more Christmas with the Knights, now 4 years later.

POV: Kendall (11 yrs old)

"He's not coming," Mom said when I walked up to her Christmas Eve morning. "You ask me every year. The answer's not going to change."

I looked down at the floor. All I've wanted for the last four years was for Daddy to come back. Christmas wasn't the same without him. It never would be.

"I know you want him back, Kendall. I do, too, but it's no use wishing for what will never happen."

I blinked back tears. "I just want Daddy. You can take back all the presents. Just take them all back and bring me Daddy."

"You don't mean that, sweetheart. I got you only what was on your Christmas list, and you put so much time into what you wanted. Are you sure you don't want any of it?"

"Just take it back and bring me Daddy."

I looked over Mom's shoulder and saw Katie – she was five now – pulling on her snow-boots. I had promised that I would play with her in the snow today, but now I didn't feel up to it.

"Go play with Katie. It'll take your mind off of things."

"Okay." I pulled on my sneakers and my coat, helping Katie zip hers up when she was ready.

"Ready to have fun, Kendall?" she asked.

I looked up at her from tying her boots tighter. Her big brown eyes stared at me eagerly. "Yeah. I'm ready."

We went outside in the cold Minnesota winter and threw snowballs at each other and build forts and snowmen.

"Kendall!" Katie yelled. "I got the shovel up on the roof!"

I looked up and saw the red plastic snow-shovel lying on the roof. "Oh, man, if only Dad was here he could get that down."

"Dad? Who's Dad? Kendall, we don't have a dad."

I looked down at her. She was looking up at me with a confused look in her eyes.

Kendall, we don't have a dad.

I ran inside, leaving her outside, and collapsed on the stairs.

"Kendall?" Mom came around the corner and saw me. "Oh my gosh, sweetie, what's wrong?"

"The shovel… the shovel's on the roof…"

"You're crying just because of that?"

I pushed her away and ran up the stairs, not caring that I was tracking in dirt and snow. I didn't care. "Come get me when Christmas is over!"

R&R!