Page 9 of Enduring Christmas

He'd pulled out of the attic everything from a nativity scene to the nutcrackers to reindeer to blow up snowman to Santa Claus and a whole team of reindeer a gingerbread house, a laser machine, icicle lights, and enough Garland to wrap the whole town square twice. That's what you did when you were a single parent. Parents went above and beyond the put a smile on their kids' faces, even when there wasn't one on theirs.

"Is the most wonderful time of the year," Luke said trying not to smirk.

Xenobia gave him a doubtful, "sure it is."

That surprised him. Did she have her own Christmas nightmare? Could she be just as cynical about Christmas as he was? What were the odds?

"So, what do your Christmas decorations look like?"

"Don't have any."

He gave her a wry grin. "Are you seriously trying to tell me there's a woman in Endurance that isn't in love with mistletoe, garland, and Kris Kringle?"

He was careful not to say Santa within earshot of Shiloh.

"Never met the man. And don't want to," she supplied, with a stubborn lift to her chin.

Well, Shiloh has to pick what she wants for this year's Christmas theme.

"Oh," Xenobia said. "Sounds like fun."

It is Miss X-n-o-bia. You can help daddy and me. But you can't go on the roof because you're a girl."

"Shiloh," Xenobia said bending low, "big girls can climb on roofs and trees."

"Really?"

Oh yeah, I did as a kid. Little girls grow to young women who can do anything that they dream of."

Luke listened as Xenobia extolled all of the wonderful accomplishments of women around the globe. He was in awe as she spoke in an easy to follow tone that held Shiloh's attention. The kids in Endurance were lucky to have Xenobia. She had a natural talent for teaching. And the saintly patience required to work with young children.

"Like my daddy, I can build a house, or a car, are like a stage so we can dance and sing?"

Xenobia tossed her head back and laughed out loud. "Ouch," she yelped.

Luke stopped his mixing. "X?"

"It's fine," she breathed, a hand to her head, "just moved too quick."

"Daddy, does Miss X-n-o-bia have to go back to bed 'cause she doesn't feel good?"

Without missing a beat, Luke rounded the kitchen counter scooped Xenobia up into his arm and deposited her on the couch in front of the fireplace.

"Nope. But she needs to rest until dinner is ready."

Meow quickly jump from the floor on to Xenobia's chest, curled up into a ball and buried his head under his two front paws. A contented purr followed.

Luke sneezed again, trying desperately not to rub his itchy eyes. Xenobia stared at him and then looked at Meow.

"Are you allergic to cats?"

"Yeah," he admitted, rubbing his hands on his sweats.

"So why not get a dog?"

"Because Shiloh loves cats."

She looked dumbstruck that he would sacrifice his sinuses to make his daughter happy. Yeah, he had a few more surprises in store for the sassy schoolteacher. She wanted to dash, but Luke would much rather she dine with them beyond tonight.