For the Love of Ivy - Cindy Kirk Page 0,17
turned downward and her voice was heavy with disappointment.
“Did something happen?” Lauren couldn’t imagine what it could be, but it had to be bad for Anna to forfeit Christmas with her niece.
“They’re stuck,” Ivy volunteered. “Uncle Mitch is stuck in the snow.”
“Is that true?” Lauren turned to Seth.
“There’s a good amount of snow out there.” Seth’s brows drew together. “From the sound of it, the foothills got even more than we did. Mitch was blading his lane and got stuck.”
“Daddy told Uncle Mitch he needed to put chains on the tires.” Ivy seemed eager to share every detail of the conversation.
“It’s easy to forget how hard this snow can be to plow.”
“They’re not coming at all?” Lauren couldn’t keep the disappointment from her voice. She’d been looking forward to sharing Christmas with her best friend.
“Doesn’t sound like it,” Seth said and continued quickly, “Now, I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for some breakfast.”
Ivy tugged at her father’s sweater. “Then can we open presents?”
“Yes, princess.” Seth smiled. “Then we’ll open presents.”
The sun hung low in the sky and the interior of the older home had taken on a slight chill. Lauren twisted her new sterling silver bracelet back and forth around her wrist and waited for Seth to fetch her and Ivy for their next adventure. He’d told them he had a surprise but refused to tell them the plans. Though his daughter had tried to wheedle it out of him, Lauren hadn’t bothered. Whatever it was, she was confident she was going to like it. After all, the whole day had been one wonderful adventure after another.
The breakfast Seth had fixed had been magnificent. Lauren couldn’t remember the last time she’d tasted orange juice from the carton so sweet or eaten bacon so perfectly crisp.
Opening presents had been hilarious—with Ivy declaring each gift to be her favorite—as well as touching because of the child’s delight and appreciation for everything she received. She’d loved the pink heart necklace Lauren had given her and insisted on putting it on the moment it was out of the gift sack.
After all Ivy’s gifts were open, Lauren expected Seth to take center stage. He told her it was tradition that gifts were opened by age—from youngest to oldest—and since she was younger than him, she would go next. Lauren had been struck dumb. Didn’t he realize there were no gifts for her to open?
Before she could figure out how to gracefully remind him of that fact, Ivy had reached under the tree and pulled out two packages. The first present had been a Christmas mug filled with Hershey’s Kisses. Lauren had immediately popped a couple in her mouth and then raved about the cup and the chocolates. Ivy had beamed. The second gift had been a silver bracelet from Seth.
Lauren swallowed hard against the lump in her throat When she’d opened the box and saw the bracelet nestled inside, she hadn’t known what to say. The bracelet was perfect—delicate, classy, just the type she’d have chosen for herself.
The rest of the day had flown by. Between baking Kringles for the neighbors—another tradition—and Seth teaching her how to roast chestnuts in the fireplace, Lauren had been so busy she’d barely thought about her family. Only after both Stacie and Anna had called to wish them a Merry Christmas did it hit Lauren that she hadn’t heard from her parents.
She shoved aside the hurt and told herself it didn’t matter. She was going on another adventure. And, after a brief afternoon nap, she felt up to whatever Seth had planned. As he’d instructed, she and Ivy were dressed in their warmest clothes.
“Daddy says this is a special surprise.” Ivy piped up from her spot in the living room. Her voice quivered with excitement as her uninjured leg swung back and forth. “Can you see him? What’s he doing?”
Lauren moved to the window and pushed back the draperies. She pressed close to the glass but the windows were so frosty, it was impossible to see out. “I can’t see much except snow.”
After dumping a foot of the white stuff last night, the storm had moved out of the area, leaving behind a winter wonderland. The snow in the yard surrounding the ranch house glistened like a thousand diamonds.
The front door was flung open with a clatter. “Are you ready?”
“We’re ready.” Lauren stepped away from the window. Since he’d told them to dress warm, Lauren had put Ivy in her new snowsuit. Thankfully Grandma Anderssen had bought