Chapter Twenty-One
Christmas Day
Ryder watched Timmy’s face scrunched in concentration as his nimble fingers ripped off the red shiny wrapping paper. The boy stared at the big box, his eyes wide then he turned to Savannah.
“Go ahead and take the lid off,” she urged.
Timmy giggled and placed his small hand over his mouth for a second then gripped the sides of the top and lifted it up. For a few seconds he just stared without moving then he took out the painted train cars. “It’s a train set!” He turned his head to Ryder. “You made it for me. You really fooled me!”
Ryder smiled and leaned back in the chair and enjoyed watching Timmy take out the forty pieces he’d crafted. Savannah gazed at him, her blue eyes brimming with love and tears as she knelt by her son and helped him put the tracks together.
“Ryder told me it was for the other kids, but it was for me.” He kept turning the locomotive’s lights on and off then he pushed the button and it whistled. “It really works, Mommy.”
“It’s a beautiful train set. Did you thank Ryder?”
The boy put the wooden piece down and leaped up and dashed over to him. He climbed up on Ryder’s lap and flung his arms around his neck. “Thank you. It’s what I really, really wanted,” Timmy said hugging him tightly.
He paused for a moment, a flood of emotion whirling though him then he wrapped his arms around Timmy and held him tight. “I knew that, little buddy.” He darted his eyes to Savannah and she leaned back on her haunches a big-ass smile plastered over her face.
Timmy squirmed and Ryder let go and plopped him on the floor, and the boy crawled back over to the gift.
“Are you finished with it yet, Mommy?”
“Almost,” she said, ruffling her hand through his hair.
Ryder watched the two of them as they set up the track and village, and he let the good feelings of the moment wash over him. How in the fuck did I make it without them in my life? He’d lived in darkness for so long, that he’d forgotten what brightness felt like; life’s deceit had broken him, and from the pain that bore it, came an honest, bright love which consumed him. And that was the way he’d fallen in love with Savannah—all at once, as if struck by a gun shot.
Savannah stood up and walked over to him and he tugged her down on his lap then nuzzled her neck. “You’re my passion, my love, and my life,” he whispered.
“I didn’t know it was possible to love someone as much as I do you,” she whispered back.
“The lights go on in the houses … and the church … and the buildings!” Timmy clapped his hands and laughed, and Ryder and Savannah joined in the laughter with him.
Ryder held her tight as they watched Timmy and listened to the crackling fire and Brutus gnawing on the bone he’d received for Christmas.
The minutes turned into hours, and soon they were seated around the table at Ryder’s parents’ house—Savannah in the middle between him and Timmy. Ryder inched his fingers up her leg, underneath her skirt, and let them rest on her thigh—he loved the softness of her skin.
Ryder’s mother patted his other hand and then leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “You gave me the best Christmas present—the light back in your eyes,” she said softly.
“Savannah and Timmy are the ones who gave you that gift, Ma,” he replied.
“She’s a beautiful woman and the little boy is adorable. I’m happy for you, tesoro.”
All through dinner, Savannah kept pressing her leg into his, brushing his arm with her fingers, squeezing his biceps, and a whole bunch of other things that made him feel like he was the most important man in her life, and he loved her for it.
Ryder glanced down at the skull bracelet she’d given him, and tenderness wove through him again just like it had when he’d first opened the gift. What had surprised him was how well she knew him, and even though she’d downplayed it, he knew that she took a lot of time in finding such a unique gift, especially in Pinewood Springs.
During dessert, Savannah kept fingering the necklace hanging about her neck, the diamond pendant shimmering in the chandelier’s light. It was his gift to her, and for the past several Christmases, he’d never contemplated buying anyone a gift, or putting up a tree, or drinking hot chocolate, but here he was, embracing the whole damn thing like a reformed man. Life can be too fucking strange sometimes, but also wonderful.
After several hours of eating and talking, Ryder noticed the glazed look in Timmy’s eyes and the yawns Savannah tried to stifle. He rose to his feet, taking her with him, and walked over to his mom and kissed her on the cheek.
“We gotta go, Ma. It’s been a long day and Timmy’s tired as hell.”
“Thank you for having us,” Savannah said as she hugged his mom briefly.
“I’m very happy to meet you and your little one. You’ve made me so happy, and I can see how happy you make my son.”
Savannah blushed, and Ryder thought he was going to lose it. There was something about the way her cheeks flushed pinkish red that turned him the hell on. It was probably some kinky thing with him, but he loved the flush of color on her cheeks, neck, tits, and ass. Those streak marks did it for him every time. He chuckled and Savannah looked up at him, her forehead creased in puzzlement.
“What’s so funny?” she asked.
“You … but not funny—just fucking adorable,” he whispered in her ear. “I gotta get you home now, woman.”
Timmy fell asleep on the drive back and Savannah rested her head on his shoulder while they listened to Twisted Sister’s rendition of Christmas carols on the radio. Ryder craned his neck and brushed his lips across her forehead.
