Page 35 of Second Down Scrooge

But today…I think I might have a different answer for him.

“Let me give Mimi her bath tonight, okay?” he asks. “You put your feet up or work on a wreath or whatever.”

My brows pinch together. “Are you sure?” My tone is doubtful, though I shouldn’t have any doubt that he can do this. He’s given her a bath before, but always with me standing over him and offering helpful advice about how to do it.

Or maybe it’s hovering. I’m an overprotective new mama of a baby girl who is used to just having me around. I can’t help it.

I know I need to let him do this. I know I need to allow him the chance to prove he can, and I can’t help but think about how when we move in together, I’ll have someone to split these sorts of tasks with all the time. The thought of it alone is incredibly appealing, but to do it with someone I have feelings for, someone I see a future with?

How do I say no to that?

“I’m positive.” He turns to take her toward the bathroom, and I stand where I am, not really sure what to do with myself.

I’m so used to our routine where I do everything and my onlyfreetime falls into the hours when the baby is asleep.

I wander around the kitchen for a few seconds, and I turn off all the lights before I walk over to the couch and sit. I flip to Netflix and start up the fireplace show, and I turn on some instrumental Christmas music.

And then I stare at my tree as I listen to the crackle and pop of the fake fireplace and the soft sound of a piano playing “Silent Night.”

I used to watch my mom do this very thing when I was a kid, and I always thought it was so strange to just sit and stare at a Christmas tree. But now that I’m an adult…I get it.

There’s something magical about the crystal ornaments that twinkle in front of the strands of lights. It’s relaxing and mesmerizing at the same time, the quiet calm after the storm of a day, and I sort of want to leave the tree up year-round just to have a quiet moment to myself every once in a while.

Maybe I will.

Austin joins me a few minutes later. He sets Mia down on her little activity mat and joins me on the couch. He sets his arm around me, and I lean into him.

If I thought it was peaceful to sit here by myself looking at the tree, it’s downright majestic to sit here with my head on Austin’s shoulder as we stare down at our baby.

I’ve been back and forth for the better part of a year and a half, but this is the moment when I know for sure that I’ve found what I’m looking for—that this is worth the risk.

“Ask me again,” I say softly.

“Ask what?”

“The question you always ask me.”

He chuckles. “Are you ready to give this another chance yet?”

I turn so I’m looking up at him. “Yes.”

He angles his gaze down to me, and he leans forward and presses his lips to mine. I could get lost in him, in this moment—but there’s a baby on the floor less than five feet away from the Christmas tree, and as we both hear silence coming from the activity mat that’s usually a cacophony of sounds, we break apart.

Just in time to see Mia using the bottom branch of the tree to help lift herself up to a stand.

She’s yanking hard on the branch, and what she’s doing—along with what’s about to happen to the tree—hardly evenregisters in my brain before Austin leaps from the couch, his skills as a tight end pushing him into quick action as he rushes toward Mia.

He lifts her to pull her away from the tree, but she’s got a firm grip on that branch, and just as he pulls her out of harm’s way, the tree topples to the ground with a loud crash as crystal ornaments shatter into a million different pieces all over the tile flooring.

Mia bursts into tears, loud wails filling the space that was quiet tranquility a mere ten seconds ago, and as I stare at the mess in front of me, I can’t help but burst into tears, too, as I worry that it can’t be a good omen that the tree came crashing down seconds after I told Austin I wanted to try again with him.

Chapter 18: Austin Graham

The Reality of My Life

Five Days Until Christmas

Oh shit.

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