Betrayal - Fern Michaels [81]
She hoofed it to the attic and brought down the boxes that held her childhood treasures. It would be a pleasant way to pass the evening. She even made a pot of hot chocolate and lit the fire in the den. It was as cozy as ever. The only thing missing was her husband. And the girls. They were always here when she decorated the tree. Though she felt sad at the loss of Emily, she would never be able to look at Sara again without thinking about choking her. But she would deal with that another time. She hadn’t really given much thought to the future as far as a relationship with Emily went. She would be eighteen in a couple of years. Kate would never turn the child away. She loved her like a daughter. She’d been so consumed with the trial that she hadn’t really given any thought to Emily. She would like to send her something for Christmas, but it wasn’t time this year. Maybe next year.
Kate opened the first box. Extra careful of the fragile ornaments, she unwrapped the tissue paper around each and every one. She’d glued macaroni to a paper plate to make a wreath. Must have been first grade; the green paint she’d used was all but gone. Glitter still sparkled in a few places. She removed a hot pink star made out of dough. She remembered making this particular decoration. She’d been in fifth grade. Not wanting to make a Santa or tree or an angel like the rest of her classmates, she’d opted for the star. No gold paint either. She’d gone with hot pink. Her mother had laughed at her choice of colors. Fluorescent colors were all the rage. Next, she held a small bell. She hadn’t made this. It’d been given to her by a girl in her third-grade class. Natalie. She remembered. Natalie’s parents were Jehovah’s Witnesses. Natalie told Kate she really hated that they didn’t exchange gifts. She’d told her mother, and they’d gone together to pick out a special gift for Natalie. The bell had been Natalie’s gift to her. Kate had given her a charm bracelet in the shape of a heart. Natalie had hidden it from her parents, but Kate knew she’d cherished the gift. Kate’s childhood held so many happy memories. Her parents were older when she was born, but they never acted any different from the younger parents of her friends. In fact, Kate remembered them being more active than her friends’ parents had been. She still missed them to this day. Good people gone way too soon.
She tackled a second box. It was filled with decorations she and Alex had purchased after they were married. She remembered going to the Hallmark store at the mall. They’d bought all kinds of fun, silly ornaments. Then Alex had disappeared only to return with a gift-wrapped box. He told her it would always be their special ornament, the one they would pass on to their children and grandchildren. Of course, at the time they hadn’t known Kate couldn’t conceive. Inside the box was a crystal star with their wedding picture etched in the glass. Inscribed in the crystal: Our first Christmas as a family.
Kate had cried, and Alex laughed at her for being so sentimental. It was always the first ornament placed on the tree. Yes, she would take this to Florida. Together, they’d hang it on whatever kind of tree they wound up with. She’d get something new this year to celebrate Alex’s release.
Kate relaxed in Alex’s chair with her cup of cocoa. She was about to pick up her book when the doorbell rang.
Gertie. She probably had the dogs. Kate hurried to the door. It was downright cold. Gertie should have called her to come get the dogs. Kate certainly wasn’t doing anything important.
The chimes again.
“Come on in, Gertie,” Kate called out. Why was she at the front door anyway? She never used the front door.