a blazing fire crackled in the hearth. The buttery smell of the popcorn they’d eaten earlier in the evening still hung in the air.
After dinner, instead of playing the game at the table—as Lauren had expected—Seth had placed it on the floor in front of the fireplace. Then he’d used pillows to prop Ivy up against the sofa right in front of the game. The proximity hadn’t helped. With her right arm in a bright pink cast and her left leg in a plastic walker cast, Ivy still needed help playing the game.
“Your turn.” Seth moved the board closer to his daughter. With her left hand, Ivy hit the bubble.
A huge smile spread across the child’s face.
Seth glanced at the board and groaned loudly before moving her peg to join the other three in the Finish zone. He shifted his gaze to Lauren and heaved a dramatic sigh. “Can you believe she beat us again?”
“Super job, Ivy.” Lauren grinned. Competitive as she was, the look of pleasure on the little girl’s face made losing painless. “You’re definitely the Queen of Trouble.”
“I know I am,” Ivy responded with childlike honesty. “Now I want to play Go Fish.”
Lauren widened her eyes in mock surprise. “Go fishing? In this weather?”
Ivy’s giggles turned to peals of laughter. “It’s a card game, silly.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever played it.” Though she’d heard of it, there weren’t many children’s games Lauren had played. The day school she’d attended had been focused on academics, and her evenings had been filled with “enrichment” activities.
“I can teach you.” Ivy’s voice quivered with excitement. “It’s not hard. And it’s really, really fun.”
“You’ll have to show her tomorrow.” Seth glanced at the clock on the wall as it began to chime. “It’s nine o’clock and your bedtime. Tomorrow will be a big day.”
The child’s pout morphed into a smile. “I’ve been super-duper good this year.” She leaned forward, resting her arm cast on the leg propped up on a pillow. “Santa is going to bring me lots and lots and lots of presents. Right, Daddy?”
Lauren sat back, curious how Seth would respond.
“I’m sure you’ll get some,” he said in a matter-of- fact tone. “But Santa will be stopping at the homes of many other children who’ve also been good. He has to have presents to give them, too.”
Lauren shifted her gaze from Seth to Ivy then back to Seth. Surely Ivy didn’t actually believe in Santa Claus. Lauren’s parents had set her straight at a young age about the jolly bearded man, a figure perpetuated by advertising firms and retailers.
“I want to go to bed now,” Ivy announced. “’Cause if I’m not asleep, Santa won’t stop.”
Seth nodded his approval. “Did Mrs. Swenson help you wash up this evening?”
Ivy nodded. “But I have to go to the bathroom.”
“I can take her,” Lauren volunteered, not sure what helping would involve, but willing to try. After a delicious dinner of prime rib and mac ‘n’ cheese followed by three fast-paced games of Trouble, she was ready to stretch her legs.
“Thanks, but I’ve got it covered.” Seth pushed to his feet, leaned over and lifted Ivy into his arms then whinnied. “Hold on, cowgirl. The horsey is leaving the starting gate.”
Lauren stared in awe as he galloped from the room. She couldn’t imagine her father playing such a game with her. In fact, she couldn’t remember her father ever even hugging her. He had shaken her hand when she’d graduated from college. And again when she’d earned her master’s degree...
She shoved aside the memories and rose to her feet. By the time Seth trotted back to the living room with Ivy, Lauren had finished her eggnog, put away the board game and returned the pillows to the sofa.
Seth smiled at Lauren as he settled Ivy on the sofa. “I’ll be right back.”
He returned a moment later with a glass of milk, a plate of graham crackers and a container filled with assorted Christmas cookies. After removing the Tupperware lid, Seth carefully placed the container on Ivy’s lap then held out the plate.
Lauren stared with interest at the array of cookies. She couldn’t believe they were going to eat more after the big dinner and popcorn they’d already consumed. “They look delicious but I don’t think I can eat another bite.”
“These aren’t for us.” Ivy’s fingers tightened around the lip of the container, as if fearful Lauren was going to snatch them away and gobble them down. “These are for Santa.”
Ivy selected three of the most