Before he made it two steps mall security was beside him. “I think it’s time you left the mall. I saw all of that and I cannot allow you to threaten anyone within the mall. If it happens again you’ll be banned from ever returning.” The guard told him as he escorted him and Albert from the building.
“Are you okay Karla?” Rylee asked her from across the table.
“Yeah. I think anyway. He just creeps me out. It’s like he thinks none of this is going to come back on him. It’s a little scary.”
“It’s a lot scary.” Callie added. “What’s he doing out anyway? I thought he’d be locked up somewhere, or at least not be allowed to leave his house.”
“He’s not supposed to be leaving his house.” Chase told them. “If I had to guess, his mom’s at work and he was left there alone, so he slipped out.”
“Probably. It’s disturbing that it’s that easy for him to get out. They should be monitoring him.” Rylee pointed out to them all.
“I, for one, am not going to let him ruin my day. Has everyone gotten everything they need for everyone else?” Karla said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. They could all tell that she was trying to not let James mess up their day.
“I don’t. I still need to get several things.” Rylee told them.
“Me too.” Callie agreed.
“Let’s go shop some more then. I saw a really cute scarf that I want to get Leslie then I’m done.”
“Done? Really? How is that possible when one of us has been with you every second?” Conner asked her.
“I’m just good like that.” She answered with a grin and a wink. Her mood started to lighten a little as they finished eating and talked about the gifts they’d already purchased.
When they were finished the girls took off to the clothing store to get Leslie’s scarf and the boys took off together to find something for their dads. “Guys I need your help.” Conner said after they were well away from the girls.
“What do you need man?” Chase asked him. He and Conner had never really been friends until he’d started dating Callie and now he wondered if that was because of James’ dislike and jealousy of Conner.
“I need to figure out something for Karla. I know what I want to get her, but I’m going to wait until her birthday for that.”
“How about some earrings or a bracelet. I know she doesn’t usually wear jewelry, but I think she would if you bought it for her.”
“She wears earrings, she always wears the same pair of earrings actually. Her grandmother got them for her and she never takes them off.”
“How about a bracelet or necklace that matches them?” Chase suggested.
“Humm… I know they’re rubies, which is her birthstone. Let’s go. I have the perfect thing. I saw it back in the jewelry store.” Conner led then back to the jewelry store and was out within a couple minutes. He opened the small box and showed them the single heart shaped ruby that hung from a thin gold chain. “What do you think?”
“I think she’ll love it.” Dominic told him. “I actually got Rylee one similar to it for Christmas. Hers is an amethyst though.”
“I think it’s perfect.” Chase said. “I got Callie a garnet bracelet that I think she’ll love.”
“She will. She loves jewelry.” Conner assured him.
“Let’s go get our dads something so we can meet back up with those three. They may be shopaholics, but we only have an hour before Leslie’s back to get us all.” Dominic reminded them.
“Yeah. Let’s get this done” Conner said with a smile.
Forty-five minutes later they all met back at the food court and walked to the front entrance together. Leslie was waiting for them when they walked out the doors and after they loaded everything into the back of the SUV they headed home.
Chapter Sixty-Five
The night before Christmas Eve Karla, Callie, Conner, Rylee, Dominic and Chase were all seated around the fireplace in the family room of Karla’s house. They’d spent the whole day together just hanging out, watching movies and playing board games. Now they were drinking hot chocolate and getting ready to exchange gifts. “How about we take turns passing out our gifts? I’ll pass out mine and everyone opens what I got them, then Callie can pass out hers and so on.” Rylee suggested.
“Sounds good to me. It’ll make it where we can all see what everyone got everyone else.” Callie said.
“Let’s do it like that. I’m curious to see what everyone picked out.” Karla agreed.
“Okay. I’ll start.” Rylee said and proceeded to pass out her gifts to everyone. “Okay, now do you want to open them all at once or one person at a time?”
