Stay Awhile by Gia Riley

Author:Gia Riley [Riley, Gia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Stay Awhile
Publisher: Gia Riley
Published: 2017-03-11T16:00:00+00:00

Garrett

“MOMMY!” A VERY EXCITED LANEY yells from her room.

I was hoping she’d be so exhausted she’d sleep until Megan got home. Then I wouldn’t have to see her broken heart when she asks why her Mommy isn’t waiting for her downstairs.

When I push open her bedroom door, she’s sitting up, her doll in her arms where it usually is. “Merry Christmas, Laney.”

“Merry Christmas, G! Did Santa come? He came, right?” She rambles so fast my head spins a little.

Holding her arms in the air, she wiggles her little fingers back and forth, silently begging me to pick her up.

“Santa came,” I tell her as I slide her tiny body out from under the covers.

She exhales in my arms and rests her chin on my shoulder. “You were right again. Santa figured out where to find me.”

“Just like I told you he would.”

She squeezes me a little tighter when we start going down the stairs. I can’t tell if it’s the anticipation of seeing her presents or if she’s scared I’m going to drop her. There’s not a chance in hell of that, but I still tell her, “I’ve got you.”

“I know,” she whispers.

I hesitate for the slightest of seconds, mostly because I’m caught off guard by her tone. She’s the most perceptive little girl I’ve ever met.

Reading me better than any child ever has, Laney leans back in my arms and examines my face. I put the smile right back on, but she shakes her head like she can tell something isn’t right. “Where’s Mommy?”

It kills me I have to lie to Laney, but I do it to protect her. She’s been through enough, and she’s been tested more than any five-year-old ever should be.

“I was out of the good stuff and your mom wanted to make you an extra special breakfast. It’s my fault for not planning ahead.”

“Do you think she’ll be much longer?” she asks as her eyes take in all the gifts surrounding the tree.

Only a couple actually fit under the branches. I went overboard, but other than my niece on Christmas Eve, I’ve never been able to spoil a child on Christmas morning. This is the first time I’ve been awake before the birds just for the sake of ripping a bunch of overpriced paper into shreds—and I’ve never looked forward to making a mess more.

“How about we go through your stocking while we wait?”

“Awesome idea!” Laney watches as I take hers off the hook above the fireplace, giggling when I pretend it weighs a ton. “You’re scaring me, G. There better not be coal in there. I’ve been a very good girl this year.”

Laughing, I set it on her lap and tell her, “Santa wouldn’t have left you all these presents if you weren’t a good girl.”

Her little hand dives inside the fluffy red and white stocking. She’s already elbow deep, slowly digging all the way to the bottom. I watch as she pulls out some candy, a couple Disney princess figurines she squeals over, and a handful of lottery tickets.

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