Betrayal - Fern Michaels [123]
“Yes, I did. Wait here. I’ll be right back.”
Kate left and came back in a matter of minutes. She carried a small bundle in her arms. “This is what I wanted to show you.” Kate fumbled with the bundle in her arms. She pulled the blanket aside to reveal a tiny face.
“Oh my! She’s so pretty, Aunt Kate.”
“I think so. She’s a very good baby, aren’t you?” Kate nuzzled the nose of the small infant inside the blankets.
“So who does she belong to? I thought I heard a baby crying when I knocked on the door.”
Cooing noises came from the infant. Kate and Emily laughed. “She’ll be talking before you know it. Emily, this little girl is mine and Coleman’s.” Kate paused, giving her time to absorb the news.
“How? You never said you were pregnant in all those letters. Well, you look fantastic! What did you name this little sweet pea?” Emily took the infant from Kate.
“We named her Alexandra Suzanne.”
“That’s a mouthful, but beautiful.” Emily continued to kiss and tickle the baby.
“Emily, I did not give birth to Alexandra. We adopted her.”
“Well, that explains your figure. I think that’s wonderful. I know you and Uncle Alex always wanted a child of your own. How old is she?” Emily asked.
“Three months. Her biological mother was the daughter of one of Coleman’s clients. The infant was placed for private adoption after the mother died in childbirth. We named her Alexandra Suzanne because Suzanne was Coleman’s first wife, and we both thought Alexandra was a good name, sort of in honor of Alex.”
“I think this is wonderful, Aunt Kate. Life sometimes throws you lemons, and boy did you ever whip them into lemonade!” When Emily hugged Kate, Alexandra Suzanne cried, and they both laughed.
“We’re going to add a very special ornament to the tree in a minute. I’d like for you to do the honors. Follow me.”
Downstairs the guests were standing around the tree. Each had an ornament to place. Wedding ornaments, baby ornaments, and silly ornaments were hung all over the tree.
Kate handed the baby to Coleman. She clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention.
“I have a very special ornament to place on the tree. It’s been many years since it hung from a branch. Tonight is a very special night for me. I’ve got the child I’ve always dreamed of and a husband who cooks.” Everyone laughed. “And I have Emily, who has always been like a daughter to me. I would like to give you the honor of placing my own very special ornament on the tree.”
Kate took a small box and removed the tissue paper in which the ornament was wrapped. Her and Alex’s very first Christmas ornament—their wedding picture etched in the crystal star and those memorable words. She handed the ornament to Alex’s daughter.
Tears flowed as Emily hung her father’s ornament on the tree. When she finished, there was slow applause, then everyone shouting “Merry Christmas” to one another.
“There is one more thing.” Kate took a present the size of a shirt box and gave it to Emily. “This is for you. From Alex.”
There wasn’t a dry eye in the room as they watched Emily open her present.
She removed the paper slowly, taking her time so as not to tear it. She took out a stack of papers held together with a red ribbon. She removed the ribbon, then scanned the papers.
“This is the deed to the kennel!”
“Merry Christmas, Emily!” Kate whispered. Later, after all the guests had left and the night was quiet, Kate stepped outside into the cold winter air.
She removed the top of the container she carried. She stood high on the mountain, on land that she loved. With tears in her eyes, she released the ashes that she’d carried for so long.
“You’re home now, Alex. Truly home.”
If you enjoy Fern Michaels’s unique brand of
wonderfully entertaining storytelling,
you won’t want to miss her
exciting new series, The Godmothers.
Turn the page for a special preview of
LATE EDITION,
a Kensington trade paperback
on sale in September 2011.
Prologue
Malibu, California
At dusk they gathered to speak to the dead. With Sophie acting as their