Then it hit me. If Laramie’s mom came, then Laramie wouldn’t be here tonight to help me with my plan. I had to think about that.
Laramie must have heard me walk into the room because she turned over and punched at her pillow. “You’re already up? What time is it?”
“I haven’t been up long. It’s just seven-thirty. I think I’m so excited about Christmas and my plan I couldn’t sleep.” I plopped on the bed.
“Oh, that’s right, it’s Christmas Eve.”
“All day long.”
Laramie just lay there on her back and stared at the ceiling. If only I could tell her the end of the story, she’d be jumping up and down all over that bed.
I was so antsy on the inside. “What you thinking about?”
“I don’t know.”
I propped up on my elbow and looked at her. “You gotta know what you’re thinking about. If you don’t, then who does?”
“I was just thinking that it’s Christmas Eve and I don’t have any presents for anybody. Not even you and your family, and I really want to give Miss Applegate something.”
“Oh, we don’t need any presents. Granny Grace and Aunt Susannah Hope go crazy with presents. Sometimes I think they just like to wrap things. Besides, I know you’re my friend.”
Laramie had been like Granny’s dog too. She had been acting out at school and using bad language because she was hurting and she was scared. But she had been on her best behavior and using good manners while she was at our house because she knew we were just trying to make her feel better. I couldn’t wait to tell Emily about Laramie’s good manners so we could all be friends.
Laramie got quiet again.
I didn’t want her to worry about anything today. “I just thought of something you could give to somebody special.”
“What? You mean like a real present for Miss Applegate?”
“Yeah, a real present. You know that redbird you drew in my sketchbook?”
“Uh-huh.”
“I was thinking about finding a frame around here, and you could put that drawing in it.”
Laramie sat up in bed. “Then I could wrap it up and give it to Miss Lisa. Then maybe she’d give me art lessons with you. You think she would?”
“I think so. Maybe.” I got out of bed. “There’s got to be a frame around here somewhere.” I didn’t like to lie, but I was thinking about who was really going to getting this gift. One time Granny said that whatever came out of my mouth better be true, but sometimes it might not have to be the whole truth. Right now if I told Laramie the whole truth, then I’d be breaking the secret Daddy told me, and that was worse than not telling her everything.
“I would really like to learn how to draw like you, Kate. We could draw together.”
“You already can draw, Laramie, but it would be fun to draw together. Now get up. It’s Christmas Eve. We have things to do. We’re going to Granny’s for Christmas Eve dinner tonight, then we’re going to church. Then my plan.”
“Are you sure about this plan of yours?”
“Yeah, I’ve been thinking about it all night. I’ve changed my mind though. I don’t think I want you to help me. I mean, this is something I gotta do by myself. And besides, if it doesn’t work, then only one of us is in trouble. I’m not scared. I’m gonna do it.”
“But I want to go with you.”
“I know, but I really think it’s best if you don’t. You gotta stay behind. You’ll know if it works.” I was holding my fingers crossed behind my back the whole time because I knew I wasn’t telling the whole truth. Here she was, my new best friend, but come tomorrow, she’d know why I told her I had to do it by myself.
We finished dressing, and Laramie picked up the rocks on my desk. “Why do you have these?”
“Mama.”
“What do you mean, Mama?”
“She told me before she went to heaven to always remember these three words to keep my head above water. Faith. Family. Forever.”
“To keep your head above water? Is that supposed to make sense?” Laramie was brushing her hair.
“Breakfast in ten minutes.” Daddy’s announcement came from the bottom of the stairs.
“I’ll explain it later. Come on, breakfast is almost ready.” I didn’t feel like talking about it. I didn’t know if Laramie had any rocks to stand on like Mama told me. Besides, her mom was coming home. Maybe Mr. Josh was right. At least one story might have a happy ending.
Uncle Luke was helping Daddy when we got to the kitchen. Superspiderman showed up with bed head and without his socks or slippers. Daddy sent him to the bathroom to comb his hair before he came to the table. That boy never learned.
