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“I have to tell you.” Beverly’s voice lowered. “I have never seen him like this.” She reached her hand across the table and gave mine a squeeze. “Thank you for making him so happy.”
“I love seeing him happy.”
“He has so much passion inside him. He’s a lot like his father.”
“Really?”
“Oh, yes. They wear their hearts on their sleeves and would slay dragons for the ones they loved. Chase, too. I’m hoping Khloe is the calm one.”
I laughed. “Tanner is such an amazing person. All of your kids are.”
“They are. I’m certain you are, too. I’ve always said it: the woman who harnesses that fire inside Tanner, without extinguishing it, is going to be one incredible woman.”
“I’m not so sure I control that fire.”
“You hold his heart in your hands. You control the fire. Don’t you ever forget that.”
I nodded, as if making a silent promise.
Tanner waltzed back into the room. “The kid’s going to have a mouth full of cavities. There was powdered sugar everywhere.”
It was so heartwarming to watch Tanner in his home with his family. There were so many layers to him. Every time I thought he couldn’t be more incredible, he opened yet another layer that amazed me even more than the last one.
Tim slept through the remainder of my time at Tanner’s, but I enjoyed talking and laughing with Beverly. She was everything I imagined my own mother to be, and I felt a sense of calm around her. Knowing her made me feel even more connected to Tanner.
As Tanner walked me to my car later on, I gazed up at the huge smile on his face. “You are an amazing man, you know that?”
His eyebrows lifted. “You’re an amazing woman. What made you say that?”
I wrapped my arms around his neck, standing on my toes. “Because you are, and I don’t tell you enough. Plus, you looked majorly hot carrying Khloe to bed.”
He laughed.
I opened my car door and reached into the back seat, pulling out Tanner’s gift. “It’s not as cool as my shiny new car, but I hope you like it.”
“I told you not to get me anything.”
“Just open it.”
He peeled back the wrapping paper and opened the box. His body stilled as he peered inside. “Where did you get this?”
“Your father has a bunch of pictures taped inside his toolbox. I took this one of the two of you and had it made into a canvas.” I squeezed his arm. “You both look so happy in it.”
Tanner blinked rapidly as a nostalgic smile stretched his lips. “This is better than a car, baby.”
I smiled. “You like it?”
“I love it.” He placed the gift on the roof of my car and took me in his arms.
We kissed under the streetlight in the cold December air. My first Christmas in New York was incredible. Tanner and I were on a high after spending part of the holiday together, and with our loved ones.
I’d hold onto this memory in the coming month.
Sixteen
Tanner
I went to sleep with a smile on my face, and I awoke with it, too. Charlotte had that effect on me. It felt incredible to spend Christmas night at the table with her by my side. I was disappointed that Dad had slept through it, but I tried to stay positive. Maybe I would have her come over today to meet him. I hoped he would feel somewhat better.
