“Well, if that’s what you want, I’ll do it. I’ll have to swing by before I go pick up Mom and Dad at the airport. Watch Ty for me. If you change your mind, let me know.”
“Thanks, Abby. I really appreciate this.” I hugged my sister, and then we said goodnight.
After I washed up, I lay in bed with my door closed. I couldn’t sleep knowing Lee was on his way to pick up Bridget.
Would he ask to see me? I didn’t think so, and if he did, Abby would tell him I was asleep. A part of me wished he would come to my room and tell me he was in love with me and that I should stay in Kauai.
I was a fool. A fool in love or whatever I was feeling. I needed to put distance between us. It was a good thing I’d be going back to LA soon.
The front door opened. Lee must have messaged Abby instead of ringing the doorbell. I heard feet shuffling and murmurs. Then quiet. The door shutting felt like closure somehow, like it was the last time I would see Lee and Bridget.
Chapter Twenty-Nine — Parents
“Grandma. Grandpa.” Tyler dashed out of the house when Abby pulled her car into the driveway.
My parents got out of the minivan and hugged and kissed their grandson.
“Wow, look at you. You’ve grown.” My petite mother held him with love twinkling in her brown eyes.
“I’m a big boy,” Tyler said and pulled away.
“Kate.” My father wrapped his strong arms around me, towering over me by six inches, and then my mother hugged me next.
“Go inside,” I said. “I’ll help Abby.”
“Look at the beautiful door,” Mother’s sweet voice projected from the front porch.
I smiled when Tyler said with pride, “Auntie Kate did that.”
Abby popped the trunk open and she took out a smaller suitcase from the backseat.
As I hefted their suitcases out of the trunk, Abby said, “I have your bag in the front seat. And I have your check in my purse. I’ll give it to you later. Remind me.”
I could buy one of her paintings anonymously instead of giving her the cash. That way she wouldn't know it was from me. But if she ever found out, she would get mad. I had to think about my options.
“Thanks.” I took my bag out of the car and slammed the door.
I was glad to have my parents join us. Aside from the obvious reasons, they were a perfect distraction.
Inside, I dropped my parents’ suitcase in Abby’s room and tossed my bag in mine. When I came out, my mother released a long sigh, sitting on the sofa next to my father and Tyler.
“That was exhausting,” Mother said.
“That’s because you hardly slept.” My father gave her a pointed look, his green eyes twinkling.
Mother frowned. “I couldn’t sleep because you were snoring.”
Father ran a hand through his salt and pepper hair, his eyes wide, looking innocent. “I didn’t hear it.”
Mother shook her head with a smile. “That’s because you were sleeping and I wasn’t.”
Laughter filled the air.
Abby came from the kitchen and handed them each a mug of green tea. “Tell us all about your trip.” She sat on the opposite sofa with me.
Father smacked his lips after he drank. “There’s not much to tell. You see one island, you’ve seen them all.”
Mother took a sip and let out a long sigh. “That’s not true. I loved it. On the Hawaiian cruise, you get to island hop. You can clearly see the difference between the islands. Honolulu is busier, geared toward tourists, whereas the Big Island and Kauai are toned down. It’s less crowded here. We should go on a cruise together soon.”
“Can we, Mom?” Tyler gave her a puppy eye.
“Someday.” She gave a faint smile.
“Oh, we got something for Ty.” My mother reached inside her big bag and took out a cruise ship about a foot long, and handed to him.
“Thank you, Grandma, Grandpa.” Tyler moved the ship up and down as if it were riding the waves. “I want to go on this one.”
Abby’s phone beeped from the kitchen counter.
“We’ll see.” Abby got up to check her phone and thumbed a reply.
Who she was texting?
“I love what you did to the house, Abby.” My mother’s eyes crinkled at the corners with her smile.
My mother had amazing, ageless skin. She looked easily ten years younger than she was. People said my sister and I looked like her.
“Thank you. It was a lot of work, but I’m glad I did it.” Abby wasn’t looking at our mother when she spoke, but at the phone.
Again? Who was she texting? Work? I didn’t think so. She hadn’t sold any artwork since the last one.
When I went closer to her, she flipped her phone over. What are you hiding from me?
Tyler walked away from the sofa and turned in a circle with the boat near the tree. “Do you like our Christmas decorations, Grandma? I helped Auntie Kate and Mom.”
Mother pushed off the sofa, walked to the mantel, and looked at the portrait of Steve, Abby, and Tyler. Then she glanced down at the red stockings and squeezed her eyes. She must be thinking of the missing stocking. Of course she would be missing her son-in-law. She was grieving too. Then she turned to her grandson.
“I love the tree.” Mother stroked his hair. “You did great. Since your dad is in heaven, you’re the man of the house.”
Abby stiffened and stopped texting.
Tyler halted and pointed at himself. “Yup. I’m the man.” He lifted his chin and pushed his chest outward in exaggeration.
I couldn’t be prouder of him at that moment.
“Tomorrow is Christmas Eve,” Father said and placed his half-drunk tea on the table. “What are we eating?”
Abby weaved around the counter and stood behind the sofa. “You haven’t changed a bit, Papa. Always thinking about food.”
Father was still lean, toned, and healthy for his age, expect he had high blood pressure. He had always stayed fit and worked out as far back as I remembered.
“I’m too old to change. And food is a necessity. You can’t blame me. I’ve been eating the same buffet for the past week. Let’s get some steak. I’m buying.”
“I know the perfect place.” Abby went back to the counter to pick up her phone. “I’ll make the reservation right now.”
Chapter Thirty — Christmas Eve
“This is nice.” I admired the wooden floor and the lit candles on the tables as we passed them by. “Why didn’t you bring me here before, Abby?”
“Because Top House is too expensive,” Abby said over her shoulder, following the waiter to our table.
“I hope I can afford it, or you’ll have to wash the dishes.” Father chuckled behind us.
When we were young, one of my father’s favorite jokes had been that we might have to wash dishes to pay for dinner. Abby and I had caught on to his teasing eventually, but once in a while, in true dad style, he still made that comment.
“This is your table.” The waiter set the menus down and then another waiter filled our water glasses. Shortly thereafter, he returned with a basket of assorted warm bread and took our orders.