Three

                                    

                                          
Later that evening, we did the usual routine. I helped mom with dinner then set the table. We took our usual seats. Mom and I sat across from each other and John sat beside me. We made small talk mostly about our day. 
Mom had gotten up to get more drinks for everyone so that left John and I alone. He nudged his knee against mine. 
"Your awful quiet tonight doll. Everything ok?", he questioned, sparing me a glance. 
I nodded, not looking up from my plate. I don't know how I could look him in the eye after the dream I had about him earlier. 
"Doll, are you sure everything is ok?"
"Yeah, I just had a weird dream is all."
Mom came back with the drinks, and we finished dinner in a comfortable silence. After everyone was done, I cleaned the table and got started on the dishes. John stood beside me and dried them before putting them away. 
"So, when do you go back?", I questioned. 
"A day or two after Christmas."
I nodded and finished washing the dishes then started to help John dry them. Once we were done, we went to the living room. He sat down on the couch with mom while I sat in dad's recliner. 'Home Alone' was playing on the TV but I paid no attention to it. I kept stealing glances at John. 
Anytime he would catch me he would give me a small smirk or a wink and went back to watching the movie. 
A couple hours had passed, and we all said our goodnights before heading our separate ways. After I got ready for bed, I laid there watching a few YouTube videos before finally nodding off to sleep. 
Around midnight I woke up in a cold sweat reliving the day dad passed. I choked back tears and got out of bed. I was going to make my way downstairs for water but stopped in front of the guest room where John was. I quietly opened the door seeing him fast asleep. 
Before my mind could decide whether or not to go in my feet already made a choice. Once I made it to the open side of the bed, I slowly pulled back the covers and crawled into bed. John rolled over and slightly opened his eyes. 
"Doll?"
"I'm sorry. I had a nightmare. I didn't mean to wake you. I was just going to lay here for a little while to calm down."
"You didn't wake me. I'm a bit of a light sleeper thanks to my job."
John pulled me into his chest and brushed my hair from my face.
"You can stay as long as you need. Your mum told me about these nightmares. She also told me you usually end up in bed with her, but I won't question why you ended up here."
I nodded and started to drift off back to sleep. John stayed awake for a while to make sure I was fast asleep. 
I slept better during the night although the wet dream I had earlier reoccurred. The next morning John sat with his head against the headboard reading a book. I glanced up at him and smiled. 
"Good morning doll. It's just you and me today. Earlier when I was downstairs getting coffee your mum was rushing out the door to work. She said she should be home in time for dinner."
I nodded and sat up getting out of bed. The rest of the day John and I binged whatever Christmas movie was on.