Page 34 of Soldier's Chrismas Hope
He scampered over and wrapped his arms around her waist, and she smiled down at him as she hugged himback. She took the kids inside while River brought the ladder back to the garage.
When he got back inside, their coats were hung up and their boots were by the back door. He took off his own things and headed into the kitchen to find the children already curled up on the bench, looking out the window at their handiwork.
“We might have to wait a while,” Pixie said softly.
“Would you like some hot cocoa while you wait?” River offered.
That idea was met with smiles, so he put the kettle on and got out four mugs and the tin of cocoa powder. By the time he placed the kids’ mugs on the table, John-John was leaning his head against his sister’s shoulder sleepily.
River smiled at the sight of the two of them.
“I’m going to start some dinner for us,” he told Nora after a moment.
“I’ll help,” she said with a big enough smile that he knew she really wanted to pitch in.
“Okay,” he said heading over to the fridge. “I thought I would just make some soup. I’ve got leftover chicken my mom brought over, and vegetables, and a nice loaf of bread from the bakery in town.”
“Perfect,” she said. “The kids will love that.”
He grabbed the chicken from the fridge while she grabbed a knife and cutting board.
“Okay for me to be on veggie duty?” she asked.
“Absolutely,” he told her, handing over carrots and celery from the fridge. “Potatoes and onions are on the counter.”
They worked in silence for a bit. He dug out somespices, and once she had some onions diced up, he threw them in the pan with some butter. He added the chicken, and the kitchen instantly smelled incredible.
The kids were still curled up on the bench, sipping their chocolate and waiting patiently for birds to visit.
Please let some come, they’re so excited about this…
He stole a look over at Nora. She was peeling potatoes with a tiny smile pulling up the corners of her mouth. She looked content, without a trace of the worry that seemed to dull her eyes when he’d first seen her at the condo yesterday.
She glanced up from her work and caught him looking.
He cleared his throat and began to turn away, pretty sure he’d been staring like a lovesick teenager.
“Thank you,” she said softly, stopping him in his tracks. “This is such a special visit.”
“For me too,” he managed, meaning it.
She glanced over at the kids. Pixie was murmuring something to John-John as they gazed out the window.
“This is going to be their first Christmas without their mom,” Nora said softly. “Moments like this are really important.”
River nodded, moved. He hadn’t really thought of that aspect.
“I would give them a whole storybook Christmas, if I could,” she said, gazing at the children with a fond smile.
“Why don’t we?” he heard himself say.
“What do you mean?” she asked, her eyes flicking back to his.
“Stay here for the holidays,” he said. “We’ll do every single thing in that book of theirs.”
He knew his offer was a long shot, but he could see the longing in her eyes, the need to say yes, before the word even crossed her lips.
“Really?” she whispered instead. “We’re kind of… a lot to have around.”
