“Or I can take her out again. The stuff I got for you is already wrapped, so I’m more than happy to be the distraction. Or to get the hell out of here, if that’s what you want me to do.” She shrugged. She really didn’t care either way. In fact, whatever things he’d gotten could’ve all been for Marigold and she really wouldn’t have minded. Just having him and Marigold there was enough of a present for her. “Better than having to sleep without that extra bit of warmth beside me in the bed.”
Leah wasn’t looking for whatever it was Evan was hiding behind him. Not that his thoughtfulness meant less to her, but she wasn’t the type of woman to go snooping around for presents that were for her. People weren’t obligated to give her presents — at least she hoped she never made anyone feel that way. The real reason was probably because she never knew what to get other people, and so she never expected other people to bother with her.
So, whatever Evan had hidden, Leah wasn’t searching for it. Her attention was on him. “Just another skating lesson. She’s getting better at it, and I’m sure by the time winter’s over, she’ll be better at it than Mommy is.” She made sure to tilt her head slightly in the direction of the room where Marigold had disappeared to, and raised her voice slightly so the girl would hear her. In truth, the second lesson had gone better than the first, but Marigold still wasn’t sold on the idea of ice skating.
Having him closer helped chase the chill away a little faster, but part of her felt guilty for not having told him yet about what happened the day before with Micah. She had nothing to worry about, really, but it still wasn’t something she really wanted to tell him right before Christmas. But then… there was a chance another rumor could be spread. She wanted to be the one to tell him, before things got out of hand.