Chapter 32: Chapter 32

The inside of Reid’s house was just as impressive, and Melody couldn’t help but be awestruck at the new cherry wood floor and the refinished fireplace. “This place looks amazing,” she said as Reid followed her inside and closed the door behind them.

“Thanks,” he said. “We’ve finished most of the downstairs, but the upstairs has a long way to go.”

“My friend Olivia lived here when we were in high school. Have you met her? She still lives in town.” He shook his head, and she continued. “Anyway, the house looked much different then. I don’t think her parents knew much about taking care of old houses.”

“Well, whoever lived here before us didn’t do a whole lot of repairs,” Reid agreed. “But the bones were still good, so most of what I’ve done is cosmetic.”

“New floors, new railing on the stairs, refinished fireplace?” Melody questioned.

“Most of it…. Not all of it.”

“Look at the tree!” Michael exclaimed, pointing to where his Christmas tree stood in a corner next to the fireplace.

“It’s beautiful!” Melody agreed. She did notice that their tree was not in front of the window, despite Reid’s comment yesterday that her tree would look nice there.

“It’s so tall, it was hard to find a place where it would fit,” he explained, and Melody glanced over at the window to see that the ceiling did drop there, though she still thought it would fit just outside of the window surround.

“We put the lights and garland on yesterday, but we are going to do the ornaments today,” Michael said. “You should stay and help us.”

“That’s usually more of a family thing,” Melody replied, waving her hands in front of her.

“You are our family, Miss Melody,” Michael replied, looking up at her with wide, innocent eyes.

Melody felt a tug at her heart strings and couldn’t help but smile at him. “You’re very sweet, Michael, but I don’t want to impose.”

“You’re not imposing on us,” Reid assured her, “but then, I’m sure you have to have other things on your schedule today. Especially since I’m guessing you hadn’t intended to stay for rehearsal again.”

He was standing behind her, and she turned to face him. She couldn’t help but notice how athletic he looked in the football jersey, a bit of stubble on his handsome face. She couldn’t think of a single thing she needed to do that day. Not a one. “I can stay—if you really don’t mind.”

A crooked grin spread across his face. “Not at all.”

“Yay!” Michael shouted. “We are going to have so much fun!”

“Why don’t you go change out of your church clothes?” Reid said to Michael whose smile fell a bit, but he didn’t argue and shot off down the hallway, his shoes thunking on the hardwood floor.

Melody looked down at what she was wearing—a long, green sweater dress and leggings with black suede boots—and was happy she’d decided to dress up a bit for church today.

As if he were reading her mind, Reid said, “You look really nice today.”

“Thank you,” she said, blushing.

“You look really nice every day.”

The color rose even higher in her cheeks, and Melody was suddenly more interested in the floor than she had ever been before. “Thanks.”

“Can I take your coat?”

“Oh, yeah,” she muttered, slipping out of her long black dress coat. He helped her, and the feel of his hand grazing her arm sent little electric bolts throughout her body.

Reid took her coat and hung it by the door, and Melody’s attention turned to the football game that was on, though the sound was muted. “Who’s winning?’

“The Seahawks are not having their best day,” he replied. “Would you like to sit down? Can I get you anything?”

“I’m fine, thanks,” Melody replied, approaching the brown leather couch. It was much more comfortable than it looked. Reid sat down in a chair nearby, and Melody was secretly glad he hadn’t sat right next to her. She was still struggling to determine what, if anything, she meant to him, but she was trying to concentrate on Michael today. After all, he’d been the one to invite her. They watched the game in silence for a few moments, and Melody wondered if he was really just that into football or just that uncomfortable around her.

“Miss Melody!” Michael’s voice yelled from the hall. “You should come see my room!” He came running back out, dressed in play clothes now. “I’ve got a pirate bed.”

“You do?” she said. “That sounds really cool.”

“Yeah. Wanna come see?”

“I guess so….” Melody answered, looking at Reid.

“Tell you what, I’ve got to go up in the attic to get the ornaments. So… why don’t you give Melody a quick tour of your room and meet me back here in a few minutes?”

“Okay!” Michael replied, and grabbing Melody’s hand, he took off down the hall, dragging her behind.

The pirate bed was quite impressive, and Melody couldn’t help but gasp as Michael brought her in to show her. “Look!” he said. “There’s a lookout, and a wheel that really spins. And even a rope ladder.”

The bottom part of the boat did contain a mattress, but the rest of the bed really did resemble a pirate ship, complete with crow’s nest. His room was painted to look like an ocean meeting the shore, and the rest of his furniture blended in nicely with the faux landscape. “This is amazing, Michael,” Melody said.

