Christmas Wishes...Special Delivery by Mary Manners Page A

talk this out.”
    Kaylee’s gaze drifted to the window. Outside, stars danced as darkness spread over the meadow. A blanket of white shimmered and sighed as the cold set in and held tight. “I can’t believe the snow has lasted this long.”
    “Definitely an East Tennessee fluke, this early in the season.” Riley’s gaze followed her, searching. “Is that what we’re going to talk about—the weather?”
    “It reminds me of that night…”
    “Don’t.” He shook his head as a veil slipped over his eyes. “Don’t go there, not now.”
    “I need to.” Kaylee pulled her fingers back, turned away. She understood with clarity that what lingered between them could only be made completely whole again with truth and honesty, no matter how painful that might be. “They were arguing, my mom and dad. Had constantly since he hurt his leg in that construction accident and couldn’t find work. All Dad knew was how to labor with his hands, with tools, and that had been taken from him, no matter how hard he tried to find work. Doctor’s visits and medications, that’s what his life had become.” She flattened a hand to the window ledge and leaned in, her back to Riley and her face pressed to the pane so her breath fogged the glass. She couldn’t bear to look at him—not now, not with the memories flooding back. “I was listening through the bedroom door…I guess they thought closing it would keep me from hearing. But it didn’t. Such angry and hurtful words from people who’d never said so much as a cross word to one another before that. It broke my heart. I thought I’d be moving the next year…heading to nursing school. At the time, a part of me wanted the days to speed up because I was sick of it—sick of the fighting, while the rest of me yearned to capture and hold onto the carefree moments that you and I shared. I started to call you, drew my cell phone from the pocket of my jeans to dial your number. I could smell the marigolds you’d given me, sweet and musky as if they’d been drenched in sunshine. I’d arranged them in a vase on my dresser. I wondered again where you’d found them on such a cold and snowy day and I thought of the way you’d kissed me when you gave them to me that afternoon. I needed you so much then, Riley, that my heart ached with it…for you.”
    She turned her cheek to the glass, glad for the cold that soothed her flaming skin. Tears pooled in her eyes, turning the starlight to puddles of silver. “Everything swirled together like a tempest—the heated words spilling from the closed door, my feelings for you. It was frightening, all of it. Then the bedroom door flew open and Dad staggered out as if the house was on fire, with Mom shouting after him. I stood there, paralyzed with fear as a chill rushed in. The front door slammed so hard the house shook. I cringed as tires squealed down the road. I remember thinking, ‘That’s not my father. It can’t be my father. He would never leave like this.’” She shook her head. “I don’t know what happened to him that night. I don’t understand why…”
    “There is no understanding, Kaylee.” Riley bunched his hands into fists at his side. “It just is.”
    “My mom sobbed the whole time he was gone. I’d never heard her cry like that—like a mortally-wounded animal. When the news came…about what happened, I couldn’t fathom it, couldn’t breathe. My heart broke yet I wanted to be there for you. I thought, ‘Riley and I will get through this together. We’ll help each other and everything will be OK.’” Her tears spilled freely now, dripping onto the window ledge. “But, I’ll never forget when I finally found you at the hospital, sitting on a bench in the chapel. You wouldn’t take my hand, could hardly bear to look at me. I was so cold, Riley, just standing there.” Feeling the chill rush in once again, she wrapped her arms around herself. “And when you did finally speak, the hollow tone of your voice