After we ate, Daddy talked about the day and what we’d be doing. “Kate, Granny’s coming in a little while. She’s bringing your Christmas dress.” I didn’t grow much this year, so Granny just let down the hem on last year’s dress.
Laramie perked up. “I have a Christmas dress. My aunt sent it to me in the mail last week. It’s at my house.”
“Would you like us to go get it for you?” Uncle Luke looked at Daddy.
“Yes, sir. I know where the spare key is if you would take me there.”
Daddy looked back at Uncle Luke. “Well, I’d say that’s just perfect. Maybe you could do that right now while Kate and I clean up the kitchen. Laramie, you and Kate will be the two prettiest girls at church tonight.”
Uncle Luke snapped to attention. “Sounds good. Get your coat on, Laramie. We’ll run get your dress, and then I’ll drop you off here because I have some super-secret errands to run.”
Superspiderman had a chocolate milk moustache. “For Miss Lisa? Miss Lisa’s gonna be my aunt. Then I’ll have two aunts.”
Uncle Luke patted Chesler’s head. “That’s right, buddy. So did you grow that brown moustache overnight?”
Chesler did it again, just rubbed chocolate milk on his Superman pajama sleeve. No wonder Daddy said he was thinking of putting a TV in the laundry room. He spent an awful lot of time there.
While Laramie was gone, Daddy found a frame, and I got Laramie’s redbird all fixed and wrapped and under the tree. I wrapped it in the redbird paper too.
After Laramie came back, we drew and played games and listened to Christmas music. It was gray all day, and I kept going to the window hoping for sunshine. I wished and prayed every time I looked out that God would hold back the snow again, just one more time, so Laramie’s mom could get here. Daddy didn’t tell me where she was coming from. I just knew it was far away, and I hoped it wasn’t from the north. News said it was snowing north and west of here, and I was getting worried.
Three o’clock, and Mrs. Fields hadn’t come yet. At exactly three fifty-two, the phone rang. Daddy came in minutes later with a smile on his face. “Girls, you need to get dressed. It takes you longer. Chesler, hit the tub, buddy. You didn’t shower this morning. Uncle Luke and Lisa will be here in about an hour.”
“Let’s go. You first.” I followed behind Laramie, but I turned around to look at Daddy. He was smiling and gave me the thumbs-up sign. That meant she was coming. Laramie’s mom was on her way.
My Christmas dress had been hanging on the doorknob all day. Mama made it last year out of green velvet with a red sash. And there were petticoats underneath. I put it on and Laramie helped me button it in the back and tie the sash.
“I’m so glad I’m just giving the welcome and singing in the choir tonight at the pageant. I don’t have to wear one of those dumb costumes like Chesler. He’s a sheep.”
“A sheep’s in the Christmas pageant?”
“Yeah, a sheep. Granny Grace and Aunt Susannah Hope glued cotton balls all over a king-sized pillowcase to make it look like sheep’s wool. And they took one of my old head bands and glued on floppy ears made out of felt and covered in cotton balls.” I laughed out loud. “Granny said his floppy ears make him look like a cross between an old hound dog and a cotton patch.”
“Well, your dress is prettier than any co
stume, Kate.”
“Thanks, Mama made it for me last Christmas. Good thing I didn’t grow too much this year.” I shut the second drawer in my dresser. “I gotta find that big red ribbon. Mama made it too. It goes in my hair a special way.” I kept looking. “Here it is, bottom drawer.”
I brushed my hair while Laramie put on her dress. I was glad Mama tied that bow, sewed it, and glued it on to the back of a comb so all I had to do was stick it in my hair. Daddy could never fix my hair as nice as Mama did.
I could see Laramie in the mirror behind me, and I turned around. “Oh, how pretty! I love that blue. It looks so pretty with your eyes.”
“Thanks. Would you zip it?”
I zipped it. It was a little bit tight. She had on white tights to match the white lace collar. She looked like a doll that belonged under the Christmas tree.
“I have a barrette with white lace and ribbons. You want to wear it?”
“Sure. Is it okay?”
“Of course. You can put it right there on the side where your stitches are, and nobody’ll see them.”
