“Yeah, thanks,” Ella said, eyes twinkling as she went to Reid with more energy than Megan had seen in months. Motherly instincts told Megan to warn Ella to slow down and conserve her energy, but Ella deserved to feel excited, and Megan kept quiet.
Jessie stepped to the table where Reid had spread out boxes of colorful ornaments, and Megan joined her. Jessie, eyes uncertain, her mouth turned down, dug through the boxes as if searching for the perfect one to hang first.
“Which one is your favorite?” Megan asked, expecting Jessie to pull out one of the many yearly-themed ornaments in the boxes.
She dug a little longer then withdrew a handmade felt ornament in the shape of a Christmas tree. She held it in her hands as if it were worth millions of dollars.
“This one.” She handed it to Megan.
“Why do you like this one best?” Megan studied the ten-inch-tall tree decorated with family pictures cut in circles to mimic balls you might find on a real tree.
“Every year at church we have a decorating party where each family makes an ornament.” Her voice got quiet. “This is the last one I made with my mom.” Tears glistened in her eyes.
“I can tell you miss her a lot,” Megan said softly.
Jessie’s head popped up. “How did you know that?”
“I see the same faraway look in your eyes that Ella gets when she thinks about her dad.”
“Her dad died too?”
“No, but he left us a few years ago.”
“Left you? How come?”
“He had other things he thought were more important,” Megan answered honestly.
Jessie’s gaze flew to her father. He knelt next to Ella, his arms around her, helping her insert the plug into an extension cord. “My dad would never leave me. He’s the best dad ever.”
“I know he is,” Megan said around the lump in her throat.
Jessie ran to Reid. He pivoted, and she flung herself in his arms. A flash of surprise lit his face.
“Hey.” He leaned back. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, Dad. I love you, that’s all.”
He ruffled her hair. “I love you too, Jess.”
She wrapped her arms around him, while Ella gazed at them, longing in her eyes. Ella had plugged in the tree, lighting it with twinkling lights, but she’d forgotten all about it. She only had eyes for Reid and Jessie. She was so obviously missing her father.
Intent on comforting Ella, Megan headed their way, but Reid drew back and circled his arm around Ella. Megan stopped. Waited. Ella slipped onto his thigh while Jessie snuggled next to him.
“Good job with the lights,” he said to Ella.
Her face beamed. Megan’s throat constricted. This was exactly what she’d feared. Her daughter forming an attachment to the one man Megan should never pursue, and the same connection burned in her own heart.
22
Reid didn’t know what he’d done to get such a frosty look from Megan, but as she sat across the Scrabble board from him, her eyes were cool, if not cold.
Not that this had just happened when he and Jessie sat down with her to play games. She’d scowled at him through most of the tree trimming. Whenever her gaze landed on Jessie or Ella, it disappeared and the warm expression he’d been finding so hard to ignore took over.
Jessie placed the tiles for the wordquitto grab a triple-word score.
“Nice!” he said, and she glowed under his praise.
She scored the word, and he ran through the day’s events. Maybe the change in Megan had to do with his earlier conversation with her. She didn’t want Ella to get too close to him and Jessie. He’d planned to keep his distance as they decorated the tree, but when Jessie hugged him and Ella seemed as if she’d lost her best friend, he couldn’t stand seeing the adorable little girl so upset. He’d had to reach out and include her.