Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX

ROSE

A fter we loaded the Christmas tree into the truck bed, Joe turned on Christmas songs and started singing, much to Hope’s delight. She couldn’t see him in her rear-facing car seat, but she knew his voice and cooed along with him. When he realized she loved Jingle Bells , he put the song on repeat.

“Again?” I asked sarcastically.

He shot me a grin. “Our daughter loves it. How can I deny her?”

“You know that song’s gonna be stuck in my head now.”

His eyes lit up with mischief. “Good thing you love me.”

“Guilty as charged.”

We drove through a light drizzle all the way home, so when Joe pulled up in front of our house, he told me to take Hope inside and he’d bring in the tree.

After I unlocked the door, I let Muffy out to potty and greet Joe, then headed to the kitchen to make some hot chocolate. I knew Hope would want to nurse soon, so I set her in the highchair and gave her a handful of Cheerios to keep her occupied as I started putting the ingredients for the hot chocolate in a pan.

A few minutes later, the front door opened and Joe called out, “Where’s the Christmas tree stand?”

“In the corner in front of the window,” I hollered back. I glanced over at Hope who was in deep concentration, trying to grab cereal pieces with her chubby fist, so I grabbed a plastic pitcher and filled it with water so it would be ready once Joe had the tree in the stand.

I moved to the doorway to the living room. The tree was still bound and lying on its side in the middle of the floor. Joe was kneeling next to the trunk, screwing the tree stand into the trunk.

“Do you need help?” I asked.

“Maybe in a minute,” he said, not looking up. “I might need you to hold it up after I get it upright so I can make sure it’s standing up straight.”

“Sure. I’ve started some hot chocolate, and I’m tryin’ to figure out what to make for dinner.”

He turned his head to look up at me. “The hot chocolate sounds good, and how about we go out for dinner? We can try out the new Chinese place.”

“I’ve been wanting to try that place out.”

He grinned. “I know.”

I turned to head back into the kitchen when a knock at the front door stopped me in my tracks.

Joe sat upright. “Are we expecting anyone?”

“Not that I know of,” I said, slightly worried. We rarely got unannounced visitors, and when we had in the past, they had usually been unwelcome visitors. But I realized who was likely at the door. “It’s probably Neely Kate here to pick up the platform for her tree.”

He made a face. “I forgot all about that.”

“That’s understandable. None of us mentioned it since we cut the trees down.” I grinned. “But you know Neely Kate. Once she sets her mind on something, she won’t let it go. I’ll get the door.”

Still, he looked uncertain, and I understood why. Months ago, any number of dangerous people could have been knocking on our door.

“It’s okay.” I turned around to check on Hope. Most of the Cheerios were still on the tray and she looked like she was getting frustrated. I scooped her out of the seat and popped a piece of cereal in her mouth as I headed for the front door.

There was another knock as I reached for the handle. When I opened the door, it wasn’t Neely Kate or Jed. Instead, an older woman had her hand lifted, ready to knock again.

She wore brown dress pants and a cream-colored silky shirt with a bow tied at the side of her neck. She had shoulder-length dark hair that was cut in a bob. Crow’s feet cracked her previously perfect porcelain skin. Irritation covered her face as her gaze landed on me, but then it was quickly replaced by a bright smile.

She looked familiar, but she’d aged since the last time I’d seen her, so it took me a few seconds to realize who was standing at our door. What was she doing here? How had she found us?

“Rose,” Joe said behind me. “Who is it?”

The woman’s smile spread at the sound of Joe’s voice, and she tried to peer past me.

“Joe,” I said, my voice coming out in a squeak. I wasn’t sure how he was going to react to seeing her. This woman had hurt him time and time again, and for a split second, I wondered if I could send her away and save him from this.

But he was already on his feet, coming up behind me, and I heard him gasp in shock.

“Now, Joe,” the woman said with a pout. “You look like you’ve seen the ghost of Christmas past. Is that any way to greet your mother?”