LITMIR.BIZ

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this is Carrie’s young man.” Charlotte’s husband, Jason Manning, joined his wife and slipped his arm around her waist. “Welcome. Where’s Carrie? She’s left you to fend for yourself?”

      “I gather she went in search of you two.”

      The three of them spoke for a while before Jason glanced over his shoulder and called out, “Paul, come and meet Carrie’s friend.”

      Soon a large group had gathered around Philip, more faces than he could ever remember. He stood and shook hands with Carrie’s two uncles. Once again he felt their scrutiny.

      Soon a loud, “Ho, ho, ho,” could be heard in the background. Jason’s father had donned a Santa suit and now paraded into the room, a bag of gifts swung over his shoulder. The children let out cries of glee and crowded around Santa.

      Philip was grateful that everyone had begun to watch the scene taking place with Santa Claus. He sat down in his chair again and relaxed, grateful not to be the center of attention. Soon Carrie was with him. She sat on the arm and cast him an apologetic look.

      “Sorry, I got sidetracked.”

      “So I saw.” He patted her hand. “I met your stepfather and two uncles.”

      “Aren’t they great?” Her eyes gleamed with pride.

      “I need a degree in math to keep track of who’s married to whom.”

      “Don’t worry, it’ll come. Be thankful not everyone’s here.”

      “You mean there are even more?”

      Carrie grinned and nodded. “Taylor and Christy both live in Montana. Between them they have six children.”

      “My goodness.” Adding ten more names to his list would have overwhelmed him. “Mackenzie certainly seems to fit right in.”

      “Doug and Dillon think she’s the best thing since cookie-dough ice cream. Knowing her gives them the edge over their cousins.”

      While the youngsters gathered around their grandfather in his red suit, Mackenzie made her way toward him and Carrie. Philip understood. At thirteen she was too old to mingle with the kids who believed in Santa Claus, and too young not to be caught up in the excitement, even though Santa wouldn’t have a gift for her.

      “Are you having fun?” Philip whispered when she sat down on the chair’s other arm, across from Carrie.

      “This is so great,” she whispered. “I didn’t know families could get this big. Everyone’s so friendly.”

      Santa dug deep into his bag, produced a package and called out the name. Doug leaped to his feet and raced forward as if he had only a limited amount of time to collect his prize.

      Santa reached inside his bag again and removed another gift. “What’s this?” he asked, lowering his glasses to read the tag. “This is for someone named Mackenzie Lark. I do hope Mrs. Claus didn’t mix up the gifts with those of another family.”

      “Mackenzie’s here!” Dillon shouted. He stood and pointed toward Philip and Carrie.

      “Me?” Mackenzie slid off the chair. “There’s a gift in there for me?”

      “If your name’s Mackenzie, then I’d say this present is for you.”

      His daughter didn’t need a second invitation. She hurried over to Santa, as eager as Doug had been.

      Philip’s questioning gaze sought out Carrie’s. “I’m sure my mother’s responsible for this,” she told him.

      “I met her,” he said. “We talked briefly.”

      Carrie’s eyes widened. “What did she have to say?”

      “She was very pleasant. It was your stepfather who put the fear of God into me.”

      “Jason? Oh, dear. Listen, whatever he said, disregard it. He means well and I love him to death, but half the time he’s thinking about sports statistics and he doesn’t know what he’s saying.”

      Philip smiled. He’d never seen Carrie more unnerved. Even when they were trapped in the elevator, she’d displayed more composure than this.

      “Carrie, good grief, what do you think he said?”

      She clamped her mouth shut. “I—I’m not sure, but it would be just like him to suggest you take the plunge and marry me.”

      “Oh, that, well …”

      “Are you telling me he actually—”

      Philip had to make an effort not to laugh out loud. “He didn’t, so don’t worry about it.”

      Mackenzie had claimed her gift and was walking back, clutching the package in both hands.

      “You can open it,” Carrie assured her.

      “Now?” She tore into the wrapping as though she couldn’t wait a second longer. Inside was an elegant vanity mirror with a brush and comb set. “It’s perfect,” she whispered, holding the brush and comb against her. “I’ve always wanted one of these sets. It’s so … so feminine.”

      “How’d your family know?” Philip asked. He’d never have thought to buy something like this for his daughter.

      “I have one,” Carrie whispered. “She’s used it a number of times.”

      “Oh.” More and more he felt inadequate when it came to understanding his daughter. She was in that awkward stage, and it was difficult to know exactly where her interests lay. Half the time she talked about wanting a horse and ballet lessons; the rest of the time she listened to music he’d never heard before and gossiped about celebrities who seemed completely irrelevant to him. Part girl, part woman, Mackenzie traveled uneasily from one desire to the next. It wasn’t just her interests that confused him, either. One minute she’d be her lighthearted self and the next she’d be in tears over something he considered trivial. He wished Laura had taken more interest in her. Often he felt at a loss in dealing with Mackenzie’s frequent mood swings.

      Philip had enjoyed himself, but he was exhausted and felt relieved when the party ended. He thanked the elder Mannings for having him and Mackenzie.

      “You’re welcome anytime,” Elizabeth Manning said, clasping his hand between both of her own. In what seemed an impulsive gesture, she leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “You’d be a welcome addition to our family,” she whispered in his ear. “Just promise me one thing?”

      “What’s that?” he asked.

      “I want a nice, big wedding,” she said, this time loudly enough for half the room to hear.

      Philip heard a murmur of approval behind him. “Ah …”

      “Thanks again, Grandma,” Carrie said, saving him from having to come up with a response.

      Carrie hugged the older couple and led the way outside. Jason, Charlotte, Doug and Dillon followed them to the driveway for a second round of hugs and farewells. This had to be one of the most outwardly affectionate families Philip had ever met, but it didn’t bother him. The opposite, in fact. He liked everything about them. These were good people, hardworking and family-oriented. He’d never seen himself in that light, although it was what he wanted to be. However, neither he nor Laura had been raised that way.

      They sang Christmas carols on the drive home. Carrie’s voice blended smoothly with that of his daughter. His own was a bit rough from disuse and slightly off-key, but no one seemed to mind, least of all Mackenzie, whose happiness spilled over like fizz in a soda bottle. He parked in the garage and they walked across the street to the apartment building, still laughing and chattering excitedly.

      “I had a wonderful time,” his daughter told Carrie, hugging her close as they waited for the elevator.

      “I did, too.”

      “I’m

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