The Moon and the Stars at Christmas by Kathryn Kaleigh

Author:Kathryn Kaleigh
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: KST Publishing

Chapter Twenty-Seven

ZACHARY

As Zara and I finished up stringing the lights and worked on adjusting them in the limbs so they looked just right, I watched Alexandra.

She sat on the sofa with her feet tucked beneath her, her laptop balanced in her lap. She’d told me she had a couple of things she needed to do for work.

I didn’t mind. I was delighted by Zara. And it wasn’t because I was biased. I’d found her to be delightful even before I knew she was mine.

Every time the thought surfaced, I felt surreal.

Having a child was always something I would do “someday.”

I’d put it off because I knew that someday would only come with Alexandra. I might have children with someone like Penelope, but they wouldn’t be my someday children.

I was having trouble getting a straight answer from Alexandra.

She wasn’t telling me to leave and she wasn’t telling me to stay.

I wasn’t pushing her on it. She had to get used to the idea of me being here as much as I had to get used to it.

It was easier for me. I knew I wasn’t going to be leaving.

As long as she let me stay, I was going to stay though Christmas right here with her and Zara.

After that, we’d figure it out.

Together.

I was moving in on her fast.

But that’s how she and I worked.

Hard and fast.

Once she and I had connected, we’d become attached at the hip. It was how we worked.

The truth was, I was ecstatic about us taking Zara to see Santa tomorrow.

I hated that I had missed the first nine years of her life, that I’d missed the pregnancy, and I hadn’t been there when Alexandra gave birth, but I was here now.

It may have happened by chance, but I had control over what I did now.

“Can we put the decorations on it now?” Zara asked.

“Where are they?” He glanced around.

“Hmm.” She thought a minute, then grinned. “In the attic.”

“You’ll have to ask your mother.”

“Mommy.”

“Yes. As long as you stay close to Zachary in the attic.”

“I will,” Zara said, putting her hand in mine and pulling me toward the stairs.

I’d been around children a lot. But this was different. I was putty in Zara’s hands.

As we headed up the stairs, her hand in mine or more accurately mine in hers, I felt an odd sense of being privileged to be with her.

Zara was my child.

She was the most delightful Christmas gift.

I never in a million years would have thought things would go this way.

But they had.

And I could not be happier.

Just as we reached the attic, my phone rang. I immediately recognized the ring tone.

Skye Travels.

“Hold up, Zara,” I said. “I have to answer this.”

Zara sat down on a trunk to wait. She was not only my child, she was perfect.

“Zachary, are you still in Whiskey Springs?” It was Mattie, the receptionist.

“Yes,” I said, feeling a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. I’d blocked myself out on the schedule. They knew where I was—they had to keep track of the airplane—and they knew I hadn’t scheduled a return date.

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