Season of Wonder

by RaeAnne Thayne

  “Don’t worry about that. It just means I need you to keep a big secret from everybody. Can you do that?”

  Mia gave a sleepy frown. “Mommy says I’m not supposed to keep secrets from her.”

  “That is a good rule for life, kiddo. You can’t go wrong if you tell your mom everything going on in your world.”

  Silver scoffed a little but hid it with a cough that didn’t fool Dani for a moment—or Ruben, for that matter.

  He and Dani shared a look, and she knew he was having the same thought. All teenagers kept things from their parents. It was as inevitable as acne.

  She wasn’t sure she liked these moments when their thoughts seemed synchronized, almost as if they were a united front.

  “Here’s the thing, Miss Mia,” Ruben went on. “Your mother will know this secret. In fact, I probably should have talked to her first before bringing it up.”

  “Too late for that now,” Dani said.

  He made a face. “Sorry about that. It’s a good thing, I promise.”

  “Why don’t we go inside so you don’t have to do the big reveal out here in the car?”

  “Good idea.”

  She didn’t want to be charmed further by the man when he opened the rear door of his king cab to let Silver out, then made his way around the pickup to open Dani’s door and scoop Mia into his arms.

  This was a one-time thing. They were not a family unit.

  Her house was warm and smelled piney from the frustrating Christmas tree that still leaned crookedly against the wall. Winky greeted them all with enthusiasm, moving from person to person to welcome them home.

  Silver plopped onto the sofa and gathered the little dog onto her lap. “All right. What’s the big secret?”

  “I can tell all of you, as long as I can count on you to keep this under your hat.”

  “What if we don’t want that kind of responsibility?” Dani asked.

  “Too late for that now,” he said, parroting her words from earlier and almost making her smile.

  Oh, she liked him, entirely too much.

  “Are you going to tell us or keep dragging out the drama?” Silver finally asked. “We swear we won’t tell, okay?”

  “All right. Here goes.”

  He glanced around the room as if checking for listening devices. “Every year, my family picks one or two households in town to be the recipients of a special family tradition.”

  “What’s a tradition?” Mia asked from the floor, where she had settled to pet Winky.

  Dani tamped down that darn maternal guilt that tended to creep out entirely too often, even when it was completely undeserved.

  Yes, she had been busy trying to support her family and get through school but she still took time to do important things with her daughters, even if she perhaps hadn’t articulated the reasons why as well as she should have to Mia.

  Mia was just asking what a word meant, she wasn’t impugning Dani’s mothering skills.

  Once in a while, Dani needed to give herself a break—which could be easier said than done.

  “It’s all the unique things we do together as a family,” she said. “You know, like the Capelli Champion blue plate special, where one person gets to eat on the special plate on their birthday or whenever they do something amazing.”

  “Or how Mom always has you put out cookies for Santa,” Silver said.

  “And carrots for the reindeer,” Mia reminded her.

  “In my family, we have a few traditions.”

  “Churros and chocolate,” Mia said.

  “Exactly.” His smile made Dani’s toes tingle. Darn him.

  “That’s one of my favorites. Another one dates back to when I was Silver’s age. Every year for twenty years, my parents have picked a few households in town and we deliver a little treat to them each day for twelve days leading up to Christmas.”

  “Oh. ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas.’ I love that song.” Mia launched into exuberant song. “Four calling birds, three friendships, two turtlenecks, and a partridge in a pear tree.”

  Silver snickered at her sister’s mangled lyrics, but for once didn’t call her out on it.

  “That’s the one,” Ruben said with a smile. “We start on December 13 and end on Christmas Eve.”

  “The twelve days of Christmas are supposed to run from Christmas Day to Epiphany on January 6. I learned that in, like, the fifth grade,” Silver said.

  “Technically, you’re right. And if we wanted to be strict about it, that’s the way we would do it, but ending on Christmas Eve is easier and a little more fun.”

