Mistletoe and Magic by Carolyn Hughey, Gina Ardito Page A

to those close by, despite her hand being cupped next to her mouth to block out the sound, “can Mr. Miller come with us?” AJ grinned and winked at Mallory.
    “Sure, if he wants to. Do you want to ask him?” Lacey’s head was bobbing up and down like it was on a spring. But Jenny’s face turned more serious. “Are you okay?” Mallory asked her.
    “Yeah.” She pointed to a friend of hers. “Cassandra Lyons is over there, Mom. May I go?”
    “Not for long though. You have a tree to light.”
    “Okay. I’ll make sure I pay attention.”
    Mallory turned back to Lacey and felt her heart melt as she watched Lacey slip her hand into AJ’s and skip along beside him as they walked toward her. Of course, Lacey wasn’t the problem. It was Jenny whose face had turned sullen when Lacey asked if he could join them. She sighed. Would her life ever be normal? Seeing AJ and the way he acted toward her girls brought a smile to her face. He was perfect. But could their lives ever be perfect if Jenny didn’t buy into the normalcy of life?
    “Penny for your thoughts, pretty lady,” AJ said.
    “It’s nothing.”
    Lacey talked the entire time as they neared the gazebo. “Mom, Santa’s here. Can I go tell him what I want for Christmas?”
    “Absolutely. Let’s get in line.”
    While waiting, Mallory looked at AJ when he wasn’t watching and felt the swells of love filling her. Today, his presence had generated more contentment than her family had ever known. But then, neither of her children realized what normal was. Mitch was rarely, if ever around with Lacey. She wondered if Jenny would ever realize there was something different about AJ? She finally allowed herself to dream if only for tonight.
    AJ squeezed her hand. “You’re in another world tonight.” She grinned. “I hope I’m in that world with you and the girls.” He leaned closer. “I love you.”
    She nodded in agreement and closed her eyes briefly, wishing the moment would never end.
    “Mommy,” Lacey said, full of excitement, “Santa said he was going to try his hardest to give me what I wanted for Christmas. Do you think he will?”
    “I’m sure he’ll try his best to give you exactly what you want.” Lacey reached up for AJ’s hand again. “I like him, Mommy,” she said aloud. “Can he come to our Christmas party?”
    “You’re having a party?” he asked.
    “No. She calls family gatherings a party.”
    “So, can he, Mommy?”
    “I think Mr. Miller is going to be celebrating with his aunt. Mrs. Miller hasn’t celebrated Christmas in a long time either, so I’m sure they want to celebrate alone.”
    “Well…we can invite her too.”
    “Lacey,” AJ said, “I think you’re putting Mommy on the spot.”
    “Spot? What does that mean?”
    “It means you’re making her feel uncomfortable—like she doesn’t know what to say. You haven’t celebrated in a while either, so maybe she just wants to be with you girls and your aunt.”
    “Oh.” The words were no sooner out of her mouth than she was off onto another subject. “I really want some hot chocolate. My bones are chilled.” Mallory and AJ laughed.
    AJ leaned down. “You see that table over there with a long line of customers?” Lacey nodded. “Can I take her over there, Mom?”
    “Sure, you guys go ahead. I’ll get Jenny.”
    Jenny was busy talking to her friend when Mallory approached. “Hey, you guys want some hot chocolate?”
    “Thanks.” Jenny held up her cup. “We already got some.”
    “Oh.” Mallory was slightly disappointed she’d chosen to stay by her friend instead of joining them. “Where’d you get the money?”
    “It was my lunch money.”
    “Right. I forgot you and Lacey came home early. Okay, I’m sure it’s getting close to the time for the tree. You can bring Cassandra if you want.”
    “Mom, don’t be mad, but I really don’t want to do it.”
    “That wouldn’t really be very nice, now would it?”
    Jenny looked at her friend.