Page 108 of Can't Get Over You
“That sounds like a lot of fun.” He’d have to thank his brother tomorrow. Both of them. They’d said they were in this with him, and now, they’d shown him. He got up. “We’d better get some sleep. We’ve got a big day tomorrow.” Not only was shaping a block of snow into a recognizable form tough, but his family was competitive. They wanted that trophy. “Good night.” He kissed Cody on his forehead and headed for the door.
“Mister?”
It was starting to bother him. How his family got titles, and all he got was Mister. “Yeah?”
“I told Uncle Wyatt I want to get Miss O’Neill something for Christmas, and he said I should make something, but I don’t know what to do.”
His mind went blank. He had no idea what to make. And Christmas was three days away. “I can help you. You have anything in mind?” It had been so chaotic and busy, he hadn’t considered gifts.
“Uncle Wyatt got out his phone and looked stuff up. He said we could draw her pictures, but I want to do something else, so he kept looking and said I could make her a chocolate cake in a jar, and I know she likes cake, so can we do that? And I want to make Grampa hot chocolate in a jar. Can we do that, too?”
It struck him how petty it was to worry about what Cody called him. The only thing that matters is that he trusts me and comes to me for help. Knowing he can depend on me.
Swear to God, if they let me adopt him, I will protect this boy with my life.
“Yeah, we can do that.”Of course, when he set his stupid ego aside, he could see that everyone had told Cody what to call them. Finlay was his teacher, so he’d only heard her referred to as Miss O’Neill. His brothers called themselves Uncles, and his dad referred to himself as Grandpa.
I’ll have to do the same thing. Once I figure out what he should call me.
Because if I don’t get to keep him, I can’t have him calling me Dad.
“What’re you making Miss O’Neill?” Cody asked.
His mouth opened, but no words came out. Because he hadn’t given it a single thought. And that sucked. “I don’t know, but I’m glad you asked.”
“Why?”
She deserves the world. She deserves to be showered in love.“I want to make sure I do something special for her. Let’s both give it some thought, and we’ll talk about it on our way to the park. Maybe after we’re done working, we can go to the store and get supplies.”
“Okay. And can we make something for Uncle Boone and Uncle Wyatt?”
“Absolutely.”
“I don’t know how to make cocoa in a jar.”
This kid’s mind was racing.“I’ll look it up and see, and we’ll get presents made for everybody in time for Christmas. You have my word on it.” He speared his fingers through the boy’s hair, pushing it off his forehead. “You’re a good boy, and I’m proud of you.”
Even in the darkness, he could see Cody gazing up at him. He could almost see the shift from wariness to a newfound trust.
He leaned over and kissed his forehead, breathing in the scent of soap and little boy. “Good night.”
Leaving the door ajar, he stepped out and looked down the hallway. The light was on in Finlay’s room, and water flowed through the pipes. While she got ready for bed, he texted Ava.
Jude: You drinking tea and reading?
An introvert, she had a whole unwinding process after she came home from socializing, so he figured she’d be up.
Ava: You know it. What’s up? Need something?
Jude: I do. Can I call you?
Ava: Always.
He quietly headed back down the stairs. As he looked out the window, he imagined mowing the lawn and rolling garbage binsout to the curb. He wasn’t raised in a family neighborhood, and he’d never imagined that life.
But really, it wouldn’t be so bad.
He brought up Ava’s name and hit Connect. Unsurprisingly, she answered right away.
