Page 48 of Wishing for Love

Elsie jumped up and down. “It was always covered with stuff with Mom, but then I’d end up not playing with everything. I don’t want that to happen.”

“We’ll figure it out,” Phoenix said. He was pretty sure he didn’t get her nearly what Maryn did and grappled with that.

He didn’t want possessions to make her feel better and was glad that activities they’d done seemed to do the trick more than anything.

Crystal and Elsie went to her room and got her ready for bed, then he tucked Elsie in and returned to see Crystal picking up the board game they’d just finished.

“She seems to be in good spirits, all things considered.”

“I think just the excitement of it all is helping. I expect she might be more upset in the coming days.”

“Could be,” she said. “I’ll let you know if that happens. I just let her talk about her mother and ask questions when she wants. Sometimes she cries and I let her do that too.”

“Why haven’t you said anything?” he asked, frowning.

“Hey,” she said. “Women cry for no reason at times. Sometimes she just says something about her mother and a few tears fall and nothing else. I always ask if she wants a hug or just a minute. I’m one of those people who if I’m hugged when I’m crying, I can’t seem to stop. I’ve seen it happen to Elsie and then afterward she says she feels worse.”

“I always hug her when she’s crying,” he said. “Am I making it worse?”

“I don’t think you are,” she said. “I think from you, she needs that. Not from me. She’s not afraid to cry in front of you. Sometimes with me, she’ll be funny and say something like she was having a girl moment.”

He laughed. “Maryn used to say that.”

“See,” she said. “She’s doing well. Her relationship with you is different than it is with me. Things should happen organically.”

“Are we only talking about Elsie right now?”

“No,” she said, smiling. “And those things should happen when you’re ready or can give it a push. Not everything should fall into place on its own. I mean, if I hadn’t moved closer to you last night, we wouldn’t be having this conversation now.”

She made a point. “The same could be said about me going to check on you when I heard tears.”

“We know those weren’t tears, but I think you were dialed into it. I find that sweet. You’ve got a sensitive side to you.”

“Not a lot of guys want to hear they’ve got a sensitive side,” he said dryly.

“I happen to think it’s sexy,” she said. “Just as sexy as you are without a shirt on. You’ve got a lot more muscle on you than I thought you did.”

“Stress has me working out,” he said. “It helps.”

“It looks good on you. Not the stress part.”

“Thanks,” he said. “Do you want to watch some TV until I know she’s asleep? I don’t want to rush everything under the tree just yet.”

“I’d like that,” she said. “Need to finish off this wine too. Are you going to have a glass with me? Or have something else?”

“Maybe I’ll have a glass of whiskey,” he said. “I took a risk on the wine.”

“I’m not too fussy about wine,” she said. “This is much better than anything I would buy. I’m going to assume you’ve bought it before and Maryn liked it?”

“Yes,” he said. “Thank you for texting me that. I had no idea she put wine out.”

“And now you get to be Uncle Nix the hero.”

“I don’t think I’m much of a hero.”

“Don’t sell yourself short,” she said. “That little girl thinks the world of you. You were her hero long before the past few months. And you know what?”

“What?” he asked. He was humbled by the words being spoken.

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