Page 17 of A Cowboy Home for Christmas
He rests his elbows on his knees and holds the star between the girls. “I remember the Christmas when you girls were almost three. Your daddy and I cut down a tree and brought it home. Your mommy had the Christmas bin of ornaments ready to go once you both were fast asleep. But your daddy surprised you girls with ornaments just for you.”
I sink into the sofa cushion between Marilyn and Joe. My mind floats back to that Christmas evening. I remember panicking. Would they throw the balls at each other rather than hang them on the tree? Were any of the ornaments he’d chosen a choking hazard? Would they poke their eyes out with the wire hooks?
Barker’s eyes flicker between the twins. “Your daddy opened two big boxes.” He stretches his arms out wide and the girls giggle. “One was filled with fiery pink ornaments for Clara, and the other one had sunshine yellow ornaments for Lark.”
“We still have some of those bins at home.”
Clara rests her hands on Barker’s knee.
“And you two went to town, hanging ornaments all along the bottom branches. At the end, he lifted Clara to the top with a big tinsel star and helped her fasten it in place. But then Lark wanted to put up a star. So, the star came back down, and he did it two times. Two times for his precious little girls. And guess what?”
“What?” The twins ask in sync.
“The star wasn’t your daddy’s favorite part. You two were your daddy’s favorite part. So much so, that he ended up putting that star up a hundred times that holiday season.”
“A hundred times.” Lark’s eyes grow wide.
Barker nods. “Every time he was near the tree, one of you wanted to put on the star, and every time, he did it again and again and again.”
Lark touches the broken star. “Now what are we going to do?”
“This is nothing a little epoxy glue can’t fix. I’ll pick up some in the morning and we’ll hang the star tomorrow night. Two times.”
“Or three,” Lark says.
“Or four,” Clara adds.
They continue counting back and forth.
Thank youI mouth to Barker. I encourage my girls to talk about their daddy as much as they feel comfortable. I want them to remember all the good times they had with him.
“Hey munchkins, I have something you can do tonight.” Savi disappears into her room and reappears with small gift bags. She sits on her knees beside the tree. The girls rush over. “One for Lark.” She hands Lark a bag with snowmen on the front. Lark skips over to me and sets the bag on my knee.
“One for Clara.” Clara plops down in her spot sitting cross-legged.
Both girls pull out the tissue paper and throw the white crinkling sheets on the floor. Lark digs out a small gift box. She feels around the inside of the bag, making sure it’s empty before tossing it aside.
“What do you think it is?” Lark shakes it.
“Gentle.” Savi tucks her bangs under her winter beanie.
“I am being so gentle.” Clara delicately unties the red bow.
Lark doesn’t bother, and instead yanks the ribbon over the side of the box. Inside, a round flat glass ornament sits on velvet lining. The clear glass is painted with a cartoon version of Lark and Gunner. They’re both wearing Santa hats and holding mugs of cocoa.
“Savi, it’s beautiful.” I touch the frosted edge. “What do you say to Auntie Savi?”
“Thanks Auntie Savi.”
Savi stands up. “Where shall we hang them on the tree?”
“Be careful. Hold it here, too.” I wrap Lark’s hand under the glass before she skips around the coffee table to meet her aunt and sister. The two girls pace around the tree looking for the perfect spot.
“Now, you’ll each always have a special ornament to hang up for your dad.” Savi strokes their hair.
I pull out my phone and snap pictures of the three hanging ornaments. I also take one of Barker watching them. He grins at me after the picture, so I snap a second. It’s the perfect moment. But leave it to Savi to ruin it.
“I have one for your baby, too.” Savi snatches a gift bag and heads in Alison’s direction.
