He locked his SUV and took Harrison’s hand as they walked toward the multiplex. The Wonderful Life Cinema had seven screens, one of which was always playing a Christmas classic, no matter the time of year. He remembered when he and Reggie had been dating. She’d insisted on seeing a Christmas movie on the first Friday of every month, no matter what great new movie might be dropping that weekend. She would go see the new one with him on Saturday, but the first Friday of the month was a holiday movie, no matter what.

He’d quickly discovered that they frequently had much of the movie theater to themselves, and if he positioned them in corner seats, he could get in a lot of kissing and a little over the shirt action. Suddenly Miracle on 34th Street had become a lot more interesting to his seventeen-year-old self.

He was still smiling when Harrison started waving and yelling.

“Reggie! Reggie!”

Toby turned to his left and saw the woman in question also heading for the movie theater. She saw them, too, and changed direction, walked toward them. Toby looked around for a male companion, but she seemed to be alone.

Harrison broke free, rushed toward her and hugged her. Reggie hugged him back, then grinned at Toby.

“Now, what could you two possibly be doing?” she asked.

“We’re off to the movies,” he said, trying not to acknowledge the jolt of pleasure her smile brought him.

“Me, too. I spent the afternoon transplanting Christmas cactus. They’re going to be the favors for my parents’ wedding, so I need to put sixty of them into little custom planters.”

“You’re a good daughter.”

“That’s what I’m telling myself.” She looked at Harrison. “Let me guess. You’re here to see It’s a Wonderful Life.”

Harrison laughed. “Nope. The new cartoon. Come with us, Reggie. It’ll be great.”

“Harrison, Reggie has her own plans.”

His son’s expression fell as he nodded slowly.

“I just thought it would be fun if she sat with us.” He paused, then brightened. “Reggie, would you like to pick the movie?”

“Good one,” Reggie said with a laugh. “I would very much like to sit with you, and I pick the cartoon.”

“Really?”

Toby looked at her. “You don’t have to do that.”

“I want to. I can see It’s a Wonderful Life later. It’s not as if I haven’t seen it before.”

Harrison jumped up and down. “Yay! Dad, can I buy the tickets?”

Toby handed over his credit card, and Harrison raced toward the ticket machines.

Toby returned his attention to Reggie. “Thank you for indulging him.”

“I really don’t mind. It’ll be fun.”

“I can tell you haven’t been to a movie with a bunch of kids in a while. Fun isn’t the right word. Loud works. Very loud.”

“I will endure.”