A Perfect Christmas Wish by Wilde Lori

Author:Wilde, Lori
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Epiphany Orchards Press LLC
Published: 2019-11-28T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

Inside the house, Suzannah leaned against the door, catching her breath and orienting herself to the here and now before facing her mother-in-law.

She fingered her lips, still tingling from Zach’s kiss, and ducked her head to hide the wide grin spreading across her face, just in case Edith came into the foyer and asked her what was so amusing.

Feeling giddy with the taste of Zach still on her tongue, she wanted to throw back her head and laugh out loud.

“Suzannah?” Edith called again from the kitchen where Abby had gone.

“Be right there,” she said, putting on her game face, and strolled into the kitchen.

She found Edith and Abby sitting at the kitchen table, a bowl of popcorn and an open photo album in front of them. Suzannah strolled over, trying hard to act casual and grabbed a handful of popcorn and took a bite.

“Hmm, kettle corn. Did you make this?”

Edith wrinkled her nose. “We cheated and got the packaged stuff.”

“Good brand, though. Tasty.” Munching, Suzannah bent over to see which album they’d dug out. She was really good about keeping her photo albums organized and up to date. Or at least she had been before Keith died.

It was the album from eleven years ago. The year before Abby was born. The page flipped open to the back of the album. Christmas. When Suzannah had shared the delightful news with Keith that she was finally pregnant.

A knot of tears clotted her throat, but she swallowed them back.

“You and Dad look so young.” Abby traced a finger over the clear plastic sleeve protecting the photograph.

“We were young.” Suzannah sat in the chair beside her daughter and leaned over her shoulder. “There’s the ornament I put on the tree to let your father know he was about to become a Daddy.”

“I know, I know.” Abby rolled her eyes. “The stork delivering a baby in a pink blanket ornament. You tell me that story every year when we decorate the Christmas tree. Corn-ee.”

“Hey,” Suzannah cupped her daughter’s chin in her palm, gently forced her to look into her face. “The day we knew we were having you was the happiest day of our lives. Don’t roll your eyes at it. You are our greatest blessing.”

“Amen to that young lady,” Edith added.

“Yes, ma’am.” Abby lowered her lashes, contrite.

Suzannah leaned over to kiss her forehead. “You are the most precious thing to me in the world and don’t you ever forget it.”

“Aww, Mom, don’t get mushy.” Abby rubbed her forehead.

“You let your mom love on you all she wants, Abigail Marie,” Edith chided. “I’d give anything in the world just to hug my boy one more time.”

“Me too,” Suzannah whispered. “Now scoot off to bed, doodle bug.”

Abby jumped up and hugged first her mom and then her grandmother. “Night, night, Gramma.”

Once Abby had zipped out of the room, Suzannah met Edith’s gaze. Shared sorrow, that great equalizer, linked them. Tears misted Edith’s eyes, and she turned her head. To be kind, Suzannah locked her attention on the photo album.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.