“Sometimes.”
Exhausted but satisfied, Seth drove home. A confession would have been great, but Bob had killed Amber, and he was sitting in jail. The evidence against him was strong already. The pending DNA test results would give the prosecutor an easy conviction. Hell, Bob would probably plead out once the evidence was outlined.
When Seth drove past Patsy’s house, a strange car sat in the driveway. He parked at the cabin, but it was empty. He took a quick shower and changed into jeans and a sweatshirt before walking up to the main house. Carly and Brianna were sitting on the sofa in the living room eating cookies. At the sight of Seth, Brianna launched her body across the room into his arms.
She wrapped all four limbs around him. “Did you get him?”
“You bet.” He kissed her nose.
“Mama and Aunt Stevie took me to see Santa.” Brianna squirmed.
“They did?” Seth glanced at Carly. His wife smiled.
Brianna nodded solemnly. “They let me go to the front of the line.”
“You certainly deserved that.” He set her down, surprised to see Luke White sitting on the floor next to Charlotte, who was building a tower with an ancient set of blocks.
Carly unfolded her long legs, stood, and kissed him. “Luke wants to take Charlotte.”
Luke laughed as the baby swatted the tower to the floor. “My parents would love to take her, but my dad is disabled. My mom can barely take care of him. I don’t think either one of them could even pick her up.”
“That’s a big commitment for a single guy.” Seth dropped into the only chair available: Bill’s. He never felt like he could quite fill the dents in the cushions, but tonight he could swear he felt his father-in-law’s approving presence in the room. He rubbed his face. He was spending too much time with Patsy. He needed food and sleep.
Luke cast Carly a worried look. “Will they turn me down because I’m single? I can’t produce a wife. I don’t even have a girlfriend right now.”
“No,” Carly assured him. “You’re her family. As long as everything else checks out, you should be fine.”
He looked relieved. “I have a lot of work to do in my house before it’s safe for a baby. It might take a week or so. I have to lock up my tools and get those outlet cover things and I don’t even know what else.”
“Tomorrow is Christmas. It’s also Friday, so the county offices won’t be open until Monday. We can start the paperwork then. I’ll come out to the house and help you make a list of what needs to be done.”
“Thank you,” he said.
Charlotte squatted to her feet, took his cheeks between her palms, and said, “Wukie.”
“I’d like to come see her tomorrow,” Luke said. “And maybe bring my parents. I know it’s an imposition, being a holiday and all.”
Walking into the room, Patsy waved away his concern. “You are all welcome. We’ll be here all day after church.”
Brianna climbed into Seth’s lap. He held her close, breathing in the scent of her hair detangler. His wife and child were safe. His Christmas was complete.
Patsy stood. “I’m going to bed. Tomorrow will be a busy day.”
“We’d better get you to bed too.” Seth brushed Brianna’s hair from her forehead. “Santa won’t come if you’re awake.” Plus, Seth and Carly still had to sneak the presents under the tree after Brianna fell asleep.
But then he could go to bed with his wife, something he truly appreciated tonight more than ever.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Carly herded Brianna and Charlotte into the house after Patsy opened the door. The cold wind swept in behind them. The rest of the family followed, except Seth, who had stayed at home because no one wanted to leave Bruce alone. James, Debra, and their boys came into the kitchen next, followed by Stevie and Zane. Church had been followed by a trip to the cemetery to lay a wreath on Bill’s grave.
“I’ll get a fresh pot of coffee going.” Patsy bustled into her apron. “Debra, would you put the ham in the oven?”
Seth tugged Carly into the other room and presented her with his gift. The morning had been too crazy. Brianna had pounced on them in bed at five a.m. They hadn’t found any time alone yet.
Carly opened Seth’s present. “A new fly reel?” She kissed him. Her husband knew her well. She wasn’t a jewelry sort of girl. She’d much rather spend the day at the river—with him. She handed him a large box and watched him open his gift, a new two-person tent, her way of committing to spending more time alone with him like they had when they’d first dated.
“I see some camping in our future.” Seth grinned. “I know what that means.” He leaned closer and whispered in her ear, “I can hardly wait until spring.”
Carly felt the flush from her toes to her cheeks.