Page 55 of The Holiday Gift

More than anything, he wished he knew what was in her head.

Addie came offstage and waved at him with an energy and enthusiasm that made Flynn laugh.

“I think someone is trying to get your attention,” his friend said to Chase in a broad understatement.

“You think?” With a smile, Chase headed toward his daughter.

“Did you see me, Dad?” she exclaimed.

“It was my very favorite part of the show,” he told her honestly.

“Lots of other people have told us that, too. Weweregood, but everyone else was, too. I’m so glad I got to do it, even though I missed the first rehearsals.”

“So am I.”

She hugged him and he felt a rush of love for his sweet-natured daughter.

“What now?” he asked.

“I need to change out of the dress and give it back, I guess,” she said, her voice forlorn.

“You sound so sad about that,” Faith said from behind him.

He hadn’t seen her approach and the sound of her voice so near rippled down his spine as if she had kissed the back of his neck.

Addie sighed. “I just love this dress. I wish I could keep it. But I understand. They need to keep it nice for someone else to wear next year.”

Faith hugged her. “Sorry, honey. I took a thousand pictures of you three girls, though. You did such a great job.”

Addie grinned. “Thanks, Faith. Ilovemy hair. Thank you for doing it. I wish it could be like this every day.”

“You are so welcome, my dear,” she said with a smile that sent a lump rising in his throat. These were the two females he loved most in the world, with Louisa, Mary and Faith’s sisters filling in the other slots, and he loved seeing them interact.

“I guess I should be wishing you a Merry Christmas Eve,” Faith said.

“It’s the best Christmas Eve on December 20 I ever had,” Addie said with a grin, which made Faith laugh.

The sound tightened the vise around his chest. She hadn’t laughed nearly enough over the last three years.

What would everyone in the Saint Nicholas Lodge do if he suddenly tugged her to him and kissed her firmly on the mouth for all to see?

“What’s for Christmas Eve dinner?” Faith asked him before he could think about acting on the impulse.

He managed to wrench his mind away from impossible fantasies. “You know what a genius I am in the kitchen. I bought a couple of takeout dinners from the café in town. Wearehaving a big breakfast tomorrow, though. I can handle waffles and bacon.”

“Why don’t you eat your Christmas Eve dinner here? We have so much food left over. I think Jenna always overestimates the crowd. Once the crowd clears, we’re going to pull some of it out. Everyone is starving, since we were all too busy for dinner before the show to take time for food. You’re more than welcome to stay—though I completely understand if you have plans at home for your Christmas Eve celebration.”

“Can we, Dad?” Addie begged. “I won’t see my friends for three weeks after this.”

She wouldn’t seehimfor that amount of time either—a miserable thought.

He shrugged, already missing her. “We don’t have any plans that are set in stone. I think the only other thing we talked about, besides the show, was playing a couple of games.”

“And reading the Christmas story,” she pointed out.

“Right. We can’t forget that,” he answered. “I don’t mind if we stay, as long as you promise to go straight to bed when we’re done. Santa can’t come if you’re not asleep.”

She rolled her eyes but grinned at the same time. At eleven, she was too old for Santa but that didn’t stop either of them from carrying on the pretense a little longer.

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