“Did you have a good time?” he asked.
“Yes, it was wonderful. I’m glad I came from a big family, otherwise I never would’ve been able to keep up with all of you.” She laughed.
“Yeah, we’re a pretty rowdy bunch. It probably also helped that you worked in an Italian restaurant.”
“It definitely did with the food. I’d forgotten about how much of it there is at Italian get-togethers.”
“My mom loves it. My sisters come over along with my aunts and cousins and they bring out the Chianti, gossip, and bake or peel peppers or do whatever they do. By the end of the afternoon, they’re drunker than fuck.” Ryder laughed as an endearing memory from his childhood played through his mind: his grandma, mother, and aunts elbow high in flour, kneading pasta dough and filling the pizzelle iron.
“My mom’s the same. My aunts come over and we all spend all afternoon baking, although our drink of choice is Bailey’s.” She chortled.
“You must miss your family like hell, especially today.” He pressed his lips on her forehead again.
“I do. It was good that Timmy got to talk to them this morning. I have to admit that it feels a little weird not being with my family on Christmas. Do you know this is the first one I haven’t been with them?”
“We’ll go to Boston next year for the holiday,” he said.
Savannah tilted her head up and tugged his face toward her. With his eyes fixed on the road, he met her lips. “Thank you,” she said after breaking away.
The garage door opened, and Brutus’s steady barking welcomed them home. Savannah slipped out of the car, and Ryder unbuckled Timmy and scooped him up in his arms and took the tired boy straight to his bedroom.
A half hour later, Savannah came into the room wearing that clingy, fuzzy robe that drove him fucking crazy with lust the second day she and Timmy were with him—it now seemed like that was a lifetime ago.
“Come to me, darlin’,” he said, and she pressed next to him, her legs tucked under her ass.
He’d changed into a pair of flannel pajama bottoms—a gift from Timmy—and a long-sleeved T-shirt. He’d taken off his prosthesis and Savannah’s hand rested on his limb. I never thought I’d allow a woman to touch me the way Savannah does, or to see me with all my faults and fucking demons. But he had, and she’d let him in too. They both had suffered in their lives before becoming each other’s comfort from the storm of life. Ryder loved Savannah with all his heart and he knew she loved him. They came together on a dark, snowy night: a meeting of two souls who fully accepted the dark and the light within each other. They were bound by the commitment and courage to grow and support one another through struggle into bliss.
Ryder squeezed her hard and she yelped. “Sorry, baby, I just can’t help myself.” He chuckled.
Savannah lightly swatted his hand. “I’m breakable you know.”
“I’m here to pick up the pieces.”
She sighed. “It’s going to be quite the fight.”
“It’ll be worth it, and you won’t be fighting the battle alone—I’ve got your back … always.”
“There’s no way Bret’s giving up this easily, and his mother will pull out all the stops to make sure he gets sole custody of Timmy. I’m pretty sure Bret’s headed back to Boston because he knows he can’t fight on your turf, but there’s no doubt in my mind that he’s already called his parents and they’ve retained a top-notch divorce attorney.” She sighed. “I just want Timmy to be happy, but they’re going to make sure to drag him in the middle of all this shit. I have to be strong for him. What a fucking mess.”
“He’s got both of us fighting for him. And you’ve got me to lean on,” Ryder said.
“I know.” She brought his hand to her mouth and kissed it. “Timmy had a great day.”
“Yeah, and he’s happy he’s staying here.”
“He loves it here. He has a group of friends, and after the first of the year, he’ll be starting at the same school Braxton is in, and he adores you and, of course, Brutus. My first trip back to Boston to meet up with the attorney, I plan to take Timmy so he can see my parents and Bret’s parents. I don’t want to shut Corinne and Wayne out of his life, I hope they understand that. I’d like it if you could come with us to Boston.”
“I’ll be with you every step of the way, darlin’.” He played with her hair, letting the silky strands fall through his fingers like golden sand. “Have you ever wanted any more kids?”
Savannah looked up at him. “Yeah. What about you?”
“Definitely.”
She rubbed her hand up and down his arm. “Let’s see how things work for us, but if they go the way I think they will, we can start thinking about having a child together. I’m not getting any younger, you know.”
“That’s right, you’re older than me,” he joked.
She punched him lightly. “Only by one year. Anyway, I’d love to have your child.”
“If that happens, we’re gonna have to get hitched, but we can deal with all that when we get to it.”
“Any news about Colt?”
“No, but I’ll never stop trying.”
“It’s all going to be okay,” Savannah said.
Ryder nuzzled the top of her head. “I know.” She’s going to help me heal and find a way to cope with the demons from my past that still lurk deep inside me. “I’m looking forward to our life together.”
“Me too. I love you,” she said drowsily.
“Love you too, darlin’.” He nestled her head against his shoulder and smiled when her breathing deepened.
He watched the flames curl and sway as the dry wood crackled in the fireplace.
She was his everything, and they were both in it for the long haul.
And he wouldn’t have it any other way.
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