“Do you think Mindi doesn’t want me?”She sniffled.
My heart broke as I looked down at her, because I knew for a fact that Mindi loved having Sarah with her.That was one thing I was certain of.I took a moment, and then I cleared my throat.
“Sarah, I don’t think that at all.”
She nodded, and then rested her head against my chest.
“Do you think if I ask Santa really nicely, he will give me my Christmas wish?”
I didn’t know what to tell her.There was no way I could say yes to that question.Instead, I took a deep breath and whispered, “You can always ask, no harm in that.”
Mindi left the community center with Sarah shortly after all the kids had seen Santa.Ethan and I remained to clean some things up, and once we were finished, we both locked up the door.
“What are your plans for tonight?”Ethan asked.
I looked at him and shrugged my shoulders.“I think I might go out and speak with Mindi.”
“I wouldn’t.I think she just needs to spend some time with Sarah,” Ethan said.
I took a deep breath and then looked at him.“Ethan, do you know anything about the whole situation with Sarah?”
“I do.”
“I was in the bookstore earlier today, and there was this woman LuAnn…”
Ethan chuckled.“Good old LuAnn,” he said, shaking his head.
“What does that mean?”
“Exactly what I said.LuAnn is somewhat of a gossip.She says a lot of things that are rather hurtful and that shouldn’t be said.What gossip is she spreading now?”
I looked over at the skating rink where a few boys played hockey, and then looked back at Ethan.
“She mentioned something about the Sarah situation and said it was my fault.Something about paperwork.”
Ethan averted his eyes from me and grew quiet for a moment.“I really shouldn’t be telling you any of this, but, if you have time for a coffee, I will fill you in.”
I glanced at my watch, already knowing I had nowhere to be.“Let’s go.”
Together, we left the community center parking lot and made our way over to The Crispy Biscuit where we shared a bite to eat and a coffee, and I listened with open ears to Ethan tell me the entire story.
Mindi
December 30
I walked up the front steps of the porch and opened the door, stepping into the warm house.Snow had been falling since I’d started cleaning up the tree lot this morning.I kicked my boots off and shrugged out of my coat, making my way into the living room where Sarah sat on the couch, her books in front of her, trying to decide which ones to take and which to donate.
“Want some hot chocolate?”I asked, warming my hands by the fire.
“No.”She sighed, a sad look on her face.
“Are you sure?I’m going to add those little snowman marshmallows.”
“Yeah, I’m sure.I won’t be able to have those things anymore, so I figure I may as well stop having them now.”
Sarah hadn’t been herself ever since I’d told her she’d be leaving.When she found out that she was the recipient of the town’s donations this year, she thanked everyone and then insisted that I donate everything to the less fortunate.Even the things I’d gotten her for Christmas hadn’t put a smile on her face, which had broken my heart.
“Oh, there is a message there for you.I forgot the name of the person who called, but I wrote the number down on the paper there.”
