Page 43 of Stuck Together
Her bottom lip stuck out slightly and the excitement in her eyes faded. “Just okay? That’s not what I expected a little girl to say. I figured you loved Christmas.”
She avoided looking up and me, keeping her eyes trained on her hands in her lap. “I guess I should, but Daddy is always sad at Christmas time.”
“Oh. Why?”
She glanced up at me and the look on her face held guilt. What could Rylee possibly feel guilt over? She grabbed hold of her notebook and held it close to her chest. “He doesn’t know I know. It’s a secret so you can’t tell him I told you.”
“Are you sure you should be telling me your daddy's secrets?” Was it bad of me that I really wanted her to tell me? Yes, yes it was. I should insist she keep it to herself. If Logan wanted me to know what it was, he would tell me.
“It's not a secret from anybody but me.” I hated how defeated her little voice sounded.
“I don’t understand. Why would he keep a secret from you?”
Her eyes turned glassy and her bottom lip quivered slightly. I wanted to pull her into my arms and hug her, but I didn’t know if that was okay since I didn’t really know her. I looked toward Logan’s office and he was absorbed on his call and wasn’t paying any attention to us.
“My mommy left on Christmas Eve when I was a baby and Daddy doesn't want me to know. It makes him sad.” She wiped her face and sat her notebook back on the table before she pulled her crayon box out of her backpack.
Now I understood. I wasn’t just that Kimberly left them, it was when she left him.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” I was out of my element here. I’d never spent time around kids and didn’t know what the right thing was to do. Then and idea came to me. “We can’t change the past, but maybe there’s something we can do this year that will make your dad happy.”
She looked up at me with hopeful eyes. “Like what?”
“When we were kids, Christmas was your daddy's favorite time of year.”
“Really?” Her voice kicked up a notch.
The fun Logan and I had that first night at the resort making Christmas tree ornaments reminded me of when we were kids. Making those ornaments as kids was a family tradition that we all loved. Maybe I can help Rylee bring that tradition back.
“When your dad and I were growing up, we used to spend Christmas together and every year we would make handmade ornaments and exchange them on Christmas Eve. Your dad loved that tradition more than any of us.”
“We’ve never made Christmas ornaments.” Her smile returned and she looked excited for the first time since Logan first left her with me.
“If you like, I could help you make an ornament this year for your dad. Do you think that would make him smile?”
She bounced in her chair and clapped her hands. “Yes.”
“And I bet if you created new happy memories with your dad, he wouldn’t be so sad anymore.”
Her eyes widened and she stared at me for a moment like she was thinking really hard about something. “Why didn’t I ever think of that?”
“Sometimes it’s hard to see the answers when you’re on the inside. Now let's see what else you have in your in your art book.”
After she finished showing me all her artwork, Rylee spent the next several minutes drawing while I finished working on some files. I was anxious to get through these so I could turn my focus to the Bennington account. I still couldn’t believe Logan planned to hand the account to me to manage once we signed the deal. It was the kind of opportunity I’d been dreaming about for a years.
A part of me couldn’t help but wonder if he was giving it to me as a peace offering or if he really did think I was better suited for it. I really hoped the latter.
I was so confused where he was concerned. In one moment I criticized myself for being too harsh with him and the next I told myself I was playing it smart. He was my boss after all. I wished I could push past that reality. If we could find a way to let go of the past and see what the future held then maybe we could make it. Maybe, just maybe, that future had a place for the two us together.
“Hey.” Logan knocked on my door and Rylee jumped up and gave him a hug. It was cute to see how much she adored him. I never pictured Logan as a father, but damn, he was a good one.
“Hey,” I said in return. My resolve to not enter into an intimate relationship with him was slowly starting to weaken. If I had any strength in me at all, I never would’ve slept with him last week.
“Get your stuff together.” He directed Rylee before he looked back to me. “I sent you an email with all the file location for the Bennington account. Let me know when you’ve had a chance to look over and can meet to discuss any changes you might have.”
“Sounds great. Will do.” Rylee slipped her things in her backpack and sat it on the ground. She turned to me and rushed into me for a tight hug. I was so surprised by her action that it knocked me back in my chair. I regained my composure and hugged her back.
“Thanks for letting me stay with you.” She smiled up at me and a little more of my resolve was chipped away. Did Logan put her up to this?