The Snuggle is Real (Christmas Falls: Season 2)

Chapter 11

CHAPTER 11

Mason

Ford and Charlie cleared their dishes, and I laid out the cookies on the wax paper provided in the kit Joel had given me.

I hadn’t had time to pitch more than a few businesses about the Adopt-A-Family program. I knew some of them wouldn’t have the resources to give anything more this late in the season, but I’d figure out a way to make up the difference.

After all, I’d made Ford promises—and I had no intention of reneging on them, even if it meant delving into my own pocket.

No one had to know.

I set out red and green glitter—but the edible kind—along with some multi-colored confetti candy topping.

“What else do we need?” Ford asked from the doorway.

His voice rumbled through me. Damn, it was deep and stroked something inside that had been too long neglected.

I needed something, all right. But I wouldn’t be getting it from the straight dad who needed Holiday Hope’s services.

I focused on the task at hand.

“Bowls, butter knives, maybe some plates to keep the mess contained?”

“You got it.”

He grabbed the rest of the supplies, and we got everything set up. Just as I was wondering what had happened to Charlie, she ran in wearing a pajama set covered in candy canes.

“Oh, you’re dressed for the occasion,” I said. “Now I feel so drab in my boring brown sweater.”

Charlie giggled. “Ford bought these for me. Everything here is so Christmasy! It’s fun.”

“It is fun.” I set a snowman-shaped cookie on the plate in front of her. “Okay, you can take this butter knife to spread frosting over the cookie, and—whoa, maybe not that much!”

Charlie scooped a huge glob onto the cookie and smeared it around.

Ford grabbed two more cookies. “Here, let’s share the wealth.”

Charlie didn’t seem to care that her cookie looked more like the abominable snowman than Frosty. She grabbed the red and green glitter and dumped a smattering over top.

Well, now the snowman had bling.

Ford stopped trying to rein in her over-the-top decorating and eventually gave in to the inevitable, retaking his seat.

I decorated a Christmas tree with green frosting, a light dusting of red glitter, and dabs of red, blue, and yellow frosting to represent ornaments.

“That’s so good!” Charlie enthused when I set the finished cookie on the wax paper next to hers. “I can’t wait to put up our Christmas tree! Can we do that tonight too, Ford?”

“Oh, I don’t know, kiddo. It’s already kind of late, and I have all that stuff tucked away in a closet.”

“ Please ?”

With a groan he pushed away from the table. “Let me see what I can find.”

Charlie resumed decorating. Judging by the muttering and bangs coming from the other room, Ford could use some help.

“I’ll be right back. Keep frosting. You’re doing great.”

Charlie beamed at me, a streak of blue frosting across one cheek. She’d probably need a bath before bed at this rate, but at least she was having a great time.

I found Ford in a bedroom in the back of the house. His bedroom, by the looks of it. I stopped at the threshold, suddenly aware I probably shouldn’t enter without knocking.

“Everything okay?”

“Not really.” He gestured to the bedraggled tree lying on its side. “I haven’t set this thing up in years.”

“Oh. Well, maybe with some fluffing and decorating…”

He huffed a laugh. “Not sure it’s salvageable. Truth is, I haven’t gotten along with Christmas since my divorce.”

I leaned against the doorjamb. “No other family to celebrate with?”

“My mom is down in Florida. She used to fly in for Christmas Day, but eventually she decided it was just too painful a reminder. Losing my sister and all...”

“Oh, I’m so sorry.”

“Yeah. Heart defect caught us all by surprise,” he said. “Anyway, it’s too painful for Mom to be here. Just reminds her of Nicole.”

I nodded. “But what about you?”

“What about me? I’m fine.”

“Your mangled tree says differently.”

That tree in question wasn’t just bent a little out of shape from its time in the closet. It looked as if it had been assaulted. Fake trees could generally bounce back from a lot; you could straighten and spread out the branches, smooth down pine needles.

But this one? I wasn’t so sure.

Ford grimaced. “Would you believe someone broke in and knocked my tree over and then stomped on it a few times?”

“Nooo?”

“Yeah, didn’t think so.”

“What really happened?”

