The Christmas Portrait (19 page)

I was still moving some of the Christmas presents around. “Can we leave the lights on all day? It's so gray outside.”

“Sure we can.” Daddy sat down on the sofa. “Kate, there's something important I need to tell you.”

I didn't like the sound of that. The only kinds of conversations I ever had with Daddy that started like that were about things I didn't want to hear. I thought about Aunt Susannah Hope and Laramie's dad. “Do I have to hear this, Daddy?”

“Yes, little one, you do, but this is good news. I wanted to talk to you before Laramie gets up.” Daddy motioned for me to sit next to him. “But you have to promise me that you won't say a word to Laramie about what I'm telling you. Can you do that?”

“Yes, sir.” I curled up next to Daddy on the sofa. I was gladder than glad this wasn't bad news. “You can trust me, Daddy. I am not the blabbermouth in this family.”

“That's what I thought. I don't want to tell Laramie because if what I think might happen today doesn't happen, then she'll be one disappointed little girl. But if it does happen, then this will be about the best Christmas of her whole life.”

I sat up and looked at Daddy. “What, Daddy? What might happen?”

“Well, it looks like Laramie's mom might be coming home.”

“Today?”

“I know. It's almost too good to be true, and I don't want to tell Laramie in case Mrs. Fields can't get here.”

I bounced up and down and hugged Daddy. “Laramie's gonna be so happy and so surprised. How'd you find her mom?”

“Well, it's a long story. When Laramie ran away, and her dad went to jail, the sheriff started asking Mr. Fields questions about his wife. Laramie's dad knew where she was but not exactly when or if she would be back.”

“But he didn't tell Laramie?”

“No, he didn't. He didn't know what to say, so he just told Laramie she was gone and not to think about her anymore. He didn't even give Laramie the letters her mother wrote to her while she was away.”

“That's the meanest thing I ever heard.” I hugged my daddy again. “It's hard enough when your mama's not around, but I'm so glad you're my daddy and not Mr. Fields. You were honest when Mama went to heaven.”

Daddy kissed me right on top of my head. “I'm glad I'm your daddy too, little peep. We miss your mama, but we're still family.” Then Daddy got quiet for a minute. “Laramie's family isn't like ours, Kate. I think you're old enough to understand some of this. Her mom has problems with alcohol. And when she drinks, sometimes she does things she wishes she hadn't done. The last time that happened, Mrs. Fields couldn't face Laramie the next morning, so she left.”

“Why couldn't she just talk to Laramie?”

“Sometimes people like Laramie's parents have a hard time admitting and talking about their problems. And I think it was just too hard for her to say good-bye.”

“But Laramie woulda felt better if she had known the truth.”

“Maybe. That's why she left Laramie a letter explaining that she was going to her sister's in New York, but her dad was so upset, he chose not to give the letter to Laramie. You see, Mrs. Fields decided she wanted to stop drinking so she could be a better mother, but she couldn't do it by herself. The only thing she knew to do was to ask her sister to help her.”

“But couldn't she get help here?”

“Maybe, but she needed money, and she needed to be in a hospital to get better and learn how to stay better.”

“But how did you get to talk to her?”

“I went to the jail and talked to Mr. Fields. He really does love Laramie and wants his family back, and he didn't want Laramie to spend Christmas without her family. So he told me about his wife and why she left. He said Mrs. Fields's sister knew where she was and gave me her number. So I called the sister, and she told me how to get in touch with Laramie's mom.”

“Oh, Daddy, this is so good. Is Mrs. Fields healed now?”

“Well, she's been in a special hospital to help her, and I think she's better now, at least well enough to come home and try to start over with Laramie.”

When Mama got sick, everybody was praying for Mama to get healed, but she went to heaven anyway. Daddy said that meant she was healed. And here was Mrs. Fields, and nobody even cared enough to pray for her, and she was alive and in a hospital getting better. Some things didn't make sense to me, but anyway, I was glad Laramie was gonna get her mom back. I just wished Mama was coming with her.

“So when does Mrs. Fields get here?”

