Page 39 of Loving Words
He sat next to me. “Good, now I think it’s your turn to open presents.”
My hand shook as I picked up the first one. Nerves and excitement at his news rolled within me. This one was from Jack. I opened it and smiled. An Amazon gift card. The next was from Harrison, and I burst out laughing when I revealed a pristine copy of Perfection, a game that frustrated me to hell growing up.
“It seemed fitting to grab a favorite game from when we were little.” He laughed and held up his game. “Seems you had the same idea.”
“Yeah, but you never got so mad at your game that you threw it at a wall and destroyed it. Then hid all the pieces in a shoebox so our parents wouldn’t find it,” I huffed.
The last present was from Gran, a small box that I gently unwrapped and opened. “Oh, Gran.” I stared at one of her favorite antique cocktail rings. Grandad had given it to her on their third anniversary. I remembered the story well. I couldn’t stop my tears as I glanced up and leaned into her arms.
“Grandad wanted you to have it, and I want you to have it now. Enjoy it while I’m still alive.” She squeezed me. “Now you’ll have a piece of both of us with you at all times.”
I put it on my right middle finger and admired the sparkle of the tiny diamonds and sapphires in its Art Deco design.
“Your turn.” I nudged Jack in the ribs.
“Why do I have four?” he asked.
“I don’t know, just open them,” I replied.
The first he opened was from Harrison, a bottle of hard-to-find whiskey. He raised it in cheers toward Happy. The next was from me. He laughed as he opened it. A pocketknife from the lodge with his name on it.
He leaned over and kissed my cheek. “I love it, and it’s very practical.” He tucked it into the pocket of his lounge pants.
The next one he opened was from Gran: a journal, along with a gorgeous fountain pen.
“So you have a fresh start to write all the notes for all the books. Your love for words is rival to Kennedy’s and mine.” She grinned. “Now one more.” She motioned toward the last small box.
He unwrapped it and opened the top, pulling out Christmas mug, matching our set, with his name on it.
I laughed. “Looks like I wasn’t the only one doing some shopping at the Lodge.”
“I didn’t wait till Christmas Eve to do my shopping.” She winked at me and turned her attention to Jack.
“You are family now, Jack, and are always welcome for Christmas in the mountains with us,” Gran said.
?Epilogue
