Xiomara burst forth into a loud peal of laughter, shaking her head. “Really, Lake? That’s the best that you’ve got.”
“Well, I mean, I wanted to impress you, and we both have this one thing in common. We love the kids.”
Xiomara took a step closer to me, resting her palm on my face. “Aw, that was so sweet, Lake. But...I wasn’t talking about that.”
“Oh?” I asked, wrapping my arms around her waist.
“No, I was talking about that ‘shooting your shot’ bit. I think you need to leave that lingo for the kids,” Xiomara said, laughing.
The sound of raucous laughter rang out in the hallway.
“That’s not my best shot. I’ll show you that after this afternoon is over,” I said, kissing her on the side of her neck, causing her to shiver.
I had just dropped my hands away from her waist no sooner than Ariel appeared in the doorway, a group of laughing, chatty kids behind her.
Xiomara took a couple of quick steps away from me, but not before Ariel smirked at the two of us and cleared her throat.
“Children, I told you we have special guests today to help set up our art exhibition. You’ve worked hard with Miss Sheffield over the last several weeks to get your paintings created. Even though the classes ended, she still wanted to pitch in to help us with our exhibition today. So, let’s welcome her back along with Mr. Lake Chambers.”
The children ran into the room after saying thank you and took turns giving Xiomara hugs. She basked in their energy, and under her attention, they all seemed to come even more alive.
Xiomara and I spent the next two hours helping the children set up their art exhibits in the cafeteria and posing with them in front of their presentations with the professional photographer.
When the actual adoption meet and greet started, we left so the children could meet with prospective parents in private.
“All right, Mr. Tenderheart.”
“Tenderheart?”
“Yeah, you remember the orangish-brown Care Bear, he was the leader? He was my favorite.”
“So, I’m your favorite now?” I asked, pulling her against my body as I leaned against my car.
“I don’t think this is the place for this type of behavior, Mr. Chambers,” she teased, pulling back from my embrace.
“Maybe our next destination will be?”
Laughing, she shook her head. “I don’t know if I trust that. Is every part of this date going to be a secret?”
“Wait and see,” I said, walking around to her side of the car with her and opening the door.
She slid into the passenger seat, and I closed the door behind her.
I pulled out from the parking lot and headed for the highway.
“Any regrets, yet?” I asked, glancing at her.
“None.”
“So, if you don’t mind me asking...what softened your heart and allowed you to open up to me?”
She held one finger up.
“I just...I’m exploring a few things before my big day. Being true to me.”
I squeezed her hand that I held in mine.
“I’m sorry, I promised that I wouldn’t talk about that today. I’m just nervous.”
“About?”
“Today. Being with you.”
“Why?”
Shrugging, she said, “I don’t know what this day will lead to. Like...I have no answers, but I know I’ll have them all soon.”
“Hope that works in my favor.”
We pulled up to our next destination within forty-five minutes.
“Come on; we’re here.”
I slid out of the car, headed to her side, and took her hand before closing her door.
“Where’s here?” she asked, looking at the entrance of a neighborhood.
“I recall that a certain someone held a certain fascination with Christmas.”
“She was,” Xiomara conceded with a growing smile.
“And I know she’s all grown up, and this ‘changed woman’ now. However, I believe there’s still that little girl alive in there somewhere that finds excitement in the simple things,” I said.
Xiomara threaded her fingers between mine as we began walking into the neighborhood ahead of us.
“Lake!” she squealed after we’d walked almost a block and came to a street where the houses were lit up as bright as day.
“Did I do well?” I asked, looking down at her.
“You did very well! I’m impressed,” she said, laughing and squeezing my hand tighter.
I struggled to keep my feelings under control. I wanted to grab her, pulling her body against mine, and kiss some sense into her. But this wasn’t the time or place for that.
It was already risky coming out here in public with her. She’d asked that I be as discreet as possible in planning this date, and I knew that we’d be around other people. I banked on most of these people, not knowing who I was. I wore a baseball cap low over my head.
House after house and trees lining the yards and street shone with sparkling green, red, and white Christmas lights and décor.
We passed a group of carolers going from house to house singing, and other groups cheerily chatting about the festivities and the décor.
Couples, families, and older people were all about, and everyone had the brightest smile on their faces.
“I’m glad that you like it. I remember you being crazy about seeing houses decorated every Christmas season. My GM lives not too far from here, and he mentioned it. I’m told that we should see the bearded man out here, too.”
“Really?” she asked, her eyes wide with wonder.
“Yeah, but I’ve got something better than Old Saint Nick,” I said, leering at her.
“I bet you do,” she replied cheekily.
We walked from one street to another, checking out the decorations and exchanging “Merry Christmas” with others who visited the neighborhood.
“Oh, look!” she exclaimed after we’d walked a couple of more blocks.
The jolly old man himself was standing on the opposite side of the street handing out candy canes and little gift bags.
Chuckling, I teased her, “I suppose that you’d like to go over there with the rest of the kids and get your gift bag and candy
