Things Remembered (39 page)

“Is she gone?” he asked.

“Is who gone?” Karla was so surprised to hear his voice she didn't immediately connect to the question.

“Anna.”

“What makes you think—”

“I went by the shop to find you, and when I saw that it was closed I thought you were up there because . . . Never mind, it's not important what I thought.”

“Anna had a heart attack.” She was pleased that he'd cared enough to call to check on her. “She's going to be all right, but it was pretty awful there for a while.”

“You should have called me. I would have come up to take care of things for you again.”

“I tried, several times, but you were never at home and it wasn't something I wanted to leave on voice mail.”

“Well, I'm here now. What do you want me to do?”

“I don't know if there's anything you can do. Everything is in such a mess there.” She quickly explained how she'd let everything slide while she was at Heather's and that she had no real idea what it would take to get the shop up and running again.

“Why don't I check things out and get back to you. You said Tonya has the keys?”

“Are you sure you want to do this? I don't know how much longer I'm going to be gone—through Christmas at least. You and Amy must have plans.”

“I'll talk to her, and if it's a problem, we'll work around it.”

“Why are you doing this for me?”

“That's my Karla, never accept anything at face value.”

“I'm not like that,” she told him, knowing in her heart he was right.

“You didn't used to be, at least not when we first met. I'm afraid you've got me to thank for the change. I'm sorry I did that to you.”

She thought about what she would say next, wanting to understand her reasons before she told him about Mark. “I've met someone, Jim.”

There was a long pause. “I'm happy for you. Really, happy, Karla, not the lip service kind. I only hope he deserves you.”

“I'll tell you more later. Right now I'm on my way to the hospital.”

“When can I reach you about the shop?”

“Tonight. Try me around seven. And thank you—your doing this takes a big worry off my shoulders.”

“You're welcome. I only wish I could do more.”

Karla was at the hospital before she realized she hadn't asked Jim if he'd found his own shop yet.

Karla arrived at Anna's from the hospital that night to find Mark and Cindy on the porch waiting for her, a Christmas tree leaning against the railing. Cindy came bounding down the stairs and into Karla's arms as soon as she got out of the car.

“We brung a surprise,” she said. “And Daddy said we could have pizza for dinner. And I made a new picture for Anna. Daddy said maybe I could go to the hospital to see her and give it to her myself as soon as she's not in the really sick place anymore.”

“I think maybe you could. How about after school tomorrow?”

“My grandma and grandpa are coming to my house. Could they see Anna, too?”

She hesitated. “Why don't we wait until they get here before we decide that?” It was the only way she knew to answer. Thankfully, Cindy seemed satisfied. She was open and adventuresome and easy to love and Karla had to hold back to keep from overwhelming her with all the affection she had stored up to give a child.

Mark met them at the top of the stairs. He took Cindy, held her with one arm, and put the other around Karla. His kiss was warm and welcoming and made her feel as if she belonged exactly where she was.

“I missed you today,” he said.

She touched his face. “Me, too.”

“How is Anna?”

“Bouncing back. She's unbelievable. She was telling the nurses jokes when I walked in this morning, and she actually ate all of her lunch.” Karla gave Cindy a playful tickle. “What's this surprise you have for me?”

“Look.” She pointed to the Christmas tree. “Daddy said we could help you decorate it and that it could be a surprise for Anna, too.”

Until that moment, Christmas had been something to get through, not celebrate. But the sparkle in Cindy's eyes, her obvious excitement and pleasure at her and Mark's surprise, made Karla want to be a part of the holiday as much as she wanted to be a part of their lives. She went to the tree and held it upright. “It's beautiful.” Putting her nose against one of the branches, she took a deep breath. “And it smells wonderful.” She gave Mark and Cindy a big smile. “This is a great idea. We can string popcorn and cranberries and make it look like a real old-fashioned tree, just like the kind Anna had when she was a little girl.”