  “What kind of treats do you leave?” Dani asked.

  “Small things, like a hand-painted ornament, a Christmas book, a box of candy. Things like that. My mom does all the shopping for it and she assigns Angie one family and me the other one. Since Javi and Mateo both live in Shelter Springs, Mom lets them pick a family close to them to do with their kids now.”

  “That sounds like a nice tradition,” Dani said. Anything that encouraged children to think about others was good, in her book.

  “What does this have to do with us?” Silver asked.

  “Usually, I tag Zach to help me out with mine but Angie told me tonight his schedule is packed every weeknight and that I couldn’t use Andy, either, her middle boy, because he would be busy making their Secret Santa deliveries. I need help this year and it occurred to me I know the perfect person to make my deliveries.”

  “Me? Why would I want to do that?”

  “Because you owe him, after what you did to his boat and all the help he gave you yesterday cleaning up your mess,” Dani said sharply. “If he wants you to shovel his sidewalk from now until summer, you’ll smile politely and say yes.”

  Silver didn’t roll her eyes this time, but she did fold her arms across her chest and give her mother the skunk eye.

  “It’s not a tough job. You only have to drop off the gift, ring the doorbell, and hide until after they open the door and pick it up.”

  That caught Silver’s attention and Dani could tell she looked intrigued.

  “See?” Dani said. “Nothing all that different from what you and your friends used to do back in Boston. Except you never left a present behind.”

  Her daughter made a face. “We only did that a few times and only to the jerks in the neighborhood.”

  “There you go,” Ruben said. “You’ve had practice at knock-and-runs already. This will be a piece of cake.”

  “Who are you giving the presents to?”

  “I can only tell you that if you promise to help me. Otherwise I’ll be breaching the strict confidentiality agreement.”

  Silver was silent for several seconds, looking out the window at the snow now fluttering down in big flakes.

  “Okay. I guess I’ll do it. I don’t have much choice, do I?”

  * * *

  Ruben had a hard time not laughing at Silver’s glum tone, as if she were being asked to pick between a week in the slammer or being put in stocks for the whole town to taunt.

  He was fairly sure he had never been this dramatic when he was thirteen, but then he’d never had to move to a new town and try to make new friends there.

  “I wouldn’t say you don’t have a choice. I can find something else for you to do but it probably wouldn’t be as enjoyable. Cleaning out the cages at the clinic would be the first thing that comes to mind.”

  She groaned. “That’s what my mom always makes me do when I’m in trouble.”

  He glanced at Dani beside him and she shrugged. “Low-hanging fruit. She hates it, so that’s what I give her for punishment.”

  “There you go. We’re on the same page. Helping me out with the Secret Santa project might take longer over the long haul—twelve days, compared to a few hours—but it will be much more fun.”

&nbs
p; “Can I help?” Mia asked. “I can run superfast.”

  She was the most adorable thing, one of those kids who couldn’t help but bring sunshine into the world.

  “I’m sure you do. That would be a big help, especially if Silver’s legs get tired one night.”

  “We have to do this for twelve whole nights?”

  “It will go by before you know it, don’t worry,” he assured her. “And you won’t have to do it by yourself. I’ll take care of some of the nights and maybe I can persuade Zach to come with us a night or two when he doesn’t have practice or games.”

  Ruben hadn’t missed the blush Silver wore whenever his handsome nephew was around. He had a feeling there was a crush simmering there, and if he wasn’t mistaken, the interest was mutual. He wasn’t above using puppy love for his own benefit.

  “So you’re in, right?”

  “Like I said. I don’t have much choice,” she said, though much of the grumpiness had left her voice, as he had hoped, at the prospect of Zach helping them along the way.

  “It will be fun. You’ll see. We’re taking it to a family that has had some rough times lately. There are four kids in the family including twins around your age.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah. Do you know Ella and Emma Larkin?”

