Page 86 of Christmas Wish
Chapter Twenty-One
Christmas Day
Ryder watched Timmy’sface scrunched in concentration as his nimble fingers ripped off the red shiny wrapping paper. The boy stared at the big box, his eyes wide then he turned to Savannah.
“Go ahead and take the lid off,” she urged.
Timmy giggled and placed his small hand over his mouth for a second then gripped the sides of the top and lifted it up. For a few seconds he just stared without moving then he took out the painted train cars. “It’s a train set!” He turned his head to Ryder. “You made it for me. You really fooled me!”
Ryder smiled and leaned back in the chair and enjoyed watching Timmy take out the forty pieces he’d crafted. Savannah gazed at him, her blue eyes brimming with love and tears as she knelt by her son and helped him put the tracks together.
“Ryder told me it was for the other kids, but it was for me.” He kept turning the locomotive’s lights on and off then he pushed the button and it whistled. “It really works, Mommy.”
“It’s a beautiful train set. Did you thank Ryder?”
The boy put the wooden piece down and leaped up and dashed over to him. He climbed up on Ryder’s lap and flung his arms around his neck. “Thank you. It’s what I really, really wanted,” Timmy said hugging him tightly.
He paused for a moment, a flood of emotion whirling though him then he wrapped his arms around Timmy and held him tight. “I knew that, little buddy.” He darted his eyes to Savannah and she leaned back on her haunches a big-ass smile plastered over her face.
Timmy squirmed and Ryder let go and plopped him on the floor, and the boy crawled back over to the gift.
“Are you finished with it yet, Mommy?”
“Almost,” she said, ruffling her hand through his hair.
Ryder watched the two of them as they set up the track and village, and he let the good feelings of the moment wash over him.How in the fuck did I make it without them in my life?He’d lived in darkness for so long, that he’d forgotten what brightness felt like; life’s deceit had broken him, and from the pain that bore it, came an honest, bright love which consumed him. And that was the way he’d fallen in love with Savannah—all at once, as if struck by a gun shot.
Savannah stood up and walked over to him and he tugged her down on his lap then nuzzled her neck. “You’re my passion, my love, and my life,” he whispered.
“I didn’t know it was possible to love someone as much as I do you,” she whispered back.
“The lights go on in the houses … and the church … and the buildings!” Timmy clapped his hands and laughed, and Ryder and Savannah joined in the laughter with him.
Ryder held her tight as they watched Timmy and listened to the crackling fire and Brutus gnawing on the bone he’d received for Christmas.
The minutes turned into hours, and soon they were seated around the table at Ryder’s parents’ house—Savannah in the middle between him and Timmy. Ryder inched his fingers up her leg, underneath her skirt, and let them rest on her thigh—he loved the softness of her skin.
Ryder’s mother patted his other hand and then leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “You gave me the best Christmas present—the light back in your eyes,” she said softly.
“Savannah and Timmy are the ones who gave you that gift, Ma,” he replied.
“She’s a beautiful woman and the little boy is adorable. I’m happy for you,tesoro.”
All through dinner, Savannah kept pressing her leg into his, brushing his arm with her fingers, squeezing his biceps, and a whole bunch of other things that made him feel like he was the most important man in her life, and he loved her for it.
Ryder glanced down at the skull bracelet she’d given him, and tenderness wove through him again just like it had when he’d first opened the gift. What had surprised him was how well she knew him, and even though she’d downplayed it, he knew that she took a lot of time in finding such a unique gift, especially in Pinewood Springs.
During dessert, Savannah kept fingering the necklace hanging about her neck, the diamond pendant shimmering in the chandelier’s light. It was his gift to her, and for the past several Christmases, he’d never contemplated buying anyone a gift, or putting up a tree, or drinking hot chocolate, but here he was, embracing the whole damn thing like a reformed man.Life can be too fucking strange sometimes, but also wonderful.
After several hours of eating and talking, Ryder noticed the glazed look in Timmy’s eyes and the yawns Savannah tried to stifle. He rose to his feet, taking her with him, and walked over to his mom and kissed her on the cheek.
“We gotta go, Ma. It’s been a long day and Timmy’s tired as hell.”
“Thank you for having us,” Savannah said as she hugged his mom briefly.
“I’m very happy to meet you and your little one. You’ve made me so happy, and I can see how happy you make my son.”
Savannah blushed, and Ryder thought he was going to lose it. There was something about the way her cheeks flushed pinkish red that turned him the hell on. It was probably some kinky thing with him, but he loved the flush of color on her cheeks, neck, tits, and ass. Those streak marks did it for him every time. He chuckled and Savannah looked up at him, her forehead creased in puzzlement.
