Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 67398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
“Now?” Nolan prompted as I trailed off.
“Now we’re friends.” I leaned in for a fast kiss.
“Friends who are going to make this festival a success.”
With far more glee than I would have thought possible, Nolan applied himself to building frames and then stretching the canvas, all sexy and competent with tools in his hands. It took a fair bit of restraint to not pull him into a corner of my supply room and have my way right there.
Working with Nolan was fun, and I lost track of time until the boys appeared sweaty and out of breath.
“We’re starving,” Legend announced.
“I’m making spaghetti with Cara and the girls. There will be plenty if you want to join us.”
“We shouldn’t invite ourselves,” I hedged, not wanting to cook but also not wanting to make Cara entertain with a newborn.
“You’re not. There’s almost always an extra kid or two over, and Cara enjoys the distraction of adult conversation. She texted me exactly that when I asked if it was okay to invite you.” Nolan grinned, likely because he knew he’d won.
Dinner was a loud, chaotic affair, much better than the nights I spent trying to put together something both boys would eat. And while there was little romantic about it, not with four middle schoolers, a newborn, and a watchful sister-in-law, there was something…comforting about the shared meal.
I liked watching Nolan around his family because it was clear how much he enjoyed being an uncle. This extended visit wasn’t a burden to him. I’d meant what I’d said earlier about making a lot of wrong assumptions about him. Being proven wrong was both wonderful and painful. He might be a far better man than I’d given him credit for, but he was still leaving.
“Here. Let me have a turn with the baby,” I demanded as Nolan tried to juggle a fussy baby and loading the dishwasher. Cara was helping Athena with pre-algebra homework while Stella and the boys watched TV in the family room.
“You?” Nolan looked at me like I’d suggested running off to Vegas.
“I had two babies at the same time,” I reminded him as I scooped up the tiny, angry bundle. “Holding only one is a luxury.”
Instinctually, I did what had worked with the twins, a swaying march while humming low. Miraculously, the little angry man quieted.
“Oh, he likes you.” Nolan’s whole face softened at the calm baby.
“Most babies do,” I said, echoing Nolan’s line about mothers. “They haven’t figured out yet how grumpy I really am.”
“You are not.” Glancing around the empty kitchen, Nolan stepped toward me, expression still soft and open.
Oh. It hadn’t been for the baby after all. It was for me. My skin heated. I was a grumpy, loner surfer at times, but in that moment, Nolan made me feel more accepted than I could remember.
His eyes flickered like he might be thinking about kissing, and I might have risked it, but then Stella barged into the kitchen at top speed and volume.
“Mr. Winters, did you see our Christmas tree?”
“I did.” It had been hard to miss as I’d entered the house, a gaudy, green fake tree with white flocking and dozens of kid-made ornaments.
“Why don’t we have a tree?” Legend followed Stella into the kitchen, swiping a cookie from the platter on the counter.
“Yeah, I want a tree this year.” Ryder’s voice was that sort of near-whine that made my last nerve vibrate. “One of those shiny ones.”
“Oooh, a foil tree! That would be spectacular.” Nolan, apparently, wasn’t nearly so irritated by whining. “What do you usually do?”
“Dunno.” Legend shrugged. “Stockings. Some lights in the window, along with our art from school. A lot of people around here don’t do trees.”
“I have no idea where one would find a foil tree on the island,” I added, not wanting to agree to a hopeless hunt.
“Leave it to me.” Nolan beamed, expression brighter than any lit-up tree. I should have been worried as that was the same look he’d had at the market, but surprisingly, I was reassured. If anyone could make Ryder’s Christmas wish come true, it was Nolan.
Fourteen
I love hearing our students sing as I walk through the halls! Ohana, we can’t wait to have you join us at our holiday festival. Mr. Bell has our students tuned up and ready for the festivities!
NOLAN
As December crept closer to the holiday festival, preparations went from flurries to a blizzard of activity, taking over all of my time at school and much of it outside of work as well. Rehearsals were well underway for the choral numbers I’d choreographed with help from Mx. Lennox, the dance instructor. Their classes would also be performing, and I was excited to see the results.
However, at the moment, I was concerned with getting my dancing surfer Santas from the sixth grade choir all headed in the same direction.