Chapter 24 - Christmas Without the Old House
The second Christmas after sale, the Averys mailed a card.
I had given forwarding address at closing.
Picture of old house.
Snow.
Their kids on porch.
Maple tree decorated with colored lights.
Colored.
Mom would have hated it.
Ella laughed.
“They ruined Grandma’s theme.”
“Their house.”
“Oh.”
She smiled.
“Right.”
That was whole lesson.
Their house.
They could use colored lights.
Hang whatever pictures.
Paint dining room orange.
Nobody in my family had a vote.
We spent Christmas at my townhouse.
Dad came for breakfast.
Eric and Paige after lunch.
Nicole’s children visited evening, with Nicole dropping them off but not staying until Ella asked:
“Why isn’t Aunt Nicole coming in?”
Nicole froze at door.
I looked at Ella.
“You want her?”
“For cookies.”
I stepped aside.
Nicole entered.
She brought no gift for me.
Good.
She brought Ella a boxed mystery puzzle.
Correct.
Ella looked surprised.
“You remembered.”
Nicole swallowed.
“Yes.”
Mom was not invited that year.
Ella was not ready for full holiday.
Mom accepted.
Sent card.
No guilt.
Progress.
At dinner, Ella spilled hot chocolate.
Not much.
A little across placemat.
Everyone stopped because she froze.
I saw old fear flash.
Then Dad reached for towel.
“No big deal.”
Ella looked at him.
He smiled.
“Tables survive.”
Something in her shoulders loosened.
Nicole added:
“And if not, apparently homeowners can sell them.”
I laughed.
Even Dad.
Ella rolled eyes.
That night, after everyone left:
“Was it weird having them here?”
“Yes.”
“Bad weird?”
“No.”
“Do you forgive them?”
I thought.
“Some things.”
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t spend all day being angry anymore.”
“That’s forgiveness?”
“Maybe part.”
“Do you trust them?”
“Not with everything.”
“Can you love people you don’t trust with everything?”
“Yes.”
She nodded.
“Good.”
Then:
May you like
“Because I love Grandma, but I don’t trust her with pictures.”
I laughed so hard I cried.