“If the weather permits, she'll be here this afternoon. She's traveling a long way, and there could be more snow. Now remember, you can't say a word about this to Laramie just in case her mother doesn't get here, okay?” Now another secret. I had to walk around all day knowing what might happen that afternoon, and I couldn't tell a soul. I knew how Mama must feel in heaven. “I get it now. Pastor Simmons told me last week that Mama's happy in heaven, even without us, because she knows the end of the story, and one day we'll all be together again.”

“What? What are you talking about, and when did you talk to Pastor Simmons?”

Me and my flapping tongue. I didn't need Daddy asking me too many questions today. “Oh, I saw the pastor last Sunday before choir practice, and we were talking about books and stories and happy endings. When we were having hot chocolate after caroling, he came over to me and said he's reading
Charlotte's Web
to his little boy, Harry, all on account of me talking to him.”

“You mean I have a smart daughter?”

I wasn't going to say another word about that. “You know when you told me to pray that it wouldn't snow the night you were searching for Laramie?”

“I do. And you must have prayed hard because it quit snowing.”

“Well, I'll be walking around praying all day that it doesn't snow again so Mrs. Fields can get here and make a happy ending.” I got up. “I'm going to check on Laramie.” I left Daddy sitting in front of the Christmas tree. Boy, if he had a calendar, he could put about a million smiley faces on it.

All the way up the stairs I thought about how Laramie's face would look when her mom walked through the front door. I knew I'd never quit smiling if Mama walked through that door.

I asked Granny Grace one time why something so bad happened to Mama and our family when Mama was so good. Granny said she didn't have an answer for that question yet. She said sometimes bad things happen because we bring it on ourselves. I guess that's like what happened at Laramie's house when her mom and dad were doing bad things, and bad things happened.

But Granny said that wasn't what happened with Mama. She said sometimes God just allowed bad things to happen, but He could make some good come of it. I didn't know of one good thing to come of Mama dying yet. I just kept waiting, but I couldn't get mad at Laramie just because her mom might be coming home. Mama wouldn't like that at all.

Then it hit me. If Laramie's mom came, then Laramie wouldn't be here tonight to help me with my plan. I had to think about that.

Laramie must have heard me walk into the room because she turned over and punched at her pillow. “You're already up? What time is it?”

“I haven't been up long. It's just seven-thirty. I think I'm so excited about Christmas and my plan I couldn't sleep.” I plopped on the bed.

“Oh, that's right, it's Christmas Eve.”

“All day long.”

Laramie just lay there on her back and stared at the ceiling. If only I could tell her the end of the story, she'd be jumping up and down all over that bed.

I was so antsy on the inside. “What you thinking about?”

“I don't know.”

I propped up on my elbow and looked at her. “You gotta know what you're thinking about. If you don't, then who does?”

“I was just thinking that it's Christmas Eve and I don't have any presents for anybody. Not even you and your family, and I really want to give Miss Applegate something.”

“Oh, we don't need any presents. Granny Grace and Aunt Susannah Hope go crazy with presents. Sometimes I think they just like to wrap things. Besides, I know you're my friend.”

Laramie had been like Granny's dog too. She had been acting out at school and using bad language because she was hurting and she was scared. But she had been on her best behavior and using good manners while she was at our house because she knew we were just trying to make her feel better. I couldn't wait to tell Emily about Laramie's good manners so we could all be friends.

Laramie got quiet again.

I didn't want her to worry about anything today. “I just thought of something you could give to somebody special.”

“What? You mean like a real present for Miss Applegate?”

“Yeah, a real present. You know that redbird you drew in my sketchbook?”

“Uh-huh.”

“I was thinking about finding a frame around here, and you could put that drawing in it.”

Laramie sat up in bed. “Then I could wrap it up and give it to Miss Lisa. Then maybe she'd give me art lessons with you. You think she would?”

