“Ladies, this looks wonderful,” I tell them in between bites.
“Don’t eat all the cookies, Daddy.”
“Sorry, I can’t help it. I love Mommy’s cooking.”
Gwen tries to hide it, but I see her blushing. This is yet another mark against me in the husband department. I’ve forgotten how to compliment my wife. Telling her she’s beautiful, that the meal she’s cooked tastes good, or thanking her for ironing my clothes, should be automatic. I took her for granted, and that has to change, especially if I’m going to prove that I’m worthy of her love.
When the last ornament is placed on the tree, Ruby brings the Santa topper over to me. I lift her high into the air and get as close to the tree as I can. She slips him over the topmost branch with Gwen there to plug him in.
“We’ll get the lights,” I tell Gwen before carrying Ruby over to the wall. She presses the switch, shutting off the overhead light and the lamps that sit on the end tables. The room darkens, but there’s a little glow from the outside where the moon hits the snow.
“Now, Mommy.” On Ruby’s command, Gwen flips on the tree lights, magically lighting up our living room. Ruby starts clapping and wiggles so I’ll let her down. She dances around, singing about Santa coming to town. Gwen and I let her go on for a few minutes before we call for bedtime. The loud grumbles mix with the saddest face ever.
“Come on, Ruby. I’ll take you to bed,” I say.
“I’m not tired.”
“Give Mommy a kiss good night,” I tell her, not playing her game.
“Good night, Ruby. I love you.”
“I love you too.” Ruby pouts her way to her room, mumbling something about how life isn’t fair. If she thinks this now, she’s in for a rude awakening when she becomes an adult. After she’s changed and has been to the bathroom, I’m tucking her in. She pulls a book off her bedside table and hands it to me. “Mommy’s reading this to me.”
I flip to where Gwen left off and start reading the Nativity story about baby Jesus. When I say the name Gabriel, it gives me pause, and makes me think about the transient man that I’ve run into a few times. I haven’t seen him the last couple of days, and thinking about him now makes me wonder where he’s been.
It’s not long until Ruby’s grown quiet. I close her book and place it back on her nightstand before slipping out of her room. I stand in the doorway, unable to move. If things don’t work out with her mother, nights like these will be few. I suppose it’s something I should be used to since I was hardly home in time to tuck her in. This is where I want to be every night.
Downstairs, Gwen is finishing up in the kitchen. She’s wiping down the counter with her hair pulled into a bun, the sleeves of her shirt rolled to her elbows, and her feet bare. She hums along with the song on the radio while I stand there watching her.
She turns, jumps, and places her hand over her heart. “You scared me, Rory.”
“Sorry.” Pushing myself away from the doorjamb, I walk to the island and pull out one of the bar stools. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“It’s fine. Did she go down okay?”
“Yeah, I read to her. When did you buy her that book?”
“I didn’t. Her friend Gabe gave it to her.”
“Gabe?”
Gwen nods. “He’s a homeless man that she’s befriended. At first, I was wary, but I’ve spoken to the school and there’s always a teacher there when he goes in and reads to the kids. For some reason, she’s taken to him.”
“So have I,” I tell her. “I can’t explain it, but every time I see him, I want to help him, but he’s the one helping me.”
“Same here. He’s helping me too.”
I stand and go to Gwen. As much as I want to stay, I can’t. She’s not ready, and I’m not going to push her. “I had an amazing evening, Gwen. Thank you.” I pull her into my arms and kiss the top of her head. I try to step away, but she won’t let go.
“Not yet,” she mumbles into my shirt. “I just need one more minute.”
So do I, but I don’t tell her. I give her what she asks for before leaving her in the kitchen. I’m determined to make her fall in love with me again.
Chapter Eight
Gwen
Since Rory showed up at Ruby’s concert, we’ve seen him every night and sometimes during the day. Just yesterday, he surprised us during lunch. Ruby and I were watching a movie, snuggled on the couch, when the doorbell rang. Rory was standing there with carryout bags in his hand from our favorite burger place two towns over.