Christmas According to Liam by V L Locey

Author:V L Locey [Locey, V L]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-12-09T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Four

Bryn

It was cold. So damn cold. Despite all my years of calling Pittsburgh home, the brutal cold snaps that settled over the city from time to time still astounded me. Yet, despite the four degree thermometer reading and light wind, here we were, outside, cheeks red and eyes watering, to help Liam ride his bike. I’d volunteered to sweep the four or so inches of fluffy snow away from the walkways that circled our tiny garden area. It was a small but beautiful space just for the residents of our condominium to enjoy. During the summer, it was lovely. The trees were leafed out, the flowers in the beds blooming, the birds sang, the bees buzzed, and a man could rest on one of the wrought-iron benches with a book and a glass of lemonade. Today, there were no flowers, birds, bees, or glasses of lemonade. Any kind of liquid would have frozen within minutes. Yet, Liam and Michael seemed to be oblivious to the wind chill.

The boy was pedaling around the circular route. Michael was jogging along behind him, arms stretched out in front of him should the boy teeter over, shouting encouragements to his nephew. I doubted the bike would tumble over, given it had training wheels, but my husband was a worrier. I loved that about him. That, and his innate, nurturing heart. Resting under a maple tree that had long ago shed its leaves, broom in hand, I smiled at the moment. It stirred something profound in me, something that I’d shelved years ago. Sure, I’d dust it off from time to time, study it as one would a tome of ancient texts, and return it to its home to molder a bit longer. I was going to be thirty-four in a month. Perhaps it was time to give it some serious thought.

“Oh, my…sides…need air…fat uncle…dying,” Michael panted as he stumbled along in Liam’s wake. I chuckled at the man I loved and decided to give them another pass or two, then call it off. Liam’s cheeks were scarlet now and Michael was exhausted.

“Perhaps we should go back inside now?” I called as the twosome rode closer. “I can make some hot chocolate…”

Liam skidded to a wobbly halt a few feet from where I stood. Michael fumbled around the boy and fell into my arms.

“Thank you…thank you…thank you,” he huffed, his breath warm and moist on my neck. I hugged him close, kissed his icy nose, and then rounded the winded pair up and led them inside. The warmth of the foyer was lovely.

“After we make hot chocolate, we should build a snowperson,” Liam announced as we waited for the elevator. I handed the boy my handkerchief so he could wipe his runny nose.

“We can do that after lunch. Maybe it will warm up,” I offered and got a head bob from Michael, who was still huffing and puffing. “Perhaps we can dig through our old clothing for the snowman.”

“I want to make a snowperson who hasn’t picked his or her gender yet, Uncle Bryn, and send the picture to Peter.

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