Chapter 89

After dinner was over and the dishes put away, they headed into the living room where the Christmas tree took center stage. During the course of the meal, Taren had excused himself and had placed presents under the tree. And from the look of it, Kiki had, too.
"Wow! Presents!" Abby clapped her hands excitedly.
"Kiki, would you like some hot cocoa before we get started?" Evelyn asked, smiling.
Kiki chuckled. "I couldn't eat another bite if I tried. But thank you." She placed a hand on her stomach and sat down on the end of the couch, slipped off her high heels, and curled her feet under her. Prissy quickly made her way to her and curled up on her lap. Kiki started petting her, both appearing content.
The room was aglow, bathed in candlelight and the colorful lights from the tree. Taren slid a wooden chair over beside the tree and Abby sat down on her legs in front of the tree, bouncing on her knees, and Evelyn perched on the loveseat, smiling.
"Look! Presents!" Abby clapped her hands in delight.
Looking down at his daughter, he asked, "Want to help me pass them out?" Abby nodded vigorously. "Okay, then. Let's get started." He reached for a present and looked at the label. "To Abby, Love Dad."
"Yeah!" Abby clapped her hands in delight as she took the present, but set it aside.
A crease formed between his eyes. "Abby, don't you want to open it?"
She nodded. "Yes, but I want to help you pass out the presents, too."
"I'll tell you what," Taren stage whispered. "You can help, but I'll take over when you get tired."
Abby nodded vigorously. "Okay, but I won't get tired."
Taren smiled. "Honey, you open your presents when you're ready."
"Okay." Abby sat on her legs, waiting eagerly, her eyes wide. There was no sign of her getting tired any time soon. "Who's next?"
Taren reached for another present. "This one says: 'To Kiki, From Evelyn.'"
Abby took the present and handed it to Kiki. "Here you go!" Then she hurried over and plopped down before the tree again, waiting for the next present.
"Evelyn, you didn't have to do that." Kiki's voice was filled with wonder, clearly touched. Prissy moved off her lap and onto the couch, obviously having been disturbed.
"Oh, posh!" Evelyn waved her hand dismissively. "It's Christmas, isn't it?"
Kiki laughed. "Yes, it most certainly is."
Abby continued helping her father pass out the presents until there were no more presents left under the tree. Oddly, no one opened a present until they were all passed out, waiting for Abby. When Abby sat down with hers, Taren waited, enjoying watching Kiki and his mother open their presents first.
"Oh, Evelyn!" Kiki held up some Christmas pot holders, dish towels, an apron, and other things for the kitchen. "You shouldn't have!" She stood up and tried the apron on over her dress. It said "Kiss the Cook" across the front with a picture of Santa kissing Mrs. Claus on the cheek. Taren shook his head, smiling, knowing it was his mother's not-so-subtle way of hinting.
"Yes, I should," Evelyn replied. "I saw these and thought of you. I thought you could put them to good use." Thankfully, no one mentioned the fire or that she had lost everything in it. But most of the other gifts that Evelyn had bought Kiki were practical, probably in an effort to help replace what she had lost.
"Oh, Taren! This is beautiful!" Evelyn held up the silver locket. "Where did you ever find it?"
"At the jewelry store where Kiki works," Taren replied, enjoying his mother's reaction. "You've done so much for Abby and me, and I wanted to show you how much I appreciate it."
"Well, it's my pleasure, son." She looked over at Abby and smiled. "I'd do anything for you and Abby, you know that."
"Still, I really appreciate everything you've done for us." Then Taren realized that she hadn't opened it yet. "It's a locket. Open it up." She fumbled with it, but was having a hard time, so Taren crossed the room. "Here. Let me help." He reached for the locket and showed her how to open it, then handed it back, revealing miniature pictures of Abby on the right side and him on the left.
"Oh, it's beautiful!" Tears filled his mother's eyes as she cradled it, looking at the pictures. When she closed it, he fastened it around her neck. "I'll never take it off."
Taren raised an eyebrow. "Never?"
Evelyn shrugged. "Well, only when I have to."
Everyone laughed.
"Taren, why don't you open your gift from me," Kiki suggested as Prissy purred in agreement.
"Not before you open yours," he replied. "Go ahead. I want to watch you open it."
She started peeling the tape away from the end.
"No! Just rip it open!" Abby yelled, making a ripping motion with her hands.
"This is how I like to open presents," Kiki replied, slowly opening her gift. Her lips parted slightly and her face softened as she opened the long, slender box. She held up a diamond teardrop necklace with matching earrings. "Oh, Taren! This is too much!"
"No it's not," he replied, enjoying her reaction. "There's more. Look under the cardboard."
Kiki pulled out the form inside the box and held up two tickets. "The Christmas Cove Fireman's Ball?"
Taren nodded. "Kiki, would you like to go with me to the Firemen's Ball on New Year's Eve?"
Tears filled her eyes, threatening to spill over. "I'd love to."
He crossed the room and kissed her chastely on the lips. "I thought you could wear these. I saw them and thought of you."
"Thank you," Kiki said, dabbing at the corner of her eyes. "It's too much, but thank you."
"No, it's not." Taren smiled as he looked into her eyes. Everyone else in the room momentarily disappeared.
"Okay." Kiki stepped back. "Now, you open your gift from me."
Taren immediately felt her absence when he released her.