“That’s not it.” Leaning over, I press my lips to his. “She’s loved having you here. And it’s not like it was a new thing to her; all of us spending the night together. We did at your house, and then after I hurt my arm?—”
At the angry tense of Ronan’s jaw, I quickly change the subject. He gets upset whenever the topic of me getting hurt comes up—not that I can blame him; I’m not too thrilled about it, either—and I’d rather not have it taint the end of an amazing day. “Anyway. She was really excited about doing Christmas together. And she can’t wait to go to Maine.” With a smile, I add, “It doesn’t hurt that your parents have two Golden Retrievers.”
Ronan makes a mock look of offense. “And what about poor Murph? Is he getting tossed to the side?”
“Of course not.” I gently elbow him. “Haley loves Murphy. I’m not sure you’ll ever get him back.”
“I don’t mind sharing,” he replies. “If it makes Haley happy…”
And that’s one of the things I love about him, among many. Ronan doesn’t just care about me. He cares about Haley. If I’d ever wondered just how much, I saw it for myself last night. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the look in his eyes when Haley said she wanted him to be her real dad.
There wasn’t fear or trepidation. There was longing. And love.
It’s still a big decision, and not one we need to make yet. I think Ronan and I need more time together, now that all the craziness that Sharon brought is—hopefully—in the past.
But could I see marrying Ronan? Having him be Haley’s dad?
Do I hope both of those things happen?
Yes. To all three.
“Well, she’s very happy,” I tell him. “Trust me. Having you here made the day even more special.”
“Do you think Haley liked her presents? I wasn’t sure…”
“Liked them? She adored them.” Ronan gave Haley a pair of bright blue ski goggles with ski gloves and a hat to match. And because she’s still a little girl who loves her stuffed animals, he also gifted her a cute stuffed bear dressed in ski gear. “She didn’t even leave the presents under the tree, like she usually does. She wanted to have them in her room, since they were special presents from you.”
“Oh.” His smile brightens. “Good.” Then he adds, “I was thinking, maybe at the end of the season, I could see about getting her some skis from the shop. Sometimes they’ll sell some of the rentals, so they’re a lot cheaper than new.”
“That could work.”
“And what about you?” he asks. “Did you like your presents?”
“Ronan. That’s a silly question. Of course I did. The art classes, and all the supplies… It was too much. But I love them.”
“Nothing is too much, cupcake.” Ronan’s gaze goes soft. “Not for you.”
“Did you like your presents?” I ask, suddenly feeling anxious about it. I didn’t have the money to buy a lot, so I had to get creative. And with one arm out of commission, that made things even trickier.
He chuckles. “Talk about a silly question.” Then his expression sobers. “I loved them. In fact, I think they were the nicest gifts I’ve ever gotten.”
“The nicest?” I tease. “In your entire life? That seems hard to believe.”
“They really are,” he insists. “The scarf Haley made me… I didn’t even know she could knit.”
“It was something my mom used to do. Haley was too young to do it herself at the time. But when she got a little older, she asked to learn. So she could make scarves like Gran used to.”
As I think about my mom, my throat goes thick.
She would have loved Ronan. And she would have been so happy for me.
Because, for as many times as my mom reassured me that I was doing a perfectly good job raising Haley on my own, I knew she wanted me to find the same love and support she had with my dad.
I think I did,I tell her silently.And I think you’d approve.
“You miss her,” Ronan says. It’s not a question, but a statement. Sympathy softens his gaze. “Christmas must be hard.”
“I do. But I like to think she’s watching us. That she’s here. And…” I kiss Ronan’s cheek. “Having you here makes it better.”