Chapter 24
Nash
Christmas is only four days away now, and somehow, everything feels a little more romantic and cozy because of it.
The moment we find a spot to park on the street, Benji throws the back door open, and he and Sam are scrambling out of the car to wait on the sidewalk. Emma unbuckles herself, and I open her door so she can hop out as Caleb opens the trunk to grab the gloves and scarves we packed.
We meet the boys and head to the downtown rink.
It’s alive in only the way December can bring with holiday classics flowing through the speakers above the ice.
The music is just loud enough to compete with the slicing of blades on the ice and the laughter of families and couples skating around the pop-up rink.
Emma tugs on my hand as we walk up to the counter to pay and get our rentals.
“Dad, do you think I’ll fall?” she asks, her voice a jittery mix of nerves and excitement.
I crouch down in front of her. “Nope. Last year’s skills will come right back. Just like skiing.”
“Promise?”
“Yep, and I’ll be right there if you need to get your legs under you first. You can hold my hand while we get started.”
She smiles and seems satisfied enough with my answer to go back to talking with the boys.
After we’re all fitted for our skates and paid up, Caleb helps Sam put on his skates, and I help Benji and Emma.
When it’s our turn, we sit beside each other on the bench, and I can feel the cold from the metal bench seeping through my clothes.
Not sure who thought of making outdoor benches metal, but it’s uncomfortable.
Caleb’s thigh presses against mine, though, as he bends forward to tie his laces, and it gives me a subtle kind of warmth.
“Think we’ll survive this?” he asks under his breath as he ties his second lace.
“We got all three here in one piece. That’s already a win.”
We both laugh, standing up, ready to head toward the ice. Emma pulls on my hand toward the entrance. Sam and Benji are walking in front of us, unaware of the other people around us, so I place my hand on Benji’s shoulder to steer him clear of an incoming group that he pays no attention to.
Once we’re on the ice, Emma keeps her hand in mine, but she also reaches for Caleb’s hand. “Can we all skate together?” she asks, and my heart melts despite the cold we’re surrounded by.
“Of course we can,” Caleb responds.
I smile at him, loving how incredible he is with my daughter.
Emma sticks close to us for a few laps until her confidence builds, and then she’s off, skating ahead, trying to keep up with the boys like she always does. Her laugh echoes off the ice, and the snow lightly falling around us makes everything feel like we’re on a movie set.
Now that my hand is free, I glance at Caleb. I want to reach for him, but we haven’t spoken to the kids yet.
Caleb bumps his shoulder gently into mine. “This is nice, huh?”
“Couldn’t be more perfect. Especially with the snow.” I pause, then add under my breath, “Unless I was able to hold your hand.”
He glances sideways at me with a half smile before steadying himself. “Uh, should we… talk to them soon? No pressure if you’re not there yet, but I think I am.”
I nod, watching as Benji loops past us, skating backwards. “I’d love to have that conversation. Besides, they’re smart, so I think they kind of sense it. Emma asked me the other day if we were friends who like each other,” I admit with a laugh.
Caleb winces. “Okay. So… maybe it’s time?”
“Tonight? Tomorrow?” I ask. It sounds soon, and I don’t want to push if it feels like too much, but I also really want them to know. I want to be able to hold his hand and kiss him, and show everyone how much I adore the man by my side.
He watches Sam try to spin and nearly wipe out before nodding slowly. “Yeah. What if I talk to Sam tonight when we get home? He already wants to sleep over at your house tonight. Maybe we both could?”
I love that we’re making this plan together. Caleb’s used to carrying everything himself and making every decision on his own. And now, he’s asking me, letting me shoulder a piece of it.
“I think that’s a great plan, baby,” I say softly, eyes following the kids as they skate past, cheeks flushed from the cold. “And I think it’ll feel better once we tell them.”
“Me too.”
I glance over, knowing how big of a deal this is for him. “Is there anything you’re worried about with Sam?”
Caleb sighs and bites his lip. “It’s not one specific thing. He’s a good kid, he likes you, and he loves being with Benji and Emma. I don’t think he’ll be upset, but…” He pauses, and my stomach sinks just a little at his hesitation. “It’s just been the two of us since his mom left.”
I nod, listening and understanding where he’s coming from.
“And now this is… different,” he says. “You’re different.
What we have feels different, and it might be crazy to say this, but it feels lasting.
I want him to know what we have, and I want to grow our life together.
But I also don’t want him to feel like anything’s changing in a way that might leave him out. ”
“He won’t,” I promise him gently. “You’ve built a world where he knows he comes first. That won’t go away, and I think this is going to make his world bigger—not smaller—because it feels real to me too.
I want it all with you, Cay, or I wouldn’t be suggesting we have this conversation with the kids. ”
Caleb’s lips twitch like he’s trying not to smile, but it wins anyway. “You’re really good at saying exactly what I need to hear, you know that?”
“Guess I’m just a softie for a guy with a cute kid who turned out to be best friends with mine.” I grin, nudging him.
“Thank you,” he says, looking up at me through his lashes as snowflakes fall on his beautiful face. I want to kiss him so badly.
“Can we get hot cocoa now?” Benji skates up to me, tugging on my coat.
“Please, Dad,” Emma adds dramatically, and I laugh because it’s always something.
“Hot cocoa sounds perfect,” Caleb says, grinning over his shoulder at me, so hot cocoa it is.
We help the kids off the ice, trade skates for boots, and head toward the pop-up holiday market just past the park.
Vendors have their tents up, selling everything from handmade candles and wool scarves to pastries and ornaments.
Holiday music continues to play from speakers somewhere, and snow flurries drift down like confetti.
“Okay,” I say, adjusting Emma’s hat over her ears, “who wants cocoa?”
“Me!” all three kids yell at once.
Caleb laughs beside me, and we all head to stand in line. The line moves quickly, and once everyone has their cocoa in hand, we walk through the booths. The kids aren’t all that excited to be shopping, but at least they have their drink.
We duck into a booth to admire the hand-painted ornaments they have on display.
“This one’s silly,” Emma says, giggling. It’s a snowman holding a sled mid-slip.
“You like it?” I ask, crouching beside her.
She nods. “He looks like he’s gonna fall.”
“I think that’s part of the charm.” I glance up at Caleb and catch him smiling at us, watching the interaction, eyes crinkled at the corners.
An idea sparks, and I turn toward him. “Hey… what do you say we pick out an ornament together? One that’s ours, and we can hang it on the tree we cut down together. First of many, hopefully. It can turn into our little tradition.”
“I really like that idea,” he says, reaching to squeeze my hand quickly where the kids can’t see.
Benji appears next to us with Sam in tow. “They have a snowboarding moose over there,” he says. “It’s so cool!”
Sam pipes up, as usual, always building on Benji’s ideas. “Please, Dad. The moose is so cool!”
Emma, still holding her snowman, looks up. “Can we pick one for all of us?”
“Sure,” Caleb agrees. “I think I know what I’m getting for us,” he says, turning to me.
Caleb ends up buying both the snowman and the moose wearing goggles with a snowboard tucked under its furry arm. He also picks out a cabin ornament for us that’s covered in snow and a perfect representation of our first weekend together after unexpectedly being snowed in together.
“These guys are going front and center on the tree, aren’t they?” I ask as we walk back toward the park bench.
“Absolutely,” Caleb confirms.