Chapter 60

Kiki looked down at her, surprised. Then she checked the board. She was right. "You know how to play?"
The little girl shrugged. "I play with my dad." She reached over and moved the piece for Kiki.
Kiki's eyes opened wide. "You don't live here- at the Children's Home?"
"Nope." The little girl leaned forward, studying the board.
Lines formed along Case's forehead as he concentrated. After a moment, he moved a piece.
The little girl reached over and moved another piece, then looked up at Case. "Check."
Case's eyes almost bulged out of his head. "No way!"
"I'm afraid so." The little girl sighed.
Kiki bit her lower lip to keep from laughing. Case had turned into a regular Chess master over the past few months and here this little girl was beating them both.
Case studied the board and then moved another piece.
"I see you've met my granddaughter, Abby," Evelyn said as she set a cup of hot chocolate at the edge of the table near Kiki. Then she leaned in and stage whispered, "Don't play her for money. You'll lose your shirt."
Kiki laughed. "Oh, I believe that!"
"Check," Abby announced again, her voice matter of fact, concentrating hard on the game.
"Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas!" a voice resonated throughout the house.
Kiki looked over and Santa Claus himself filled the doorway, dressed in a red suit, sporting a natural white beard, and carrying a sack filled with toys. Smiling executives dressed in business suits--both men and women--from The North Pole Lodge, were with him, carrying packages wrapped in brightly colored paper.
The children all ran to Santa and shouted a chorus of "Santa!" "Look! It's Santa!" "Santa Claus!"
Abby jumped down off Kiki's lap and ran over to join the other children, the game forgotten. But Case sat in his chair, frowning as he studied the chess board.
"Don't you want to see what Santa brought?" Kiki asked.
He shook his head and then reset the pieces, having given up on the game. "No. That's kid's stuff."
Kiki reached over and squeezed his hand, claiming his attention. "Hey. You never get too old for Santa." Kiki looked across the room. The children were gathered around Santa, even the older ones, and she didn't want Case to miss out. "I'll tell you what. Why don't we go over and see what Santa brought together?"
"Okay." Case's shoulders sagged as he got to his feet.
Kiki slid her arm around his shoulders. "Hey, cheer up! It's Christmas, after all."
Case looked up and shook his head. "I just can't believe Abby is that good. I mean, she's just a little girl."
"Well, the game doesn't ask for a birth certificate." Kiki chuckled, ruffing his short black hair. "Come on. Let's go."
Case relented and sat down with the other children at Santa's feet, and Kiki stood back and watched.
"It just warms your heart." Evelyn stepped up beside her, as they watched Santa with the children. "That's what Christmas is all about, isn't it? The spirit of giving."
Kiki nodded as she watched Santa pass out the gifts to the children, one by one. "It sure is." Children squealed with delight as they opened their gifts. At that moment, Kiki didn't want to be anywhere else.
She and Evelyn spent the rest of the evening watching the children open gifts until they could hardly hold their eyes open. When the last gift had been passed out, Santa gathered the children around and read A Visit from St. Nicholas, better known as 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. A few minutes later, Abby approached Kiki, her eyes drooping.
"Tired, little girl?" Kiki asked, her lips curling into a smile.
Abby nodded.
"Come here." Kiki sat down on the couch and patted the seat beside her. Abby climbed up on the couch and leaned her head against her arm. Kiki wrapped her arm around her and Abby snuggled to her side. Evelyn sat on the other side of Abby.
"Merry Christmas, Kiki," Case said, and then held out his fist to her.
"It's Miss Long to you, young man," Evelyn corrected.
But Kiki shook her head. "No. That's okay." She bumped his fist with hers. "You have a very Merry Christmas, too."
A beautiful smile spread across his face and he gave her one last wave as he headed off to the bedrooms with the rest of the children.
"I'll be right back." Evelyn walked up the stairs, while Kiki stayed with Abby.
