aren’t all bad,” Kurt said, thinking of Landon. How was he going to explain that “Uncle Landon” was a big, bad, hairy creature with larger than normal incisors?
Landon, who always seemed to have perfect timing, chose that moment to walk in through the back door.
Kurt felt Clarissa stiffen in his arms. She had figured it out on her own.
Landon smelled Clarissa’s fear increase drastically as he entered the house. He looked at Kurt questioningly. Kurt nodded once.
Landon closed his eyes as pain tore through him. Clarissa was afraid of him. He understood her fear, but it was debilitating to know that she would never love him the same way again. Feeling more tired and defeated than he could ever remember, he opened the door and slipped out.
“He’s still the same man, babe. He still loves you with all his heart,” Kurt explained. He loosened his hold so he could look into Clarissa’s eyes. “I can’t imagine how confused and frightened you are, but you can count on this. That man would give his life for yours just like always.”
Clarissa smiled a watery smile. Kurt’s heart lightened tremendously as she said, “I know, Daddy.” She stepped out of his arms as she wiped her eyes. “I’ll be right back,” she announced.
With that being said, she ran to the back door and threw it open wide. Of course she let it slam shut behind her…as usual. Kurt laughed and shook his head. Some things never change.
Clarissa ran toward Landon, who was already standing just inside his house.
“Uncle Landon,” Clarissa shouted as she ran.
Landon heard his name and looked up to see Clarissa sprinting across the yard. He was reminded of the countless times he had watched the girls run to the swing hanging from the oak tree in front of his house. He smiled as he remembered putting up a toddler swing in that very tree. He had replaced it, all too soon, for the girls when they had out grown it. His mind flashed forward to Clarissa’s first day of school and then to her first pair of “grown-up” shoes. He and Kurt had made a disaster of her first date, but he had hoped she would eventually forgive him. Now, he was afraid to assume anything.
“Uncle Landon,” Clarissa cried as she launched herself into his arms. “I love you,” she said, burying her face in his neck and hanging onto him tightly.
Landon felt the weight of the world slide off his shoulders as tears fell down his face. He wrapped his arms around her.
“I love you too, baby,” he croaked. “You weren’t supposed to find out, at least not like that. You shouldn’t have to deal with this shit. I’m sorry,” he apologized as he hugged her tightly.
“It’s ok,” Clarissa said as he set her gently back on the ground. Then with an impish smile, she teased, “I guess this explains your moodiness before the full moon.”
Landon growled playfully, “I’ve never been moody a day in my life.”
“Whatever! Maybe you’re just delusional,” she argued tugging him out the door. “Come on let’s go back to my house.”
As they crossed the yard once more, all was right with his world. Well, almost; he still had Joanna to think about.
“Uncle Landon,” Clarissa’s voice pulled him from his musings.
“Yes?”
Grinning from ear to ear, she continued, “Does this mean there really is a Santa Clause?”
Landon chuckled. “As far as you’re concerned brat, yes there is.”
#
“We need to get some DVD’s for that TV in the panic room,” Mandy decreed, as everyone sat down to eat dinner. “Clarissa couldn’t get it to work right. Dad, you need to take a look at it.”
All of the adults at the table stopped eating, and looked toward Kurt. “Yep,” he responded as he continued to cut the chicken on his plate. He didn’t make eye contact with anyone. “I’ll just get an all-in-one unit to stick in there. Do you need anything else while I’m at it? Refrigerator, microwave…waterbed?”
Everyone laughed as Mandy looked at her father with a horrified expression “Dad, we would never have to stay in there that long, would we? It’s not even got a bathroom! That was almost a big problem! Leann had just eaten a bowl of pears right before Becki made us go in there. You know what they do to her!” she complained, pinching her nose closed and laughing at the same time.
“Mandy,” Leann said, “why don’t you just be quiet and eat your mashed potatoes before I eat them. By