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"Stop," she pleaded on a ragged whisper "Please"
"Dad," Paula called, and an instant later burst into the kitchen with Karen The two girls sly at each other
"See, what did I tell you?" Karen said with a grin as broad as the Grand Canyon "He’s about to kiss her again, and lanced around the dinner table at his two children and theman And the more Paul was around Annie, the more he liked the woman ould soon be his son’s wife
"Pass the potatoes," Joe said to his sister, who made it seem as if the boere ame from their childhood days Bethany loved to tease her brother about the aed to consuoing to put up this year?" The question cahter
"I’m too busy to deal with Christlances He didn’t knohat he’d said to give thes to do than fuss with a Christmas tree," he reiterated "It surprisessuch a co the house for the holidays"
"Mom--"
"It was different when your reed smoothly
"But the house looks so drab," Bethany said "What about the ceraels Mom used to set out?"
"And the snowo? Ree balls of cotton?" Joe added
Both his children were regarding him expectantly "All the Christmas decorations are in the attic," Paul told the them down himself
"Great We’ll decorate the house for you," Bethany said eagerly, sounding like a five-year-old all over again "And after Christ down, and put it away for you"
Paul wanted to tell his children not to bother, but it seereed reluctantly "If that’s what you want"
"We do" Somehow it seemed to Paul that his son-in-law didn’t look all that excited with the project--and Paul didn’t bla down the boxes from the attic, Paul felt as if his world had been invaded by four -rooels on the sill, peering out into the dark night
Joe and Annie set about decorating the fireplace just the way Barbara had Four hand-knit stockings hung from the mantel the same way they had for more than twenty years
Paul had wanted to re the year before, but the kids had insisted they put it up Their mother was as much a part of their family now as she had been before her death
Paul hadn’t had the strength to argue with theue this year It hurt to see the colorful red stocking hanging next to his own
A swell of sadness all but paralyzed him
"Where should we put the nativity scene?" Joe asked hireat distance and were barely discernible He couldn’t stop looking at the stocking and re all the happy Christmases he’d spent with Barbara at his side How empty the holiday seemed no lonely his life ithout her Even with his children at his side, busily going about cheering hiain
Decorations wouldn’t replace his wife
Presents wouldn’t lessen the ache in his heart
A stocking, hung with loving hands on a fireplace iant hole left in his life with her passing
"Dad?" Joe said, and this ti to look at his son Joe and Annie held the figurines from the nativity scene that had been handed down to him from his mother many years earlier "Yes?"
"Where do you want us to put these? Same place as before?"
Paul motioned toward the television "Yes On top of the television will be fine"
On the pretense of retrieving so room He walked up the stairs, and the old wood creaked as he moved slowly from one step to the next
For severalwhich way to turn or why he was there Leaning against the wall, he sagged doard until he sat on the top step That here Bethany found hi as she stood at the foot of the stairs She stared up at him, and it see there?"
He looked around, hoping to come up with an answer that would satisfy her But he couldn’t think of one "I caot what I was here for Have you ever done that?" He laughed to ht of his odd behavior
"Joe and I wanted to talk to you"
"Talk to me," Paul repeated He stood and walked down the stairs "This sounds serious"
He discovered Joe and Annie sitting together on the sofa, holding hands Eric stood beside the fireplace, and it seeaze skittered away froestured to his recliner
Paul sat, and his daughter followed suit Eric came and stood behind his wife
"We’re worried about you," Bethany began
"Worried?" Paul laughed it off "Whatever for?"
"You’re not yourself," Joe said "I noticed it right away"