A Little Bit of Holiday Magic

Liam needs a father. You need a husband. You’ll grow to love me.

As if saying “I do” was all it took to make a marriage work. Grace shook the memory of Staff Sergeant Kyle Gabriel’s proposal from her mind. She dropped her hand to her side. “I don’t know how I’ll repay you for tonight.”

“No need.” Bill motioned to the empty chair next to Liam. “Send me a postcard once you’re settled in Astoria, and we’ll call it good.”

Relief washed over Grace, grateful that he hadn’t asked for more, for something she might not want to give. A postcard would be easy. She would have to remember to get his address. She sat. “I can manage that.”

“You mentioned trying something different by moving to Astoria. Why there and not a bigger city?”

“The Goonies.”

“Excuse me?”

“There’s a movie called The Goonies,” she explained. “When I was dating my husband, Damon was saving money to buy his truck, so we didn’t go out on dates that cost a lot of money. One time he came over to my house to watch movies. We saw The Goonies. Damon said when we got married we should go to Astoria for our honeymoon.”

“Astoria, Oregon?”

She shrugged, waiting for hot tears to prick her eyes. Surprisingly, they didn’t come. Sadness and grief ebbed like the tides. “It sounded cool to a couple of kids from Iowa. We didn’t have the money for a honeymoon after we eloped. We got married at city hall. Two excited kids—me in my Sunday best and Damon in his army dress uniform–with a bouquet of carnations and two plain gold wedding bands. Going to Astoria ended up on our to-do list.”

“You and your son are doing it now.”

Grace nodded. She thought Damon would approve.

Liam yawned.

She took the mug from his hand. A preemptive move. “Tired, baby?”

He shook his head. “P-nut tired. He ready for nighty-night.”

“It’s been a long day for Peanut. You, too.” Bill pulled out Liam’s chair. “I’ll show you the guest rooms.”

“One room is fine.” She stared at the dirty cups and spoons on the table. “Less of a mess to clean up tomorrow.”

“Help yourself to the spare toothbrushes and toothpaste in the bathroom drawer.”

“Have a lot of unexpected guests?” she asked.

“Not a lot, but I like to be prepared.” He winked. “You never know who might knock on the door.”

His tone teased, but Grace doubted his houseguests were stranded like her and Liam. Most likely they were attractive young females eager to spend the night.

The realization unsettled her.

Maybe she was wrong.

For all she knew, he had a girlfriend or a fiancée. The thought didn’t make her feel better.

“Thanks. I appreciate your hospitality. I hope having us here won’t cause you any problems with your...girlfriend.”

“No worries,” he said. “I don’t have a girlfriend.”

Yay. Single. Grace stiffened. Being happy he was available was a crazy reaction, but oh well. She was only human.

And out of his league.

She needed a haircut, a good night’s sleep, a job and the ability to converse with a hot guy without losing her cool.

Not only out of his league, in a different grade. Grace was a kindergartner when dealing with the opposite sex. Bill was working on his master’s thesis.

“Come on, Liam.” She reached for her son. “Let’s get you to bed.”

Liam held his arms out to Bill.

Hurt flashed through Grace. Her chest tightened. She struggled to breathe.

“What can I say?” Bill’s smile lit up his face and took her breath away. “Kids love me.”

“Women, too?” The words came out before Grace could stop them. She wanted to cringe, hide, run away. But where was she going to go? She swallowed a sigh.

Bill’s lopsided grin defined the word charming. “Most women. Except those who think I’m a psychotic killer.”

He meant her. His lighthearted tone told Grace he wasn’t upset. If anything, he made her suspicions sound...endearing. But she was still embarrassed.

“I’ll carry him to the guest room.” He lifted Liam up. “Don’t forget Peanut.”

Liam hugged the elephant and settled comfortably in Bill’s arms, against Bill’s chest. “Peanut like to be carried.”

“Good,” Bill said. “Because I like to carry.”

Watching the two was bittersweet for Grace. The last time Damon had carried their son, Liam had been a year old, barely walking. Babbling, not talking.

Don’t look back.

Grace was moving west to start over. She couldn’t change the past. Damon was never coming back. She needed to look forward for both her and Liam’s sake.

She followed Bill down the hallway to a room with a queen-size cherry sleigh bed and matching dresser and nightstand. A patchwork quilt covered the bed, with coordinating shams on the pillows. Framed pictures hung on the wall. The room sure beat a cheap motel with paper-thin walls, or an expensive hotel she couldn’t afford.

“This is lovely.” But odd considering the house belonged to a single guy. “Did you decorate the room yourself?”

“My mom helped me with the entire house. She thought my apartment was too much a man cave. I give her full credit for making sure everything coordinated.”

“Your mother did a good job.”

Holding Liam with one arm, Bill pulled down the covers. He gently set the little boy on the bed. “There you go, bud.”

Liam thrust out his lower lip. “Not tired. More cocoa and cookies.”

“I’ll take you to the bathroom,” Grace said. “Then I bet you and Peanut will be ready for bed.”