Karla let go of the tree and took her key out of her pocket to open the door. The more she thought about decorating the house for Anna's homecoming, the better she liked the idea. If Anna continued to improve the way she had been, she would be home for Christmas for sure.

“Do you know where Anna keeps her decorations?” Mark asked when they were inside.

“In the hall closet under the stairwell.”

Mark started for the kitchen to call for the pizza, then came back and took Karla in his arms again. “It's a good thing Cindy's here to chaperone.”

She put her arms around his neck. “I was just thinking the same thing.”

“I'm thirsty,” Cindy said, as if on cue. “Can I have some water?”

Karla ran her hand through Mark's hair and gave him a very private smile. “I'll get it for you, Cindy.”

Karla and Cindy moved coats and sweaters out of the way to get to the back of the closet while Mark put the tree in its stand. They had boxes scattered everywhere when the pizza arrived and ate while they explored their contents.

Karla had paid little attention to the ornaments on Anna's tree when she lived there, never noticing how many were handmade and how many appeared old enough to have come from Anna's tree when she was a little girl. What had started out a fun chore became a journey of discovery as she unwrapped each new treasure.

Mark saw what she was doing and came to sit beside her. “They look like family heirlooms.”

“I wish I could tell you about them.”

“You'll have to ask Anna when you take down the tree. I'll bet she has a story to go with every one.”

Karla picked up a hand-painted papier-mâché ball. “It weighs a ton. I wonder what's inside.”

“Is it your mother's?”

Karla stared at the ball for a long time. “I hope so. I like the idea of having something she made be a part of this Christmas.”

“Why don't you put it aside and ask Anna.”

“Why put it aside?”

“I was just thinking it would make a good present for your new niece. Didn't you say she was named after your mother and Anna?”

“That's a wonderful idea.” The more she thought about it, the more wonderful it became. She would have to find a special box, a silver one lined in velvet. “Once Heather sees this she might even forgive me for not telling her about Anna being in the hospital.” She leaned over to give him a kiss. “You're really good at this sentimental stuff.”

“And I'm really good at putting on lights—when they work. Which Anna's don't. So, I have to go to the store before I can go any farther. Is there anything you need?”

“Popcorn and cranberries.”

He put his hand on Cindy's head and turned it until she was looking at him. “You want to go with me or stay here with Karla?”

“Stay,” Cindy said.

It was a small thing, certainly nothing anyone else would get excited about, but it pleased Karla that Cindy had chosen to stay with her. “We'll have everything unwrapped and ready to go by the time you get back.”

Three hours later, after two more trips to the store for an extension cord and then a replacement bulb for the star in the nativity set, they had the tree decorated. They'd saved the final honor of placing the angel on top of the tree for Cindy.

“I think it could use a couple more strands of popcorn,” Mark said diplomatically.

Karla adjusted the four-foot-long string that had taken her an hour to put together. “Give me another month and I'll have it looking the way it should.”

Standing between Mark and Karla as they admired their work, Cindy said, “You need presents.”

“Next time you come over there will be lots and lots of presents.” She'd thought of a dozen things she wanted to buy for Anna, including a new bird feeder. She already had something for Cindy, but it was still in Solvang sitting on her dining room table ready to be mailed. She still had to think about what she would give Mark. She wanted it to be something special, something that would always remind him of their first Christmas together.

Cindy's absent presents made her think about the shop and Jim. He should have called by now. “What time is it?” she asked Mark.

“Almost ten.” He looked at Cindy. “Long past your bedtime.”

“I could sleep here with Karla. She would let me.”

Mark chuckled. “Yes, she probably would. But you're coming home with me tonight. You have school tomorrow.”

Karla felt a swell of pleasure that Cindy had even come up with the idea. She knew she would have to move slowly in their relationship, but it was going to be hard. Cindy had a mother and yet was in desperate need of a woman who was a constant in her life, someone she could count on to always be there for her. Karla had to find a way to be that woman for Cindy without taking anything from Linda. It wouldn't work any other way.

