Scrambling out of her coat, she chattered at Jason. “You’re not going back to Africa, are you? I don’t think Africa would be much fun at Christmas. Marcie’s mother said you’d probably be going to some other neat place.”
“I’m supposed to go to Hong Kong in a few weeks.” He glanced at Faith. She didn’t turn. “But I’ll be around for Christmas.”
“Do you have a tree in your room?”
“No.”
She gave him a wide-eyed look. “Well, where do you put your presents? It’s not Christmas without a tree, is it, Mom?”
Faith thought of the years Jason had grown up without one. She remembered how hard he’d tried to pretend it didn’t matter. “A tree’s only so that we can show other people it’s Christmas.”
Unconvinced, Clara plopped into a chair. “Well, maybe.”
“She used to say the same thing to me,” Jason told Clara. “In any case, I don’t think Mr. Beantree would like it if I left pine needles all over the floor.”
“We’ve got a tree, so you can have dinner with us,” Clara declared. “Mom makes this big turkey and Grandma and Grandpa come over. Grandma brings pies and we eat till we’re sick.”
“Sounds great.” Amused, he looked over as Faith scooped eggs onto a plate. “I had Christmas dinner with your grandparents a couple of times.”
“Yeah?” Interested, Clara studied him. “I guess I heardsomewhere that you used to be Mom’s boyfriend. How come you didn’t get married?”
“Here’s your hot chocolate, Clara.” Faith set it down. “You’d better hurry, Marcie’s waiting.”
“Are you coming out?”
“Soon.” Grateful that her daughter was easily distracted, she set the platter of bacon and eggs on the table. Ignoring the half-amused lift of brow from Jason, she took her seat.
“We need carrots and scarves and stuff.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
With a grin Clara gulped down chocolate. “And hats?”
“And hats.”
A snowball hit the kitchen window. Clara was up like a shot. “There she is. Gotta go. Come soon, Mom, you make the best.”
“Soon as I’m dressed. Don’t forget your top button.”
Clara hesitated at the back door. “I’ve got a little plastic tree in my room. You can have it if you want.”
Moved, he only stared at her. Just like her mother, he thought, and fell in love a second time. “Thanks.”
“’Sokay. Bye.”
“She’s quite a kid,” Jason commented as the door slammed behind her.
“I like her.”
“I’ll give her a hand with the snowman.”
“You don’t have to, Jason.”
“I want to, then I’ve got some things to take care of.” He checked his watch. It was only Christmas Eve for so long. When a man was being offered a second chance, it wasn’t wise to waste time. “Can I get an invitation for tonight?”
Faith smiled but simply pushed the food around on her plate. “You’ve never needed one.”
“Don’t cook, I’ll bring something.”