“You can come aboard!” he shouted as he scurried up to the lookout.

“Okay….” Melody sat down on the edge of the bed, still on the wood part, and Michael pretended to take out some attacking pirates before swinging down off the top to land next to her on the mattress.

“Do you want to kill some pirates?” he asked, offering her a plastic sword.

“No, thank you,” she said, with a smile. “I’ll let you keep me safe.”

“That’s my dad’s job,” he said returning to his make believe pirates.

Melody shook her head behind his back, wondering where he’d gotten this idea that his dad was somehow her protector.

After a few more minutes, Michael tossed himself backwards onto the bed, breathing a little heavily, and folded his arms behind his head. “I’m glad you’re here, Miss Melody. I wanted you to see my room.”

“I love it,” she replied. “Who made your bed?”

“My dad,” he said. “And my Great-Aunt Bonnie painted my room for me.”

“Wow. They are both very talented.”

“I know.” He flipped over onto his stomach and cradled his head in his hands. “Miss Melody, can I ask you something?”

Though she was a bit leery of what the question might be, Melody said, “Sure, sweetie. What do you want to know?”

Michael let out a sigh much bigger than someone his size should be able to muster. “Do you think my mom asked Santa for a new kid?”

Melody felt her heartbreak and clenched her hands over her chest. “What, baby? Why would you ask something like that?”

He sighed again, though this one wasn’t as loud as the first. “I don’t know. I just feel bad, I guess.”

“Feel bad about what?” She straightened a rogue lock of blond hair.

“I know I’m supposed to be happy with what I’ve got. But I figure, if my mom doesn’t really want to be a mom, then, maybe I should ask Santa for a new one. But I know I’d feel bad if my mom asked Santa for a new little boy.”

Melody considered what he had to say and chose her words carefully. Having no children of her own, she wasn’t exactly sure what might be appropriate and what might not be. “Michael, I don’t know anything at all about your mom, sweet boy, but I know that you are a wonderful child. I’m sure that, for whatever reason your mom and dad aren’t together anymore, it had nothing to do with you. Maybe someday your dad will find a new wife, and you’ll have a stepmom. And I’m sure she will love you more than anything in the world. But for now… you have lots of people who love and care about you. Whether or not Santa can bring you a new mom, I honestly don’t know, but I do know someone brought you into my life, and I’m really, really happy to know you.”

He was quiet for a moment, but then he smiled at her and said, “I’m not sure if it was Santa or God that brought me, Miss Melody. But I’m glad to know you, too.”

Melody returned his smile and patted his hair. After a few more moments of silence, without a word, he climbed off of the bed and crossed to his closet. He opened the door, disappeared inside for a second, and then came out, carefully carrying something against his chest. He sat down on the edge of the bed, next to Melody and showed her what he had.

“This is my mom,” he said, gesturing at a photograph in a wooden frame.

The picture was of a young woman with strawberry-blonde hair sitting on a plaid sofa, holding a small baby. She was smiling, but the expression looked forced. Dark rings beneath her eyes and a messy ponytail gave the impression that she was overly tired. Melody could definitely see Michael in her, especially her nose and forehead. “She’s pretty,” Melody said, forcing a smile.

“This was the day before she left,” Michael explained, his eyes sad, his voice quieter than usual.

Melody hid her surprise. She had no idea that Michael had never really known his mom. He couldn’t have been more than a few months old in the picture. “That was a long time ago.”

“Yep,” he said, “and I hardly ever saw her since.”

“That must have been very hard on you,” Melody said, stroking his hair.

“Yep,” he repeated. “She lives in California now. She has a new husband. And two dogs.”

“Do you ever talk to her on the phone?” Melody wasn’t sure exactly what she should or should not say.

“Not anymore,” he replied. “I just kinda hope Santa brings her a new little boy, one that she can love.”

“Oh, Michael,” Melody said, wrapping her arms around him. “Listen, sweetie, sometimes grown ups have problems that other people can’t ever understand. You should never think that she couldn’t love you, Michael. I’m sure she loved you—that she does love you. How could anyone not love such a kind, sweet, smart, friendly kid like you?”

Michael set the picture on the bed and wrapped his arms around her neck. “Do you love me, Miss Melody?”

“Yes, I do. Very much,” she said, and she meant it.

“Good. You’ll never leave me, will you?”

Melody hesitated. What if Reid decided she shouldn’t see Michael anymore? She would hate to make a promise she couldn’t keep, but she also knew exactly what he needed to hear in that moment. “I will always be your friend, Michael.”

“Hey, you two!” Reid called from the hallway. “This tree isn’t going to decorate itself.”