Chapter 26

By some Christmas miracle, everyone was able to fly to the Reynold’s house in Canyon Road for Christmas. It required two vehicles to pick everyone up at the airport, so Lizzie came with me in my car and Mr. Reynolds followed in his.

The whole way there, snow was falling in giant fat flakes that floated in the air like something out of a dream.

“I hope you realize,” Lizzie said, reaching for my hand as we approached the airport, “that none of this would be happening if you hadn’t knocked on my door that day.”

“Or if I hadn’t been shot and I had seen and spoken to Wendy, who died the same night and decided to stick around long enough to turn me into her final psychiatric case,” I added.

I won’t lie and pretend it was an easy, joyful greeting at the baggage carousel. The children were oblivious to any family tension, of course, and Mrs. Reynolds was quick to rush into her husband’s arms. J.J. and Meg, however, were reserved, as was Dr. Reynolds when they shook hands. I suspected the tension and hurt would linger for quite some time to come. Maybe it would never be resolved completely, but at least J.J. had agreed to bring his children to meet their other grandfather for Christmas, so it was a positive first step.

Lizzie had prepared a traditional turkey dinner which she reheated on the stove when we arrived. The children were boisterous and touched everything they could, but Dr. Reynolds somehow managed to bite his tongue.

“Come outside with me?” I said to Lizzie after J.J. and Meg herded the children off to bed. “It’s a beautiful night.”

She smiled at me and took my hand. A few minutes later, we were standing in our coats and boots on the covered porch by the outdoor Christmas tree we had set up that morning.

“Considering I was expecting World War III, it all went well, don’t you think?” Lizzie said, reaching out to touch a golden angel ornament that hung from one of the lower branches.

“It was a great first step in the right direction.” I watched her stroll around the tree and felt completely beguiled by her every move.

“The kids had a good time with their presents,” she added.

“All kids do,” I commented with a smile remembering my own Christmas as a kid.

She paused to re-arrange a section of lights. I waited until she draped it properly, then I moved a little closer.

“Talking about presents, there are still two more presents, though,” I teased.

“Really? Who are they for?”

“You. It’s a Birthday present and a Christmas present.”

Lizzie stopped what she was doing and looked at me.

“Happy birthday,” I wished her, and gave her a Boosey & Hawkes clarinet in its box.

She tore the wrapping off and let out a small gasp, “A clarinet! But ... How did you know?”

I took a deep breath and said, “Wendy told me you loved playing it.”

Tears were sliding down her face as she leaned forward and kissed me on my lips. “Of course, she did. Thank you, Nick. By the way, how did you know about Mr. Carrots? How did you find it and placed it under the Christmas tree?”

I felt shivers running down my spine.

“Lizzie, I didn’t place Mr. Carrots under the tree. I thought you did.”