Christmas at Fireside Cabins - Jenny Hale Page 0,66
didn’t he?”
Lila shook her head, unsure of how to approach the subject.
Rex’s lip wobbled. “He didn’t tell me bye.”
Unexpectedly, tears swelled in Lila’s eyes. “He didn’t tell me bye either,” she said, attempting to swallow the lump forming in her throat.
Rex pushed a smile across his face. “Maybe that means he’s coming back. Right, Miss Lila?” he asked, his features lifting. “Otherwise, he wouldn’t have left his guitar at my house.”
“He left his guitar?” she asked.
“Yeah. He’s got lots of ’em, but he said the one at my house is his favorite, and that’s why he let me use it.” He folded his arms across his chest, confusion washing over his face. “I tried to text him yesterday, but he hasn’t texted back.”
“Y’all frozen yet?” Eleanor asked from the side door of her cabin, interrupting them. “I’ve got hot chocolate, if y’all want to come inside and warm up.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Rex replied, his arms dropping to his sides as he ran to the door.
Lila followed suit, a mixture of emotions swirling inside her. Theo was kind and thoughtful, and it was clear that he really liked the little guy. He’d brought Rex his favorite guitar and let him keep it—but then he just upped and left, without a word, ignoring the poor boy’s messages. It made no sense. The line from the article Piper had sent her went round and round in her mind: He’s a complete fraud.
Rex immediately went over to Chester’s guitar, and it was clear that he wanted to stay connected to Theo in his absence. “Mrs. Eleanor, may I take a look at this?” he asked.
“Of course you can,” Eleanor said, walking over and lifting it off the stand, handing it to Rex.
Rex sat on the floor and began strumming. He hummed a tune as he did, and Lila stopped still, all her attention fixed on the young boy and his fingers moving on the strings. They were a little clumsy, but that didn’t stop the tune from sounding rich and beautiful.
“What is that song?” Lila asked, sitting down by the fire, across from Rex.
“It’s something Theo taught me.”
“Does it have any words?”
He kept his eyes on the strings as he nodded.
“Will you sing them?”
Rex repositioned his fingers on the neck of the guitar and started over, singing in a sweet little voice.
“There’s a light in my soul
When you walk through that door
Your smile so innocent
of all that came before…”
Eleanor came in with their mugs. “That’s beautiful,” she said, setting their hot cocoa on the hearth and taking a seat on the sofa. “Whose song is it?”
“Theo’s,” Rex replied. “He wrote it about a few days ago. That’s all I can remember. We only practiced it a couple times.”
The fact that Theo had these lyrics in his mind took Lila’s breath away. Who was he talking about in that song? “And he just wrote it?”
“Yep. He said he wrote it right there in the coffee shop when he saw somebody walk in.” Rex started strumming another melody.
Lila swallowed, her breath leaving her. But then she actually considered what she was thinking. There was no way that song had anything to do with her. His disappearing act proved it.
“What other tunes do you know?” Eleanor asked, her gaze fluttering over to Lila suggestively.
Lila dismissed it, taking a sip of her cocoa, focusing instead on the chocolaty cream to get her mind off it.
The front door opened, and Judd popped his head in.
“Come on in,” Eleanor said.
Judd and Winston joined them.
“All done,” Judd said with a proud puff of his chest. “Not a lick of brush left. With the spring comin’, I’d suggest layin’ down seed come March or April.”
Winston moseyed over to the fire and flopped down in front of it, putting his head on Lila’s knee and sending Presley bounding up the stairs.
“Thank you so much, Judd,” Eleanor said. “How are you doing?”
“I’m good, I guess,” Judd said. “Not much changes around here with most folks, and that includes me.” He turned to Lila. “Wish Theo would comply with our way of life. He’s always doin’ somethin’. Will you tell me if you talk to him?” he asked.
“Of course,” Lila replied.
“Appreciate it.” He ruffled Rex’s hair. “You ’bout ready to go?” he asked his son. Winston popped up and trotted over to Judd’s side.
As Judd, Rex, and Winston headed to the door, Judd paused and peered over at the broken window. “What happened to that?” he asked.