“Couldn’t you—”
“Brendan,” Brodie interrupted. “That’s enough questions for now. Why don’t you run inside and tell Granddad that Celeste is here. We’ll be up in a minute.”
“Okay!” the boy piped and zipped into the lodge.
Celeste let out a breath in relief. Brendan was an adorable kid, and there had been a day not so long ago when she would’ve gladly spent hours listening to him talk and answering his questions, but even the innocent topics of family and Christmas were too tender for her to talk about. Brodie met her gaze with a sympathetic smile, and it was obvious he’d sensed her distress.
“He calls you Papa,” she murmured. “That’s adorable.”
His lips twitched upward. “And his favorite game is twenty questions. Can you tell?”
She nodded. “He’s a beautiful boy, Brodie.”
“He gets tha
