Page 33 of This Christmas

“Can I have hot chocolate?” she asked, after a moment.

Kids. He smiled and turned to make her a cup.

“I like pink sprinkles and marshmallows,” she said, coming up to his side. “Mama lets me put them in.”

“Sure thing, kiddo.” He carried a chair over to the countertop so that she could do that task herself.

Ten minutes later, Charlotte was curled up on the sofa, watching cartoons, with a blanket tucked under her chin as the whole house warmed up.

“Thank you for staying,” Ally said as she sat across from him at the table.

He gave a faint smile. “It didn’t seem right to leave.”

The quiet stretched between them for a moment. Then his phone buzzed on the table.

“It’s Aiden,” he said and then answered. “Good morning.”

“I thought you’d want to know, Ted Garrison made bail about an hour after we booked him. His car is already out of impound too.”

Joe’s stomach knotted. “That was fast.”

“Too fast,” Aiden said. “Word is, he called in a favor with someone higher up in the county.”

“That makes sense,” he said, watching Ally. “Any word on if he’s sticking around town?”

“Nick and I are keeping eyes on him. He’s still in town, staying at a rental cabin. The good news is, I know the owners and have already had a chat with them this morning. They’ve assured me they will cancel his short-term lease. We’ll make sure he hits the road and heads back to Portland. If not, I’ll let Ally know.”

“Thanks,” he said, then added, “keep me updated too, if you would. I’m still up at the house with Ally and Charlotte.”

The line went quiet. “Are you sticking around there?”

It wasn’t a bad idea. There were empty guest rooms. The thought of both their faces last night made him want to protect them at any cost.

“I’m not sure yet. If I do, I’ll let you know.”

When he hung up, Ally was watching him, her face pale. “He’s out of jail, isn’t he?”

“Yeah.” He sighed and set his phone down.

She swallowed hard as her fingers tightened around her coffee mug. “So what now?”

He hesitated as he searched her face. “Now, we make sure you and Charlotte aren’t alone. I can stay close by.”

Her eyes met his. “Where are you staying now?”

“The hotel just outside of town on the way to Edgeview.” The hotel was five minutes away if he went eighty on clear streets, like last night. Fifteen if not.

She was quiet for a moment, then said softly, “You could stay here. There’s a guest room on this floor that’s empty. I’d… we’d feel safer knowing that you’re here.”

Joe studied her, the exhaustion in her face, the faint tremor in her hand as she tucked her hair behind her ear. He guessed that she wasn’t asking because she wanted his company. She was asking simply because she needed to breathe again, to feel like the walls of this house weren’t closing in on her.

He nodded slowly. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “I’ll stay.”

He watched her visibly relax for the first time that morning.

“How about we make those pancakes you promised Charlotte?” he suggested.