Not Quite Dating(57)

“This,” he squealed, lifting the beautiful package above his head, “is a toy. It’s not heavy, but there are plastic pieces jiggling around in there.”
Jessie grasped Jack’s hand across the table and smiled at Monica.
“How do you know it’s plastic?”
Danny closed his eyes, taking the shaking of the presents to the next level. “I’m five. All my toys are plastic.”
Jack squeezed her hand as he spoke to her son. “So, Danny, what do you really, really want for Christmas?”
“I want a bike.”
Jessie saw that coming. It was all he’d asked for. The one she had hidden in a box in her bedroom needed some serious assembly for Santa to manage after Danny went to sleep.
“But you know what would be even better than a bike?” he asked.
Oh no. She didn’t know there was anything else he wanted. His letter to Santa, the one he wrote the day after Thanksgiving, said a bike. A red bike that was twice the size of the one he had now.
“What’s that, buddy?” Jessie queried.
“I want a house where we have a driveway and a place so I can ride my bike. Then Auntie Monica can have her own room so she doesn’t need to sleep out here. And Mom can park her new car in a garage.” Danny bounced to his feet. “Did you see the new car?” he asked Jack.
“No.” Jack slid a smile Jessie’s way.
“My goodness, in all the excitement around here I completely forgot to tell you what happened.”
Jack’s thumb stroked hers as he waited patiently for her explanation.
“After you left, the dealership called. There was some kind of fire in their garage that destroyed my car.”
“Really?” Jack asked, his smile never wavering.
“That’s what they told me. The dealership gave me my choice of a new car for my loss. Can you believe it?” Jack tilted his head to the side. Something in the way he stared at her made her pause.
Monica stood and cleared a few dishes from the table. “I’m still waiting for the dealer to call and say it was all a big mistake.”
“I don’t know, Monica. Dealerships hate to be sued,” Jack explained as he shifted his gaze to Monica.
“That’s what I told her.”
“I don’t buy it.”
“What did you get?” Jack asked, changing the subject.
“Mom got the coolest car ever. It has TVs in the backseat, and there’s a lady’s voice that gives us directions if we’re lost. It’s epic.” Danny grasped Jack’s hand. “C’mon, you need to see it.”
Jessie sent a sympathetic look Jack’s way as Danny forced him to stand.
“I’d love to see it.”
“I’ll get the keys.” Standing, Jessie found her purse by the door and started to dig in to find her keys.
“Tell you what, why don’t we go for ice cream,” Jack suggested. “Your mom can give me a ride in her new car.”
“Can we, Mom?”
“Sure, why not. You wanna go, Monica?” Jessie turned to her sister, who busied herself cleaning the dishes.
“You guys go. I’ll finish cleaning this mess.”
Outside, the sun had set and the wind was whipping around the chill in the air. The apartment complex had a carport, but only one designated spot per unit. Until the new car, Monica had parked her car under it.
Jessie used the remote to unlock the car. “I still can’t believe it’s mine. I kinda feel like I’ve won the lottery without even playing.”
Jack placed his arm around her and rested it on her shoulder as they walked. “Sometimes good things actually come to those who deserve them.”
At the car, Danny opened the back door and jumped inside. “Look, Jack. TV.”
“It plays DVDs,” Jessie told Jack as he ran a hand over the frame of the door Danny had opened.
Jack tickled Danny as he leaned over him to look inside. “Perfect for those long drives.”
“That’s what the dealer said. I never thought I’d have a car like this.”
“Is it safe?” Jack asked.
“The crash rating had a decent score. The gas mileage is great.”
Jack rounded the car and popped the hood. “Four cylinder?”
“Again, gas mileage.”
From over the hood, Jack said, “I think it’s a great pick.”
For the first time since she’d driven it home, Jessie felt as if she could enjoy it. Without Jack, everything had seemed a little grayer.
Jack released the hood. “Wanna take me for a spin?”
Danny was already in his seat with the seat belt on.
After ice cream, they drove around looking at Christmas lights until Danny started nodding off in the back.
Jack stared at her as they rounded the street that led to her apartment.
“It’s nice to see you with new things,” he said. “You smile a little brighter.”
Damn, she didn’t want him thinking she needed him to provide them for her. Together they’d figure out how to pay the bills and make things work. “It’s just a car, Jack. I’m smiling because I’m sharing it with you.”
“Danny seemed ready to ask Santa for a garage to park this in.”
“Danny doesn’t realize what he’s asking for when he says he wants a house for Christmas. I think he watched Miracle on 34th Street.”
“Kids dream a little bigger than adults do. I think it’s part of the innocence.”
She agreed. “Adults know that making dreams come true is hard work. Kids think all they have to do is wish on a falling star.”