1225 Christmas Tree Lane - Debbie Macomber [27]
Although she had no idea what Kent was thinking, Beth couldn’t imagine him actually spending the rest of his life with this woman. It was a mistake. Even her daughters could see that. Kent wouldn’t appreciate hearing her opinion, so Beth was determined to keep it to herself—although that was a struggle.
From inside the kitchen Beth heard Sophie greeting Kent and Danielle at the front door and ushering them into the family room. The Christmas tree was still bare, surrounded by the boxes they’d carried down.
“Mom’s in the kitchen.”
This came from Bailey. Kent must have asked where she was. A moment later, he joined her. “Listen, I’d appreciate it if we—”
“Is there anything I can do?” Danielle asked in the sweetest of voices.
“No, thanks. I’ve got everything under control,” she told the other woman. Her eyes connected with Kent’s. She wanted to berate him for bringing Danielle to a family function; instead, she bit her tongue and tried to disguise her feelings, although she suspected she’d failed.
She realized she’d need to get used to the fact that Kent was his own man now and made his own decisions. Beth forced a smile and continued stirring the chocolate.
“Dad,” Bailey called. “Come and help.”
Kent hesitated and it looked as if there was something else he wanted to say. With obvious reluctance, he returned to the family room, Danielle on his heels.
Beth took as long as she dared in the kitchen. Fortunately, Grace phoned while she was there, which kept her occupied for another five minutes. Beth peered into the living room when she’d hung up. From her vantage point, she could see that the girls had opened the boxes of old ornaments and were reminiscing with their father. Danielle sat on the sofa, her expression bored. Eventually she reached for her cell phone and started texting.
“Mom!” Sophie shouted. “Where are you?”
“Coming!” Beth loaded the serving tray with pretty holiday mugs. She’d decorated the top of each mug of cocoa with whipped topping and chocolate sprinkles, which was how Kent and the girls had always liked it. “Here we go,” she said, hoping she sounded cheerful. Surely there was a reward in heaven for first wives who were nice to their exes’ new girlfriends.
“Remember this one?” Sophie said, and held up a snowman she’d made with a wood-burning kit when she was around ten.
“What I remember is the blister you got on your finger because you weren’t careful,” Kent teased his daughter.
“I was so proud of this silly snowman. I was sure I’d make a career out of wood-burning.”
Danielle gave a saccharine smile. “It’s…lovely.” The words rang empty as her phone chirped and she returned to texting.
“It’s terrible,” Sophie said. “In fact, it’s downright ugly.”
“Well, maybe,” Danielle agreed, putting her cell back in her sweater pocket, “but you were just a kid. I’m surprised you kept it, though. If it was me I would’ve tossed it years ago.”
Beth opened her mouth to defend her daughter, then closed it. No need to get into a useless argument.
“If you think it’s ugly, why would you put it on the tree?” Danielle asked. “I mean, you’re right, it really isn’t very attractive.” She stood and retrieved an ornament from the box. “There are some darling ones here.” She held up one of the felt gingerbread men Beth had sewn the first Christmas she and Kent were married. “Now this is kind of amateurish, but it’s…nice. By comparison.”
“We put up the wooden snowman,” Beth said, carefully handing Danielle her cocoa, “because Sophie made it herself. The decorated tree in the living room is for show. This one is for family, for memories of Christmases past.”
“Sort of like that Charles Dickens book,” Danielle said. “The one with the ghosts. And Tiny Tim.”
“Something like that,” Beth murmured as she brought Kent his hot cocoa.
“Do you have one without any chocolate sprinkles?” Danielle asked.
“Sure.” Beth retrieved the cup and went back to the kitchen. She dumped the whipped cream in the sink and added a fresh dollop minus the chocolate sprinkles.