Christmas with the Reeds(5)

“I think so. And disproportional.” I’m still trying to decide what that means.

“I think they’re hot,” Peck says as she puts her arm around me. I lean over and kiss her forehead.

“Next year, they’ll be watching our baby, too,” I tell Peck, laying my hand on the roundness of her belly. She smiles at me and lays her head on my shoulder.

“We had better go or we’re going to be late.” Paul rushes everyone out the door. We have trucks outside the homeless shelter filled with toys for boys and girls, and we have surprises for the adults, too. Lots of them.

I rub my hands together. I can’t wait to do this.





Logan

I kiss my daughter on the head and follow Em out of the apartment. She trusts the Zeroes to watch Kit, so I do too. Besides, I don’t want to miss out on what’s going to happen tonight.

I still can’t believe Friday talked me into wearing a fucking elf costume. With tights. I tug on the leg of my tights, trying to give my balls some room. Sam wasn’t kidding. These things are seriously tight.

Emily arches a brow at me. “Something wrong?”

I shake my head. “Nope.”

She grins and pulls out her phone. “You guys look amazing.” She snaps my picture.

I hold her hand as we walk down the street. It’s odd being able to walk beside her without having to keep my hands free for talking. We still sign, but not all the time. Now I can hold her hand like we’re any other couple, and not miss anything.

Em holds my hand in one of hers, and her guitar case in the other, and I can’t help but think back to the day that changed my life. The day when I tossed her over my shoulder and took her home with me. Her Betty Boop panties were flashing and I didn’t care. She hung there over my shoulder, and I wanted so badly to keep her safe, but what I didn’t realize was what she would give to me.

She accepted me exactly as I was. She communicated with me, and she did everything in her power to let me know she loved, wanted, and respected me. And all she asked from me was exactly that. She wanted the same in return, and loving her was unavoidable.

She squeezes my hand. “You okay?” she asks.

I nod and smile at her. “Fine.”

We’re on the way to a homeless shelter. It’s the same shelter that was full the night I took her home with me for the first time. I remember seeing her standing there on the sidewalk. She threw her head back and she had looked so defeated…but it didn’t last more than a moment. She’d squared her shoulders and powered on. Right into my heart.

Outside the shelter, a line has formed. Children stand around, giddy, waiting to see Santa Claus. And then there are the ones who don’t believe in Santa, because he’s never actually been to see them. Those are the ones I want to help most. Those are the ones who have shouldered burdens too early in life. Those are the ones who deserve to just be kids.

I walk up to a young girl who’s standing on the street corner. “How much will you make tonight?” I ask her. Emily stands beside me.

“For both of you together, it’ll be expensive,” the girl says.

Emily’s cheeks color and she tucks her face into my sleeve. “How much to get you off the corner for one night?” I ask.

The girl finally understands. “My little sister, she needs medicine,” she rushes to say. She wouldn’t be out here if she didn’t have to be. No one would.

“How much?” I repeat.

I have a wad of hundred dollar bills in my pocket. We all do. It’s part of what we’re doing tonight.

“One hundred,” she says.

“That’s all?” I ask. “Where are you sleeping?”

She jerks a thumb toward the shelter.

“Where’s your sister?”

“Waiting to see Santa.”

I peel four crisp one hundred dollar bills from my pocket and I fold them into a square. Her eyes go wide. I tuck them into her palm.

“After she sees Santa, I want you to come and find me, okay?” I tell her. “I don’t care what I’m doing. Come to me and tell me what it would take for you to get a job. A place to live. Or an education. Think about it and then come and tell me what you want your next step to be. I’ll help you make it happen.”

Tears fill her eyes and she blinks them back. “Really?”

“Really,” Emily says. “Food. Medicine. A place to live.” Her brow furrows. “How old are you?”

“Eighteen,” the girl replies quickly. But I know she’s lying.

“No more working tonight,” I tell her. “Go inside, get a hot meal, see Santa, and then come and find me, okay?”

“Okay,” she whispers.