Della picked up Savannah off Willow’s lap and headed to the dining room, giving a mock whisper over her shoulder. “Mom’s upset because Dylan is Catholic.”
“Sue!” Jed held his heart with dramatic flair. “I’m a Catholic! That stings!”
Maudra grinned and winked at Sue. “Yes, Jed.That’sthe part what concerns Sue!”
It was Sue’s turn to blush again. “Are we going to jabber all day, or is it okay if we eat now? I’m sure the girls are looking forward to opening the presents.”
Willow rushed to the tree, her blond curls bouncing. She picked up a present nearly as big she was, arching her back to be able to lift it off the ground. “I wanna open this one!”
Zephyra went over to her cloned niece. “That’s one of mine, sweetie. It’s from Uncle Donnie. I’m hoping it’s cash. Maybe keys to a new sports car.” Donnie let out an intentionally deafening laugh from the kitchen. Zephyrarolled her eyes and returned her attention to Willow. “But you can help me open it if you want to.”
Nolan shook his head, speaking for the first time. “You spoil my girls too much, Zephyra. Isn’t going to kill them if every gift isn’t for them. They’ve got more than enough.”
Zephyra took Willow into the kitchen, whispering loud enough for him to hear. “You just ignore that mean old dad of yours, sweetie. Take as many presents as you can get!”
Nolan groaned. “I’m gonna give that girl to y’all to raise when she hits thirteen.” He shocked me by coming over and giving Jed and I tight hugs. “Good to see ya, boys. It’ll be nice to have the family all together. Della’s been beside herself all week having you here for a Christmas finally, Brooke.”
By the time we started opening presents, all of us were groaning from gorging ourselves. All but Zephyra. “If you all could be more stereotypical Ozarkian, I’d like to know how.” She patted her flat stomach and batted her eyes in Donnie’s direction. “Just because there’s twelve tons of food on the table doesn’t mean you’ve gotta eat every bit of it.”
“Shows what you know!” Donnie popped open the top button on his jeans. “They aren’t teaching anything of any sense in that college, are they?”
EveryChristmas Jed and I shared had been wonderful. We always went to Seattle to be with his family. Each one had been filled with love, laughter, and wealth beyond imagination. But sitting in the Durkes’ living room, snow falling outside the window, everyone crowded in, wrappingpaper everywhere, I was happier than I had been in a long time. Jed seemed to know what I was thinking as he stroked my thigh. I hoped he was enjoying it and not missing Seattle too horribly. He’d talked to his family last night before we went to bed. It had been a while since I had talked to Sam, and it had made me miss him.
Watching Blaire, Willow, and Savannah open their gifts was the best part. Savannah sat on her dad’s lap, her eyes wide as he tore open the paper for her. The colorful paper held more appeal to her than her presents. Finally Nolan sat her down in a pile of it on the floor. She grabbed as much as she could fit in her tiny fists and banged it up and down on the carpet, squealing joyously at the top of her lungs. Duncan came over to investigate the spectacle and received a fist full of wrapping paper bopped on his head for his trouble.
I had forgotten the morning’s events before we had even gotten started eating lunch, and I didn’t think of her again the entire day. Jed was right; we were starting to build a life here. As I looked around from my husband, to Maudra, to each of the nine Durkes, I realized I was truly happy.
Donnie caught my eye and made a stupid face in my direction. “Don’t be getting sappy on us, boy! I don’t know how y’all do it in Denver, but here, there’s no crying, not even good crying. Only laughing, presents, and food.”
Somehow, a couple of hours later, we sat down to finish off what had been left of the lunch. Soon, everyone was once again groaning and holding their aching bellies. Even Zephyra.
Notlong after dusk, we loaded up a small caravan of cars to go see Sister Heinz. Maudra had gotten a call late last night that she had been admitted to the hospital. There was a little over an hour left of visiting hours—the hospital extended them on Christmas. We took a little plate of leftovers and some presents that Maudra and Sue had gotten for her.
No one was in the room with her when we walked in. She had managed to secure a single room, but that was the only blessing. Her window looked out to the parking lot. The walls had once been white; at least I thought they had been. There was one horrifying watercolor painting of a vase and an apple on a table in a dark, windowless room. The floor was brown and tan speckled linoleum, filled with cracks and tears. If a patient wasn’t sick when they were admitted, they would be after a couple of hours in this room. Her room was brightened by a large assortment of flowers, balloons, and cards. It seemed she’d had several visitors.
Maudra had been to see Sister Heinz at her home several times since Pastor Thomas’s announcement that she was sick. Her only complaints had been heartburn, upset stomach, and constantly feeling tired. Whoever had called Maudra last night to tell her about Sister Heinz entering the hospital figured she was probably just dehydrated and exhausted.
Sister Heinz’s eyes lit up when she saw all of us traipse into the room. I’m sure at any hospital in Denver, the staff would never have allowed twelve people to visit a room at one time, especially when that number included three children—one of the perks of living in a small town where everyone knew everyone else. “Why, you sillygooses, you didn’t need to come all the way over here on Christmas. You should be at home with your family.”
“You are family, you ol’ busybody.” Maudra went over to her friend and gave her shoulders a squeeze. “It ain’t like it takes hours ta get across town either.”
“Well, either way, it sure is good of y’all.” She took in each member of our group, her eyes growing moist. “I swear those girls have gotten bigger in the few days since I’ve seen them. Prettier too.” As with most children, Blaire was somewhat afraid of Sister Heinz, being the recipient of more than one of her drilling gazes when making too much noise during church.
Willow, who never met someone she didn’t think loved her, trotted over and hopped up on the chair next to Sister Heinz. “Duncan got a red and green sweater for Christmas. It has reindeer on it and a little silver bell so you can hear him coming.”
Sister Heinz smiled over at her. “Did he now? I bet that’s adorable.” She looked over at Maudra and lowered her voice. “Who in the world is Duncan?”
Maudra laughed. “Lord, girl, your memory is frightful. He’s the girls’ dog. You’ve met him several times.”
“Oh yes!” She turned back to Willow. “I’ll bet he is the cutest thing anybody’s ever seen.”
Willow nodded, sending her curls bobbing over her head.
“Lord, what I’d give to have had hair like yours, child.” She glanced over at Blaire. “And yours too, of course. Such pretty young things you are.”
Blaire attempted a smile, but it faded out before she took a step behind Nolan.
Sue came over and started straightening the sheets and making sure none of the cords were tangled. “So how are you, Sherry? When do they think you’ll get to go home?”
