The Christmas Portrait (17 page)

Daddy shook his head. “We just met her. Maybe another time.”

“But there might not be another time.”

“You can see her when we all come back to the church after the caroling.”

“Okay. But Daddy, she knows all about cameras.”

“And she'll still know all about them when we see her again.”

We all loaded up in our car and left for the care home. Chesler appointed himself our song leader, and he sang louder than everybody as we walked up and down the halls. Lots of old people came to the doors dressed in their pajamas. I was glad Chesler was singing because he would have said something embarrassing otherwise. Laramie and I just looked at each other and smiled.

When we had sung all the Christmas carols we knew, we loaded up and headed out again. Our next stop was Mr. Pruitt's house. He was real old, older than Granny, and he lived alone. His lights were on, but he didn't have decorations for Christmas. We huddled together on his sidewalk and sang “Silent Night.”

We were singing “The First Noel” when Mr. Pruitt came to the door, tall and so skinny he had to wear suspenders to keep his pants up. He invited us all in and offered to make coffee, but Daddy told him we had another place to stop. I didn't think fourteen people would have fit in his house anyway.

Before we left, Granny handed Mr. Pruitt a box of her famous Japanese fruitcake. When he opened the lid, I thought his broomstick legs were gonna give out. Mr. Pruitt was so glad about our singing and about that cake that tears leaked from his eyes.

The next stop was Mrs. Funderburke's. She lived down the street from Laramie's house. Laramie's eyes were glued to the car window when we rode down Potters Way. No lights on, not even Christmas lights at her house. I didn't know what she was thinking, but I was sad for her. Maybe I could get her to think about something else like Granny tried to do with me when she thought I was sad. So I tapped her arm and whispered, “Did you see that old trunk on Mr. Pruitt's porch?”

She still looked out the window. “Yeah.”

“I wonder what was in it. I'll bet it's old and important and maybe has something valuable in it, like a treasure or some old letters or antique jewelry.”

“Yeah.”

“Maybe we could take him some cookies one day and ask him.”

She shrugged. My plan didn't work, and I was glad to get to Mrs. Funderburke's and start our let's-make-somebody-happy Christmas caroling again. Maybe Laramie would forget about her lonely house.

Mrs. Funderburke came to the door when we first started singing. She had on a bright red housecoat and her hair was in curlers. Mama would have said Mrs. Funderburke was just fluffy. For sure, she didn't need suspenders like Mr. Pruitt.

We finished singing, and she thanked us for coming. Then Chesler said out loud, loud enough the firemen could have heard him down at the fire station, “Aren't you going to give a fruitcake to Mrs. Funderburke?”

I was standing next to him and reached around and covered his mouth with my hand. He yelped because I touched the injury on his chin. After Chesler got quiet, everybody turned and looked at Granny Grace. She looked like she coulda pulled Chesler's tongue out and used it to sharpen Grandpa's old straight-edge razor. “Well, I seem to be all out of cakes tonight, Mrs. Funderburke, but I'll make a fresh one just for you and bring it by tomorrow.”

Granny had enough bricks for her heavenly mansion, and for sure, Mrs. Funderburke hadn't missed eating too many slices of cake. But if I knew Granny, Mrs. Funderburke would have a slice of Cedar Falls's finest Japanese fruitcake for her dessert tomorrow at lunch.

After we left Mrs. Funderburke's, we went back to the church for hot chocolate and donuts. I told Laramie to save us a seat on the piano bench and I'd bring her some hot chocolate.

Just when I sat down, Pastor Simmons came over with his son, whose hair stood up in wild cowlicks from wearing a stocking cap. “Harry, tell Kate what we read last night.”

Harry hung onto his daddy's leg and wiggled around it like Chesler used to do. “Daddy was readin' to me about Charlotte the spider and Wilbur the pig.”

“He did? That's one of my favorites. How do you like it?”

“We like it.”

“Good, if you like that one, then maybe your daddy will read you the one about the cricket in Times Square next.” I just had to touch that hair, so I patted him on the head.

Harry looked up at his daddy. “We can read that one, Daddy?”

