night, so we can do whatever you want to, beautiful.”
Chapter Seven
Late December
Teresa sat cross-legged on the area rug in the little living room of her apartment, wrapping presents for Christmas, which was just two days away. Her hours were long and very busy ones, but even more so this Christmas season while she was covering for Margie’s bed rest and maternity leave, which had segued right into the busy Christmas season. With the extra income, she had been able to build up her savings account. It had also made Christmas not quite so stressful for her in the gift-buying department. She wrapped a new straw cowboy hat she’d splurged on for Angel, enlisting Grace and Rosemary’s help to find out what size he wore and what style he preferred.
She smiled tenderly, her hands stilling on the box after laying it on the large sheet of wrapping paper. She’d taken the hat out to look at it the evening she’d brought it home. Michael had wandered into the room and asked, “Is that Daddy’s hat?” She’d made some comment about it being for someone else to throw him off the trail, knowing he’d tell Angel the moment he saw him, guileless toddler that he was. But his innocent little words kept ringing in her ears.
That was the first time Michael had referred to Angel as “Daddy,” but Teresa was honestly surprised he hadn’t said it before now. Angel had helped her out several times, caring for Michael when she’d been asked if she could stay late to help during busy evening hours and once when her daycare provider had gotten sick. Michael would tell her all about riding the “horsies” when she picked him up. Angel told her Michael was turning in to a good little rider.
Angel had been busy around the ranch, working with other horse owners who brought their mares for breeding. He was never too busy, however, when she needed his help. Grace told her on the occasions when she saw Michael with him that Michael was usually riding on Angel’s shoulders or getting piggybacked, even when other horse owners were around. Thinking of the loving care he showed her son made her heart bloom with tenderness for this man.
Angel had asked her the week before what her plans were for Christmas morning. After ascertaining that she hadn’t made plans, beyond watching Michael open his Christmas presents, he’d asked her if she would spend Christmas morning with him. She’d been surprised, but she’d happily agreed. She had assumed Angel would probably want to spend it with his brother who would arrive sometime soon or possibly go home to spend the day with his parents and siblings. Honestly, she couldn’t think of any place she’d rather be Christmas morning than with the two most important men in her life.
Teresa tidied up and got herself ready for bed. Angel had asked if he could have Michael during the day on Christmas Eve. He had the whole day planned for the two of them while she went to work on the wildest shopping day of the year. Their plans included having supper ready for her when she got off work the following evening. She fell asleep looking forward to seeing Angel in the morning.
Teresa woke early and got ready while she listened to holiday music on her stereo. Michael chattered excitedly while they ate breakfast about getting to go with Angel for the day.
At one point, he got a little serious, and then he asked, “Mama? Is Angel my daddy?”
She was standing at the sink, rinsing her cereal bowl. She paused then shook her head. “No, honey. Angel is Mommy and Michael’s good friend.” No, Angel wasn’t Michael’s father, but he was the kind of father she would have wished for. She attributed it to the sentimentality of the season and missing her parents when tears filled her eyes and a large lump formed in her throat. Her heart pounded a little at the thought that this was the question on his mind, right before Angel picked him up and spent the whole day with him. She hoped he didn’t put Angel
Chapter Seven
Late December
Teresa sat cross-legged on the area rug in the little living room of her apartment, wrapping presents for Christmas, which was just two days away. Her hours were long and very busy ones, but even more so this Christmas season while she was covering for Margie’s bed rest and maternity leave, which had segued right into the busy Christmas season. With the extra income, she had been able to build up her savings account. It had also made Christmas not quite so stressful for her in the gift-buying department. She wrapped a new straw cowboy hat she’d splurged on for Angel, enlisting Grace and Rosemary’s help to find out what size he wore and what style he preferred.
She smiled tenderly, her hands stilling on the box after laying it on the large sheet of wrapping paper. She’d taken the hat out to look at it the evening she’d brought it home. Michael had wandered into the room and asked, “Is that Daddy’s hat?” She’d made some comment about it being for someone else to throw him off the trail, knowing he’d tell Angel the moment he saw him, guileless toddler that he was. But his innocent little words kept ringing in her ears.
That was the first time Michael had referred to Angel as “Daddy,” but Teresa was honestly surprised he hadn’t said it before now. Angel had helped her out several times, caring for Michael when she’d been asked if she could stay late to help during busy evening hours and once when her daycare provider had gotten sick. Michael would tell her all about riding the “horsies” when she picked him up. Angel told her Michael was turning in to a good little rider.
Angel had been busy around the ranch, working with other horse owners who brought their mares for breeding. He was never too busy, however, when she needed his help. Grace told her on the occasions when she saw Michael with him that Michael was usually riding on Angel’s shoulders or getting piggybacked, even when other horse owners were around. Thinking of the loving care he showed her son made her heart bloom with tenderness for this man.
Angel had asked her the week before what her plans were for Christmas morning. After ascertaining that she hadn’t made plans, beyond watching Michael open his Christmas presents, he’d asked her if she would spend Christmas morning with him. She’d been surprised, but she’d happily agreed. She had assumed Angel would probably want to spend it with his brother who would arrive sometime soon or possibly go home to spend the day with his parents and siblings. Honestly, she couldn’t think of any place she’d rather be Christmas morning than with the two most important men in her life.
Teresa tidied up and got herself ready for bed. Angel had asked if he could have Michael during the day on Christmas Eve. He had the whole day planned for the two of them while she went to work on the wildest shopping day of the year. Their plans included having supper ready for her when she got off work the following evening. She fell asleep looking forward to seeing Angel in the morning.
Teresa woke early and got ready while she listened to holiday music on her stereo. Michael chattered excitedly while they ate breakfast about getting to go with Angel for the day.
At one point, he got a little serious, and then he asked, “Mama? Is Angel my daddy?”
She was standing at the sink, rinsing her cereal bowl. She paused then shook her head. “No, honey. Angel is Mommy and Michael’s good friend.” No, Angel wasn’t Michael’s father, but he was the kind of father she would have wished for. She attributed it to the sentimentality of the season and missing her parents when tears filled her eyes and a large lump formed in her throat. Her heart pounded a little at the thought that this was the question on his mind, right before Angel picked him up and spent the whole day with him. She hoped he didn’t put Angel
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