Page 34 of A Baxter Family Christmas
“You said you didn’t want... to meet her.” She wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands. “I didn’t think I had a choice.”
“Oh, Amy.” Ashley held her close again. “You could’ve said something just then, during our meeting.”
“I didn’t want to change everyone’s minds.”
The situation was making sense to Ashley. She felt the heaviness of Amy’s heartache. “I should’ve asked you. I’m so sorry, honey.”
Amy lifted her head and looked straight at Ashley. “You mean... you might stay here? If that’s what I wanted to do?”
“Of course.” Ashley’s own concerns about meeting Kendra faded. “If you want to stay here, then we’ll stay. And, honey, you can always tell us how you feel. We love you so much, Amy.”
“Okay.” She sniffed a few times. “It’s just... I love Christmas with you and Uncle Landon. This is my home now.” Her eyes watered again. “And you are my family. But... sometimes I miss Christmas the way it used to be. With Mommy and Daddy and my sissies.” More tears rolled down her cheeks. “I thought maybe... maybe if I heard my mommy’s heartbeat one more time... it would be the best Christmas of all.”
“Well, then... we’ll stay here tonight. And together we’ll meet Kendra Bryant.” Ashley reached for a tissue from the nightstand and wiped Amy’s tears. How wonderful that they were having this conversation today and not tomorrow. When it would be too late. “And wewillhave the best Christmas of all.” She kissed the top of Amy’s head. “Okay?”
Amy smiled despite her teary eyes. “All of us together.”
“Exactly.” Ashley stood. “Why don’t you wash your face, and I’ll tell the others.”
When she was on her feet, Amy paused for a moment and then ran into Ashley’s arms. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, honey.” Ashley couldn’t stop her own tears this time. If only Erin were here to hold her daughter and love her like this. If only the rest of her family were downstairs getting ready for Christmas.
The way it should’ve been.
“Aunt Ashley, can I tell you something?”
“Of course.” She stooped down so she could look straight into Amy’s eyes. “Anything.”
“Sometimes at night, when you and Uncle Landon come in to say prayers, you look just like my mommy. And you sound like her.”
Ashley hugged her once more. There was nothing she could say, no way to stop the tears that coursed down her cheeks. After a while, Ashley looked at Amy again. “Honey...” She dabbed at her tears. “I’m sure—from somewhere in heaven—that makes your mommy very happy.”
The smile that filled Amy’s face made Ashley sure everything was going to be okay. Ashley went down the hall to her room and told the others the new plan. They were staying for dinner and meeting Kendra Bryant, after all.
Only then did Ashley realize how much her kids had wanted things to work out this way. Cole and Devin clapped and high-fived each other and Janessa danced circles around Landon.
When the kids were out of the room, Ashley told Landon what had happened, and how Amy loved being part of their family, but how hearing her mother’s heartbeat would make this the most amazing Christmas. “I never would’ve imagined she mightwantto meet the woman.” Ashley felt exhausted from the heartache of it all. “The way my dad suggested a month ago.” She paused. “I’m so grateful, Landon. What if we would’ve just gone to dinner and never talked about it?”
Landon linked his arms around her waist and swayed with her for a long moment. “That’s what makes you special, Ashley.” He kissed her again. “You did talk about it.”
Peace whispered to her soul. The same way it always did when she was with Landon. “Thank you.”
The doorbell rang downstairs.
“That’s our cue.” Landon took her hand and led her to the bathroom. “Freshen up. I’ll take the kids downstairs.”
Ashley looked in the mirror and fixed the few places where her mascara had run. As she did, she thanked God again for her family, for kids who loved each other and for a husband who had been her greatest strength as far back as she could remember.
And for a Christmas Eve that would be difficult, for sure. But also—just maybe—a night that would be like Amy said.
The best Christmas ever.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
John’s heart beat hard inside his chest as he went to answer the door. After all the letter-writing and discussion, the meeting with Kendra Bryant was about to happen. But when he opened the door, instead of Kendra, Kari and Ryan stood on the doorstep.
“Merry Christmas, Dad!” Kari stepped up and hugged him. She was covered in snow, and she had to yell to be heard above the sound of the howling wind. “Is she here? Kendra?”