He sighed. “LuAnne told me she’d met some new guy and she was taking Charlie with her to Minnesota.” His eyes gleamed. “The divorce was hard enough, but at least I still saw Charlie. But this…” He grimaced. “There was nothing I could do to change her mind. So I kicked the shit out of my tree. Seemed better than the alternative.”

“What would that have been?”

“Going to confront LuAnne and her new man. Starting a fight. Getting myself arrested.” He sighed. “So now you see.”

“See what?”

“Why I don’t deserve your help.”

I entered the room, boundaries be damned, and crouched next to Ford and the tree. “Everyone deserves help when they need it, Ford.”

He shook his head. “Look what I did.”

“To a fake tree,” I said. “It could have been worse.”

His gaze met mine, sad and guarded. “What am I gonna tell Charlie?”

I put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed gently. “Leave that to me.”

We re-entered the dining room to find Charlie eating her artwork.

“Slow down, girl!” Ford exclaimed. “How many of these have you eaten?”

Charlie held up two fingers. Then added a third.

“Just three?” Ford scanned over the total number of cookies on the table. Yeah, there were only eight left.

Charlie added a fourth finger. “Sorry,” she mumbled, crumbs flying. “They’re really yummy!”

“I bet,” Ford said. “But that’s enough sugar for one night. Let’s get you cleaned and ready for bed.”

“But what about the Christmas tree?”

Ford looked to me, but I was ready. “Good news, Charlie. We’re going to get a real tree from the Christmas tree farm!”

Her eyes widened. “They have farms for Christmas trees?”

“They sure do. You can pick out your favorite tree, and they’ll help us cut it down and bring it back to your place.”

“Wow! That sounds so cool.”

“Doesn’t it?” Ford said with a twitch of lips that might have hinted at a smile. “Okay, go wash up and brush your teeth. I’m going to walk Mason out, and then I’ll come read to you.”

“Okay. Thanks for the cookies, Mason!”

Charlie flung her arms around my waist, hugging my middle. I gently smoothed her curly hair, touched by her affection. It had been a long time since I’d had a proper hug, being away from my family.

“Anytime, Charlie. It was fun to spend time with you both.”

Once she’d gone into the bathroom, Ford turned to me. “I know you want to help us, but getting us a tree? You can’t honestly tell me you’ve got donations earmarked for that.”

“Not yet.”

“Mason…”

“Ford, I told you that I was testing this new Adopt-A-Family program. The point isn’t to provide only for someone’s base needs. If it was, we’d be called The Needs Foundation. We’re the Holiday Hope Foundation, because we want families to hope for better. We want them free to enjoy the holidays, to spend time with their loved ones, to celebrate this special season without worry and stress.”

Ford chuckled. “Life without worry? What’s that like?”

“If you relax and accept what’s freely given, then maybe you could find out?”

He rolled his shoulders. Then his neck. I wasn’t sure if Ford was gearing up for a thank you or a wrestling match.

“I guess I have been a little uptight about all this,” he admitted.

“Just a smidge,” I teased.

“I’ll try to be more gracious.” His brow furrowed. “It’s not that I don’t appreciate what your agency is offering. I really do.”

“I’m glad to hear it.”

“I just…I can’t help but feel like I shouldn’t need help. That I should do better.”

“Give yourself a break, Ford. You’re on your own without a support system. That’s why agencies like mine exist. To fill those gaps. It doesn’t mean you’ll need us forever.”

“I had no idea I’d have Charlie or I could have planned ahead, saved more, maybe lined up more work.”

I nodded. “There you go. This is an extenuating circumstance.”

He smiled ruefully. “You’re just placating me, aren’t you? The poor guy with the hurt ego.”

I laughed lightly. “I guess it didn’t work?”

“Eh, better than you telling me to stop bellyaching and put Charlie first.”

“You’ll always put Charlie first,” I said. “I’m sure of that.”

“You’re right.” He opened the front door to gesture me through. “That girl flashes her big brown eyes at me, and I’m toast.”

I chuckled. “Welcome to being a dad.”

He smiled. “I guess I am one now, huh? At least for a little while.”

“Maybe you always have been.”

“Thank you,” he rasped, eyes gleaming. “For everything.”

I held his gaze. “It’s my pleasure.”

As I walked out to my car, I realized I meant it. Maybe a little too much.