Page 47 of Daycare Santa

Each time Seya mentioned Gina’s office situation, she changed the subject.

When Gina wasn’t gently correcting Luca about talking with food in his mouth, the boy rehashed tales of his evening spent with Lizette.

“He has an old soul,” she’d said when Gina asked Luca to gather his things from the sofa at the end of the evening. “And he’s forthright. Says exactly what he means.”

“His dad was like that,” Gina murmured, as she watched him.

Now, Zack’s mind drifted to the man who’d been her husband and the one she’d been seeing before him. No photos or mementos in her living space pointed to the man she’d married.

Boyd was no competition, but Zack wasn’t certain how he compared with Luca’s dad. Not that he needed to measure up to anyone.

He was his own man, courting a woman he fully intended to make a future with, if she’d have him. He wasn’t certain they’d get to that point unless she stopped blocking him. Gina was used to her independence and clung fiercely to the idea of solving her own problems.

When he caught her watching him, Zack smiled. He was here and Boyd wasn’t. That was reason enough to be thankful. Plus, he had plans for them he hadn’t told Gina about.

Now that she’d given their relationship the green light, he intended to shower her with everything she deserved. If she let him.

Another round of clatter came from the kitchen, which brought him back to the matter under discussion. “Thank you for sharing your moving issue with me.”

When her gaze rested on him, he said, “You didn’t have to tell me, but I’m glad you did.”

“Why?”

“You strike me as extremely independent.” He shifted one piece on the checkerboard to the middle of its square. “So, it must have cost you something ... a lot, in fact, to even mention it.”

“Put it down to that intensity you’ve mentioned before. You didn’t ask, but the way you looked at me said you knew something was wrong.” She breathed in deeply and exhaled softly. “I figured you’d ask, anyway.”

“I know accepting help may be a challenge, but—”

Gina pulled her head back in mock surprise. “Whoever told you that?”

They laughed, but the way Gina lowered her gaze confirmed the truth in his words.

Shaking his head, Zack quipped, “I don’t know where I could have gotten that idea.”

“Seriously, though ...” She patted his hand that rested on his thigh. “I’ll work it out.”

“I could ...”

Gina moved her head from side to side and tipped her chin higher. “Thanks, but I prefer doing this on my own.”

With both hands raised, Zack said, “I get it, I think.”

He sighed when she withdrew her hand, thinking he should be grateful that Gina wanted to handle her business. Yet, frustration gnawed at him.

Fact was, he’d been about to offer to let her use a container storage space in his parents’ warehouse, but her response killed the urge. Added to that, she refused before he stated the offer. His gaze went to the winking lights on the tree and the good cheer he’d been feeling until Gina’s problem surfaced slid away and left him deflated.

He didn’t want to give the impression he was trying to take over her life, but his instinct was to help, just because. What kind of man would stand by and watch her struggle when he had answers that could help the situation?

“By the way,” he said, “We still have to get my guy to fix your bumper.”

“That’s looking more and more like it will be after the holidays.”

“Whenever you’re ready is fine with me.”

Seya and Luca came into the room carrying trays with dessert for everyone. A wide smile covered Luca’s face as he served Gina a bowl of ice cream and laid a saucer with cake next to the checkerboard on the center table. He backed away and bowed. “I fixed that for you, Mommy.”

“Thanks, hon.” Gina patted the cushion for Luca to sit, and he launched himself onto the sofa, then accepted the small tray Seya placed on his lap.

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