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Sto away, I turned at the door and shouted with a voice that sounded likein the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good-humour

--A Christmas Carol

Chapter 3

Jenny

A mother was only as happy as her most unhappy child

I watched ing his backpack over his shoulder His every er and disappoint Miller was a bright boy, and he knew that his quoting Scrooge, after my definition of the phrase, would deliver all theemotions Those were not sentiht ht A mother was the foundation of her family, I believed It was up to me to create a home rich with traditions, values, and morals that would instill confidence in my children At no time was this more true than at Christether? A happy tiifts, and love? And this holiday was extra special because Taylor was co home from war We had so much to be thankful for, so htened my shoulders This wasn’t the tih tis that could be purchased--they came from the heart It was up to me as the mother to make this holiday the happiest Christmas ever I pulled the stray strands of hair frohtened the elastic, wiped my hands on my apron, then deter on the table My fingers began to hten the seal As I worked, I saw again Miller’s face when his father had shouted no Pinch The cru with tears Pinch His head buried in his arer and his rejection of Christmas

My hands stilled, ht ofdisappointment in my heart I wanted to make his dream come true with the puppy But I didn’t have the money, and more, I wouldn’t cross my husband on this What could I do to uish ca would He’d seemore than this turkey potpie, a desperate attempt to recycle tidbits froiving us the cold shoulder When I called out, "Good nored me and sat sullenly at the kitchen table and shoved cereal in his mouth in silent protest It washe needed tiet over his disappoint this way, I decided enough was enough

A December cold front had settled in the lowcountry When I awoke, I peered out the bedroo on the tips of the grass A knowing srandather fros Old wives’ tale, perhaps, but it signaled it was tih it was Saturday, Alistair had risen and left before dawn to spend the day out on a shrimp boat The season would soon end, and I worried he’d take a job on a boat in Florida That would mean months away from home I’d heard the tales of women whose husbands followed the shri around the bars the way laughing gulls did docks, and the drinks that led to bad choices Many es ended after a few of the rowdier trips, and I didn’t want to be another statistic But he was hell-bent on earningthe Captain when his mind was made up I had seen the sha He’d always been a proudhis boat was co a thin line between support and frustration

I dressed quickly in jeans and a thick sweater As I walked down the hall toward the stairs, I paused at Taylor’s roo open the door, I couldn’t help but peer inside The scent of pine soap permeated the room, fresh and clean I’d spentit up for his arrival The small navy-and-white room was just as he’d left it four years earlier when he’d entered the Marines The Corps insignia hung on the wall beside that of the Citadel I leaned against the doorfra back in my memories to when Taylor was a small boy How many times had I tucked him into bed in this room? Taylor had been our only child forin my eyes and he rarely disappointed me His father doted on him, too--despite their rows The probleood qualities--he was fair-, a natural leader, and deeply kind They were both big men, broad shouldered and square jawed Taylor also shared soood traits They could be stubborn and opinionated Also like Alistair, Taylor was a ht out and people listened

I let lide over the bedpost and the navy coverlet, and s Taylor would soolden s readily, yet somehow the darkness allowed him to open up He’d lie on his back, hands under his head, and tellon about this or that I’d listen, capturing each word It wasmy hand topersonal withtime I hadn’t even seen him in over a year I felt his absence deeply It was almost five months since he’d arrived back in the States I’d wanted to fly to Andrews Air Force Base to greet hiot off the plane But he’d been firreed, but it still niggled at ht that my son had arrived back on American soil injured and alone still hurt But I was careful never to complain Every day I thanked God that my baby had come home alive

And he’d be ho off froiving him the welcome home he deserved Oh, what a party I’d planned! Wouldn’t he be surprised? I s