Page 2 of Her Frozen Heart

“What do you mean, if he comes?” Nikki asked. “You’ve been a pretty good girl this year, haven’t you?”

She shrugged. “I guess, but everything’s different now. Santa might not be able to find me.”

“Of course he will,” Nikki said. “We already talked about this, sweetie. Santa knows everything.”

“And just in case he somehow forgot where you were, I sent him a letter a while ago with this address and told him he needed to stop here to see Lacey Hunt.” Rory beamed at her.

Nikki could see the torment in Lacey’s eyes. She wanted to be happy and excited for Santa, and she was, but when thoughts of her father crept in, so did the guilt. Lacey had told her last week that she felt bad celebrating Christmas without Tyler, especially since he wouldn’t have any more Christmases.

After they’d cried together, Nikki had gone into her photos folder on the computer and showed Lacey her favorite pictures from every Christmas since Lacey had been born. Even after they’d divorced, Nikki and Tyler had spent Christmas together with Lacey. Tyler thrived during the season—he loved looking for the perfect gifts, and he always knew exactly what would make Lacey wild on Christmas morning.

“Your daddy would be heartbroken to know you weren’t enjoying Christmas,” Nikki had told her.

“Even if Rory’s here and he isn’t?” Lacey had asked.

“Yes,” Nikki had answered firmly. “He would be relieved to know we had someone like Rory to be here since he can’t be. You understand no one will ever replace Daddy, right? Rory doesn’t want to do that, and he doesn’t expect you to feel that way. He just wants you to be happy and safe.”

Now, Rory gently picked Lacey up off the stool and set her on the counter so they were at eye level. “I know this is a really tough time for you, Bug. It’s okay to be excited about Christmas and sad about your dad at the same time.”

Lacey rubbed her teary eyes. “I miss him so much.”

Nikki’s heart broke as she gathered the little girl into a tight hug. “Me too, but Daddy’s still here with us. He’s watching over you.”

Lacey shrugged. “You really believe that?”

“Yes,” Nikki said. “You remember that my parents died when I was sixteen, right?”

“Murdered, like Daddy.”

Nikki’s mother used to tell her that God never gave people any more than they could handle, but six-year-old kids shouldn’t even know what murder was, let alone grieve their loved one because of the actions of a callous psychopath. Were murder and abhorrent cruelty really part of God’s so-called will?

“Every Christmas after that was tough, but the first one without them was brutal. My aunt said I should I ask my parents to show me they were still here, watching over me, by giving me a sign. But not just any sign, a specific one that would mean something to my parents and me. I thought it was crazy, but I tried it anyway.”

“What did you ask them to show you?” Lacey asked.

Nikki grinned. “A blue jay, because Mom thought they were a beautiful nuisance, and Dad loved how tough they were. And you know what, within a couple of days, a blue jay started nesting in the tree next to my aunt’s house.”

“Really?” Lacey asked, wide-eyed.

Nikki nodded. “Remember how your dad loved cardinals? He called them redbirds, because that’s what his grandma called them.”

Lacey nodded excitedly. “Should I ask Daddy to bring me some cardinals?”

“To show you he’s always with you,” Nikki said. “Make sure you include that part.”

“Should I do it now?”

“If you want to,” Nikki said.

Rory moved out of the way, and Lacey hopped down to the stool and then to the floor. “I’m going to get my boots and coat.”

“Start in the backyard.” Rory’s eyes were on Nikki. “I still need to shovel the front, and the step is really slick.”

“Okey dokey.” Lacey hurried off.

When she was out of earshot, Rory pulled Nikki close. “I happen to know there are at least two pairs of cardinals nesting in the big evergreen in the backyard,” he whispered in her ear.

“Me too.” Nikki leaned against his strong chest. “I feel a little guilty for making that up, but I want her to be able to enjoy tomorrow.”

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