Page 91 of Reckless Love
“Don't be ridiculous, but you do look like him with that hair. He would never wear that outfit though.” I make a face. “The outfit is eighties comedy and the hair is surfer movie star. What was that movie your dad played where he surfed?”
“Maybe this won't work,” he says, yanking it off. “No, wait. I almost forgot—I have glasses too.” He pulls them out and I laugh until I cry.
They’re huge and brown and hideous.
“I could also do these sunglasses if the glasses show too much of my eyes.” He holds them up and they’re from the same timeframe.
“What is this about?” I manage to get out.
He holds up a wig with long blonde hair and hands it to me.
“I thought we could wear these disguises and take Levi out to see Santa like we do every year.”
I sober and my lips poke out. “Aww.” I clutch the wig to my chest and look up at him, about to cry now. “I love that you're trying to figure out a way for me to still do that with you guys. I've been so sad about it this year. We’ve normally gone by now.”
“I know,” he says. “Honestly, Levi couldn’t care less about seeing Santa, but he loves everything else about the day, and?—”
“It's tradition,” I finish for him.
“Exactly. What do you think? Can we pull it off?”
“I want to try.”
I take the wig and run to the bathroom, trying to fit my hair under the cap as much as I can before sliding the wig on.
Rhodes follows me and watches.
“What do you think?” I ask in the mirror.
“You’re still hot as hell, even with huge eighties hair.”
“Have you always wanted to be with a blonde?” I move into a sultry pose and then hold up a finger. “Have you always wanted tofake datea blonde?”
He gives me a sideways look and I lift a shoulder.
“No, I have never wanted to fake date a blonde. I love your hair just like it is, but if you ever chose to go blonde, I’d probably love it too because it’d still be you in there.”
He walks back into the closet, leaving me staring after him with my mouth open.
“Let's try on these clothes and see if they work,” he calls. “Maybe we should tell Levi before he sees us this way though.”
“We should definitely tell him, or when he sees you, he's gonna think Pop Pop is here for a visit,” I say and laugh when he groans.
I know this is one of the crazier things we’ve done, but I’m having too much fun to not go all in. Rhodes has thought of everything. To cover Levi’s curls, Rhodes got him a knitted Christmas elf hat. It has ears and everything. I have to pin up the curls hanging below the hat, but that just makes Levi happier. He dances around the living room pretending to grant wishes.
An hour later, we’re pulling onto Jupiter Lane in a truck that Bowie only uses occasionally. Rhodes called to ask if we could borrow it and he came right over. We opened the door and he didn’t recognize us until we started talking, so maybe our disguises will work.
Before we left, we told Levi that we were dressing in costumes for the day, all three of us. And he didn't hesitate, he was all in. Now, when we get him out of his car seat and Rhodes sets him on the sidewalk, he is ready for it. He moves between the two of us and takes our hands.
“Swing?” he says, and my heart tumbles over itself.
It's been so long since I’ve gotten to do this with my boys and I’ve missed it so much. Rhodes and I take Levi by the hand and swing him out between us. He loves it, wanting usto go higher and higher. The elf ears are hilarious, but he still looks so adorable, I can hardly take it. When it starts getting more crowded as we walk toward the area where Santa is set up, Rhodes tells Levi that we've got to stop swinging. He picks him up and puts his arm around me, holding me close.
I feel like part of a couple…a family…and it feels so real. I can't even let my mind fully dwell on how much I want this. Rhodes smiles down at me and we maneuver our way through the crowd.
Silver Hills is my favorite place to be during the holiday season. It’s such a fun combination of whimsical and mystical, with a little bit of the traditional thrown in. Flocked trees are covered in lights and decked with moons and stars, fairies and elves and angels.
We buy hot chocolate from Greer in front of Serendipity and she doesn’t recognize us, but she’s also swamped with customers.