After Evelyn and the other ladies had put the last of the children to bed, leaving them to dream of Santa and the North Pole, she entered the room and stood before Kiki, who was nodding off herself.
"Well, it looks like Abby's taken right up with you," Evelyn observed, a smile spreading across her lips.
"She's adorable." Kiki loved children. Not having any of her own, she enjoyed her visits to the Children's Home and tried to come as often as possible. But besides Case, Abby had been the first one to take up with her the way she had. "Is her mother coming to get her soon?"
Evenly scoffed. "I sure hope not." Evelyn scooped her sleeping granddaughter into her arms and then whispered to Kiki over her head, "Her mother's been out of the picture for a while now."
"Oh." Kiki was taken aback. Abby didn't deserve that.
Evelyn adjusted Abby on her arm.
"I'm so sorry to hear that." Kiki rose to her feet and stretched. "Abby's such a wonderful little girl."
"Yes, she is," Evelyn agreed. "She deserves better. And so does Taren."
Kiki's heart leapt at the mere mention of his name. But Kiki quickly recovered herself and looked over at Abby. "Well, you're a very lucky woman to have a granddaughter like Abby."
"Yes, I am." Evelyn patted Abby's back. "But it looks like tonight got the best of her. I think we should be heading home. Here. Let me walk you out." She walked into the foyer as Kiki followed, and pulled Abby's coat off the rack, but spoke to Kiki, "Do you have a place to go for Christmas?"
Kiki smiled as she shrugged her shoulders. "Just here." She slipped into her coat and then helped Evelyn with Abby's.
"Well, then!" Evelyn's eyes lit up. "You need to come over tomorrow and celebrate with us!"
Kiki smiled, touched by the invitation. "That's really very kind of you, but I don't want to intrude. Besides, I'm planning on carrying some fruitcake over to the neighbors."
"Oh, pish posh!" Evelyn said, handing Abby to her without asking. She slid into her coat, and then took her granddaughter back. Kiki liked that she felt comfortable enough to do that. "You can take fruitcake to the neighbors anytime! And Taren would love to see you again."
"Where is he tonight?" Kiki's mind told her not to ask, but her mouth had a mind of its own. Even though they had been friends in high school, she had always been out of reach. Yes; Taren had a league all his own.
Evelyn smiled, her eyes dancing, obviously pleased at Kiki's interest. "He's working tonight and couldn't be here."
Kiki nodded as she opened the door for Evelyn and Abby. "I'll follow you out." Snow flurries blew toward them as they walked out. Evelyn cuddled Abby closer, doing her best to shield her from the falling snow.
"But seriously," Evelyn continued, "if you don't have anything else to do, come on over."
Kiki opened the back door of Evelyn's car for her and watched as she laid Abby in the backseat and snapped the seatbelt into place around her. "I appreciate the offer, but--"
"Just say you'll think about it," Evelyn cut her off. Kiki could tell that she wasn't going to take no for an answer.
"Okay. I'll consider it," Kiki replied, having no intention of going. She didn't want to disappoint the woman, but she didn't want to intrude on their family time, either. Also, she had no idea how she would feel when she saw Taren again, or what he would think of her intruding on his family's celebration. No, it was best not to go, no matter how much she would have liked to.
"Good!" With Abby safely inside and her seatbelt fastened, she closed the car door. Kiki was surprised when she pulled her in for a hug. "You're welcome to come over any time."
Kiki patted her back, and then pulled away. It was nice having a mother figure in her life, even if it was just for the night. "Thanks, Evelyn. Will you be okay driving home, or would you like me to follow you?"
Evelyn shook her head as a smile spread across her lips. "I'll be fine. I don't have far to go. Well, you take care of yourself and don't be a stranger. I need to get this little one home." She walked around the other side of the car, and Kiki headed over to her own. "It was good seeing you again, Kiki!" Evelyn called to her over the top of the car and then climbed inside, giving her one last wave.