Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
JOE
The following days leading up to Christmas were some of the best I'd had in years.
It was strange and incredible to have Thea with me.
Even though we were at my house and I was covering the emergency call service, which meant I got called out several times a day, it somehow felt like we were in a bubble.
It was familiar, but not. Thea was back in Haven’s Bay with me.
Since she was hiding out from her brother and trying not to blow up his spot with Jane, it was kind of funny to sneak around town.
We’d agreed we weren’t going to keep us a secret, but we’d wait to break the news to family until after the holidays.
We stocked up on groceries, and I learned Thea had gone from being a pretty good cook in high school to a kick-ass cook now.
Every time I had to leave to deal with a car emergency, she made sure I had food when I got back.
Dexter loved it because he was never alone. I got to discover her all over again.
We drove through town one day because Thea insisted I get a tree.
I usually took my son to my parents’ for Christmas, so I hadn’t decorated.
She held my hand as I drove through town.
It was all very picturesque, and it felt like I was seeing it through fresh eyes even though I’d spent every Christmas of my life in this town.
Thea’s joy at being home was contagious.
“How much time have you spent here since you moved away?”
“The last few years I’ve come up during the holidays and in the summer. We've all been taking turns getting the house back up to speed. Ian’s been doing a lot of work, so I'm curious to see it tomorrow.”
I slowed to turn into the Christmas tree lot. Lights were strung around the edges of the area. “You know there aren't many trees left,” I commented as we walked through a few minutes later.
She shrugged. “We'll get a straggler and make it beautiful. They even sell lights here.”
I let her pick out the tree, which was lopsided but plenty green. That night, she happily strung lights on it.
“Merry Christmas,” she called.
Turning, I saw she’d hung a sprig of mistletoe in the entrance into the kitchen. Dexter's tail thumped on the floor when I dipped my head for a kiss.