Page 43 of A Daddy for Christmas 3: Rowan

He gazes around the room. While the box of decorations would have gone a long way in my apartment, they don’t in his. We concentrated our efforts around the lounge area, turning it into a sparkling retreat.

“Yes. They brighten the place up a bit.”

“It was bright already.”

“All right, they make it more cheerful.”

I grin. “They do. I guess Christmas music is a step too far?”

He hooks his top lip.

I raise my hands. “You can’t blame a boy for trying.”

He points to a music system on the opposite wall. “Nothing with lyrics, or too jingly.”

I cross my fingers over my heart. “I promise.”

I jump up and go and investigate. He has an iPad hooked up to a fancy-looking stereo. I use the music app to create a playlist of Christmas music. No songs. Nothing toojingly, as requested.

By the time I’m done, Damon has hung the lights behind the sofa. He’s created a rough tree shape on the wall, with small rows at the top that get bigger as the lights snake downwards to a vertical central line, forming the bottom of a trunk.

“That looks beautiful, Daddy.”

Smiling, he bends down and flicks the lights on. They sparkle slowly. He dims the room lighting, sits on the sofa, and beckons me to him. As I approach, he takes my hand and pulls me onto his lap, cradling my lower back with his strong arm.

“Happy, boy?” he asks.

“Very, Daddy. Thank you for humouring me.”

“You’re welcome. I told you, I want to make you happy.”

I rest my head on his shoulder. “You are.”

“Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?”

“Mum would buy us matching Christmas pyjamas. We’d put them on and snuggle up to watch a film with fresh popcorn, and hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows.”

“A Christmas film?”

“Yes. The films changed as I got older, and we’d often give new films a try. Even if the film was terrible, it was still fun.”

“Is this the first Christmas you’ve spent without your parents?”

I sigh. “Yes. Does that make me pathetic?”

“Not at all. Many people would argue that Christmas should be spent with family.”

“But not you?”

He shrugs. “I prefer to hide away from it all. But this year is going to be different. We’re going to do all the things you enjoy.”

“I hope you enjoy them, too, Daddy.”

“I am so far, because we’re doing them together.”

I smile. “That’s kind of sappy.”

“Do you like sappy?”