“Yes, Harry, we can read it next. And we have Kate to thank for reminding me of these good books.” Mrs. White called the pastor over, and he took Harry's hand to walk off. Then Pastor Simmons turned around. “Kate, sorry I didn't have an answer for you last week. I hope you're okay about all that.” He looked at me over his little round glasses and stretched his eyes like he was protecting our secret.

“Yes, sir, you helped me. It's okay now.” I wasn't about to tell him I had figured it out.

After he left, Laramie slid closer to me on the piano bench. “Does he know your secret?”

“No. I went to his office to ask him, but he didn't know. So we just talked about stories and books.”

“But you figured it out, so aren't you going to tell him?”

“Not on your life. If he knew what I'm planning, he'd just tell Daddy. And there goes my plan. I gotta see if it works first, then I'll tell him.”

I saw Daddy and Miss Evie over in the corner talking. Daddy was smiling a little. I hoped they could be friends. Then I'd know two artists, Miss Lisa and Miss Evie, and maybe I'd get to see all her cameras and her photographs.

When we got home, Daddy said it was Laramie's night to take the peppermint candy off the Advent calendar. Then he had to explain about the Advent calendar and how Mama made it when I was little because I nearly made her crazy asking how many days 'til Christmas. “Okay, just a few more peppermints left! When you wake up Sunday morning, it'll be Christmas Day.”

“My new skates'll be under the tree when I wake up Sunday,” Chesler announced. “Uncle Luke, then we can go skating again and my feet won't hurt and make me fall.”

If Chesler didn't get those skates, I didn't want to be here for that scene.

“You got it, red top. Lisa and I are going skating tomorrow night if she thinks she can keep up with me.” Uncle Luke brushed Miss Lisa's nose with his finger.

“Okay, everyone under the age of twenty-one, it's bedtime.” Daddy smiled at Uncle Luke. “Chesler, brush your teeth. Brush them twice. The first time because you ate a donut and the second time for opening your mouth, and now Granny's got to bake another cake tomorrow.”

“Yes, sir.”

Uncle Luke put his arm around Miss Lisa. “I think this pretty lady and I'll take a walk down the street to see the Christmas lights. Good night, Laramie, and you bunch of Hardings.”

We gave good-night hugs and took off up the stairs. I heard Daddy say, “Enjoy your walk. I'll have a fire for you when you get back.”

Chesler kept the water running for a long time. That didn't mean he brushed his teeth. But he turned off the water and came flying outta there when I told him it was Laramie's turn in the bathroom.

A few minutes later Laramie and I crawled into bed and pulled up the covers. I liked having someone to talk to when we turned the lights out. It didn't seem as lonesome. “People in love do crazy things, don't you think?” I asked.

“You mean like your uncle Luke and Miss Applegate?”

“Yeah, why else would they walk in the snow when it's twelve degrees to see Christmas lights we just drove by?” I paused. “Can you keep another secret?”

“Yeah, nobody can squeeze secrets outta me.”

“Good. I think Uncle Luke's going to ask Miss Lisa to marry him.”

“He is? When?”

“I hope it's while he's home for Christmas.”

“Did he say it?”

“Not exactly. I heard him and my daddy talking, and Daddy thought he should ask her. But I'm not supposed to know any of this. It was grown-up talk, and they didn't know I was listening.”

“Yeah, what is it with adults? Do they think we don't have ears until we get old? I heard a police officer talking to the doctor the other day about my dad being in jail.”

“Is he going to be in jail long?”

Laramie jerked the covers. “I don't really know for sure. My dad didn't explain it to me when he visited me at the hospital.”

I heard her sniffle and wondered if I should get her a tissue. “Are you okay, Laramie?”

But she wasn't, because just then Laramie started sobbing. I mean shoulder-shaking sobbing out loud.

I was scared and didn't know what to do, so I went out in the hall and called Daddy. He came right up those stairs just like he used to when Mama called him.

“What's wrong, Laramie?” Daddy sat down on the bed next to Laramie. I stood right behind him.

She was crying like she hadn't ever cried before, like all the hurt she stored up had come tumbling out. “It's all my fault my dad's in jail,” she sobbed.