When we finished, I sprayed a little bit of Mama’s perfume on us. Daddy said I could do that on special occasions. And this was a special day.
Uncle Luke and Miss Lisa had just walked in the front door when we came downstairs. Uncle Luke looked at us and then back at Miss Lisa and said, “Three beautiful girls. I’m just glad I don’t have to choose which one’s the prettiest.”
He would choose Miss Lisa. She had on the red lipstick again to match her red Christmas dress.
Daddy had the camera on the tripod set up in the living room. “Okay, time for the Christmas picture, and aren’t we glad Lisa and Laramie will be in our family picture this year?”
Uncle Luke started clapping, and Chesler and I did too. Uncle Luke looked like he wanted to kiss Miss Lisa, but I didn’t think he was about to kiss that much lipstick, not with all of us watching.
“Chesler, come here. Your tie looks like Grady tied it.”
Chesler left his spot and ran to Daddy. “Grady can’t tie my tie. He’s a hound dog.”
“Exactly what I mean.” Daddy fixed it and sent him back to his place for the picture. The timer was set. Daddy mashed the button and walked over real fast to stand between me and Chesler. It beeped ten times, and there was our family Christmas photo. Just after it flashed, the doorbell rang.
Chesler took off toward the door, but Daddy caught him just as he rounded the corner of the living room that leads into the front hall. “Wait just a minute. You may be dressed up like the butler, but don’t answer the door. I want to take your picture with Uncle Luke and Lisa.” He patted Chesler on the behind and sent him back to his place in front of the Christmas tree.
“Laramie?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Would you mind getting the door while I take this last photo?”
“No, sir. I mean yes, sir, I’ll get it.” Laramie walked just like a lady out of that living room.
As soon as her back was turned, Daddy was smiling so big we could count his teeth all the way back to his molars. He motioned for us all to come and stand behind the French door so we could see.
Laramie grabbed the doorknob, and she had to tug on it a couple of times before it would open. On the third tug, that old door came wide open. Laramie just stood there like some kind of statue, holding on to that doorknob like she might fall down if she let go. “Mom?”
“Yes, Laramie, it’s me.”
“Really, it’s you?”
That’s when Laramie’s mom came through that door, and Laramie cried and hugged her and held her the way I hugged Mama the night she went to heaven, just like she wasn’t ever letting her go. She was so pretty, blonde and green-eyed just like Laramie. Then Mr. Fields came in too, and all three of them hugged each other all over again.
Daddy led us all into the front hall to meet Mr. and Mrs. Fields. He introduced everyone. Mrs. Fields must have thanked him about a million times for taking care of her sweet girl. I took Laramie upstairs to get her things while they talked.
When they were saying good-bye, I remembered my Christmas present for Laramie and the other present. “Wait just a minute. I have to get something.”
Daddy must have invited them over for our family Christmas because when I got back to the front hall, Mrs. Fields was saying they really should have their own Christmas and not intrude on ours.
I handed Laramie’s present to her. “Here, Laramie, this is from me.”
She hugged me and thanked me.
“And here’s the present you made for your mom.” I handed her the other present wrapped up in redbird paper.
“But, I . . .”
I stretched my eyes and shook my head. Then she smiled and her face told me she understood. She took the present from my hand.
Laramie’s mom took her hand. “Let’s go, Laramie. We have lots of things to talk about and some explaining to do.” Then she thanked Daddy for all he did to help their family. Even Mr. Fields shook Daddy’s hand. I could tell he didn’t have words.
Before she left, Laramie hugged me one last time, and I whispered in her ear, “Go be with your mom and dad. You’re gonna have the best Christmas ever.”
“Kate, I love you. I hope your plan works.”
“It’ll work. It’s just got to.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHRISTMAS MUSIC PLAYED, and Granny had candles lit everywhere when she met us at the back door with her red Christmas apron on.
My aunt and uncle were already there. Aunt Susannah had a little more color in her cheeks than when I saw her last time at the hospital. She asked, “Where’s Laramie?”