  She shoved her hands in the pockets of her coat. “Yeah. I know them.”

  “Then you probably know their mom is in the middle of her second bout of cancer in three years.”

  Beside him, Dani made a small sound of distress. “Oh, that’s terrible. I had no idea the twins’ mom was going through that. Sil, why didn’t you tell me?”

  “How was I supposed to know? It’s not like we talk about our moms all the time. Why would we?”

  “I suppose that’s true enough,” Dani said.

  “They’ve had a rough time,” Ruben went on. “It can be scary for kids when a parent is sick.”

  “Yes, it can,” Dani said. Her eyes looked haunted for a moment. Had she experienced something similar? Sympathy washed over him. If she had, he hoped she had someone to help her through it.

  “My family figured this is a small thing that might help their holidays feel a little brighter while they’re struggling. My mom has a way of finding exactly the right people who need a little lift.”

  “It’s a very nice gesture,” Dani said.

  “So will you do it?”

  “Yeah. I’ll help you. It’s better than cleaning out dog poop,” Silver said. “Are we done? Can I go to my room now?”

  Dani nodded and Silver disappeared in a flash down the hall, closing her door behind her.

  Her mother gazed after the girl, frustration on her lovely features. “That girl. You’d think she’d never been taught manners. A goodbye and thank-you would have been nice.”

  “Don’t be too hard on her. It’s a tough age and she’s dealing with a lot.”

  “That’s no excuse. You’ve done so much for her and she should at least show a little gratitude. I’ll make sure she does.”

  Dani was a good mother. She obviously loved her daughters and was doing her best to teach them how to be decent humans.

  “And if she doesn’t say it, let me. Thank you again for all your help yesterday and for driving us tonight to join your family. It was a lovely evening.”

  “You’re very welcome.” He had enjoyed it, too, far more than he’d expected—in large part because Dani and her daughters had been along.

  “We loved the treats, didn’t we, Mia?”

  “I love churros and chocolate. They’re my new favorite thing in the whole world.”

  “I’m glad you liked it. I’ll be sure to tell my mom.”

  “She’s nice. And so is your dad. I wish they were my abuela and abuelo.”

  “Mia,” Dani said, looking embarrassed. It made him wonder about her family situation. She was so closemouthed about everything. He knew her daughters had a grandmother on their late father’s side, but Dani hadn’t said anything about her own.

  “I think they’d like to adopt you, too.”

  “Okay,” she said happily, then gave a huge, ear-splitting yawn.

  “Bedtime for you, missy. Come on. Say good-night to Ruben, then let’s get in the tub.”

  “Good night, Ruben,” she said, stealing his heart completely by throwing her arms around his waist. He lifted her up for a better hug then set her back down.

  “Night, Miss Mia.”

  To Dani, he said, “While you’re helping her to bed, why don’t I straighten out that Christmas tree for you and maybe hang some of the lights?”

  He could see the instant refusal leap into her expression. Was she reluctant to accept his help or would she have the same reaction to anyone offering aid? He couldn’t be completely sure, though he suspected the former.

  “You don’t have to do that. I’m sure the girls and I can figure it out tomorrow.”

  “I promised. I can have a hacksaw and a couple of plywood wedges here in five minutes and be in and out in half an hour.”

  “Please, Mama?” Mia joined her voice in the plea. “I want to decorate our Christmas tree!”

  “Thirty minutes,” Ruben pressed.

  She gazed down at her daughter then up at him and sighed. “Fine. Thirty minutes. But you’re not decorating the tree tonight, young lady. If Ruben hangs the lights, you can put the ornaments on tomorrow after school. Agreed?”

  “What if I wake up early tomorrow and do it?” Mia negotiated.

  “After school,” she said firmly. “Right now it’s past your bedtime. You need to jump in the tub and put on your pajamas.”

  Mia sighed, apparently knowing she had pushed her mother as far as she dared. “Fine.”

