When the Wind Chimes - Mary Ting Page 0,81

when they were smiling and looking at each other. But I hadn’t let him know yet. It was still hidden in his painting room.

“Right, Kate?”

“Sure, Dad.”

I hadn’t been paying attention to their conversation. I had no idea what they were talking about. I must have given him the right answer to earn a pat on my back.

Abby gave me a sad face from across the table. She wasn’t mocking me—she felt sorry for me. It was nobody’s fault but mine. I got attached to a man who had no reason to love me, and a girl that wasn’t mine. It was best Bridget and I didn’t talk. Just the sound of her voice might crack my broken heart even more.

After breakfast, we sat around the Christmas tree. Tyler and I sat on the hardwood floor while my parents opted for the sofa.

“This is for you, Tyler. It’s from your Grandma and Grandpa Summers.” Abby handed Tyler a box with reindeer wrapping paper and a big red bow.

“What is it?” Tyler shook the box.

Father waved his hand, chuckling. “Don’t shake it, Ty. Open it.”

Tyler tore the wrapper and his jaw dropped. “It’s my own tablet. Thank you.” He jumped up and down and hugged his grandparents.

“You shouldn’t have.” Abby scowled. “You’ll spoil him.”

Mother clucked her tongue. “Like he isn’t already. That’s what grandparents are for.”

“Let’s open these next. They’re from Auntie Kate.” Abby smirked at me. She handed one to my parents, Tyler, and then picked up hers. She sat next to me on the floor while she opened it.

The sound of crisp paper ripping filled my ears.

“Oh, Kate, this is beautiful.” Mother held up a sixteen by twenty-four photo I’d had framed. “When did you take this?”

“I had an opportunity to take a tour around the island in the helicopter.” I left out who I had gone with. They didn’t need to know. More questions would be asked.

“I see the camera we bought you last year was put to good use,” Father said.

“I love mine, Kate,” Abby said. “Thank you. I’m going to hang it on that empty wall.” Abby pointed near the television.

I had blown up a picture of Abby and Tyler at the Poipu Shopping Plaza, taken the day we’d eaten shaved snow. The sunlight had hit them perfectly from behind. The clouds white and fluffy, the sky blue—it looked like someone had painted it.

“I also stuck a gift card behind the frame. I didn’t have time to shop.” I leaned into Abby and said quickly, “Can you please take some photos to Lee’s house later today or tomorrow?”

I wanted to include the photos I had taken randomly of Lee and Bridget as part of his Christmas present, but I hadn’t had time. And I didn’t plan on seeing him. Bumping into him at the restaurant last night had confirmed it was best I stay away.

Time would mend my broken heart—even if I had to remind myself.

“Look what I got,” Tyler exclaimed. “It’s a Unicorns versus Skeletons coloring book, lunch box, and a T-shirt. Thank you, Auntie Kate.” Tyler tugged off his shirt and replaced it with the new one.

“Open this one next, Ty. It’s from ...” Abby read the tag and swallowed. “From Grandma Fuller. When did we get this one?” She looked at me and then to my parents.

Mother glanced at her slippers, then cleared her throat when she met Abby’s gaze. “I didn’t want to tell you over the phone, but your father and I swung by to see Peggy in Miami before we went on the cruise. She was going to mail the presents, but we offered to take them for her. You should call her.”

Steve’s father had passed away from a heart attack shortly after Steve had. Abby’s mother-in-law, Peggy, had moved from New York to Florida to be closer to her daughter, Michelle.

Abby nodded, her eyes pooled with tears. “I was going to after we opened presents. I sent Peggy and Michelle gifts as well.” Abby cleared her throat as if she was trying to hold back a sob and added, “I asked them if they wanted to visit, but they said hopefully next year. Peggy has arthritis and tires easily. I’m thinking of taking a vacation soon and taking Tyler to see her.”

“That’ll be nice.” Mother smiled. “She’ll love that.”

Talking about Steve and his family made me think about how fleeting life was again. I debated messaging Lee to wish him Merry Christmas, but he would receive his gift soon and