“You sure that’s what you want?”Archer asked.
Lenni nodded.“Yeah.I want that ...Dad.”
My own throat was suspiciously tight.“I have an idea.”They looked at me.“What if, on the day we get married, that’s the day you become a Keel too?So when we celebrate our anniversary, we celebrate you too?”
Lenni began to cry.
And then I began to cry.
And then Archer’s eyes grew misty.
“Okay, enough of this,” he groused.“There’s no crying in baseball.”
Lenni sniffed.“What?”
“Oh Lennifer, we have some movies to watch,” he said, ruffling her hair.“Is it my turn for my stocking?”
“Go on,” I said.
Archer dropped his arm from around me and walked to the mantle.He shoved his hand into the stocking.“There’s nothing in there.”
“It wouldn’t fit,” Lenni said as she went to the tree.She picked up a flat box that was wrapped in shiny green paper with a red bow.She handed it to her father.
He took it and sat down on the couch to unwrap it.
And then he pulled out the leather-bound book that had arrived with Lenni’s things.
He flipped it open.It was Lenni’s baby book.Her hospital bracelet.Her footprint.Photos of her through the years.He began to pour through it, like he was memorizing what he saw as if his life depended on it.We sat patiently while he flipped the pages, his face stern with longing.The last page had photos of us from Poet’s wedding, but then there were no more pages.
“I thought we could start a new scrap book,” Lenni said.
It was Archer’s turn to be rendered speechless.“I’d like that,” he finally croaked.
“Okay, good.”She smiled.“Whose turn is it now?”
“The rest of the presents are for you,” I said.“I got everything I wanted.”
“Me too,” Archer said.
She ripped into the biggest box.It was the record player and vinyl we’d bought for her in Libby, Montana.She riffled through the records, squealing in excitement when she held them up.
“ABBA Gold!” she yelled.“I can’t wait for Summer to listen to this with me!”
“Dancing queens,” I said.
Archer squeezed my thigh.
Lenni reached for the next box.She opened it and lifted the teddy bear with button eyes.
“I made it from one of your mother’s wool sweaters that had holes in it.I know you’re too old for a teddy bear, but ...I hope that’s okay,” I said.
Lenni stared at the teddy bear for a long moment and then she looked at me again.
“I miss her.But I think ...”She swallowed.“I think she knew Dad and I would need you, Wyn.I think Mom sent you to us.Thank you for the gift.It’s perfect.”
I let out a watery laugh as tears rolled down my cheeks.“I’m surprised I have any tears left.”
“Hang onto that thought,” Archer said as he reached for the buttons on his flannel shirt.He pulled it open to reveal a bandage on his chest.He peeled it back and showed off a new tattoo.