Mark held Cindy's jacket while she put it on. “If you don't want Anna getting suspicious, I'd suggest you hide your hands when you see her tomorrow.”

Karla looked at her fingertips, dyed dark red with cranberry juice. “I'll have to—”

“If you and my daddy got married I bet he would let me sleep here,” Cindy said.

Karla looked at Mark to see how he had reacted to Cindy's innocently self-serving statement.

He smiled and shrugged. “Out of the mouths of babes.”

“I think that's a pretty good idea myself,” Karla said, surprising herself. “How about if your daddy and I talk about it someday soon?”

“Okay.”

“I'm holding you to that,” Mark said. “Remember, I have a witness.” He finished buttoning Cindy's coat and started toward the door.

If happiness could be measured, there wouldn't be a number high enough to calculate the way she felt at that moment. “Drive carefully,” she told him.

He stopped to look into her eyes and then cup her face with his hands. “I love you, Karla. Get used to hearing it because I'm going to tell you every day for the rest of our lives.” The kiss he gave her then was long and achingly tender, with promise and restrained passion.

“And I love you,” she said as he let her go.

Cindy wrapped an arm around Mark's leg. “How 'bout if Karla comes home with us?”

Mark looked at her and smiled. “Someday. Soon, I hope.”

Karla followed them out and stood on the porch until they were gone. She knew it was cold because she could see her breath, but the chill never penetrated her thin turtleneck and light wool slacks. She started to go inside when she remembered that the feeders hadn't been filled in days and headed for the garage. Finally, satisfied her corner of the world was in order, she went in the house and called Jim.

She reached him at the shop.

“I had no idea it was so late,” he said. “I lost track of time. But everything's taken care of. I got the suppliers to overnight what we needed to stay open tomorrow, and second-day the rest, so we're back in business. And from what I saw today, not a moment too soon. Even though you've been closed a couple of days, there were customers lined up outside when I opened this morning. Tonya and Margaret worked the machines all day and Amy handled the register while I was on the phone pleading with the suppliers for coffee and cups.”

He sounded excited when he should have sounded exhausted. “Where are you staying tonight?”

“I don't know yet. Probably at the Hansen Lodge.”

“Why don't you stay at the house instead? There's an extra key under the brick in the walkway. The same place we always kept it.”

“Are you sure?”

“You'd be doing me a favor. I'd feel better if the house didn't sit empty, and there's a whole refrigerator full of food that's going to go bad if someone isn't there to eat it.”

“I've been thinking about what you told me this morning.”

“Remind me.”

“About you meeting someone. It took me a while, but I finally figured out I was jealous. Crazy, huh? I'm worried about losing you even though you're not mine to lose anymore.”

“No, not crazy at all. I felt the same way about Amy. And stop worrying, you're not going to lose me. We'll always be friends.”

“That's easy to say, Karla. A hell of a lot harder to do.”

“You'll like him, Jim.” She knew this as surely as she knew Mark wouldn't feel threatened by Jim or by their friendship. “He's a remarkable man. Not someone I would have ever picked for myself ten years ago—I had to grow up first.”

“You'll understand if I tell you I need a while to get used to the idea before I start thinking of him as a good guy.”

She laughed. “That's fair.”

“I'm going to take you up on the house. You know how I hate staying in hotels.”

“I remember.” They would always be tied together by their memories. And she knew now that she really didn't want their friendship to end.

“I'll call in a couple of days and let you know how it's going.”

“Thanks—oh, one more favor?”

“Name it.”

“There's a package on the dining room table. Would you send it to me at Anna's address?”

“Tomorrow. As soon as Tonya comes in.”

She thought about what she would say next, hesitated, and then plunged ahead. “Tell Amy hi for me, would you? And thank her for all the work she did at the shop at Thanksgiving. It took me a couple of days, but I finally came around to appreciating what she'd done.”