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Ember looked up at me from where she was kneeling on the floor. “What kinds of things did you like to do as a kid?”
I chuckled, remembering how crazy my brothers were. “We liked to build forts with the couch cushions until Grandma told us to go outside. Then we’d use the sticks and rocks in the woods to build them.”
Ember’s wide eyes were fixed on me. “Wow. That sounds fun.”
“Mmm. With my brothers, there was a lot of fighting over who owned the fort, who was allowed inside, and the best way to make it. Then we’d each make our own fort, fortify it, and try to tear each other’s down.”
Ember’s eyes widened. “Why would you do that?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know, because we were idiots. We played inside, too. But we had more fun tearing things apart.”
Ember shook her head. “I don’t get it.”
“Me either,” Hanna said with an amused tone as she ruffled Ember’s hair.
This is how it would be if Hanna lived with us permanently. We’d let her sleep in while we cooked breakfast, then watch cartoons together and do a project around the house before dressing and going to my mom’s for dinner. There would always be love and laughter. I wished I could collapse time and be there now. I wanted to ask Hanna for so many things, but I had no idea how she felt about anything.
I had to remind myself that she was planning to date other guys. I didn’t have a lot of time to make her mine.
Glancing down at Ember, I wondered if she could help me. But it would be wrong to ask my daughter to help me get a girl.
“I want to make my presents this year,” Ember said.
I frowned, panicking a little. “I’m not crafty.”
Hanna smiled wide. “I can help you. I love doing crafts.”
“Because you’re a teacher?” Ember asked.
Hanna licked her lips. “I guess so. I love creating things.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to ask if she’d create a life with me, but I berated myself for jumping too far ahead. I had to come up with a plan, and showing her what made our farm special was just the start.
I stepped aside and called the neighboring farm to secure the carriage for tonight, then texted Mom my plans.
When the tree was decorated, we stepped back to see how it looked, then we took turns posing for a picture.
Hanna gestured at my phone. “You should use one of these pictures for your holiday cards.”
I frowned. “I don’t do holiday cards. Mom handles that.”
Hanna laughed, the sound light and carefree. “You’re a grown man. Why would your mom be sending out your Christmas cards?”
Ember frowned at me, and I was reminded of all the ways I was failing my daughter. “Yeah, why, Daddy?”
I shrugged. “I assumed her holiday cards include the entire family.”
“I’m sure Ireland and Sarah are doing their own cards this year. And Marley mentioned using a picture of her and Heath in front of the inn while it was decorated for Christmas.”
I grunted. My brothers were getting a little too into the holiday spirit for my liking.
“Or you could use the picture as a gift for your mom. We could blow it up and have it framed.”
“I like the idea of that,” I said, hoping she’d get off the card idea.
She scrolled through the pictures. There were ones of just Ember, then me and Ember, and Hanna and Ember.
“We should do one of all three of us. We can use the timer on my phone.” I took it from Hanna and set it up on a nearby table.
