Chapter 88

Wind whipped around them as they hurried up the stairs and his mother opened the door.
"Welcome!" Evelyn pulled Kiki in for a quick hug. "I'm so glad you came over tonight. And I'm glad that you're okay."
"Thanks to your son." Kiki looked over at Taren and smiled. "I don't even want to think of what could have happened if he hadn't arrived when he did."
Evelyn nodded thoughtfully. "Yes- well- you're here and safe now."
"Daddy!" Abby ran into the room full speed into her father's arms.
Taren swooped her up into his arms and nuzzled her neck. "And this is my daughter Abby."
"We met Christmas Eve, Daddy," Abby replied. Turning to Kiki, she added, "It's a pleasure to see you again-."
"Kiki," Taren supplied. "Abby, this is Kiki Long. Kiki, this is my daughter Abby."
"It's nice to meet you- officially," Abby replied, holding out her hand.
Kiki blinked, her eyes wide. "The pleasure is mine."
Prissy rose from her perch by the fire and strolled toward Kiki, meowing loudly.
"Prissy! I missed you!" Kiki picked her up and nuzzled her fur, and looked up at Taren. "Thank you for taking such good care of her for me."
"The guys at the station hated to see her go. She was quickly becoming the station mascot." He chuckled. "Erica was upset when I picked her up from the station this afternoon. It was too funny."
Kiki smiled. "Well, please be sure to thank them for me." She set Prissy down and the cat took her place in front of the fire again. "Wow! She's really making herself at home here, isn't she?"
Evelyn laughed. "Oh, it's okay. We're glad you're both here."
Taren put Abby down, and she took Kiki's hand and started pulling her toward another room. "Come on! It's time to eat. Dinner's ready."
"Be easy with her, Abby!" Taren called after them as Kiki looked at him over her shoulder with wide eyes. Turning to his mother, he said, "I'll just put her things in the spare room."
One of his mother's eyebrows raised as she gave him a knowing look. "Okay."
"Mom, we went over this. It's not what you think." Taren headed down the hallway, knowing his mother would follow. He opened the door and set her bag on the chair by the door. "She's going to stay for Santa."
"I didn't say a thing." His mother gave him a knowing smile.
Taren let out a deep breath as he ran a hand through his blond-streaked hair. "Look, Mom. I wasn't here for Christmas Eve and I just want to do it right. And since Kiki didn't get to celebrate either--"
"No need to say more. I'm glad that Santa's coming again, and I'm glad that Kiki's here to share it with us." His mother placed a hand on his cheek, forcing him to look into her eyes. "I was the one who told you to invite her over. Remember?" She took her hand away. "So, if we're going to do Christmas again, then I think we'd better get to it."
Taren smiled. "Thanks, Mom. This is important to me."
"I know." She nodded. "So- are you hungry? Let's go before Abby eats it all."
He chuckled. "If she eats everything you cooked, I'd be completely surprised." In reality, she ate like a bird. He was happy when she ate anything at all. And his mother cooked for an army every time she cooked. She never said so, but Taren thought that it was probably a hold over to her youth. She had grown up in a large family and food was limited. Now, she never wanted anyone to go away from the table hungry.
His mother patted his back. "Me, too. Let's go." She walked down the hallway, headed toward the kitchen. Taren gave the room one last look, making sure everything was in order, and then closed the door behind him. Of course it would be. His mother always kept it ready for unexpected visitors.
When Taren entered the kitchen, Kiki was setting the ham on the table in the dining area to the left, and Abby walked in, carrying a basket of rolls. His mother carried in a large bowl of potato salad, with hard-boiled eggs sliced along the top. Watching Kiki chiming in with his mother and daughter made it seem that she was already a part of the family.
"What can I do to help?" Taren asked, already enjoying himself. Despite himself, he couldn't help but feel Christmas in the air.
"You can get the plates and silverware," his mother replied, and then smiled at Kiki. "Leave the food to us women."
Kiki smiled as she adjusted the ham on the table.
"Yeah! Us women," Abby agreed.
Taren laughed as he pulled the good china from the cabinet, counted out the silverware, and set the table. Soon, the table was set and ready for Christmas dinner. Taren looked around, knowing that this was what Christmas should be like, spending it with family. He smiled, surprised that he already included Kiki in with his family.
"Want to say the blessing?" Evelyn asked him, since he was the man of the house.
"Sure, Mom." He said a blessing over the meal, thanking God for the wonderful food and for the opportunity to be able to celebrate Christmas again with family. When he finished, he added, "Now, let's eat!"
They all laughed.
When everyone was busy with dipping food onto their plates, Taren reached over and gave Kiki's hand a gentle squeeze. "I'm glad you're here," he whispered.
"So am I," she replied, only audible to his ears.
"Kiki," Evelyn interrupted, claiming her attention. "How do you like your new apartment at The North Pole Lodge?"
"Love it," Kiki replied as she spooned some potato salad onto her plate. "I've never lived in a castle before."
Abby's eyes widened. "You live in a castle now?"
Kiki's eyebrows raised and her eyes widened. "Yes, I do! Your father will have to bring you over some time."
"Daddy, please?" Abby begged, revealing the child that she was. Sometimes she said such profound things that she appeared to be older. But at other times, she was the wide-eyed child, filled with wonder. He wanted to hold onto those moments and to provide more for her when he could.
Taren chuckled. "Yes, of course. If it's okay with Miss Kiki."
"Just Kiki is fine," she interjected. "And you're welcome to come over any time." Kiki looked over at Evelyn. "All of you are welcome."
Evelyn's lips curled into a smile. "Well, we'll wait until you're settled first before we bombard you." Evelyn passed her the rolls. "But let us know when and we'll be there."
Kiki laughed. "You wouldn't be bombarding me at all." She turned to Abby with wide eyes. "I have a fireplace, too! We can drink hot cocoa and roast marshmallows."
"Yeah!" Abby clapped her hands in delight. "We have a fireplace, too! Maybe we can do that after dinner tonight!"
"We'll see." Evelyn gave her granddaughter a wink. "We have a lot planned tonight."
"But we're going to open presents first," Taren interjected, taking a bite of ham, and the savory flavor filled his mouth.
Abby tilted her head to the side as a crease formed between her eyes. "Daddy, why are we celebrating Christmas again? We already had one."
Taren leaned in for effect. "And we're going to have another one."
"Yeah!" Abby clapped her hands in delight. "Really?"
"Yes, really!" Taren nodded, enjoying his daughter's excitement. "And don't forget that Santa's coming again tonight, too."
Abby's eyes were as wide as saucers. "Really? Is he coming for dinner, too?"
Kiki smiled as Taren shook his head. "No, he's not coming until you're asleep. He wants you to be surprised."
"Which means," Evelyn interjected, "that you'll have to get to bed on time tonight so Santa can come."
But Abby's eyes scrunched together, her smile disappearing, obviously trying to figure everything out. "So, we're having two Christmases?"
Taren smiled. "Yes, I think we are." Then he leaned in conspiratorially. "But this one'll be a mini Christmas and just this once. Not every year. Okay?"
Abby's smile returned as she nodded her head vigorously. "Okay!"
"Now," Evelyn instructed, "let's eat before everything gets cold. Then we can open presents."
"Yeah!" Abby exclaimed and went back to eating.
The conversation was light as they laughed and enjoyed eating dinner together. Watching Kiki with his daughter and mother, he found himself wishing it would never end.