“One at a time!” Karla and Callie said at the same time and everyone burst out laughing.
“Okay Karla. You start.” Rylee said with a smile.
Karla opened her package and it was a beautiful emerald colored sweater with gold threading running through it. “Wow Rylee. It’s beautiful. Thank you.”
Callie had one just like it in sapphire blue with silver threading.
She got Dominic a jersey signed by Aaron Rodgers, the quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, Dominic’s favorite football team and she got Conner a Tennessee Titans sweatshirt. Conner opened his last and was stunned when he saw the vintage Star Wars pictures. “Wow. How did you know?”
“I have my ways Con.” She said with a wink.
Callie passed out her gifts and Conner started opening first this time. She got him a statue of The Millennium Falcon with a little Han Solo and Chewbacca sitting at the helm. “Amazing. Thanks sis.”
“You’re welcome Con. I know how much you like Star Wars.”
She got Chase a Titans jacket and Dominic a PlayStation 3 video game.
“Ry, Karla, open yours at the same time please.” She asked them.
They opened theirs together and gasped when they looked at the beautiful crystal figurines they held in their hands. They were little teddy bears and each held a sign with their names on them. “Wow, Callie. You had these custom made because I know for a fact that you can’t find mine or Karla’s name on anything. I know because I’ve looked.”
“I LOVE it Callie. Thank you so much.” Karla beamed at Callie.
“Okay my turn.” Conner said and passed out his gifts.
He got Dominic and Chase both a video game. He got Rylee a purple sweater and told everyone that Callie helped him pick it out and he got Callie an autographed script from the pilot episode of her favorite television show.
When it was Karla’s turn to open hers Conner, Chase and Dominic all watched her intently. “What’s going on guys?”
“Nothing. Just hoping you like what I got you is all.” Conner answered her.
“I’m sure I will Conner.” She said and ripped the wrapping paper off the box. When she opened the box there was another wrapped box inside it and when she opened that one there was another.
“I’m going to kill you Conner.” She said and laughed when she encountered yet another box. She opened three more boxes before she pulled out a small jewelry box. When she opened it she smiled and turned it around for everyone to see.
“Will you help me put it on please?” She asked Conner.
“Of course I will Karla.” He helped her put it on then sat back down and smiled at her.
Once Dominic and Chase passed out their gifts and they were open it was Karla’s turn.
“Dominic, Chase, open yours first please.” She said softly.
They opened theirs and smiled hugely as they pulled them from the box. She’d had them both a custom jersey made of their favorite football teams. “This is way cool Karla. How in the world did you get these?” Dominic asked.
“I found a website and had Andrew help me order them.”
“They’re beyond awesome. Thanks Karla.” Chase said with a huge grin.
“You’re both welcome. I’m glad you like them because they’re birthday and Christmas presents together.” She said and smiled. “Callie and Rylee
open yours together please.”
They opened their necklaces together and gasped. “Karla these are beautiful.” Rylee gasped.
“They are. I can’t believe I didn’t see these. Thank you Karla.” Callie said.
“You’re welcome. I’m glad you like them.”
“Can I open mine now please?” Conner asked impatiently.
“Yes, but yours has two parts. The one I handed you needs to be opened first and then I’ll give you the second one.”
“Okay.” He winked at her and opened the first half of his gift. “Wow. I love these. Wait, Ry got me the other three. You two were spying on me in the music store the other day.”
“Nope. Dominic and Chase were and they told me that you were interested in these prints so we went back. Now, do you want the other part or are you going to keep talking?”
“I want it. Please can I have it?” Conner begged.
“Okay. You have to close your eyes because I didn’t wrap it.”
Conner closed his eyes and Callie put her hands over them because she knew how Conner liked to peek.
When Karla walked back into the room everyone gasped and Conner started squirming under Callie’s hands. “I want to see. Callie move your hands. I want to see.”
“You can move your hands Callie.”
