Page 2 of A Baxter Family Christmas
The mention of her sister made Ashley catch her breath. For a long moment she didn’t speak. She closed her eyes again.Erin should be here, God. We shouldn’t even be having this conversation.
“Ashley?”
“I’m sorry.” She exhaled slowly. “What would I say to her?” What would any of them say? She spotted Landon and the kids entering the gym again, headed toward her. “Can I call you tonight? I’m at Cole’s game. Halftime’s almost over.”
Her dad hesitated, but only slightly. “Sure.” He paused. “Tell Cole I’m sorry I wasn’t there. I had a few things to do around the house this morning. Next time, okay?”
“Of course.” Ashley smiled. Her dad usually attended every game. Today, though, she was almost glad he wasn’t here. She couldn’t spend the hour talking about Christmas Eve and meeting the stranger with Erin’s heart. It was all too sad.
Cole’s team won the game and they drove home to play in the snow. Once the kids were outside, Ashley and Landon stood near the window. “I don’t have peace about it. I don’t think it’s good for Amy to meet this Kendra woman.”
“Honey.” He turned to face her. “You’re clearly uncomfortable with this.” Landon hugged her and searched her eyes. “So we skip the Christmas Eve dinner this year. We’ll still see each other the next day.”
Ashley looked long at her husband. She loved him so much. “Thank you. For understanding.”
“Always.” He shifted gears, grinned and motioned to the snow out front. “Let’s go show the kids how to build a real snowman.”
Ashley didn’t call her father back until later that night when the kids were in bed. “Like I said earlier, Dad. Landon and I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“Okay.” He was quicker to respond this time. “I understand. Really.” He paused. “If you change your mind, just let me know.”
His statement frustrated her. “Meaning... you hope we’ll still join you?”
“Sure. Yes, that’s what I’d like.”
“But Dad...” Ashley paced across her bedroom floor. “I just got done telling you we won’t be there.” Nothing about this was easy.
“Just pray about it, okay? Can you do that for me?”
Ashley was near tears by the time she hung up. Her dad had never raised his voice, but he seemed unwilling to accept her decision.
After the call she found Landon in the kitchen washing the counters. “I talked to my dad.”
He looked over his shoulder, his handsome face suddenly concerned. “He still wants us to be there?”
“Yes.” Did she look as weary as she felt? She waited while he dried his hands and the two of them took seats opposite each other at the kitchen table.
Landon searched her face. “Tell me, Ash.”
She nodded and her eyes found a spot on the table. “He wasn’t angry or anything. But he wants us there.” She looked up at him. “He asked us to pray about it.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Yeah.” Tears filled Ashley’s eyes. “I mean... of course we can pray. But think about how hard it would be.”
“We don’t have to be here.” Landon covered her hand with his. “You can stick to your decision.”
Ashley stood, paced to the sink, and turned again to face him. “Doesn’t my dad get it? We’re talking about Christmas!” She kept her voice low so she wouldn’t wake the kids. But her tone was strained all the same. “Okay, so the woman has Erin’s heart. She doesn’t believe in God and she needs hope and direction. Her marriage is in trouble.” Ashley walked from one side of the kitchen to the other. “I get all that. But why is that our job? Couldn’t we pray for her? Call a church in her area and try to get her connected?”
Landon shifted in his chair.
“I mean, there we’ll all be. Standing around making small talk with this... this stranger. And the whole time she’s only alive because Erin died. How are we supposed to have a beautiful Christmas Eve with all of that going on?”
“I hear you.” Landon didn’t look away, didn’t argue with her. “Your dad means well. I believe that.”
Ashley tossed her hands in the air and paced back to the sink. “That’s the hardest part. Of course he means well. He always means well. He loves everybody.”
A smile tugged at Landon’s lips. “No matter how far gone they are.”
