Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 69452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
We did this for lollipops, peanut brittle, and even fudge.
The woman I couldn’t stop thinking about since last night walked in, and I watched the little girl go running back to the back room.
My brows rose when I heard Merriam say, “Anleigh Reese.”
The little girl stopped.
“What are you doing out here? You know that you’re not allowed out on the floor without me,” she said.
“Papa’s screaming,” she whispered.
I visibly watched Merriam’s shoulders slump.
“I’m sorry, baby. I know he scares you,” she whispered. “Come here.”
Anleigh ran toward Merriam, and Merriam bent down to pick her up and cuddle her close to her chest.
It was right then and there that I realized it was possible to fall in love with two people in twenty-four hours.
Two sets of beautiful eyes, one brown and melty, and the other one piercing baby blue, looked at me with the same expression. Interest.
“Hi,” I said as I waved at the little girl.
And maybe who I assumed was her mother.
Merriam’s smile was sweet, but the movement caused her to wince, and the smile to fall.
My stomach twisted.
“This is my daughter, Anleigh,” Merriam said quietly, her eyes quickly glancing at the door. “She’s not allowed to be out here, because my dad freaks out. He thinks kids make selling candy harder.”
I doubted it.
“Yeah, I don’t tend to agree,” I responded. “She kept me company and showed me everything I needed to buy.”
Merriam’s eyes widened.
“I…”
“Will take everything,” I finished for her. “I have nieces that need stockings filled.”
She placed the little girl on the counter beside the register and started to ring me up.
When she went to put the fourth huge sucker into the bag, I took it from her and handed it to the little girl.
The little girl shyly took it from my hand and brought it to her chest.
Her fingers brushed the front of her outfit showing a child holding a similar lollipop.
“Those are very pretty,” I told the young girl.
She smiled bashfully and looked at her sucker.
“She got those for Christmas from the Angel Tree at the local YMCA,” she said wistfully. “She loves the outfit so much.”
My stomach sank.
I knew about the Angel Tree.
I also knew that pants set.
Because I’d been with my sister when we’d bought them.
The sweatpants set hadn’t been expensive.
In fact, it was the cheapest thing that we’d purchased.
Noel had insisted on the cashmere sweater and coat, and though I hadn’t objected, I’d still gotten her a few things that I’d liked as well.
And it made my heart literally soar when I saw the little girl wearing them.
Needs:
— Winter Jacket
— Size five youth shoes
— Jeans 3T
Wants:
— Christmas shirt
— Books
— Personal sized Christmas Tree
We hadn’t found the personal sized Christmas tree.
The outdoor area where we were shopping didn’t have anything like that.
But now I had the urge to drive around town until I found one and bring it back for the sweet little girl in her mother’s arms.
“That’s a cute bear,” I said quietly.
“It’s her favorite thing in the world.” She laughed. “We, uh, had to sign up for the Angel Tree this year. I couldn’t afford to get her anything thanks to this place.” She gestured to the building around her. “It’s just not doing well. And the tips have been minimal.”
“You thought any more about leaving?” I asked.
Her eyes swung to the door, almost as if she was afraid that her father would overhear my question.
“No,” she whispered. “This is it for me, Kermit.”
The way she lightheartedly said my name let me know that she wanted to add levity to the situation, but it fell flat.
I studied her face and said, “Are you okay, Merriam?”
She smiled. “I’m fine.”
Her lie tasted bitter on both of our tongues, because she grimaced, and I felt like I’d been hit in the stomach.
My gaze went to the little girl, holding her Christmas bear tight. “And her?”
“She’s safe,” she said fiercely.
My eyes went back to her mother’s and stopped.
The intensity there, letting me know that she would do absolutely anything to protect her child, made me stop asking questions.
My eyes went down to the counter where I saw a yellow Post-it Note pad sitting.
I grabbed a pen from the cup holder and scribbled my name, address, and phone number on the Post-it.
Handing it to her, I said, “If you ever need help…”
She took the Post-it and stuck it into her pocket.
“Thank you,” she said quietly.
It was the hardest thing I’d ever had to do, but I left her and her daughter standing there, even though my entire soul screamed to go back and take them with me.
Chapter
Eight
Having a best friend is wild. Like, she’ll kill for me. But she also would just as easily throw a vacuum at me.
—Merriam’s secret thoughts
MERRIAM
The last thing that I wanted to do today was go home and spend any more time with my father, who’d let me have an earful after Jeremiah had left.