When Callie moved her hands and Conner opened his eyes his mouth flew open. He looked up at Karla then back at the table. Sitting on the table was a glass scale model of the Death Star from Star Wars. “How?” was all he could get out past the shock that consumed him.
“Andrew can find anything on the internet.” She answered with a smile. “I hope you like it.”
“Like it? I love it. Thank you Karla.”
“You’re welcome Conner. Now who wants some more hot chocolate?”
“Actually our moms will be here in a few minutes. Merry Christmas Karla.” Rylee said and walked to the front door as headlights shined through the window. “Dominic, your mom’s here. She’s taking me home too so I guess I’ll see you when you get back. Have a great trip and please be careful.”
“Always Rylee. I’ll text and email you every day. I promise.” She hugged Rylee and Dominic and waved to them as they pulled away. A couple minutes later Mrs. Newberry pulled up and Conner, Callie and Chase left with many hugs and goodbyes.
Once they were all gone Karla went into the kitchen and hugged Andrew and Leslie. “This is going to be the best Christmas ever.” She said and sat between them at the bar.
“I totally agree honey.” Leslie said and wrapped her arm around Karla.
“Me too.” Andrew agreed and wrapped his arm around Karla too.
Chapter Sixty-Six
The next morning after breakfast Karla, Leslie and Andrew headed to Bob and Meghan’s house for Christmas Eve lunch and to spend time with them. Once they arrived Harvey immediately jumped into Karla’s arms. “Karla guess what?” He said as he bounced up and down on her hip.
“Whoa there little man. If you don’t stop bouncing I’m going to drop you.” When he stopped bouncing she looked at him and smiled. “Thank you. Now let’s see if I can guess. You have a girlfriend and you’re running away to live in the jungle with her?”
Harvey burst out laughing at her. “No silly. Santa comes tonight and I asked him for a blue bicycle and a puppy.”
“Wow. A blue bicycle? That’s pretty cool. What kind of puppy do you want?”
“One that’s little like me.”
“I’m sure Santa will come through for you little man. Now let’s go see what we can help with.”
“Okay.” He beamed a smile at her and bounced out of her arms. She followed him into the kitchen and was immediately consumed by the sounds of her family.
“There you are. Harvey attacked you didn’t he?” Meghan said with a smile.
“Yeah, but that’s alright.” She smiled back at her. “Hey little man, why don’t you go get me an apple juice?”
“Okay.” He grinned and ran over to the fridge. Once he was out of earshot Karla turned to Meghan.
“You know he asked Santa for a blue bike and a puppy right?”
“Yeah. We got him the bike, but we couldn’t find a puppy. I hate that we’re letting him down.”
“Why don’t you write him a letter from Santa telling him that his puppy is waiting for him at the animal shelter and that he’ll be able to pick it out himself?”
“Karla you are brilliant. He’ll be thrilled. We’ll take him down to the local shelter the day after Christmas.”
“Just don’t want him to be disappointed. He doesn’t need those disappointments.” Karla walked to the sliding glass doors and stared out at the beautiful day. It was cold, but sunny and she loved it.
“No child should ever have those disappointments.” Leslie said from behind her.
“Sometimes it’s unavoidable, but in Harvey’s case it isn’t.” Karla responded. “I don’t really want to talk about this. I was just trying to help make it a special day for him.”
“Okay honey. We want it to be special for you too though.” Leslie told her then walked back over to the stove to help Meghan.
“Karla. What’s wrong?” Harvey asked her as he walked up beside her and held up her juice box. “You look sad.”
“Hey little man. I’m not sad. I’m just thinking.” She picked him up and looked out at the day. “Why don’t you get your coat, hat and gloves and we’ll go walk around outside for a few minutes? They don’t need us anyway.”
“YAY!! I’ll be right back.” He ran off to get his outer gear and Karla walked over to Leslie and Meghan.
