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April joined me, moving slowly around the other side, and I wondered what it was about Christmas that had her so much in her own head. "I like this one," she said, holding up a ballerina ornament that had been Becky’s, and I sensed some determination from her to focus on pretending to enjoy herself, even though the strange heaviness remained in the air. I still had no idea why she'd really appeared at my gate today, but I wasn't going to lie to myself either. At least not about this. I enjoyed the company—hers and that of my nieces. I’d been lonelier than I wanted to admit, and distraction from the things that felt so wrong in my life was welcome.
"A balle-weeena," Maddie cooed, stepping close to April to see the ornament she held.
"We take ballet," Taylor told April. "We are in the Nutcracker this year."
"Both of you?" April knelt down and addressed the girls on their level, looking appropriately impressed.
Maddie nodded. "I'm a bon-bon and flow-oo."
"And I'm a flower too," Taylor said. "And we're both in the party scene."
I had no real idea what they were talking about, since I’d never seen the Nutcracker, but April seemed to understand these code words.
"That's amazing," she said. "I'd love to see it. I wonder if I'll still be in town."
"It's in two weeks," Taylor said, but then she looked confused. "Wait. What's today?"
"December first," April said. "So two weeks would be the fifteenth."
Taylor stared out the window for a long minute, her hands moving in front of her. I realized she was counting. "That's when it is. The fifteenth."
I didn't really think through what happened next—my body and mouth moved before the rest of me caught up. But a moment later I was standing at April's side, saying, "We'll both be there."
April shot me a confused look, and I smiled at her, shrugging. Neither one of us seemed clear on exactly what the hell I was doing. At least I hadn't actually suggested we go together. Like on a date. Not in those exact words.
The girls went back to hanging ornaments on every available pine needle, and April stepped away, gesturing for me to follow her into the foyer. "Was that an invitation, or just an observation that we might both be in one place at the same time?" She was direct. I liked it.
"What do you want the answer to be?"
She shook her head and blew out a frustrated breath. "Nope. I'm not playing. Look, the only answer I need from you is about the show. Whether or not I go to the ballet has nothing to do with it."
Of course not. "Right."
"So are you in or out?"
"For the ballet?" I was messing with her and I probably shouldn't have been. Not when the contract for the stupid show was still with my lawyer and I was still determined not to let cameras back into my life. But she was so adorable I couldn't help it.
"For the show," she bit out.
"Contract's with my lawyers," I told her. "They'll let me know if I can get out of it."
"You can't." Her eyes were blazing again, and her cheeks were reddening.
"Why not just find another home to replace this one?" I asked.
"This is the biggest house in Singletree, and it's the reason the show came here in the first place," she said, her voice rising. "And if I don't get your house on the show and get this thing sealed with a shiny glittery bow in the next couple days, I'm out of a job. No," she said, jabbing a finger in the air. "Make that a career."
"Boxes are empty." Taylor stood behind April, the look on her face making it clear that she knew she'd interrupted something.
April took a deep breath and turned around to face her.
Taylor went on. "You need more stuff, Uncle Callan. Christopher is still half naked."
She was right. The ornaments we’d had were townhouse-tree sized. Definitely not adequate for a manor-house tree. "I guess we need to go shopping," I said. I looked at April and grinned. I couldn't tell if she found me charming or just completely aggravating, but she hadn't left yet and I was enjoying her company either way. "You in? Quick round of ornament shopping? You can get back to harassing me about other stuff after."
She let out a long breath before answering. "I don't know how you'll get back inside your house without me, so I guess I'd better come with you."
I had the weirdest urge to do a victory fist pump, but I suppressed it and smiled instead, turning to get my car keys.
