Page 6 of Christmas Wish
Chapter Three
Savannah pulled upthe shade on the window and looked out at the frenzied snowfall and tugged the cardigan tighter around her. The fine lines across her forehead deepened as she estimated how much water and energy they’d used up so far. If the storm continued longer than another day, she feared that she’d have to ask Ryder for help.
“I hope it doesn’t come to that,” she muttered under her breath as she stared into the darkness.
“Why did the man with the dog tell us to leave?” Timmy asked.
Savannah pulled down the shade and turned around. “I guess he’s mad that we’re on his property.”
“How can we go with all the snow?” Timmy scooped up a large amount of macaroni and cheese on his spoon.
“Not such a big bite, sweetie.” Savannah went over to the table and slid in beside him. “We’re going to have to wait until the snow stops.”
“His dog was big. He was too.” Timmy giggled and turned the spoon upside down then put a smaller amount on it.
“Yeah.”
While Savannah watched Timmy eat his dinner, the image of Ryder floated in her mind. He was so different from Bret or any of the men in their social circle. Bret was a pretty boy who had soft features, and he was always clean shaven and impeccably dressed. She would describe Ryder as imperfectly masculine and ruggedly handsome. When he’d come into the trailer, she noticed his tousled dark chocolate-brown hair and his impossibly dark eyes that stared at her intensely. Unlike Bret’s soft features, Ryder’s were rough around the edges and a bit weathered, probably from being outdoors too much. He had a strong nose, a defined jawline, and a smattering of dark stubble. He had eyebrows which sloped downwards in a serious expression, and the fine lines around his mouth framed full lips ripe for the kissing.Whoa … that came out of nowhere.Savannah twirled a strand of hair between her fingers as Bret’s vexed face flashed in her mind. Bret hated that nervous habit of hers and always called her out on it, but he wasn’t here now, and a thread of satisfaction wove through her as she pulled lightly on the blonde tendril.There’s no way I should be thinking about Ryder in that way … or any way.
“Are you gonna eat, Mommy?” Timmy’s voice snapped her back to the moment.
“I’m not so hungry. Was your mac n’ cheese good?” She ran her hand through his thick mane, laughing as his eyes sparkled while he nodded emphatically.
“Can I play Super Mario Brothers?”
Savannah hesitated as she pictured the battery running down with all the electricity they’d been using, and if that happened the heat wouldn’t kick on. The sprinkling of freckles across her son’s cheeks and his large dark eyes pleading with her, tugged at her heart strings. She hated that they were living like vagabonds, especially with Christmas only a few weeks away.We should be at home decorating the tree instead of stuck in a snowstorm in a trailer on someone else’s property.
“Please, Mommy.”
Savannah drew Timmy to her and hugged him fiercely against her then kissed the top of his head. “I love you so much, sweetie.” Her throat tightened with emotions, and she blinked several times and swallowed.
Timmy tilted his head back and looked into her eyes. “So can I?”
The lump in her throat wouldn’t allow her to answer so she nodded at him.
“Yippee! Thanks, Mommy.” Timmy scrambled away from the table and dashed to the cupboard, flinging it open. With the play system secure in his hands, he shuffled over to the table and nestled back into the cushions, his gaze fixed on the screen.
An ache filled her heart as she watched his small fingers working the controls and the deep concentration etched on his face.How could Bret not love his son?She sighed and leaned back against the banquette. They’d been married for six years before she’d received the best news in her life—she was pregnant. She’d made a special dinner, lit all the candles in the dining and living rooms, and set a beautiful table, but when she’d delivered the news, Bret blew out the candles and threw the dishes on the marble floor along with their dinner.He wanted me to have an abortion. I never thought he’d ask—no, tell me—to do something like that.Of course she’d refused, and he wiped his hands of her and Timmy from that day forward. The wonderful sex life they shared stopped, and he barely touched her at all.
When Timmy was around two and three years old, he cried for his father’s attention, but Bret would turn a deaf ear and leave the room, or go out with his friends until Timmy stopped trying altogether.
“I’m inside the volcano!” Timmy’s excitement broke into her reminiscing.
“That’s great, sweetie. What are you trying to do?”
Shaking his head, Timmy glanced over at her for less than a second then looked back at the screen, his hands moving furiously. “I’ve got to get Princess Peach. She’s not safe yet.”
“I know you can do it.” As Savannah looked over her son’s shoulder as the cartoonish characters ran, jumped, and rolled over brightly colored graphics, her mind drifted back to Ryder.I wonder what he’s doing right now. Probably sitting in front of a cozy fire with his dog … and wife maybe? I’m sure he’s married.She guessed him to be around thirty-five years old, and she couldn’t imagine a man so ruggedly sexy as he was living all alone in a cabin in the middle of nowhere.What is he doing here? What’s his story? Ugh! Stop thinking about him.Savannah shook her head as if to scatter all thoughts, and slipped off the cushion.
“I’m going to call Grandma,” she said to Timmy, who didn’t answer. Smiling, she went into the kitchen and leaned against the counter. The space between her and Timmy was rather close, yet she hoped he wouldn’t hear too much of her conversation. Since he was so engaged in the game, she didn’t think he’d be paying any attention to her phone call.
Savannah dreaded making the call and answering a slew of questions. Inhaling deeply, she tapped in her parents’ phone number.
“Hello?” her mother said.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Savannah! Thank God.” Tears filled her mother’s voice. “Where are you? We’ve been worried sick about you.”