“I’m going to take Harvey outside for a little while if that’s okay.”
“Yep. Y’all have fun.” Meghan responded.
“We’ll be back in a few.” Karla said as Harvey bounced back up to her. “Okay little man. Let’s go.” Karla wrapped her scarf around her neck and put her hat on her head.
Once they were outside Harvey ran over to his play set and started climbing the faux rock wall. “Be careful little man.” Karla yelled over to him.
“I’m always careful.” Harvey called back to her with a grin.
“Yeah, well I don’t want any injuries on my watch.” Laughter filled her voice when he stuck his tongue out at her. “I’ll get you for that.”
She ran over and chased him up the climbing wall and grabbed him just before he went down the slide. “I got you little man. Let’s go.” She sat down and sat him on her lap before she slid down the slide with him squirming on her lap.
When they were at the bottom she stood up and he flung his arms around her neck. “I love you, Karla.”
“I love you too, little man.” She wiped a tear from her eye and kissed him on top of the head. “Let’s go in and get some hot chocolate. I’m cold.”
They walked inside holding hands and laughing together.
“I was fixing to come out and get you two. Harvey, daddy wants to know if you’re ready to open your presents from Aunt Leslie and Uncle Andrew.” Meghan asked him.
“Yes..Yes.. YES!! PRESENTS!!” Harvey yelled and ran into the family room.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” Meghan said with a laugh. “Karla are you ready to open your gifts?”
“If I run into the family room yelling presents will you look at me funny?” She asked with a laugh as she walked into the family room.
Harvey was seated crossed legged on the floor in front of the Christmas tree bouncing in place. Andrew was digging through the bag of gifts they’d brought and Bob was under the tree pulling out packages. Karla walked in and grabbed a small package off the floor beside Andrew and walked over to Harvey. “Here little man. I got this for you so you can go ahead and open it while they play with the other packages.”
Harvey laughed and took the package from Karla’s hand. When he opened it he grinned and yelled for Meghan. “Mama, Mama, come look what Karla got me.”
When Meghan walked over she saw Harvey holding a small, blue, w
ooden plane with his face painted on the front, like he was the pilot. “Wow, Karla. That’s awesome. Where in the world did you get something like that made at?”
“I found this place in the mall that does hand crafted toys and I know how much little man here loves planes so I took his school picture from the mantel and had them make this for me. I know blue’s his favorite color so I had it painted blue.”
“Karla you are one of the sweetest, most thoughtful people I know.” Bob told her with a smile.
“I love you, Karla.” Harvey said and flung himself into her arms.
“I love you too, little man.” She responded and kissed the top of his head.
The rest of the day passed with a lot of laughter and Karla was exhausted when they got home that night. She went straight to bed and laid there awake for a few minutes thinking back over the day and when her eyes closed her vision was filled with Harvey’s smiling face.
Chapter Sixty-Seven
Karla was awakened by the smell of pancakes and the sound of Andrew’s guitar the next morning. Her normal routine was to be dressed and ready for the day before she went downstairs, but they wouldn’t be going anywhere until later so she went downstairs in the flannel pajamas she’d slept in. When she walked into the kitchen she saw a stack of pancakes, a platter of bacon and a bowl of scrambled eggs sitting on the table.
“Merry Christmas Karla.” Leslie said from the stove where she was filling a glass syrup dispenser with syrup she’d warmed for the pancakes.
Andrew, who was sitting on a bar stool playing Christmas carols on his guitar, looked up when Leslie spoke and grinned. “Merry Christmas sleepy head. I thought we were going to have to go get you up.”
Karla laughed at the expression on Andrew’s face and walked to the table. “Merry Christmas to you both too. Leslie, breakfast looks awesome.”
“Thank you Karla. Andrew put that thing down and come eat breakfast with us. I want to open presents before we have to go to the ER Christmas lunch later.”
A New Beginning (The Second Chance Series Book 1) Page 20