Christmas Kisses with My Cowboy - Diana Palmer Page 0,83
her white hair had so much spray, it moved with her. “He was in this afternoon, buying twine and a candy bar. He’s a paying customer, but I ain’t his mama so I shouldn’t have to clear up his mess.”
“No, ma’am, you shouldn’t. I’ll talk to him as soon as we get home tonight,” Faith said. Mable’s eyesight wasn’t so good, and Pax had been at Community Care all afternoon, so she must have him confused with another boy. One time the older woman thought a racoon was her dog and brought him into bed with her.
After saying good-bye and exchanging another couple howdys, Faith opened the bright blue front door and stepped into the house. Even though Cody said Noah wasn’t home, it didn’t stop her from peeking around every corner just in case. She imagined what it must have been like growing up in a house like this.
It was spacious but warm, and every nook and cranny of the historic farmhouse was tailor-made for a family. She could see a young Noah racing down the steps as he shouted to his mom that he was headed out to ride his horse. She could even see him there now as an adult lying on the floor with his nephew playing video games.
But no matter how hard she tried, Faith couldn’t picture herself there. Not as anything more than a friendly guest. She wasn’t sure if it was because she’d never dared to wish for a home like this growing up since it was so far out of reach, or if there was something deep down reminding her that wishes were for fools.
Faith might be a cautious romantic, but she’d never be a fool like her mom.
“Who you lookin’ for?” Shelby called from the dining room, where she was wrapping a Superhero bobblehead-themed basket with clear cellophane.
Faith jumped as if she’d been caught with her hand in the Noah cookie jar. But when she saw her friend’s T-shirt, Faith burst out laughing.
“ELF COMMANDER,” Faith read as she set her things on one of the dining chairs.
“Wait for it.” Shelby tugged on a bright red cap that had MR. DECEMBER’S embroidered across the brim. “I got one for the whole family.”
“If Mr. December wasn’t married to my best friend, I’d want to be his, too.” She wondered if Noah had received one. And, if so, what it said. “I can’t believe how much you guys have already gotten done.”
“Because she’s a tyrant.” Their third musketeer, Gina, walked in munching on a fried chicken leg. “She came to my house at 6:00 A.M., on my day off, to bring me here and hasn’t let me leave. I’ve wrapped more baskets for the silent auction than I’ve had cases this year.”
“We’ve already taken five loads of auction items to the community center. There’s a storage room off the back they’re letting us use to safely store everything until Saturday night.”
“See? Tyrant.”
“At least you’ve been fed.” Faith had maintained a steady diet of icing and Red Bull for the past few days. She spotted a new iPad on the table and her mouth fell open. “People are donating iPads?”
“Ten of them. Plus there’s a ton of things I would bid on.” Shelby picked up a beautifully embossed envelope. “A certificate for a girls’ day at the spa. There’s a weekend getaway for two to Padre Island. Someone even donated the new PlayStation. Can you believe it? You can’t even find them in stores anymore. Everyone’s sold out for Christmas, so Cody has his eye on it.”
“If he wins, that’s all Pax will talk about for the next six months. He’ll want to move in so he can play nonstop with JT.”
“Mr. But Dad Played With Them has his heart set on a pair of Battle Rifle Pro laser guns The Toy Box downtown donated,” Shelby said. “After their little G.I. Joe stunt, I told him to dream on.”
Faith’s stomach flipped at the possibility of finally getting Pax his wish. She didn’t want to reward bad behavior, and she sure as heck didn’t want Pax comfortable holding a gun, but she also didn’t want him to be excluded anymore. This might be her last chance to get him his Christmas wish.
They’re toys, she reminded herself, clearly marked as toys. And he had so much fun playing commando with the other kids, it would be great if he didn’t have to wait for someone to “tap out” to play.