All of it. I couldn’t have designed it better.

This cabin, at some point, had become so much more than I’d ever realized.

I changed houses and cabins into homes where memories were made.

A home.

Only I had to realize it now.

I had to realize, even if I got to pretended for a little while …

This home? It was never going to be mine.

twenty-seven

. . .

Aaron

“We keep finding ourselves like this,”I whispered.

My nose trailed up the side of Poppy’s neck toward her cheek in a way that made goose bumps spread over her skin.

“It’s becoming a habit,” she agreed, her voice turning small. “Not sure we should break it.”

No. We shouldn’t.

I should tie her to my bed. Right here. Then, I could keep her where I wanted her. With me.

“Your parents are expecting you tomorrow,” I said.

“Plan on keeping me longer?” Poppy tried to joke.

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” I said, albeit a bit clumsily, as the conversation turned.

I pulled my head back away so I could see her face better in the darkness. The small light in the bathroom remained on for Oz. It gently cast a gentle glow across the bed.

“The other night, when I ran into them picking you up at the party, I could tell they really love you.”

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