CHAPTER 49
Christmas Eve
Ben knelt down and adjusted the halo of Dez’s angel costume. “That was the best Bible verse reading I’ve ever heard, young lady.”
She beamed at him. “I memorized it myself.”
“Yeah, well, I bet your mom helped a lot, too.”
She shook her head. “Nope. Only a little.” She slipped her hand into Ben’s. “Come on. Didn’t you hear Pastor Reggie say there’s cake downstairs?”
Ben hesitated for just a moment, glancing at Jade. “You coming?”
Jade adjusted her earrings and nodded at him. He slipped his hand behind her back then leaned in. “Mmm. What’s that beautiful smell?”
“That’s Mama’s perfume you gave her,” Dez announced. “She wears it all the time because she says it reminds her of you and how you kissed her that night the crazy lady got arrested.”
Ben raised his e
