Page 21 of Christmas Wishes

He tenses up at my words and I'm sorry to have brought up his mother who might be fading away right now. So I do the only thing I can do and hug him tight. We fall asleep in each others arms and I know I've never felt safer nor more complete than in this moment in time.

Chapter 8

Gene

Iwoke up Lilah several times during the night, not being able to get enough of her. Her sweet taste is intoxicating for me and I couldn't help myself. I find her fast asleep next to me and I'm unsure if I should wake her up. I have a lot of things to do today and I want her with me when I do them.

A quick shower and I get dressed for the day ahead. I start making breakfast for all of us when Connor comes out of his bedroom.

"Good morning, Connor. Scrambled eggs good for you?"

"Sure. You didn't stay in the guest room last night."

I like that he is direct with me and doesn't beat around the bush.

"Yeah, that's right. I care about your sister a lot."

"She deserves a good life."

"And I plan on giving her one. You as well."

"You don't have the best reputation in town."

"I'm working on it, Connor. It takes time though, and not everyone is willing to look past my transgressions."

"Do you think you can help my friends?"

The change in topic jars me a little bit.

"That's one of the stops I'm going to make today with your sister. I want to see if the family they are with have had any issues in the past."

"That might get them in trouble and they'll take it out on my friends."

"Don't worry. I'm a lawyer. They don't come as sneaky and underhanded as we are for nothing."

After a few minutes more of talking Connor and I come to an understanding, so he packs his breakfast and goes to school. His beautiful sister comes out a half hour later, yawning.

"Hey, sleepyhead."

"Oh god, is Connor gone? You should have woken me up earlier."

"Don't worry sweetheart, I made us all breakfast and he packed his to go."

She looks worried so I go up to her and lift her chin so that she's looking directly at me.

"What's going on?"

"He gives the Mcallister's his food. I usually give him extra."

"Well, I didn't know about that. I'll be sure to do that the next time. Come and eat. I've been waiting for you."

She sits down across the table from me.

"Will there be a next time?"

I realize that I haven't actually made any promises to Lilah, so she's got to be unsure about our future together. The thing is Idon't know what I can promise her just yet. If the town doesn't forgive me for my transgressions I might have to leave and she might not want to go with me.

"Lilah. There's one thing I can promise you, and that is that no one will able to separate us from this moment forward."

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