A Family Under the Christmas Tree (15 page)

“I'll show you the way.” He led them inside to the back of the church.

David pushed the rolling cart. Troy skipped alongside, and Sophie had to double her steps to keep up. They entered a large carpeted space with folding tables propped against the back wall and chairs stacked high in the corner. A small stage sat at the far end, along with a set of drums and a piano. There were five large bins holding brightly wrapped gifts lined up in the center of the room. Each one was labeled with an age group.

“This is the youth sanctuary,” Pastor Jeff told them. “On Christmas Eve we'll
hold a Christmas party here for the community's underprivileged children. Our youth will serve them cookies and punch and hand out presents. We'll also have a craft station and caroling with our youth band.”

“It's really a nice thing you're doing here,” Sophie told him.

“Thank you,” Jeff said. “I can't take credit, though. A group of the older teens in the youth group came up with the idea. They wanted a way to give back and have fun at the same time.”

Sophie glanced at David. He'd wheeled the cart close to the bins. He and Troy were sorting the presents into the appropriate age containers. His expression was unreadable as he worked, but she knew he'd heard the pastor. What did David think about it all?

“Did you keep your receipts?” the pastor asked. “You can write off your purchases as a charitable tax deduction.”

“Oh. I hadn't thought of that. I'll have to round them up.”

“When you have them, drop them at the front desk. Shirley will give you the proper paperwork.”

“Great. Thank you.”

“No, thank
you
.” Pastor Jeff moved to help Troy. “The younger youth group is putting on a Christmas pageant during the evening service. Troy, would you like to be a shepherd? We're short one.”

Troy's face lit up. He whipped around to David. “Can I, Uncle David? Pleasssse?”

David's smile was full of love. “Of course. You'd make an awesome shepherd.”

Troy beamed. “Can Riggs come, too?”

“Who's Riggs?” Pastor Jeff asked.

Sophie shared an amused glance with David. “Riggs is my grandmother's puppy. He's a ten-month-old Bernese mountain dog.”

“
He has a set of antlers,” Troy supplied. “He could be my reindeer.”

“Is Riggs well behaved?” the pastor asked.

“He is, but he's also still a puppy,” Sophie cautioned. He couldn't really be considering Troy's request, could he? “Big and a bit clumsy.”

“I don't think reindeer attended Jesus' birth,” David said and ruffled Troy's hair.

Pastor Jeff grinned. “Though you're probably right, we'd love to have Riggs join us. I'm sure the puppy would do fine with the goat that one of the other little girls is bringing. We'll have our own menagerie.”

“Yes!” Troy danced in a circle.

Sophie stared at the pastor. “Are you sure?”

“He'll be on a leash, right?”

“Yes.”

“Great.”

“Is there a practice you'll need him to attend?”

The pastor laughed. “The show is pretty self-explanatory. We'll do a quick run-through just before, but that's all we'll really need.”

“Great. So what time do we need to be here?” David asked with a smile.

“The Christmas party starts at four and the service starts at six. So as long as you arrive by five, we'll be good.”

Troy grabbed David's hand. “Can we come for the party, too?”

Sophie bit her lip as she watched dismay march across David's face.

She was about to offer to bring Troy in his stead when David said, “We'll see. Let me think about it.”

Troy scrunched up his face. “Pleasssse.”

“Troy, I said I'd think about it.” David's voice held an edge to it.

Troy stuck out a lip. He looked so adorably miffed that Sophie had to suppress a smile. Knowing what she did about David's past, she wanted to spare him from having to argue with Troy but wasn't sure how. Instead she asked, “What about a costume?”

Troy perked up. “I get to wear a costume?”

She turned to the pastor. “What should he wear?”

The pastor's gaze bounced between them, then settled on her. “An old sheet with a rope belt would suffice.”

“I think we can manage that,” she said, and glanced at David. He watched her with an interest that made her pulse pound. “We should be heading home now.”

He slowly nodded.

“Again, thank you for your generosity,” Pastor Jeff said as he shook their hands.

They left the pastor in the great room. Troy slipped his hand into Sophie's as they made their way down the hallway behind David. The gesture twisted her stomach into knots. His tiny little hand was warm and trusting within hers. Tender affection swelled within her heart. She had to fight to breathe through the tide of maternal yearning surging from someplace deep within.

Confused and panicked, she told herself she wasn't ready for this. For loving Troy and wishing he were hers. What had she been thinking to ever let herself get this close? But she couldn't bring herself to pull her hand away.

David held open the door for them to exit the church building. His eyebrows raised as his gaze moved from Troy and Sophie's joined hands to meet Sophie's gaze.

The intensity in his steel gray eyes made her mouth go dry. She didn't need to read his mind to understand the worry pinching
his brows together. He was afraid Troy was becoming too attached to her.

And she worried she was becoming too attached to both Troy and David.

Time to shore up her defenses and remember this was only a pleasant interlude. This was not something that would last beyond the holidays. No matter how desolate the knowledge left her feeling.

W
ow, little dude. Dressing to impress.” David stopped in the doorway of Troy's room. They were getting ready to go next door for dinner with the ladies and Louise's male friend. Troy had taken a bath and then insisted on dressing himself. He wore a pair of chinos, a denim button-down shirt, and brown loafers.

Troy grinned. “I want to look nice for Sophie.”

David nearly groaned at the innocent words that cut through him like a two-edged blade. His nephew was falling for Sophie big time. David didn't blame him. She was beautiful, fun, and sweet. He'd really enjoyed spending time with her today. And when he'd seen Troy and her holding hands, he'd had to fight the urge to take her other hand. He was getting in too deep. They both were. David needed to pull Troy, and himself, back from the edge of the cliff they were on the brink of careening over.

