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My stomach churned. Was this the beginning of the end of our relationship? “I think so.”
“You’d better get it, then,” Mom said, sprinkling flour on the dough.
I washed my hands, dried them, and slowly made my way to the door. I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans and turned the knob.
Ember stood slightly in front of Sebastian, and they both looked too good for words. Ember wore a pretty holiday dress in red velvet with black ballet flats. In her hand, she held an envelope. My name, Hanna Roberts, was written in gold.
“That’s beautiful. Did you learn calligraphy?” I asked her, remembering I’d bought her a set last year, hoping I’d get to do it with her.
“This was the first time I tried it.”
I took the envelope from her and examined the letters. “This is good. Really good. I’m impressed.”
“Thank you.”
Sebastian rocked back on his heels. “I think you’ll want to look inside the envelope.”
I carefully opened the flap and slid out heavy card stock paper with gold writing. Ms. Hanna Roberts, will you do us the honor of joining us on a carriage ride on Christmas Eve, December 24, at 5:00 p.m.? Yours truly, Sebastian and Ember Monroe.
My eyes blinked back the tears that threatened. “I’d love to join you.”
My heart was beating rapidly under my palm, and I didn’t know what it meant. I didn’t even know if Brandy was staying at the house, and I was too scared to ask.
Sebastian grinned, and Ember cheered. “I knew she’d say yes.”
I wondered if it was another one of his elaborate dates. If I could expect a carriage ride and a private meal, a dance, or more time at the ice rink.
Ember stopped jumping in the air and wrapped her arms around my waist. “I miss you, Hanna.”
Before she could say anything more, Sebastian said, “We’ll see Hanna tomorrow night, remember?”
They exchanged a look, as if they’d planned this before they arrived.
“There’s one more thing,” Sebastian said as he jogged down the steps and toward his truck parked at the curb.
“We miss you,” Ember whispered again, as if she didn’t want her father to hear.
“I miss you, too,” I said, just as Sebastian returned, carrying a wreath with a huge red velvet bow. “That’s beautiful.”
“For your door,” he said, adding a hook to the door and hanging it.
“That is very sweet of you.”
“Dad, the flowers,” Ember hissed.
Sebastian shot me an apologetic look and held up his finger before he headed toward his truck again.
I enjoyed the back-and-forth with Sebastian and his daughter. I’d lived with him as our relationship went from friends to lovers, so we didn’t have a chance to date. And that’s what this felt like.
Sebastian made his way back up the sidewalk with a bouquet of red and white flowers in his hands, and for the first time, it registered that he wore a wool coat over dress slacks and a button-down shirt. He handed the vase to me. “These are for you.”
I inhaled the scent of the roses. “Thank you. I love them.”
He rocked back on his heels. “We didn’t go on a real date. I’ve never knocked on your door, brought you flowers, or dropped you off on your porch at the end of the night. And I’d like the chance to do that.”
“What are you asking?” I asked, as my heart fluttered uselessly inside my rib cage.
“Would it be okay if I picked you up for the carriage ride tomorrow night?” Sebastian asked hesitantly, as if he wasn’t sure of my reaction.
