I nodded. “You’re right. As soon as I can get a moment of alone time with her, I’ll ask. She did mention she wanted to talk to me tonight, and it was after I asked her why she was crying.”
“There you go, then. You’ll find out soon enough. But it wasn’t our mother who upset her. That I would bet my life on.”
I nodded. “You’re right. I know you’re right.”
He slapped my back and said, “I like hearing you say that.”
Rolling my eyes, I started to reply, but our mother spoke first.
“That is the last of the gifts!” Mom declared as she slowly stood, then attempted to stretch while grumbling about how stiff she was, and the fact that she was getting old. Vivianne also stood and started handing packages to my father, who was walking around with a bag, just like David’s.
Once all of the gifts were collected, and Dad, David, and Jason took them to Dad’s office, my mother called for ashort break.
“Why don’t we all just take a few minutes before we dive in to cleaning up all of this wrapping paper?”
“Sounds good to me,” Mike said, heading off in the direction of the kitchen.
Vivianne walked over to the window to look outside.
“The snow looks like it’s slowed down some,” I said, wrapping my arms around her.
“It’s so beautiful here, Ladd. See how everything looks so white and clean. And with the sun sinking in the sky, it adds such a beautiful glow to the snow. I could sit here and stare out this window for hours and just get lost in the beauty and serenity.”
I looked outside and smiled. “It is beautiful.”
She turned and leaned against the windowsill. “Do you have an idea of what your dream house will look like?”
“I do.”
“Describe it to me.”
Closing my eyes, I let the image come to mind. “My favorite time of year is fall, and especially at sunset. I see a two-story ranch house sitting up on the hill with the sun casting a reddish glow. Maybe there are shutters on the windows and little potted plant things.”
Vivianne giggled. “Potted plant things?”
I nodded, but kept my eyes closed. “Maybe a small front porch, something simple with a few rocking chairs. You’re sitting in one and I’m sitting in the other.”
I opened my eyes to see her smiling. “I like that vision.”
“So do I.”
Vivianne smiled. “I’d love to see Lilith’s house.”
“I’m sure we can make that happen.”
Glancing over my shoulder, she drew in a deep breath and slowly let it out.
“Viv, is everything okay?”
Her lips pressed together tightly. “I have something I need to tell you, Ladd…and I’m terrified.”
My heart started beating faster. “Did something happen with my mother?”
She stared at me in confusion.
I closed my eyes and shook my head. “I’m so sorry, Viv. We can leave anytime you want. We don’t have to stay through the holidays.”
When I opened my eyes, she was frowning at me now. “What in the hell are you talking about, Ladd Wilde? Why in the world would I want to leave?”
