Page 54 of Wishing for Love

“Now we can color together. The other one is markers. Nice ones, but Crystal said I’m too little to use them.”

He opened them and saw some nice artist-style markers. “These are great,” he said.

The last box he opened had a new Atlanta Falcons sweatshirt in it. “Now you can wear it when you’re watching football on Sundays.”

“I can,” he said. His old sweatshirt might be ten years old and had seen better days. “This is great. Why don’t you give Crystal the gifts you picked out for her?”

“We got you three things too,” Elsie said.

“You didn’t need to get me anything,” she said.

“Of course I did,” Elsie said. “I picked them out too.”

Crystal opened the gifts, which of course were a coloring book and markers too and he thought that was hilarious that Elsie got them both the same thing so they could color together.

“I love it,” Crystal said. “It’s a baker.” Her coloring book was a baker character.

“Yes,” Elsie said. “Because I like making cookies with you.”

“It is fun,” she said. She opened the last box and pulled out a pretty purple sweater. “This is gorgeous.”

“You said your favorite color is purple and I liked that sweater a lot.”

He hadn’t known purple was Crystal’s favorite color and that was why Elsie had picked it out. Elsie paid more attention to things than he did.

“Purpleismy favorite color,” she said. “It’s beautiful. I can’t wait to wear it.”

“What are those last two gifts?” Elsie asked.

“One is for your uncle,” she said.

“The other is from me to Crystal,” he said. “Guess we had the same idea.”

They hadn’t talked about doing anything and he was glad that he did it.

He brought the gift to her and handed it over and Elsie gave him the one Crystal bought.

“Go on,” she said. “Let’s open them together.”

They both ripped the paper off and he saw an expensive set of whiskey glasses with a W on them. “I’ve been wanting to get nice glasses for a long time and it just always slips my mind.”

“Now you’ve got them,” she said. She lifted the top of the small box in front of her. “These are stunning. And they are purple too.”

“Just a guess,” he said of the flower earrings he’d gotten her. He wasn’t sure why he was drawn to the studs, but they were bright and cheerful, just like Crystal was. Just like she was lightening up his life. Hadn’t Elsie asked if Crystal shined like her name? The answer was yes!

“It was a good guess too,” she said. “They are so pretty.”

Her eyes were a little glossy. Her smile was soft and gentle as she sent it his way. “Glad you like them.”

“I love them,” she said. “It’s been an awesome holiday all around. Who is ready for breakfast?”

“Me,” Elsie said. “But then I want to play.”

“Why don’t you play while I cook,” she said. “It will take me time to make all your favorites anyway.”

Elsie didn’t need to be told twice and ran to the biggest box and dollhouse she’d had on her Santa list.

“I can help you,” Phoenix said to Crystal.

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