“Santa brought us Drew,” I told them.
They squealed with delight, jumping on his lap simultaneously. Drew mimicked their exuberance until the cacophony in the living room became so great that I held two fingers to my mouth and whistled. Everyone stopped and looked at me.
“She really ruins everything, right?” Drew whispered to Hannah.
She nodded seriously. No fun at all, she mouthed back.
“Okay, it’s Christmas. Santa brought Drew, but he also brought some presents. And I need coffee. And breakfast. What do you want to do first?” I asked with mock seriousness.
“Presents!” they shouted.
“Presents after coffee,” I corrected.
They wiggled with anticipation as they sat in front of the tree, waiting for me to bring in the coffee. I sat on the opposite end of the couch from Drew. He touched my hand lightly as I passed him his coffee. Distracting electricity. I couldn’t reconcile our previous night’s activities with my life that included the girls. While everyone opened their presents, I found my mind wandering to the night before—his tentative, but soft touch, his almost shy expression, as though the moment could vanish in a puff of smoke. And I blushed, realizing Drew was watching me. He gave me a sly smile. I’d forgotten how easily he could read my face, my mind. I had no secrets from Drew. My emotions were an open book to him, written in a language that only he knew. Yes, this is going to be different.
The girls were thrilled at the Wii and begging Drew to hook it up for them immediately. They played in their pajamas until my parents came over at one o’clock.
“Drew!” Mom exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”
“Oh, I thought I’d come by for some Christmas ham.”
We were apparently on the same page. I wasn’t sure how or when to tell my parents that I may or may not have a… a boyfriend. The word sounded so juvenile. How does a grown woman, an apparent widow, acquire a boyfriend? Was there some other more socially acceptable word? Lover was too ridiculous. Partner was too… politically correct.
Mom looked thrilled to see him and patted his cheek affectionately. He winked at me.
She carried the ham in a roasting pan covered in cellophane. “I’m going to pop this in,” she said.
Dad joined the girls in the living room, where Hannah was anxious to show him her new toys. Throughout the evening, I kept catching Drew’s eye, and he would wink or smile. I found myself wondering if he was really content playing house with someone else’s kids, in the suburbs. He looked at me with such apparent love that I quickly quelled the thought. When we passed in the kitchen, he touched my hand. Or my shoulder. Or once, he discreetly patted my butt, causing my knees to turn to jelly.
After dinner, Mom and I sent the kids and the men to living room while we cleaned up the dinner dishes.
“How long has this been going on?” she asked.
Or maybe not so discreetly. “What?” I asked, trying to sound innocent.
“You know what. Careful here, Claire. I want you to be happy; you’ve been through so much. But you’re not alone in this, and those kids are fragile. They’ve had a rough year.” She was drying a dish, avoiding eye contact. Her words were true and tough, but her voice was gentle. I remained silent, choosing to neither confirm nor deny. “And I also believe that man has been in love with you all his life. Make sure you know what you’re doing, or there will be four broken hearts in this house.”
I nodded. Message understood. She kissed my cheek and joined my family in the living room amidst shouts and squeals of laughter as Hannah and Drew competed in Wii bowling.
I couldn’t remember a happier Christmas.
Chapter 29
“Hannah! Leah! Let’s go!”
“Seriously, leaving the house in a reasonable amount of time isn’t a thing that happens,” I muttered. Macaroni salad, juice boxes, a half-eaten bag of hot dogs—just in case—and goldfish crackers all went into the soft-sided cooler. Where did I put my camera? I opened the cabinet I usually kept it in and groaned in frustration.
“Relax.” Drew put his arm around my waist. He lifted my hair and kissed the back of my neck. “You are way too stressed about this.”
“It’s our first outing together. As a couple. With all of my old friends. I’m so nervous.”
“I should be nervous, not you. Do I look nervous?”
I shook my head. No. Drew was never nervous.
“Do you know where I put the birthday present?” I asked.
“It’s in the car. Please. Stop.” He pulled me to him and kissed my lips.
My mouth opened, and he gently pushed me against the counter. My knees weakened. This is unnatural. How easily he can do this to me. How it hasn’t faded, even a little.
He pulled away. “See? I relaxed you!” He smirked.