Page 12 of The Wish List
“I’m ordinary. There are lots of single mothers working as hard as I am to give their kids a good life.”
I nodded. “I try to help them with my business and my money. I try to do good for a lot of people. That is important to me. As for being ordinary, I don’t think you ever have or ever will be that.”
“Why?” she asked again.
I didn’t know how to explain this feeling. How intensely I felt this connection with her. Or even why I felt it. But it was there, a living, breathing thing between us. And I refused to push it away. I needed to find out how strong it was.
“Because I think it was meant to be.”
She looked shocked at my words, unsure what to say. Right then, AJ chose to run over. “Momma, can we still go sledding?”
“Sure, baby.”
“Can I watch one more cartoon?”
She sighed and stroked his wild curls away from his face. “Only one.”
“Thank you!”
He turned to me. “You can come sledding if you want. We go to the hill by the park. It’s fun.”
“I think Asher has other—”
I cut her off. “I would love to, bud.”
He raced off, happy, and she looked at me. “You don’t have to do that.”
“But I want to.”
“You’re not really dressed for sledding.”
“I have some other clothes in the car. I often take Bonnie to the park, so I’m always prepared.”
“Your niece?”
“Yes.”
“I assume you’ll be spending Christmas with them?”
“No, they go to his parents’ place in Alberta. They’ve already gone, in fact. We’ll spend the day together when they get back and have our own little Christmas.”
“You don’t go with them?”
“I went once. It was just…too much.”
“Too much?”
“I felt like the odd man out, to be honest. All couples and families. And I don’t like my sister worrying about me. So I stay here and do what I do best. Be alone. Find places to give money.”
She frowned. “You can’t be alone on Christmas.” She looked around. “I mean, it’s not much, but you’re welcome here.”
“Not much?” I repeated. “It’s your home.”
“I’m sure compared to where you live, it’s, ah, lacking.”
“You don’t have other people joining you?”
“No. It’s only AJ and me.”
