Page 19 of Rekindled Heart

“From your mouth….” he says.

“How about this one?” Christopher hollers and I whip around, realizing that I completely lost my head and lost sight of my son. I giggle when I see the tree he’s pointing at though. The scrawny little thing is not even as tall as my six-year-old son.

My eyes dance and I stifle a smirk when I hear Ricky mutter, “Why does that cartoon stick in every kid’s head?”

“Everybody loves an underdog,” I giggle.

His dark brows life and he smirks. “So that’s what I have to do then? Lose everything?”

I flush beet red. What the heck is going on with the two of us? We’re dancing around each other and all the electricity around us like we’re little figures in a music box. Tethered to each other forever, whirling around and unable to move away no matter how hard we try.

I have to admit…I’m not really trying that hard. But I’m confused as to why he’s all the sudden on board with the sparks that fly between us. I know he was angry. I think that he’s still angry.

I push those thoughts away and go to my son, kneeling in the snow and grimacing at the cold, wet snow seeping into my jeans. “Baby, I think that Ricky probably has more than one ornament he wants to put on his tree. This poor thing won’t even hold one without falling over.” Tears fill his eyes and I rush on as his bottom lip quivers, making my own heart stutter.

“I know that you like it but this tree is a baby. It needs more time to grow up and be a big tree so that it can decorate someone’s home someday.”

“It’s gonna be amazing, isn’t it, mommy?”

I sniffle and hug him close. That little boy smell still clings to him and I dread the day when he won’t hug me or kiss me. Won’t care about silly little things like Santa and a scrawny Christmas tree’s future.

“It absolutely is, baby.”

Ricky comes closer to us and bends down until he’s on a level to stare right into Christopher’s eyes. “Hey, buddy. I promise you that I will keep an eye on this tree and one day…I’ll make sure that you get to see it in all its glory.”

“Promise?”

Ricky leans down and holds out his hand, smiling when my son slips his hand inside of his big paw covered with his leather gloves. “Promise, buddy. I’ll make sure that you’re around to see it.” His dark eyes lock onto mine and there’s a different promise in his eyes. Gold sparks fleck the hazelnut brown and I clear my throat and look away, my whole body flushing with hunger.

Lord, I’ve missed him so much.

Christopher nods his head and moves away to study the other trees around us. Ricky stands up and holds out his big hand. I take it gingerly and he immediately pulls me to my feet. I trip and fall against him, gasping, my head flying up to stare at him.

His dark eyes bore into mine, hot and hungry. His hands slide down until they’re locked around me, settled on my backside. I can feel his warm touch even through the layers of clothes on both of us.

I still, my heart hammering, my breath huffing faster and heavier. My whole body feels lit from within. I sink against him, wanting to rip our clothes off and finally get what I’ve been wanting for so long. Him.

“Hey mom! What about this one? It’s a lot bigger!”

Ricky grunts as I shove him away and I almost cry at the horrible feeling of loss.

“Which one, baby?”

Christopher glares at me, his lip curling and for some reason it reminds me so much of Ricky that I almost laugh. It must be a guy thing.

“I’m not a baby, mom!”

I screw my lips together to hold in the laugh. “Of course. I know. You’re a big boy now.”

It seems like that day where he doesn’t want a hug and kiss might be getting closer than I want.

Ricky saves me from bursting into tears and looking like a complete idiot. “That’s a fine one, Christopher! Is that the one?”

He studies it closely, tapping his lips. I grin and then cover it up when Ricky looks to me, his eyes sparkling with laughter.

“I like it!”

“Okay.” He grabs a spray can of paint and makes a little red x on the tree trunk where it’s hidden by the needles. “I’ll come back tomorrow and cut it down.”

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