A Holiday Temptation - Tiffany Patterson Page 0,47
“That way.” She points down the block. “I want to show you which house is my fave.”
“Away we go,” I say as I begin rolling us farther down the block, right in the middle of the road, like everyone else.
“Oh, my goodness. I love this song,” she excitedly declares as Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas” begins playing on the loudspeakers.
Groaning, I roll my eyes. “Does this mean we’re going to have to watch that fucking movie again?”
“Love Actually? Hell yeah,” she giggles.
We watched the film the previous weekend after decorating my place. For most of the week after work, we found ourselves at my apartment, eating dinner in front of the television, watching yet another one of those Hallmark or Lifetime Christmas movies.
“And stop pretending like you didn’t enjoy it. I saw you tearing up at the end during that airport scene.”
“First of all, I have late seasonal allergies. Those tears were nothing more than an allergic reaction. Secondly, which house is your favorite, lady? You're heavy.”
“Oh my gosh, am I? Stop, let me get off.”
I laugh and keep pushing. “I’m just messing with you. I can’t even feel your weight.”
She gives me a pointed glare, causing my laughter to increase.
“Stop. It’s this one.” She points to the house at the end of the cul de sac. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” She sighs.
The house is massive, the largest one on the block, but there’s a homey feel to it. The white and grey siding and a candle in each of the windows give it an inviting feel. The owners of this home have gone all out. Colorful lights blink in time with the beat of the holiday music that blares out of the speakers tucked behind the small Christmas trees on either side of the doorframe.
“This is how I want to decorate my own home when I have a family.”
“When we have a family,” I declare.
Jackie turns to look me right in the eye.
I don’t turn or look away because I mean that statement with every fiber of my being. Even with knowing she’s hiding or holding something back from me, I’ve never been more sure of anything.
“What did you just say?”
“You heard me the first time.”
She visibly swallows. “Mark—”
“You want a family, don’t you?”
She nods slowly, cupping her hands in front of her.
“With me?”
Yes, I know it’s only been a few weeks since she’s been back in my life. We were teenagers the last time we knew each other. We’ve both grown up, but even after everything we’ve been through, separately and together, I know she’s it for me.
“Mark, I— Watch out,” she blurts, suddenly, her eyes ballooning as she gapes at something over my shoulder.
I turn and duck in time to let a Nerf football sail directly over my head.
“Andy, we told you about throwing that ball around,” a woman yells as a boy appearing to be no older than ten or so runs past me to retrieve his ball from the ground.
“Sorry, mister,” he says contritely, peering up at me.
“Andy, let’s go. So sorry about that.” His harried mother rushes over, giving me a sympathetic expression before grabbing her son’s arm.
I watch as she tugs him away.
He turns to me, his face turned up in curiosity. “Mom, how does someone end up in a wheelchair?”
I watch as his mother’s cheeks flush in embarrassment. Her gaze quickly flickers over to me before moving back to her son. “Shhh, don’t be rude,” she whispers.
Turning my chair to face them, I say, “People end up in wheelchairs in all types of ways.” They stop and turn to me, the boy angling his head as if I have his rapt attention. I roll closer, making eye contact with him.
“Some are born needing a little extra assistance.”
“Is that what happened to you?”
“Andy.” His mother tugs his arm.
I raise my hand and head to peer up at her. “It’s okay. He’s just curious.” Looking back to the young boy, I answer, “No. I was able to walk until I took a pretty nasty fall over a staircase.”
His face drops. “I’m sorry.”
I shake my head. “Yeah, it sucked for a while and took a long time to get used to, but I’ve got a great life. You see this woman right here?” I wrap my arm around Jackie as she’s moved next to me. “This is the woman who saved my life that night. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for her.”
Pausing, I turn my head to look up at Jackie,