“Mommy, look it’s the star,” Hallie said, holding up the silver star for the top of the Christmas tree they were decorating. “I always put the star on top.”
“Go ahead, baby,” Kate said, watching as Luke lifted their daughter up so she could slide the star over the top of the tree. It sparkled, its glitter catching the light just right. Luke set Hallie down and she went to work finding more ornaments to hang.
Kate watched her for a long time, just happy to be able to be a part of her family again. She’d missed so much over the past three and a half years. So many firsts that she could never get back.
“Don’t go there,” Luke said, stepping over and crouching down in front of her. His blue eyes searched hers as though he were reading her mind. “We’ve got a lifetime of Christmas’s together, baby. Those are the ones that matter the most.”
She smiled halfway. “I just get sad sometimes. But we’re okay now, right?”
He smiled back. “We’re better than okay.” He leaned over and covered her mouth with his.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.
When he pulled away, he reached into his back pocket and pulled out a white envelope addressed to her. He offered it to her. “I found this in the mailbox. I didn’t know if you’d want to read it or not.”
Kate looked at the return address. Michelle Fitz, along with the address of the jail she was currently being held in, adorned the top left corner of the envelope. Kate took it from him, but made no move to open it.
“You don’t have to read it. Want me to toss it?”
Did she? She knew that would be the smartest thing to do—definitely the easiest. Thoughts of her sister always brought her anger out. Anger that she’d been trying to let go of over the past several months.
Regardless, morbid curiosity had her opening the envelope. Luke and Hallie gave her some space as she began to read.
Dear Kate,
I realize I’m the last person in the world that you want to hear from again. I know I’m going to be going to prison for a long time. I also know you won’t want to see me—not that I blame you. I’m not asking you for any second chances because I know that after all that has happened, we’re beyond that. I have to tell you that I regret much of what I’ve done. I don’t expect forgiveness from you or from my children. I’ve ruined my life and theirs as well. There are things Louis did that I will probably never know about. I don’t think I want to know everything. If there’s anything that jail does, it’s provide you with time to think. I’ve thought a lot about what you went through. Seeing Hallie in person really made me realize what I allowed to be taken from you and even though you probably don’t want to hear this, I have to say it—I’m sorry. I mean for everything. My sister-in-law told me that you’ve decided to put your inheritance into a trust for my kids. I don’t know how you still have a heart after all the pain you’ve been through, but I’m grateful. I’m not crazy enough to believe that I’ve been a good mother. I do love my children though, Kate. They are the only good thing I have ever done. I know I don’t have a right to ask you this, but I’m hoping that as long as I’m in here, you’ll keep an eye on them. Maybe sometime they could have a holiday with you and Luke or a birthday. Louis’s sister is a decent woman and I know she'll take care of them but I want them to know you and Hallie too. It’s probably a blessing for them that neither of their parents will ever be free again. Now they have a real chance to become something in this world. I won’t write to you again. And I won’t expect a response from you. I just wanted to tell you thank you. And that I’m truly sorry. Michelle.
Kate stared down at the piece of notebook paper, her feelings mixed. She’d already decided that she would do her best to be a part of her nieces’ and nephews’ lives. That was why she’d set them up with trust funds. As for Michelle, she wasn’t sure if she would ever completely forgive her for all the pain she’d caused. Maybe time would change things, but she couldn’t help but doubt that.
“You wanna talk about it?”
Kate looked up as Luke folded his arms over his chest and leaned against the arm of the couch she was sitting on.
“No,” she said, smiling halfway. “I don’t. I want to move forward. You are my family—you and Hallie and our baby. I don’t want to live in the past anymore.”
He smiled at that. “Yeah, me either. How about we consider today the first day of the rest of our lives.”
“What does that mean?” Hallie asked, walking over and laying her hands against Kate’s rounded belly.
“It means we’re leaving all the scary stuff that happened in yesterday. It’s over,” Luke said, picking her up and balancing her on his hip. “And all we’re going to think about tomorrow is happiness.”
“Like baby’s birthday?” Hallie asked, sticking her thumb in her mouth. Unfortunately that was a habit they would have to work on breaking again.
“Like baby’s birthday,” Luke agreed, tickling his daughter. Before long, they were all laughing and frolicking around on the floor—even Bentley. Finally, they were a real family.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jennifer Hayden lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and children. She is the author of several romantic suspense novels, including:
HIDE AND SEEK
(Book 1 Hide and Seek Mystery Series)
UNBROKEN
(Book 2 Hide and Seek Mystery Series)
SWEET REVENGE
SAY MERCY
SOUNDS OF NIGHT
ROOT OF ALL EVIL
AFTER THE RAIN
(Book 1 – The Callahan Series)
IN THE EYE OF THE STORM
(Book 2 – The Callahan Series)
HOPE FOR CHRISTMAS
(Book 1 in Noel, Montana Series)
COMING IN WINTER 2014
AFTERSHOCK
(Book 3 – The Callahan Series)
WWW.JENNIFERHAYDENBOOKS.COM
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