Laughing, she walked to him. “I mean it, Jason, you were. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.”
“Then show me.” He pulled her down onto his lap whereshe sank into pillows. She laughed again and kissed his nose.
“I’ve always been crazy about men in red suits. I wish Clara could have been here.”
“Why wasn’t she?”
With a little sigh, Faith let herself relax against him. “She’s too old for all this now—so she tells me. She went shopping with Marcie.”
“Nine’s too old?”
She didn’t speak for a minute, then moved her shoulders. “Kids grow up fast.” She turned her head so she could look at him. “You made a lot of them happy today.”
“I’d like to make you happy.” Reaching up, he stroked her hair. “There was a time when I could.”
“Do you ever wish we could go back?” Content, she let herself be cradled in his arms. “When we were teenagers, everything seemed so simple. Then you close your eyes for a minute and you’re an adult. Oh, Jason, I wanted you to carry me away, to a castle, to a mountaintop. I was so full of romance.”
He continued to stroke her hair as they sat, surrounded by dolls and the echo of children’s laughter. “I didn’t have enough of it, did I?”
“You had your feet on the ground, I had my head in the clouds.”
“And now?”
“Now, I have a daughter to raise. It’s terrifying sometimes to realize you’re responsible for another life. Did you…?” She hesitated, knowing the ground was dangerous. “Did you ever want kids?”
“I haven’t thought about it. Sometimes I have to go into places where it’s tough enough being responsible for your own life.”
She’d thought of that—had nightmares about it. “It still excites you.”
He thought of some of the things he’d seen, the cruelty, the misery. “It stopped exciting me a long time ago. But I’m good at what I do.”
“I suppose I always knew you would be. Jason.” She shifted again so that her eyes were level with his. “I am glad you came back.”
His fingers tightened when she rested her cheek against his. “You had to wait until I was stuffed like a walrus to tell me that.”
With a laugh, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “It seems to be the safest time.”
“Don’t bet your life on it.” He pressed his lips to hers and felt hers tremble. “What’s so funny?”
Choking back the laugh, she drew away. “Oh nothing, nothing at all. I’ve always dreamed of being kissed by a man in a beard wearing a red hat and bells. I’ve got to clean up this mess.”
When she rose, he hauled himself up. “The timing has to click sooner or later.” She said nothing as she gathered up bits of colored paper. Jason picked up his sack and glanced inside. “There’s one more box in here.”
“It’s for Luke Hennessy. Chicken pox.”
He looked at the box, then back at her. Her hair curtained her face as she pulled a sticky candy cane from the carpet. “Where does he live?”
Still holding the candy, she stood up. Some might say he looked foolish, padded from chest to hips, wrapped in red and with his face half concealed by a curly white beard. Faith thought he’d never looked more wonderful. She walked to him to pull the beard down to his chin. Her arms went around him, her mouth found his.
Her kiss was warm as it always was, full of hope and simple goodness. Desire raced through him and settled into sweet contentment. “Thank you.” She kissed him again in friendship. “He lives on the corner of Elm and Sweetbriar.”
He waited a moment until he was steady. “Can I get a cup of coffee when I get back?”
“Yeah.” She adjusted his beard again. “I’ll be next door.”
CHAPTER 7
He had to admit, it had given him a kick to walk through town. Kids flocked after him. Adults called out and waved. He was offered uncountable cookies. The biggest satisfaction had been the awe on the young Hennessy boy’s face. That had topped the wide-eyed shock of his mother when she’d opened the door to S. Claus.
