Monday (Timeless Teaser)(41)

I knew it was her discreet way of involving me. And it meant a lot to me that she wanted to include me in this family tradition. “Sure.” I stood up and grabbed the ornament from her. It was a wreath with a picture in the center. When I took a closer look at it, I realized it was Francesca with her mom and dad. They were standing outside in the snow with their skis in their arms.

Francesca’s eyes were exactly the same then as they were now. Staring at her when she was a young girl made my heart ache in a way I’d never be able to explain. Her mom was wearing a beanie but I could see their similar features. Francesca looked just like her. Her dad was tall and burly, reminding me of Axel.

“I was eight.” Francesca watched my face. “My dad taught me how to ski that day. I learned everything I know from him.” She turned around and approached the tree. “Could you hang it up there?” She pointed toward the top.

The significance wasn’t lost on me. She was sharing something very deep and personal, and she wanted me to be a part of that. It was the most meaningful gesture I’d ever experienced. I placed the ornament toward the top of the tree then looked at her.

“It looks nice up there.”

I watched the lights reflect in her eyes. “Yes, it does.”

***

After hot cocoa and board games, Yaya retired for the evening. She was so buoyant and full of life that it didn’t surprise me she was pooped out by the end of the day. Axel joined her an hour later. He couldn’t stop yawning, and I was glad he finally went upstairs so I wouldn’t have to listen to it.

I’d been waiting to be alone with Francesca. I got her a Christmas gift but I didn’t want to give it to her in front of her family. “I’ll be right back.”

She looked up from her hot cocoa as she sat in front of the fire. “Okay.”

I retrieved the gift from my bag then returned downstairs. I’d never wrapped a present before, and thankfully, YouTube helped me figure it out. The only thing I didn’t struggle with was putting the bow on top.

I sat beside her on the hardwood floor with the gift in my lap.

She eyed it with excitement in her eyes. “You got me something?”

“Yeah. I didn’t want to give it to you in front of your family.”

She eyed the grandfather clock on the wall. “Well, it’s past midnight so it’s officially Christmas.”

I’d never put so much thought into a gift before, and I knew she would love it. “Here you go.” I handed it to her.

She smiled as she took it and immediately ripped into the wrapping paper. When it was off, she examined the muffin pan in her hands. Then she finally saw the engraving.

The Muffin Girl.

I made it into a nice logo like it was the name of a bakery. I pictured her using this to make her first batch of muffins on opening day.

She stared at it without reacting.

Now I was nervous she didn’t like it. Was it too forward? Was it offensive?

When she turned her gaze back to me, tears were in her eyes. “Hawke…” She ran her thumb along the engraving, feeling the grooves of the words. Then she sniffed loudly. “This is…the best gift I’ve ever gotten.”

Warmth spread through my body in a way I’d never experienced before. It was foreign and unfamiliar. Francesca was the only person who gave me any joy, but now she just gave me even more. “I’m glad you like it.”

“Like it?” She wiped her nose as she sniffed again. “I love it.” She set it down then moved into my arms. She hugged me tightly as she crawled into my lap. “Thank you so much.” Her face was pressed to my chest.

My arms immediately circled her waist and I held her close to me. Making her happy made me happy. It was the first time I felt that way. I’d been so focused on making everyone just as miserable as I was that I hadn’t realized how pointless it was. This actually made me feel good. Francesca made me feel good. I couldn’t care less if I ever got another gift for the rest of my life. This was the best Christmas gift I’d ever gotten.

She finally pulled away even though I didn’t want her to. She turned toward the tree then fished a small present out. “I got you something too.” She set the small present in my hands. It was thin but slightly long. It reminded me of a book. I wondered if that was what it was. But I told her I didn’t read so that wouldn’t make any sense.

“Open it,” she whispered.

I tore the wrapping off then discovered it was a book. But there was no title or author name. It was leather bound and looked like a journal. I didn’t want to seem ungrateful but I wasn’t sure how to react since I didn’t know what it was.

“It’s my journal.” Her voice came out quiet like she was nervous. “I started writing it before my mom passed away. I wrote in it every single day, even years after my father took his own life.”

I stared at her and felt my heart race. She was giving me the most personal thing a person possessed.

“I went through a lot of pain and heartache when everything happened. And when my dad left to join my mom, I was really angry. I hated him for being such a coward and leaving Axel and I behind as orphans. The bitterness possessed me for a long time. But one day…I finally got through it. I just thought…this could help you. I know you’ve been through a lot and there doesn’t seem to be an end to the pain. But I want to show you that there is.”