Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Disclaimer/Setting: See chapter 1.
Author's Note: Sorry this is so short, and sorry it's been so long since an update! I couldn't deprive Linds any longer!
Chapter 7
And you ask me what I want this year
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we'll find
Better days
Karen stared in disbelief at her maid. Oh, she'd pulled some crazy stunts over the years, but this was the worst. Pretending as though Stan had presents for them?
"How dare you," Karen said, her voice a mere whisper. "Acting like Stan sent us presents. He's in prison! How can a person even send presents from prison?"
"When they have a lawyer as cute as me," Will explained, entering the living room with Jack and Grace close behind.
"Wha-wha-what?" Karen exclaimed.
Will grinned at her. "Well, Stan gave me very clear instructions for your Christmas presents. He knew he couldn't be here but he said he'd be damned if his wife and children didn't have presents from him."
Mason and Olivia brightened and happily accepted the presents that Rosario proffered.
Karen, however, stared at her present in disdain. Unbidden, a flicker of rage flared within her until it was a blazing inferno. She didn't know why she was suddenly so angry.
Of course, angry Karen looked frighteningly similar to calm Karen when in social settings. Jack and Grace watched as Karen simply stared at the small, ornately wrapped box. Only when the children had opened their presents (diamond earrings for Olivia and a portable, handheld video game for Mason) and looked at Karen did the room notice the quiet that had fallen over her.
"Karen? Are you going to open your gift?" Grace asked.
"No, honey, I don't think so," Karen replied.
"Why not, Kare?" Jack questioned. He loped over to Karen's chair and flamboyantly sat down on the arm, crossing his legs. "It could be jewelry!"
"Right, because if I get expensive jewelry for Christmas, I'll forget the fact that my bed isn't concave anymore because I'm sleeping alone in it?" Karen snapped.
Jack looked down at his feet and waited for someone else to take over.
"Why did dad give us these now?" Olivia asked, breaking the icy silence. "We're going to see him later."
"He isn't technically supposed to do this," Will explained. "He isn't supposed to be spending money right now. There's a whole lot of legal jargon. He wanted me to give you these before you came to visit him."
Will continued talking with Olivia and Mason while Grace walked over to stand next to Karen's chair.
"Karen, I know it's tough right now," Grace said softly. "But the kids are here. You don't want to upset them, do you?"
"Of course not," Karen said, slightly offended.
"Then just open the present and go visit Stan and you can be angry with him later," Grace advised. "I'm sorry, sweetie, but it's Christmas."
"Exactly," Karen replied. She leaned forward and took her present off of the table. She slid the ribbon off and tore at the wrapping. The familiar blue box of Tiffany intrigued her, if only a little bit. Stanley always chose the best jewelry for her.
She took the top off of the box and before she could utter a word, an almighty gasp came from both Grace and Jack. A ring with diamonds all along it, in a shared-prong platinum setting, sat in a velvet bed and practically begged to be worn. Karen took it out of the box and examined it. It really was an exquisite piece of jewelry.
"Karen, that is gorgeous!" Grace gushed. Grace reached out toward the ring.
"Bah bah bah!" Karen halted her movement. "What's the rule?"
Grace looked down abashedly. "We look with our eyes, not with our hands."
"That's right," Karen said. She held the ring closer to further investigate it.
"Look, there's something on the inside," Jack said.
"Stan must have had it engraved," Grace suggested.
Karen looked closer and in elegant script, she saw only one word: Always. Karen felt her eyes well up and placed the ring back in its box with a shaky hand. She took a deep, controlling breath and attempted to relax. Since when had Christmas become such an emotional holiday?
Grace placed a comforting hand on Karen's shoulder and looked at her sympathetically. Grace knew Karen better than most gave her credit for and she understood how much meaning this gift offered. She knew how much Karen missed her husband and how painful it was to be alone on the holidays.
"Hey, Kare, at least you're going to visit Stan today!" Jack said brightly.
Karen looked at Jack and grinned, unable to stop it. Jack always made her so happy. "You're right, poodle. Thanks for coming to see me today."
"As if I wouldn't come see my best friend on Christmas! Loving your outfit, by the way," Jack added in a mock undertone, wiggling his eyebrows. "Very boobie."
Karen giggled. "Well, if you're a good boy, I'll let you play with them later."
Will heard their conversation and grimaced. "Guys, mind your audience, will you?"
"Oh, right! Sorry, Olivia, Mason," Jack apologized.
"Not them. Grace," Will clarified, pointing at his roommate. She had a sick expression on her face and was covering her ears.
Karen looked around the room, from Grace and Jack on either side of her to Will and Rosario, entertaining the kids and managed a small smile. These people meant the world to her. This strange group formed the family, however unconventional, that Karen had always secretly yearned for. But they couldn't replace Stanley.