Daddy told her the whole story about Laramie’s mom coming home. My aunt just cried. I knew she was missing Mama and wishing she’d come walking through that door just like Laramie’s mom did. Whenever Mama walked into a room, everybody looked, and just seeing her put a smile on their faces.
Last Christmas Eve was our first one without Grandpa, and now Mama’s chair at the table was empty too. Made me look around the room and think about what could happen by next Christmas. But if I knew Granny, she wouldn’t allow too much time for being sad tonight.
Everybody was in the kitchen, the way they always were at Granny’s house.
Granny switched off the griddle. “Susannah Hope, look at Lisa’s hand and see what happened when she and Luke were out here skating on the pond last night.” Aunt Susannah Hope was probably expecting a cast on Miss Lisa’s arm the way Granny talked. She was so surprised when she saw that ring that she started crying all over again.
Granny gave everybody a job except Chesler. His job was to stay out of the way until the food was on the table. When we were all in our seats, Granny Grace asked Uncle Don to pray. He prayed good prayers, but they could be long. I opened my eyes and looked around. Granny was sitting in Grandpa’s seat at the end of the table. Miss Lisa was sitting in Granny’s old seat next to Uncle Luke, and I was in Mama’s chair right next to Daddy. I closed my eyes again when I thought he was about to say amen.
Granny’s supper was simple compared to what our Christmas lunch would be tomorrow. Every Christmas Eve since I could remember, we’ve sat around Granny’s dining table with her red Christmas cloth on it. We have the same thing—French onion soup, grilled cheese sandwiches on my aunt’s homemade bread, and fruit salad. Daddy insisted on making the fruit salad this year because that was always Mama’s job.
Grandpa used to grumble, “Gracie, I don’t know why you have to serve cheese on top of the soup, and another half a pound of cheese on my sandwich. You know that much cheese messes up my plumbing.” The first time I heard him say that, I just laughed because everybody else did. But when Daddy explained it to me about the plumbing and all, I laughed out loud all over again.
When we finished our supper, Granny, Aunt Susannah, and Miss Lisa cleared the table, and Granny brought out the Santa Claus platter of her homemade cookies and fudge. “Okay, just a reminder, i
f you eat all these cookies tonight, you won’t get any tomorrow.” She always said that too.
Then came my favorite part, not because of the cookies, but because Granny brought out the magic marker, and we all signed our names on the table cloth again. The table was cleared of dishes, so we could see everybody’s names from years ago. I was looking for how Mama signed her name when she was in the second grade. She signed it “llennoD’O yoJ anaiD” just to be different. And then one year she drew smiley faces in all the Os in her name. We always laughed about that. Granny made a big deal about Miss Lisa signing her name for the first time. One time Granny told me that when she went to heaven she wanted me to have the Christmas tablecloth.
We put on our coats to leave for the Christmas Eve service, and Aunt Susannah Hope insisted Granny ride with them. Granny refused. “I’m riding in the car with these young folks. I need to make sure Chesler and Kate know their lines for the Christmas program. But go ahead and put my overnight bag in your car. I’m spending the night in town with you and Don. Oh, where’s Chesler’s sheep costume?”
Uncle Don was helping my aunt to get in the car. “It’s in our car, and your bag’s already there too. Anything else you need?”
“No. We’ll come back early in the morning for the food I’ve prepared and for all the presents. That is, we’ll get the presents if these children are good tonight.” Granny smiled.
I knew she didn’t mean that. She’d be giving presents no matter what. She was asking me to say my lines before we got down the lane to the main road. I said them perfect the first time. Then she insisted Chesler sing his solo. Asking Chesler to sing is like mashing the “on” button of a radio. He had us all singing Christmas songs by the time we got to town.
“Now you two kids sing like that tonight, and your mama and your grandpa will be clapping all the way from heaven.”
Uncle Luke had Chesler in his lap in the back seat. “And your dad and I will jump up and yell just like we do at the baseball game.”
“Nah, you can’t do that, Uncle Luke, not if Granny’s sitting next to you. She pinches.” Everybody laughed at Chesler.
The Christmas Portrait Page 15
