Chapter 13

Chapter

Thirteen

December 17 th

7:36 P.M.

They came here every year.

Every single year from Freddie’s first Christmas onwards.

After Adam and Jasmine got together last Christmas, they’d even been several times throughout the year. While the place was obviously the busiest at Christmastime, it operated all year long, and they’d enjoyed riding horses in the spring, playing in the fields in the summer, and picking fruit in the autumn, and all the other activities the place offered.

But this visit was her favorite.

Watching Freddie and Donovan bond was such a special experience, and Jessica was so glad that she’d decided not to let her fears get the best of her and had given Donovan a chance. It was clear her son already liked and respected him, and it wasn't just because Donovan bought him whatever he asked for.

Already they’d had gingerbread, cotton candy, popcorn, candy canes, fudge, and chocolate, hot chocolate, and warm apple cider. They’d had professional photos taken with their snowman and the reindeer when they’d moved on to the next encounter. They’d even taken a reindeer pulled sleigh ride. Sitting in the sleigh, covered with blankets, with Freddie snuggled between them, Donovan’s arm around her shoulders, she’d felt so happy she was sure she was going to burst.

Now they were in the snowball ring, and she’d already given up on getting Freddie home at a reasonable hour, which had been the one condition she’d had when she agreed to this impromptu family date.

Who cared if he was tired tomorrow?

It was almost Christmas break, and her son deserved to have some fun and be spoiled. He was such a good kid, he never complained when she couldn’t afford to buy him something the other kids had. He was respectful to her and never got angry about the fact that he didn't have a dad even though she regularly cursed her ex—in her head never to her son’s face—for abandoning such a great kid just so he could live his own life without responsibility.

Staying on the sidelines to give Donovan some time alone to bond with Freddie, she giggled as she watched the two throwing snowballs at one another as quickly as they could make them. While Donovan didn't outright let Freddie win, he put up a fight, made sure a couple of his snowballs hit the excited child, he was also careful to make sure that even more of Freddie’s snowballs hit him.

She already knew he had what it took to step into the role of father. Not that she thought it would be a perfect ride, she was sure there would be bumps along the way, nothing in life went completely smoothly, but she also knew that if things kept going well between them he wouldn't just make a good husband but a good dad, too.

When her attention was caught by a little girl looking scared and alone, she straightened and hurried over. Freddie was fine with Donovan for now, but this little girl looked like she had lost sight of her parents.

Being both a cop and a mom, she noticed when most of the other people around her were too caught up in their own families, and when she reached the child, she knelt so they were eye to eye.

“You lost, sweetie?” she asked.

“I can't see my mommy,” the girl, who looked to be about four told her, tears brimming in her big blue eyes .

“My name is Jessica, and I'm a police officer, I'm sure I can help you find your mom. What’s your name?”

“Lissy.”

“That’s a pretty name. Was it just the two of you here together, Lissy?”

“No, my daddy is here, too, and my brothers. They was fighting with the snows balls, and they weren't listening like they were ‘posed to. I was following mommy and daddy when they chased after my brothers, but there were too many snows balls and I got scared, then I looked and they were gone,” the girl explained.

“I’m sure they’re here somewhere, sweetie. Which direction were they going?”

“That way.” Lissy pointed down toward the back of the field where it joined the woods surrounding the farm.

“Okay, let’s go take a look. We don’t want you missing out on all the fun, do we?” she asked, standing and taking the little girl’s hand.

“I wanted to throw snows balls too,” Lissy told her as they both started walking.

“I bet you did. Are your brothers bigger or smaller than you?”

“Both. Chase is bigger than me, but I'm bigger than Gary. They fights together alls the time.”

“Brothers can be like that.” Not that she would know firsthand, she didn't have any siblings, but Adam was almost like a brother to her and even though he drove her crazy sometimes she couldn’t imagine a better partner or friend, and knew she was lucky to have him in her life.

They reached the trees, and Jessica gave the area a visual sweep. She didn't want to go traipsing through the woods because they were huge, and it was easy to get lost in there. They’d take a quick look, and then if they didn't see Lissy’s family, she’d take the girl back to the entrance to the snowball park and have her wait there while she organized people to look for her family.

Movement just a little way into the trees caught her attention and she relaxed, sure it was the girl’s family. Knowing they’d probably realized by now that Lissy was no longer following them they must have been worried and torn. Chase after the boys or look for their daughter, they might have even split up so they could do both .

“Hello? I have Lissy here with me, she got lost,” Jessica called out as she took a step closer to the movement she’d spotted.

Too late she realized she’d made a mistake.

She’d let her guard down. She wasn't on duty tonight, she was just here as a mom and girlfriend having family fun.

Something slammed into the side of her head and the world around her vanished.