With Christmas in His Heart

Christine shared the story that her father had told her. “It was the wind, I guess. He said the prow of the ship has a powerful wind. Mom lost her balance and fell.”

“But he said they were in Florida,” Ella said.

“Yes, they airlifted her there. They have a doctor on board, but they can’t do surgery like that on the ship.”

Her grandmother shook her head. “How long before—”

“Daddy didn’t know.” The back door banged closed, and Christine lifted her head. “Mom’ll need surgery and rehab. It’ll be weeks.”

“Many weeks, I’d guess,” Will said from the doorway. He strutted in and plopped into a chair. “Looks like you’ll need a snowmobile lesson after all.”

Christine didn’t like the faint grin he tried to hide without success.

“Don’t jump to conclusions,” she said. “I have to go back to work. Somehow.” She felt the air leave her lungs.

He pinched his thumb and index finger and slid them across his mouth. “Zip.”

“Zip?”

“I’ve zipped my mouth shut.”

Good, she thought, then had second thoughts. He was a nice guy—an appealing man—but she certainly didn’t want to hear his jokes about her predicament.

She turned back to her grandmother. “Don’t worry. I’ll see you have good care. I’m sure you’ll get better and better each day.”

Christine wondered if she was trying to convince herself of that even more than her grandmother. Good care could come from a professional. Christine’s mind began to snap with ideas.

Her grandmother’s expression broke her heart. “I know,” she said, “but this is difficult for you all the way around.”

“I’d better get dinner,” Christine said, rising and motioning toward the kitchen. “I left the groceries on the counter.” Anxious to think by herself, she didn’t wait for a response but hurried into the kitchen.

She stood inside the doorway, taking in the tall painted cabinets and tiled countertops. She shifted to the groceries and pulled items from the shopping bags, totally oblivious to what she’d planned to make her grandmother for Sunday dinner.

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