Her Name Was Annie by Beth Rinyu (the little red hen read aloud txt) 📕

“It is.” I sighed. “The whole thing is so tragic.”

“Is she going to approach his brother about what he did?”

I shrugged. “I’m hoping she will, but that’s got to be her choice.”

“I hope she does,” Kara whispered, gazing down at the letter once again. “What he said about love...it describes you and Dad perfectly.” She raised her head, her blue eyes beaming into mine. It amazed me how perceptive she was because I had thought the same exact thing. “What’s going on with the two of you?” she asked, taking me a little by surprise.

“What do you mean?” I asked, feeling my guard going up.

“I don’t know. It seemed like you guys were getting closer and now, it’s like you don’t even talk anymore. If you ask me, he seems just as lonely as you. You know he’s not seeing anyone right now. Don’t you?”

“Why would I care if he was seeing someone?” I snapped.

She shook her head and let out a defeated breath. “I don’t know.”

“So, you never told me. Is he finally accepting the whole Ian situation a little better?” I decided to keep the focus on Jack, but shift it away from me.

“He’s tolerating it at best, but I don’t think he’s very happy about it.”

“Well, how are things going between the two of you?”

Her face brightened up and then broke out in a huge smile. “Good. He’s really a great guy, Mom.”

“I’m happy for you.” I reached over and grabbed her hand.

“I was wondering, what are you planning for Christmas? Only because Ian asked me to go to his parents’ house with him on Christmas Day. They live a few hours away in Delaware.”

“Wow! Meeting his parents already?” What I wanted to add was: and on Christmas of all days. The day you’ve spent with me every single year since you were born. But I held my tongue, trying to hold true to the lecture I’d given Jack the other night—she was an adult, free to live her life the way she wanted. Although, I’d be lying if I said it didn’t feel as if I had just been punched in the gut. This was what my future held, sharing my daughter for holidays and important events with some other family out there whom I never met. “That’s fine, if that’s what you’ve got planned.” I conceded with a smile.

“If you’d rather have me here, I can tell him I can meet them another time.”

“No, don’t be silly. We can celebrate Christmas another day.”

“I was thinking maybe we celebrate on Christmas Eve.”

“You always spend Christmas Eve with your father.”

“Not this year.” She lifted her coffee cup to her mouth and took a sip, leaving me in agonizing suspense as to why she was breaking tradition. Was it because she was still harboring some animosity toward him over Ian? “He’s going to Florida to Grandma and Grandpop’s,” she finished after swallowing her coffee.

“Oh.” The resentment that was building up inside of me toward Ian, in thinking he was the reason she wasn’t spending time with either of her parents, faded away with Kara’s explanation. “Then let’s plan on Christmas Eve. I’ll invite Pop over and see if Aunt Julie wants to stop over after her shift at the hospital.” My best friend, Julie, was the closest person I had to a sister up until a few weeks ago. Her son was in the Army and stationed in Germany. Her ex-husband married the much younger woman he left her for and was now repopulating with a whole new family. She was a nurse who would always take on extra holiday shifts to avoid being reminded that she was alone. I sighed, wondering if that would be me in the upcoming years.

“That would be great! I’d love Aunt Jules to meet Ian!”

“Then it’s settled. We’ll celebrate Christmas on the twenty-fourth instead of the twenty-fifth.” I forced a believable smile, knowing this was the first of many concessions I was going to need to make in the future, so I may as well just grin and bear it.

_______________

Our Christmas Eve celebration went well. In fact it was actually very nice, proving I was adaptable to change. Kara and Ian had left early in the morning on Christmas Day to head to his parents’, and I headed to my father’s for his annual Christmas breakfast. At least some things remained the same. We spent the morning sipping on mimosas and reminiscing about Christmases past. It was bittersweet to think the woman who was the topic of most of the conversation, the one who made every Christmas special, was no longer here. I missed her so much, especially around the holidays. Every year it seemed as if Christmas lost a little more magic, and I hated it.

I arrived home later that afternoon, changed into my pajamas, then parked myself on the couch with Max and a corny Christmas movie. Kara had texted me, letting me know she had arrived safely and that Ian’s parents were really nice.

“Of course they are,” I whispered to myself as I stared at her text. “Perfect son. Perfect parents. Just like in this stupid movie,” I continued. Max lifted his head and stared up at me in confusion. “I really need to stop this, Max,” I said as I placed my phone on the table. “I sound like a jealous child.” Max lowered his head, letting out a slight groan that I interrupted as, quit your complaining, lady in dog language.

I pulled the blanket from the back of the couch and placed it over me. Max cuddled closer, and it was only a matter of minutes before I was drifting off to sleep. I sat up at the sound of the doorbell, so out of it that it took me a few moments to remember where I was and even what day it was. The sun was just beginning to set outside my window. I had only dozed off for