Page 52 of Please Send Snow
“The lodge is having a Christmas Pajama Jamboree tonight,” I tell him. “It’s just for kids, and your dad says we can come back so you can be part of it. Should we ask Bobby’s parents if he can go too?”
“Icango,” Bobby says, his eyes getting all wide. “Iamgoing.”
He and Dylan start cheering and waving their arms in the air and I’m afraid they’re going to knock over the silverware and centerpieces.
“Great,” I say quickly. “We have to leave right now if we want Dylan’s dad to have time to get his work done and bring us back. But we’ll see you tonight, Bobby.”
All of a sudden, Dylan can’t get out of here fast enough. He slides off his chair and takes off for the hallway.
“Well played,” Jake says to me.
He doesn’t make eye contact, but I can see the crooked smile playing on his lips.
Why does he have to be so gorgeous?
He gestures for me to go first, which is honestly a great idea because I need to stop fixating on his face.
After we bundle up a bit, the three of us head out into the bitterly cold morning and pile into his SUV.
The dayat the chalet passes quickly. Dylan and I already have a nice list of things we like to do together and we blast through them all before the morning is over—hide and seek, letter to Santa, nature walk, Froggy’s story. Then after lunch we go through them all again, taking a little more time and laughing even more than before.
It’s hardly work. Dylan is such a fun companion and he has a truly generous soul. I hope the world is kind to him and he doesn’t lose any of his sweetness.
It’s already dark by the time I realize that Jake hasn’t come out of his office once all day. My phone alarm goes off at six-thirty and I suggest to Dylan that it’s time to go up and have his bath so we can get him decked out in his Christmas pajamas in time for the party.
What if Jake doesn’t come out in time?Or worse, what if he changes his mind?
But it does no good to worry about it. Maybe Jake will just let me walk Dylan down there on my own.
At ten minutes before seven, Dylan looks adorable inhis red pajamas with tiny Santa faces all over them, and he’s practically squirming by the door to his dad’s office.
“Ready to go?” Jake asks as he comes out.
Somehow, after working all day, he looks even hotter than before. His hair is a little ruffled and he’s got the sleeves of his white button-down rolled up a little, showing off his muscular forearms.
“Yes,” Dylan squeaks. “Yes, yes,yes.”
“Definitely,” I add, trying to keep my eyes on his face and off his muscles. “How was your day?”
“Fine,” Jake says, a bemused expression on his face. “Yours?”
“It wasgreat,” Dylan says before I can answer.
Then he’s galloping for the front door and the three of us focus on getting bundled up again and heading out.
We make it down the mountain while Dylan regales his dad with a list of everything we did today. When we get to the lodge, Dylan grabs my hand and then his dad’s before marching for the lodge steps.
It reminds me of arriving here with my own parents, and I find myself blinking back some unexpected tears. I’m grateful that it’s dark out so that no one will notice.
But Jake eyes me carefully as he opens the door to the lodge.
“Bobby,” Dylan yells, running for his friend, who is wearing green pajamas with little red dogs on them and playing with his dinosaurs in the little Christmas village display.
I’m pretty sure the kids aren’t supposed to play in that display, but I’m not going to get involved. Margo will havemy head for stopping Jake’s son from doing whatever he wants.
“Miss Foster,” Margo cries, appearing as if I’d summoned her with my thoughts. “Mr. Stone, it’s so good to see you. We have a lovely relaxing activity for you. Follow me, please.”
“I just want to get him settled first,” Jake says, heading back to Dylan and crouching down to talk to him.
