Silver Blessings

She’s the love of his life; the heart of the holidays. But can he protect her
from this . . . ?

Excerpt Chapter 3

She startled slightly when she heard footsteps on the stairs, but then relaxed when she recognized the tread. It didn’t belong to her children, even the college-attending Joshua. The sound would be more of a creep rather than a purposeful step muffled only in deference to the hour. She sat straighter on the couch when her husband appeared before her, his black locks in slight disarray from sleep, his worn T-shirt askew on his trim torso and the sledding Santa pajama pants Ava had “gifted” him two Christmases ago drooping low on his hips. Although Jada was still full from her earlier dinner of shrimp and grits, Aaron looked like a four-course meal she’d want to devour no matter the time of day.

But it was her heart that cramped with hunger pangs.

“Hey,” she greeted, holding up a mug. “There should be some cider on the stove.”

He ignored that information and approached her instead, his hand outstretched for a sip of hers. It was as much a testing of the water as it was a challenge. If they were okay, she’d share. If they were going to continue their cold war from yesterday afternoon, she’d send him on into the kitchen.

“I don’t have much left,” she warned him.

Aaron shrugged and wiggled his fingers.

She chuckled and gave him the mug, shaking her head fondly as he threw back his head to drain the cider as he continued into the kitchen behind them. She settled into the couch, curling into the blanket she’d cocooned herself in, as she listened to the soft tinkle of ceramics and the quiet thud of cabinet doors opening and closing. Moments later, Aaron returned with a steaming mug of cider in each hand. She smiled as she accepted hers, then made room on the couch and space underneath the blanket for him.

He took her up on her offers, bringing her feet onto his lap so she could remain comfortable in the couch’s corner. He squeezed her ankle absently as he took in the tree.

“They did a great job,” he said, saluting the tree with his mug.

“I almost wish we’d brought some of our family ornaments.”

Aaron huffed and sipped some cider. “No, you don’t. One of them would’ve gotten lost and everyone would be crying about it.”

She laughed a little. “Okay, fine.”

His thumb started caressing the knot on her ankle. “Speaking of, are we fine?”

“Fine enough that I want to be married to you forever.”

Aaron chuckled. “That’s a given. But will most of that be happily?”