Page 83 of Web of Dreams (Casteel 5)

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"Why don't you open it?" Troy's eyes swung

from the small box to me and back to the box. "I will." Gingerly, taking great care not to tear

the paper, I unwrapped the present to find a small,

dark blue velvet box. I opened it and took out a heavy,

gold locket in the shape of a heart with a sparkling

gold chain. I pressed the release button and the locket

opened to a tiny picture of Daddy and me standing on

The Jillian. We both looked tanned and happy. I

remembered why I looked so happy. We were on the

way home and I thought I would find Momma waiting

for me at the dock.

"Can I see?" Troy asked. I held the locket out

and he plucked it carefully from my palm to gaze at

the picture. I saw his eyes widen and then grow small.

"I have a big picture of my daddy," he said. "But he's

not smiling. I told Tony and he said Daddy's smiling

in Heaven and he will always smile as long as I am

good."

"Then I'm sure he will always smile," I told him. I had him help me put on the locket and then we

returned to opening our gifts.

I spent Christmas Day helping Troy set up his

toys and put away his gifts of clothing. Late in the

afternoon, we watched some shows on his new

television set. We had a delicious turkey for

Christmas Day dinner, and Rye Whiskey prepared

vegetables with sauces I had never before tasted. Troy kept me so busy that I was grateful for the

reprieve when it came time for him to go to sleep. I

went to sleep early myself that night. I had promised

him that we would ride his pony in the morning,

which we did. In fact, there was so much to do at

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