Her Christmas Wish

Leah could smell Ben’s clean, woodsy scent as he leaned over and plucked Olivia right out of the bed, growling ferociously as he enveloped her in a bear hug. She shrieked with delight.

When the hug was over and Ben dropped Olivia back into bed, both of them were breathless and slightly rumpled. A swatch of Ben’s sable hair had fallen over his eyes and his shirt had come untucked. Leah, who had watched their antics with fascination, was about to stand up when Olivia attacked. The weight of the little girl’s impulsive ambush sent Leah tumbling off the side of the bed.

And right into Ben’s arms.

She could feel the corded muscles in his arms as they automatically closed around her and they both landed in a heap on the floor. Olivia peered down at them, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

She picked up a pillow.

“Don’t you…” Ben gasped.

Leah picked up the end of the sentence. “Dare!”

“Incoming!” Olivia sang out.

The pillow landed with a thump next to Leah.

“Thank goodness her aim is off,” Ben murmured. His breath stirred her hair and Leah was suddenly aware of his steady heartbeat through the thin fabric of his shirt. Embarrassed, she rolled off him and jumped to her feet, not quite sure how she had ended up smack-dab in the middle of this unusual bedtime ritual.

“Good night, Livy.” Now she was rumpled! Leah had braided her hair that morning and now she could feel loose strands escaping from all directions.

“Aren’t you going to pray with me tonight, Leah?” Olivia asked.

It was something they’d been doing together for the past few nights. Shortly after Leah had moved in, Olivia had crept into her room and found her sitting on the bed, reading her Bible and praying. Olivia was so curious about praying that the next night, Leah had tucked her in and prayed out loud. A simple bedtime prayer, but Olivia had amazed her by joining in after she’d finished.