Weekend Writes were a collaborative effort of 10 volunteer eHarlequin community members.
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Chapter Two

One of these days Claire was going to have to face things between them. He couldn't go on being just her friend, especially after Thanksgiving. There was no way he could go back, not after having felt her passionate responses, tasting her very essence. And MOST definitely not after having her naked and bucking beneath him, writhing in a need only he could satisfy. He knew Claire wanted to forget, but there was no way in hell he was ever going to. Somehow he had to make her understand that she and Hayley were his world.

Almost howling in frustration, Jimmy followed Hayley through row upon row of Christmas trees, none of which seemed to be good enough for the little girl who had captivated him from the moment she was born. It was getting dark and they had been here all afternoon. The snow was beginning to fall heavily and he knew they wouldn't be able to look around much longer. He considered telling Hayley they would come back tomorrow but dismissed the thought immediately. No way was he going to hurt Hayley by changing their tradition.

"Come on, Hayley, you're going to have to pick one soon. It's almost 4:30 and we still have to eat before we can decorate."

"Uncle Jimmy, why can't you be my daddy?" Hayley's big blue eyes shimmered in the fading daylight, giving her a melancholy look that didn't belong on the face of an innocent seven-year-old.

Dropping down on one knee, Jimmy took the little girl in his arms, kissing her forehead as he tried to think of an answer she would understand.

"Well, pumpkin, mommies and daddies love each other in a very special way.…"

"But you love Mommy!"

"I know, sweetheart, but it's a little bit different.…"

"I don't care!" Hayley glared at him, as she stomped her foot on the ground. "You love Mommy and I want you to be my daddy!"

"I can't be your daddy, baby" The tears he saw gathering in those cobalt blue eyes were wrenching his heart into tiny little pieces.

Before he could explain, Hayley rushed off between the rows of trees, tiny footprints in the swirling snow the only sign of her passage.

* * *

Head down, heart aching, Hayley tried to understand. Was it her? Was she a bad girl? Is that why Uncle Jimmy didn't want to be her daddy?

"I just want Mommy to be happy," she whispered out loud. "I want us to be a family, like the other kids have."

Sending a prayer skyward, Hayley turned at the sound of Jimmy's footsteps. Just as his hand wrapped around hers, a slender beam of moonlight shot through the falling snow to shine upon the most perfect Christmas tree Hayley had ever seen. Silvery moonlight lit the top of the tree like a halo, while ice crystals danced upon its branches.