Though in
his element, leaning against the iron railing, reciprocating greetings with
happy couples as they passed, he also seemed lonely. Even after thirteen years,
Lydia still missed her mother every day. Her father must miss her even more. He
never spoke of his sorrow, but when no one else was looking—especially at
Christmastime—Lydia saw the sadness in his eyes.
A cool breeze blew in from the nearby ocean and kept the air
moving through the crowded village market. Someone stopped behind Lydia and
rubbed Andrew’s head. The baby let out a half-giggle half-squeal. Lydia smiled
as she turned to Mandy. “He only makes that noise when he sees you.”
“That’s because I’m his favorite aunt.” Mandy batted her
eyelashes at the baby as she flipped her blanket of auburn curls over her
shoulder and reached for him. She settled Andrew on the side of her pregnant
belly. “And how is my little nephew this fine morning?”
Andrew responded with a slobbery giggle and rubbed a wet hand
across her baby bump. Mandy laughed. “That’s right! Your cousin is in there.
You will get to meet him soon.”
“Or her,” Lydia interjected.
“Don’t let Levi hear you say that,” Mandy chortled. The noise
sounded cute coming from her, but Lydia would sound like a horse if she did it.
“He insists his firstborn will be a boy.”
“Don’t worry about Levi. My brother will be a proud father no
matter what. To think, by next Christmas you will have your own little one
crawling around the house.” Lydia glanced across the market and remembered her
purpose. “Have you seen Christmas decorations at any of the booths today? My
decorations from last year are ruined. This is Andrew’s first Christmas and it
might be Aunt Isabella’s last, so I want to make it special for everyone.”
“No, I haven’t.” Mandy lowered her perfect chin. “Actually, I
need to talk to you about that.”
“About what?”
“Levi and I are going to celebrate Christmas at my mother’s
this year.”
The news kicked Lydia in the gut, but she did her best not to
show it. “Oh.”
“It’s just that this is our first year without Father, and I
think it will help Mother if Levi and I spend the day with her and Everett.”
“I invited your mother and Everett to our house too.”
“Yes, I know, and it was kind of you, but Levi is eager to
start our own traditions, and we think it will be best for our family if we go
to Mother’s. She is thrilled with the idea. And Everett and Bethany will
probably be married soon, and then Bethany will live out there too, so it
really makes sense that we start that tradition now.”
“Bethany is spending Christmas with Everett at your mother’s
also?”
“Well, she will be a Foster soon.”
Lydia wanted her baby back. She held out her hands to Andrew.
“I understand,” she said, though she didn’t understand at all. The Colburns
always spent Christmas at the Colburn house. Her brother had married Mandy
Foster, making her a Colburn, and Bethany wasn’t married to Everett Foster yet,
so she was still a Colburn. It would make more sense if Roseanna Foster and
Everett came to them, not the other way around.
Mandy’s empty hands covered her belly. Seven months pregnant
and the tiny woman still wore the same dresses she had worn last year. She gave
Lydia a sympathetic grin. “I’m sorry to disappoint you. It’s better for us this
way, and maybe it will be easier on you, less work and all that. And you have
Connor and the baby with you at your father’s house, so you will be with people
you love. Isn’t that what makes Christmas special?”
“Yes, I suppose.”
Mandy glanced down at her belly. “We’re all starting
families, so this is the perfect time to start our own holiday traditions.”
“I’m sure you’re right.” Lydia looked away. Wheels squeaked
loudly as a man pushed a cart across the cobblestone street. Villagers shouted
cheerful greetings to one another. The crowded market
his element, leaning against the iron railing, reciprocating greetings with
happy couples as they passed, he also seemed lonely. Even after thirteen years,
Lydia still missed her mother every day. Her father must miss her even more. He
never spoke of his sorrow, but when no one else was looking—especially at
Christmastime—Lydia saw the sadness in his eyes.
A cool breeze blew in from the nearby ocean and kept the air
moving through the crowded village market. Someone stopped behind Lydia and
rubbed Andrew’s head. The baby let out a half-giggle half-squeal. Lydia smiled
as she turned to Mandy. “He only makes that noise when he sees you.”
“That’s because I’m his favorite aunt.” Mandy batted her
eyelashes at the baby as she flipped her blanket of auburn curls over her
shoulder and reached for him. She settled Andrew on the side of her pregnant
belly. “And how is my little nephew this fine morning?”
Andrew responded with a slobbery giggle and rubbed a wet hand
across her baby bump. Mandy laughed. “That’s right! Your cousin is in there.
You will get to meet him soon.”
“Or her,” Lydia interjected.
“Don’t let Levi hear you say that,” Mandy chortled. The noise
sounded cute coming from her, but Lydia would sound like a horse if she did it.
“He insists his firstborn will be a boy.”
“Don’t worry about Levi. My brother will be a proud father no
matter what. To think, by next Christmas you will have your own little one
crawling around the house.” Lydia glanced across the market and remembered her
purpose. “Have you seen Christmas decorations at any of the booths today? My
decorations from last year are ruined. This is Andrew’s first Christmas and it
might be Aunt Isabella’s last, so I want to make it special for everyone.”
“No, I haven’t.” Mandy lowered her perfect chin. “Actually, I
need to talk to you about that.”
“About what?”
“Levi and I are going to celebrate Christmas at my mother’s
this year.”
The news kicked Lydia in the gut, but she did her best not to
show it. “Oh.”
“It’s just that this is our first year without Father, and I
think it will help Mother if Levi and I spend the day with her and Everett.”
“I invited your mother and Everett to our house too.”
“Yes, I know, and it was kind of you, but Levi is eager to
start our own traditions, and we think it will be best for our family if we go
to Mother’s. She is thrilled with the idea. And Everett and Bethany will
probably be married soon, and then Bethany will live out there too, so it
really makes sense that we start that tradition now.”
“Bethany is spending Christmas with Everett at your mother’s
also?”
“Well, she will be a Foster soon.”
Lydia wanted her baby back. She held out her hands to Andrew.
“I understand,” she said, though she didn’t understand at all. The Colburns
always spent Christmas at the Colburn house. Her brother had married Mandy
Foster, making her a Colburn, and Bethany wasn’t married to Everett Foster yet,
so she was still a Colburn. It would make more sense if Roseanna Foster and
Everett came to them, not the other way around.
Mandy’s empty hands covered her belly. Seven months pregnant
and the tiny woman still wore the same dresses she had worn last year. She gave
Lydia a sympathetic grin. “I’m sorry to disappoint you. It’s better for us this
way, and maybe it will be easier on you, less work and all that. And you have
Connor and the baby with you at your father’s house, so you will be with people
you love. Isn’t that what makes Christmas special?”
“Yes, I suppose.”
Mandy glanced down at her belly. “We’re all starting
families, so this is the perfect time to start our own holiday traditions.”
“I’m sure you’re right.” Lydia looked away. Wheels squeaked
loudly as a man pushed a cart across the cobblestone street. Villagers shouted
cheerful greetings to one another. The crowded market
Similar Books
