Rogue Christmas Story by Lara Ward Cosio

Author:Lara Ward Cosio [Cosio, Lara Ward]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rogue Publications
Published: 2018-12-12T16:00:00+00:00

Just as Martin expected, Sophie had the group on the move throughout the day. First they went to the Jardim de Alah to take in the Festival de Presépios, one of the largest exhibits of nativity scenes in the world. The works were created by various artists and were both traditional and eclectic in style. The area also offered local and classical music, folklore performances, food, and plenty of room for the kids to run around.

His boys were eating up the experience—literally. They were game to try any exotic food they were offered. They also disregarded their phones and examined the nativity scenes with interests and even paid attention to the live performances. It made him realize that he needed to expose them to diversity like this more often.

Next, they went to Sugarloaf Mountain where they made a two-part ascent via cable cars rising high into the sky. The first stop was at Urca Hill, 220 meters above sea level. From there, they could see an expansive view of Copacabana, the famous Christ the Redeemer statue in the distance, Niteroi Bridge, and Guanabara Bay. Martin gave each of his boys money to waste in the tourists shops before they all continued on to the top of Sugarloaf.

The day was cloudless and at almost four hundred meters above sea level, the 360-degree view of the city and the blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean were phenomenal. Lainey took photos from every angle before turning her lens on him and the boys.

“We need one of you in it now,” he told her.

“Oh, it’s okay,” she replied, waving off the idea with her hand.

“Con, help us out?”

Conor looked over and saw what his request was before nodding. Still, Laney hesitated.

“Don’t worry. He’s good with technical equipment,” Martin said with a laugh. He was trying to make light of her reluctance but it bothered him that she wasn’t keen to have her photo taken with him and the boys.

“I bet I can click this button well enough,” Conor said and took the camera.

Lainey nodded. She went to Martin and he pulled her tight against his side, while ordering the boys to keep up their best smiles.

“See, harmless enough,” he told her once Conor had returned her camera.

“I’m going to get some shots over there.” She pointed the far side of the observation area before wandering away.

He watched her go, fighting the sense of dread her sudden distance instigated. It wasn’t just her physical distance of moving away, but the obvious change that had occurred when he asked for a photo. A family photo. The idea that she was uncomfortable being a part of his kids’ lives in that way surprised him. While she hadn’t spent all that much extended time with the kids, she seemed to adore them. And even better, they seemed to like her. But they hadn’t really talked about how they all fit together. Their relationship up until this point had been disjointed because of their various commitments, so there hadn’t seemed to be any reason to get into such discussions.

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