One Tough Christmas Cookie - Lucy McConnell Page 0,93
sleeve over his face, sopping up the moisture.
Faith retrieved a tissue from the nightstand and handed it to him. Then, she grabbed three more and handed those over too.
“It’s the surgery.” He tried to explain away his tears. “It made me all emotional.” He blew his nose, sounding like a foghorn. Leaning back against his pillows, he let out a sigh. “I am sorry.”
Faith patted his leg under the blankets. “I know. Me too. I let the past color my future with you, just like I said I wouldn’t.”
Dad shook his head. “I should have talked to you about moving—respected the fact that you’re a grown woman with a life outside of Sleigh Bell Country. A good life that you’ve worked hard to build. I didn’t have a right to assume you’d give all that up for me.”
She smiled fondly. “That’s what family does. They sacrifice for one another.”
“Are we a family?” he asked, his eyes full of hope.
Faith took his hand. “I’d like to be.”
“Tell me why.”
“Well …” She adjusted her position so she wasn’t falling off the side of the bed. “I like who I am here. I like that you don’t play games—you’re just you, and that frees me up to be just me. I enjoy our time comparing notes as collogues, and I appreciate that you see me as an equal in that area. But really, I love you, Dad, and I want us to be a part of each other’s lives. If that means I move out here, then I’m okay with that.”
“I’ll move to Grafton with you. I thought about it last night. I could work in your clinic and come out here for long weekends to help with the reindeer.”
She was shaking her head before he finished talking. “That won’t work for me.”
“Why not?”
She took a deep breath. “Because I’m selling my half of the clinic to my partner. And because I’m in love with Caleb.”
A smile as bright as the Christmas star lit up Dad’s face. “My little girl’s in love.”
She laughed. “He’s coming out this morning to take me on a sleigh ride, so we’d better get some breakfast.”
They ate cereal and decided to wait until later to open presents. Dad said he didn’t need anything under the tree because he’d gotten the best gift of all. She had to agree.
“Knock, knock.” Caleb stepped into the room.
Faith yelped, glancing down at her pajamas. “What are you doing in here?” Her hair was pulled back in a messy bun, and she didn’t have a swipe of makeup on her face.
“Dunder was a little excited to be out of the barn and got me here in record time.”
Faith stood and set her half-empty bowl on the cookie sheet on the dresser. “I’m not ready.”
Caleb laughed and kissed her temple. “You look good enough to nibble,” he said just for her as he nipped at her ear. She shivered with delight. “How about you get ready and I help your Dad get settled in the front room?”
Faith gave him a grateful look. She wasn’t sure how much help Dad needed getting ready, and she definitely wasn’t sure how ready she was to help him put on pants. “Thank you.” She pecked a kiss to his cheek and hurried out.
It didn’t take her long to put on sleigh-riding clothes. Basically, she layered on as much as she could and still bend her joints. Her hair was buried under a stocking cap, so she made sure to take extra time with her makeup. When she was done, she went out to find Dad looking dapper in a pair of khaki pants and a plain navy-blue button-up shirt. His hair was combed, and his face shone as if freshly scrubbed. He and Caleb were talking low.
“Discussing Christmas secrets?” She put her hands on her hips.
Caleb got to his feet and grinned. “Not secrets—surprises.”
Her back softened. “I like surprises.”
“You’re in for a doozy, then,” Dad laughed from his chair. “You two get going. I want to watch a movie.” He picked up the remote, and the opening credits for It’s a Wonderful Life filled the screen.
Faith went over and kissed his head. “I’ll see you in a bit, and we’ll open those presents. I can’t wait to see what Santa brought this year.”
Dad smiled up at her in response.
She and Caleb stepped outside. “Dunder!” she cried, and she ran across the snow to rub his neck. “Merry Christmas, you handsome beast.”