Page 109 of Can't Get Over You
“What’s going on?” she asked. “Everything all right with Cody?”
“Yeah. He’s good.”No, talk to her. Tell her. Make the effort. “When you said kids are resilient, I didn’t get it. But now, watching him settle in, going from being shy and quiet to talking my ear off…”
“It’s good, Jude. Really good.”
“It is. Yes.”
“But? Come on. I hear the worry.”
“But what if I can’t keep him? He’s letting down his guard, trusting us?—”
“We’ll fight with everything we can to make sure you keep him, but honey, there are no guarantees. And if it doesn’t go your way, he will always have this Christmas to remember what love and safety felt like. No matter where life takes him, he’ll have this gift you gave him as proof there’s love and good people in the world.”
“You’re right.” He didn’t realize the weight of his worries until she’d lifted them off his shoulders. “He seems happy.”
“You guys make it easy.”
“What do you mean?” Not a soul was outside. The moonlight illuminated the snow, making the crystals glitter.
“You brought him right into the family, and he already feels like he belongs. All of you did that, and it’s just wonderful. You’re doing a beautiful thing, Jude. You’re a good man.”
She was a teacher, so she said things like that to everyone. But for him, it sank deeply. Most of his life, he’d heard his name called with disgust. Or with a snap of anger.
So when he got praise, it spread through him like warm maple syrup. “Thanks, Ava. I’m grateful for you, you know that, right?”
She didn’t answer right away, and when she did, her voice sounded thick. “Where did that come from?”
“We might’ve called you a nanny or a babysitter, but you were as close to a mom as we could get. I’m pretty sure you’re the reason I didn’t turn out like Marco.”
“Oh, Jude. Thank you for saying that, but it’s just not true. You want to know what I think?” She didn’t wait for his answer. “Of all the kids, you were the most sensitive. All you wanted was to cuddle on the couch and read books and eat cookies.” He could hear the smile in her voice. “But that wasn’t going to happen in a biker club.”
“It happened with you.”
“And you’ll make it happen with Cody.”
“I’ll try my damnedest.” Unfortunately, though, that fate was up to a judge who thought the worst of him. “Yeah, so, anyhow, I want to get something nice for Finlay for Christmas. Any suggestions?”
“Well, I’d probably get her a cute water tumbler because she doesn’t remember to drink during the day. Or maybe something for the house, like a toaster, since her ex wouldn’t buy one because he thought it was ‘the most unnecessary appliance in the world.’ You can just put bread in the oven, right?”
“I’m hearing a ‘but.’”
“But that’s because ofmyrelationship with her. What you choose is based on yours. What have you guys talked about? What has she mentioned? What’s she looked at in a store that she liked but would never buy for herself?”
“We haven’t gone shopping for anything but food and clothes for Cody.”
“Oh, come on. There’s a real bond between you—anyone can see it. I think you know her pretty well. Just, whatever you do, don’t get her a toaster.” She laughed. “That would hurt her feelings.”
“She hasn’t mentioned anything. What do I do?”
“Pay attention, figure out what she’s into.”
“She used to make soap, and I know she likes to bake.” He thought about the moose slippers she used to wear, and it made him smile. He’d get her a pair of those. Maybe matching ones for Cody. The whole family. Yeah, that’d be cute.
“It doesn’t have to be expensive. Just meaningful. But I will say, I think she’s more of an acts-of-service kind of person.”
“A what? I don’t know what that means.”
“You know the five love languages, right?” Ava asked.