“Laramie, whoa, now wait a minute. It's not your fault your dad's in jail, and I don't think he'll be there long. He just made some bad choices, and now he's dealing with the consequences.”

“But if I hadn't run away, then nobody would know, and Dad would still be at home.”

Daddy smoothed Laramie's hair out of her face and handed her another tissue. “It's okay to cry, Laramie. Just cry it all out. But when that's done, let me tell you what's going to happen to you. You're going to stay right here with us until you can go home.”

Laramie just kept crying. “But I really want to see my mom and my dad.”

“I know you do, Laramie.” Then Daddy put his arm around me. “Kate and I know you want to see them. We know about wanting to see somebody real bad. But I tell you what, I promise I'll make some calls in the morning. And we'll see what we can find out about when you'll see your parents. How's that?”

She finally stopped crying. “Thank you, Mr. Harding. Thank you so much.”

“You're welcome, Laramie. Now you two can just lie here and talk for a little while, and then you need to get some sleep. Okay?”

Daddy hugged me, and I crawled into bed next to Laramie. He turned out the lights and closed the door. Now I knew how Daddy felt when me or Chesler started crying about missing Mama. I didn't like it when Laramie cried and I couldn't do a thing to make her quit. I just stayed quiet, and she sniffled like Chesler did when he tried to stop crying.

My room was so bright it looked like a light was on. It had to be the full moon shining on the snow. I knew there'd be about a gazillion stars in the sky. I whispered, “Laramie, you asleep?” I got out of bed and went to the window.

“No,” she whispered back.

“Get up. Come over here.”

Laramie got up and stood beside me.

“Look at all the stars out tonight! Let's make a wish before we go to sleep.”

“Okay.” She was still sniffling a little bit.

“I know what I'm wishing for, but if I tell, it won't come true.” I wished my plan was going to work and I wouldn't get in trouble. And I wished Laramie would have a smile on her face tomorrow and Uncle Luke would ask Miss Lisa to marry him.

“I know what I'm wishing for too.”

“Okay. Hold my hand and find one star, then close your eyes and start wishing on it.” When I got through wishing and opened my eyes and looked out, Uncle Luke and Miss Applegate were standing on the sidewalk, kissing just like it wasn't cold, and they didn't care who saw them. It was like the whole big moon was just shining on them.

Laramie and I looked at each other, then she said, “I hope Miss Applegate's wishing on a star.”

After wishing, we climbed back in bed. My pillow might as well have been a cloud because my head was still in the stars. Laramie was quiet, and I didn't even remember going to sleep.

C
HAPTER
S
IXTEEN

F
RIDAY MORNING
D
ADDY
went to work and Granny stayed at the farm to make Mrs. Funderburke's cake. Uncle Luke was keeping us all day.

We had a snowball fight out back by the creek. He said it wasn't safe for Laramie to do that with her stitches and all, so he gave her a pad and pencil and told her to keep score. I think she missed some points because she kept looking at the redbird in the cedar tree.

When Uncle Luke got cold and tired, we went in and warmed by the fire. He said we could make snow cream because the snow was fresh. He made it with lots of sugar and vanilla, and it tasted so good.

Any other time, Uncle Luke woulda played games with us all day, but he was acting fidgety. He'd start a game, and then he'd say, “I need to do something. Go ahead and finish without me. I was going to win anyway.” Then he'd disappear upstairs for a while before coming back down to check on us.

As soon as Daddy got home at the end of the day, Uncle Luke went upstairs and stayed. We were still at the table finishing supper when he came into the kitchen. He had on his best sweater, and his hair was combed real good, and he smelled like Daddy did for church. He said, “I'm leaving,” and went to the closet, grabbed his coat and skates, and slammed out the door.

We just sat there all surprised like because it happened so fast. Before we said a word, he stuck his head back in the door and said, “Wish me luck. And Chesler, plug in the tree lights. Don't you know it's Christmas?” He slammed the door again.

Daddy said, “Chesler, do what your uncle said. Then go get your bath and put on your pj's. When that's all done, come back downstairs. We're playing Skip-Bo tonight. You and me against the girls, what do you say to that?”

“We're gonna wi-in. We're gonna wi-in,” Chesler sang as he left the kitchen.