“I think so. Maybe.” I got out of bed. “There's got to be a frame around here somewhere.” I didn't like to lie, but I was thinking about who was really going to getting this gift. One time Granny said that whatever came out of my mouth better be true, but sometimes it might not have to be the whole truth. Right now if I told Laramie the whole truth, then I'd be breaking the secret Daddy told me, and that was worse than not telling her everything.

“I would really like to learn how to draw like you, Kate. We could draw together.”

“You already can draw, Laramie, but it would be fun to draw together. Now get up. It's Christmas Eve. We have things to do. We're going to Granny's for Christmas Eve dinner tonight, then we're going to church. Then my plan.”

“Are you sure about this plan of yours?”

“Yeah, I've been thinking about it all night. I've changed my mind though. I don't think I want you to help me. I mean, this is something I gotta do by myself. And besides, if it doesn't work, then only one of us is in trouble. I'm not scared. I'm gonna do it.”

“But I want to go with you.”

“I know, but I really think it's best if you don't. You gotta stay behind. You'll know if it works.” I was holding my fingers crossed behind my back the whole time because I knew I wasn't telling the whole truth. Here she was, my new best friend, but come tomorrow, she'd know why I told her I had to do it by myself.

We finished dressing, and Laramie picked up the rocks on my desk. “Why do you have these?”

“Mama.”

“What do you mean, Mama?”

“She told me before she went to heaven to always remember these three words to keep my head above water. Faith. Family. Forever.”

“To keep your head above water? Is that supposed to make sense?” Laramie was brushing her hair.

“Breakfast in ten minutes.” Daddy's announcement came from the bottom of the stairs.

“I'll explain it later. Come on, breakfast is almost ready.” I didn't feel like talking about it. I didn't know if Laramie had any rocks to stand on like Mama told me. Besides, her mom was coming home. Maybe Mr. Josh was right. At least one story might have a happy ending.

Uncle Luke was helping Daddy when we got to the kitchen. Superspiderman showed up with bed head and without his socks or slippers. Daddy sent him to the bathroom to comb his hair before he came to the table. That boy never learned.

After we ate, Daddy talked about the day and what we'd be doing. “Kate, Granny's coming in a little while. She's bringing your Christmas dress.” I didn't grow much this year, so Granny just let down the hem on last year's dress.

Laramie perked up. “I have a Christmas dress. My aunt sent it to me in the mail last week. It's at my house.”

“Would you like us to go get it for you?” Uncle Luke looked at Daddy.

“Yes, sir. I know where the spare key is if you would take me there.”

Daddy looked back at Uncle Luke. “Well, I'd say that's just perfect. Maybe you could do that right now while Kate and I clean up the kitchen. Laramie, you and Kate will be the two prettiest girls at church tonight.”

Uncle Luke snapped to attention. “Sounds good. Get your coat on, Laramie. We'll run get your dress, and then I'll drop you off here because I have some super-secret errands to run.”

Superspiderman had a chocolate milk moustache. “For Miss Lisa? Miss Lisa's gonna be my aunt. Then I'll have two aunts.”

Uncle Luke patted Chesler's head. “That's right, buddy. So did you grow that brown moustache overnight?”

Chesler did it again, just rubbed chocolate milk on his Superman pajama sleeve. No wonder Daddy said he was thinking of putting a TV in the laundry room. He spent an awful lot of time there.

While Laramie was gone, Daddy found a frame, and I got Laramie's redbird all fixed and wrapped and under the tree. I wrapped it in the redbird paper too.

After Laramie came back, we drew and played games and listened to Christmas music. It was gray all day, and I kept going to the window hoping for sunshine. I wished and prayed every time I looked out that God would hold back the snow again, just one more time, so Laramie's mom could get here. Daddy didn't tell me where she was coming from. I just knew it was far away, and I hoped it wasn't from the north. News said it was snowing north and west of here, and I was getting worried.

Three o'clock, and Mrs. Fields hadn't come yet. At exactly three fifty-two, the phone rang. Daddy came in minutes later with a smile on his face. “Girls, you need to get dressed. It takes you longer. Chesler, hit the tub, buddy. You didn't shower this morning. Uncle Luke and Lisa will be here in about an hour.”