  Dani turned back to him as soon as Mia headed into her room. “You really don’t have to do this.”

  “I want to. Your girls deserve a nice tree and I’m more than happy to help. You could simply say thank you.”

  “I suppose I can’t be too angry with Silver for her lack of gratitude if I don’t demonstrate it myself. Thank you. We would be very grateful for your help.”

  “You’re welcome.” He smiled. “I’ll be back before you know it.”

  “I’ll leave the door unlocked so you don’t have to knock, just in case I’m busy with Mia’s bath.”

  “Got it. See you in a minute.”

  He walked back out into the gently falling snow, unsettled at how relieved he was that the lovely evening and his time with Dani didn’t yet have to end.

  * * *

  She did not want him in her house.

  The entire time Dani helped Mia with her bath, she was aware of Ruben just a few rooms away, almost as if she could smell that spicy, leathery, outdoorsy scent of his soap from here.

  How was it possible that his presence managed to fill the entire house? Yes, he was a big man, with strong shoulders and firm muscles. But he was still only one man.

  “I’m not brushing my teeth with that!” Mia exclaimed suddenly, and Dani realized with chagrin that she had just squeezed hand lotion from the pump bottle in the bathroom onto Mia’s toothbrush instead of the kids’ toothpaste.

  “Oh, man. I’m sorry. Well, I guess it was time for a new toothbrush anyway.” She pulled one from the bottom drawer of the vanity where she kept a few extras and unboxed one for her daughter.

  “It’s purple! My favorite color! Thanks. You’re the best mama ever.”

  If only. Silver would certainly not agree. Her older daughter thought she was harsh and unfeeling, with arbitrary rules and unrealistic expectations.

  Every mother needed a child like Mia in her life, though—one who saw the very best in her and was willing to overlook her mistakes and screwups. She prayed her daughter never grew out of this phase.

  “And you’re the very best Mia a mam
a could ever have,” she said.

  Mia threw her arms around Dani’s neck, her hair wet and smelling of cherries from her shampoo.

  “And Silver is the best Silver a mama could have, too, right?”

  “That’s exactly right,” she answered. It was a good reminder. Yes, her older daughter was going through things. As Ruben said, this was a tough age and Dani had thrown her into a hard situation at the very same time she lost her father in a violent manner. They would get through it. She just had to remember the days when Silver was as sweet and loving as Mia.

  “Can I go see the Christmas tree? I wonder if Ruben is done yet.”

  “Since that was the fastest bath on record and he had to go home to get some supplies, I highly doubt it’s done, but you can go check the status.”

  While Mia raced out of the room, Dani took her time wiping up the water, putting away bath toys, cleaning the toothpaste off the sink.

  She was stalling, she acknowledged, afraid to face Ruben again. She had a ridiculous crush on the man and was going to have to do something about it. She had no idea what that might be, though.

  Finally she could avoid it no longer and made herself walk into the living room where she found the lights dimmed and Mia in one of Ruben’s arms. She was gazing at the tree, her eyes soft with wonder.

  “Look, Mama,” Mia whispered when Dani walked into the room. “We have the most beautiful tree in the whole wide world.”

  Ruben’s gaze met hers and Dani had to catch her breath at the expression in them, soft amusement and a warm tenderness.

  “Don’t you think it’s beautiful?” Mia asked.

  One would think they had never had a Christmas tree before. Maybe there was something special about this one, a sweet-smelling little pine in their new house beside a lake. Or maybe Mia was simply excited to have Ruben there.

  “It is lovely. Look how straight you were able to get it. And I can’t believe you hung all those lights already. That didn’t take nearly as long as I would have expected.”

  “You picked a great tree.”

  “Except for the spindly trunk.”

  “Nothing’s perfect,” he said with a grin. “Other than that, this one is the right height and the branches aren’t too thick. That made it much easier to string the lights. I’m not quite done. There’s one more string I’d like to use for filling in the empty spots.”