Troy canted his head. “Aren't you going to change?”

David glanced down at the jeans and hoodie he'd put on before they'd gone to the church. He'd planned to go as is, but now he reconsidered. Maybe he should put on something a little less casual.

He gave his nephew a lopsided smile. “I suppose I will.” He moved into the room and sat on the bed. “But first I need to talk to you about something.” He opened his arms and Troy moved to sit on his knee and wrap his arms around David's neck.

“You remember we talked about Sophie leaving after the holidays, right?” David asked.

“Yes. She's going to take pictures. That's what she does. She's a photographer.”

Sophie must have talked to him about her trip as well. Okay. Good. Troy got that she wasn't staying. “Right. Her job takes her all over the world.” David brushed back Troy's hair from his forehead. “I want to make sure you don't get hurt.”

Troy drew back. “Hurt? I'm real careful. I look both ways before crossing the street. I don't use knives.” The earnest expression on his little face made David's heart ache. “They are for grown-ups. I don't touch the stove either. It could be hot.”

David pressed his lips together to keep his smile under control. He sought for a serious expression. “All good things to remember.”

“That's what Sophie said.”

David sighed. “She's a smart lady. But she's not going to be here much longer. I know you'll be sad when she's gone.”

Troy nodded. “Won't you, too?”

Sucking in a sharp breath, David searched his heart for the answer. “Yes. Yes, I will. We're friends, and it's always hard when our friends go away.”

A frown pinched Troy's eyebrows. “But she's not going away forever. Not like Mommy and Daddy. Sophie will come back, right?”

The burn of tears welled up in his eyes. Troy was so innocent and loving. “I'm sure she will come to visit.”

Troy brightened. “She has to. Her grandma lives next door. And when Sophie is here, she can take care of me. I like when she takes care of me.”

David's stomach dropped. How did he make Troy understand that he shouldn't let Sophie into his heart? He decided he'd have to deal with the fallout when it happened. For now, he pulled Troy to his chest. “You're a great kid, you know that?”

“You're a great uncle.” Troy squeezed him tight and then squirmed to be released. “Go change so we can go next door. Wear something nice.”

“Aye, aye, Captain.”

“That was a fabulous meal,” Simon Bichon declared.

“I'm happy to hear you enjoyed it,” Grandma said. “It was a joint effort.”

Sophie and Grandma shared a pleased look. “But it was your recipe, Grams. I just followed your directions.” She couldn't help darting a glance in David's direction. She told herself she wasn't seeking his approval. Yeah, right. His focus was on his plate, however.

They sat around Grandma's dining room table. Christmas music played softly in the background. Grandma had wanted to use her good china. Banded in gold, the bone china dinnerware was festive against the red linen tablecloth. Candlelight flickered from gold-plated votive candles lining the center of the table and created shadow patterns on the sand and russet floral damask wallpaper lining the dining room. The evening had progressed
with surprising ease. Riggs had given his approval of Simon with a slobbery kiss before settling on his bed to watch over them.

Sophie also approved of Simon. He was a very personable and likable gentleman with silver hair and twinkling light blue eyes that softened every time he looked at Grandma. Sophie couldn't be happier for Grams.

A tug at her sleeve drew Sophie's attention to Troy, who'd insisted on sitting beside her. “Yes, sweetie?”

“Can I have some more enchilas?” he asked. “They're good.”

“
Enchiladas
,” Sophie corrected with a chuckle and met David's gaze across the table. This time he was looking at her. He nodded with a soft smile. He looked handsome in his blue-and-white-striped button-down shirt, open at the collar, and khaki pants. She dragged her gaze from him to dish out the last piece of sour cream enchilada onto Troy's plate.

“I notice you don't have a Christmas tree,” Simon pointed out. “Do you need help procuring one?”

“David has offered to accompany us tomorrow to Sleigh Bells tree farm to pick out one,” Grandma said. “He has a truck.”

“Ah, I see.” Simon glanced at David. “That's kind of you.”

“It's the least I can do in return for all the ladies have done for Troy and me,” David said.

Sophie bit back the unexpected stab of disappointment his words caused. He still insisted he owed them something for spending time with Troy. It saddened her to think David went through life always feeling the burden to repay every kindness sent his way. Why couldn't he just be grateful and accept generosity?

And why did she care?

For Troy's sake, she told herself. The boy was so sweet and bighearted. She'd hate to see him lose that by adopting his uncle's closed-off attitude.

“
Would you mind if I impose and ask if I could join you on your Christmas tree hunt?” Simon asked, his gaze on Grandma.

She blushed under his intent regard. “Of course we'd love for you to come along.”

Sophie was getting a kick out of Simon's obvious affection for Grandma. He was an interesting man. A venture capitalist, he'd told them earlier when David had asked. The two men had a lot in common, as they'd found out as they'd chatted stocks, bonds, and best practices for running a business.

“Who's ready for some dessert?” Sophie asked. “We made Grandma's award-winning persimmon cookies. They go great with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.”

“Me,” Troy promptly stated.

“That sounds delicious,” Simon said.

Sophie stood and gathered her empty plate and the empty casserole dish.

David rose as well. “Troy, let's help Sophie clear the table.”

Troy scrambled from his chair and grabbed his plate and utensils.

“Thank you,” Sophie said to David when their gazes collided. Her pulse skipped a beat.

He smiled and stacked Grandma and Simon's empty plates on his and followed her out of the room.