Page 44 of The Parkers' Handsome Holiday
“Thanks, Dad,” I said.
I grabbed my keys and jacket at the front door and walked back out to my car. My heart was heavy with where I had to go to get Lina’s things: Kelli’s mom’s house. Truth be told, I was afraid to see Kelli. She had been released from the hospital the day before Lina, and her mother hadn’t let me see her.
I drove straight there. The drive was faster than I wanted it to be. Before I knew it, I was pulling into the driveway and sitting in my car, staring at the beautiful colonial home I used to come to all the time to pick Lina up for dates. I sighed and got out. I had to just get this over with.
I marched up to the front door, raised my hand, and knocked.
I heard Mrs. Rollins call on the other side of the door that she would get it. If Kelli answered her, I couldn’t hear it.
Moments later, the door was pulled open, and a very flustered, very tired looking Mrs. Rollins smiled at me. Her gray hair had come loose from its ponytail. She was wearing a Christmas sweater covered in little trees and reindeer. Gold snowflake earrings winked in her ears.
“Hi, Cal. I didn’t expect to see you so soon. Now isn’t really a good time. Kelli isn’t in the mood for visitors.”
I nodded. “I understand. I’m actually here to collect Lina’s things. You said she never really unpacked?”
Judy shook her head. “No, she didn’t. All her things are still in bags. I can run upstairs to her room and get them for you.”
“I can go in and carry them for you,” I offered.
Judy held up her hand to stop me. “No, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be rude but,” she lowered her voice and leaned over the threshold to whisper, “you shouldn’t come inside. Kelli is… well, you should just stay out here.”
“I’m sorry.”
She smiled, but I thought Isaw her eyes become glassier before she looked down. “It’s all right. I’ll be right back. You just stay here.”
“All right.”
She turned and left, leaving the door open.
I slid my hands into my pockets and rocked back on my heels. The day was so cold I could see my breath on the air.
I stepped back off the front step to glance to the left, into the living room. The Christmas tree was standing tall and proud in the middle of the window, just like it did every year. Some of the lights were on constantly, while others blinked slowly, giving the tree the illusion that it was sparkling.
“What are you doing here?”
My attention snapped back to the front door.
Kelli was there. She was in a wheelchair. Her stare was narrowed and tight, focused in on me like she would shoot me with daggers from her pupils if she was able.
“Hey, Kelli. Sorry. I just came to get Lina’s things.”
Kelli snorted and crossed her arms. “She’s staying with you, then?”
I nodded. “She is. Yeah. I didn’t know what else to do. Who else she had—”
“I don’t care, Cal.”
I looked at my feet. “Kelli, I’m so sorry.”
I could feel her stare on me still. “I wish that changed things.”
“Me too.”
I looked back up at her. She had a cast on her entire right leg that was only visible at the top and the bottom of the red blanket she had draped over her lap. Her toes peaked out the bottom, showing a candy cane on her big toe. She must have gotten a pedicure recently and decided to get a festive paint job. My heart hurt for her.
Three fingers on her right hand were in splints. Her neck was in a brace, and she was sitting up perfectly straight. The brace connected to a pole that ran the length of her spine and was secured with screws drilled into her spine to keep her straight. The damage to her lower spine had been so extensive that she lost all control of her legs.
“Don’t look at me like that,” Kelli said sharply.
