A/N: Thanks for your reviews!

Chapter 8

Late that afternoon, Castle slipped into the bedroom as Kate placed her gun into the safe. "You're home early," he commented quietly as he watched her make sure the door of the safe was locked.

"It's been a slow day, I slipped out early," she replied.

He smiled. "I'm not complaining."

A hint of an amused smirk curved the corner of her mouth upwards. "You better not be."

"Never," he stated before pressing a kiss against her lips. "The kids were happy to see you home early too."

She gave a slight nod. "You probably shouldn't be in here with Landen in his walker…you know how he is when he gets that thing moving."

"They're fine for the moment, it's not like they're all that far away."

"I know," she sighed, and thinking of the text he had sent earlier detailing their daughter's upset and her mother's visit, she spoke once more. "How's McKenzie doing?"

"Better," he answered sincerely. "She spent time with Johanna, ate the Happy Meal she brought her, drank the Sprite, they had some reading time together and her grandmother tucked her in for a nap. When she got up, I let her know that Johanna had texted and said she got home safely, showed her the picture of Scarlett that Johanna had sent along for her and she's gone on about her day, playing and being herself again."

"What about her stomach?"

"She says it feels better…I figure it probably stopped hurting the second your mother walked through the door."

"As long as it's better…I just wish she had told me."

"She didn't tell me either," he replied. "She told Johanna on the phone. Which I know she didn't tell me because of what I said the other night…which may be what kept her from telling you too…I'm sorry about that. I told her I was sorry for saying that I didn't want her to talk about her grandmother."

Kate shook her head. "It's not your fault, it's mine. I've just made a huge mess out of everything. I should've never told her about the past…I really didn't think it would affect her to this extent…I didn't think about how it would affect Mom either. I just…I made everything a mess, Rick. I ruined everything. I robbed McKenzie of security…I took away my mother's sense of peace that she had finally managed to achieve. I just torpedoed everything."

"You were just doing what you thought was best," he replied as he tugged her into his arms. "We're not always going to get it right, Kate."

"I know, but this…this just seems so much worse than anything else I could screw up."

"It's not," he assured. "We'll get everything worked out; it's going to be fine."

She sniffled a little as her emotions caught up to her once more. "I had lunch with Dad…made him tell me how Mom is really doing with this and he said she's struggling…"

"I could see glimpses of that today," Castle admitted as she pulled away from him.

"I hate that I put her in this spot…and I don't know how to fix it…and he couldn't tell me how to fix it."

"I don't think it's something that can be fixed…just something we have to get through, and we will. We always do."

Kate swiped at her cheeks. "Dad said we can't bail on her…that if we do, it'll seal things permanently in regard to the holiday."

"We're not going to bail on her."

"I know…but she's waiting on us to bail."

He nodded. "I know…she keeps making those comments about not expecting anything…so we're going to have to make sure this goes right this time, not just for McKenzie but for her too."

"I know…we have to do our best this time."

"We will. I told her to go ahead and see about getting McKenzie in the pageant. She said she would find out and let us know."

"I hope she gets her in…I think it would be a good thing to occupy McKenzie's mind with and get her off the other topics."

"I agree…I think it would be good for your mother too so I signed her up to take her to rehearsals if she gets in."

She gave a soft laugh. "How did she take that?"

"With a hint of resignation…but I mentioned that sometimes your work schedule is erratic and Landen can't sit through a rehearsal…and you know, she didn't say no…just that she'd let us know if she got her in. I haven't heard from her yet about it though."

"She's probably waiting until after dinner to call Aunt Valerie," Kate remarked.

"Then hopefully we'll hear something about it this evening and if it's good news, we can tell McKenzie before her bedtime."

Kate nodded. "Yeah, that would be good…but before we get dinner and wait on that call, I'm going to change and have a talk with my daughter."

He gave her a smile before pressing a soft kiss to her lips. "I'll keep Landen occupied while you girls have a chat."

"Thanks…hopefully it'll help settle things around here."

"I'm sure it will," he assured.


Kate approached the corner of the room where McKenzie was sitting among her Barbie dolls and their accessories, playing happily. She hated to break into her daughter's playtime with the topic at hand but she felt like she had no choice as she settled down on the floor beside her.

"Mommy, are you going to play Barbies with me?" McKenzie asked as she turned to look at her.

Kate smiled and ran a hand over her dark curls. "After dinner I will…I want us to talk right now."

Her daughter frowned. "Did I do something bad?"

"No, baby, you didn't do anything bad. Daddy told me that your belly has been hurting and that you haven't told us…"

"It's all better," McKenzie interrupted. "Grandma brought me a Happy Meal and a Sprite to make my belly better."

She nodded. "Yeah, Daddy told me that Grandma came over to see you. Why didn't you tell me that your belly had been hurting."

McKenzie shrugged. "You had to go to work."

"It doesn't matter, if something is hurting you, I need to know. You could've told Daddy too; he was home with you."

McKenzie said nothing as she picked up a brush and began to brush her Barbie's hair.

"Can you tell me why you didn't tell me and Daddy?"

"I wanted Grandma," she murmured. "I thought Daddy would get mad."

Kate breathed deeply. "No one would've been mad that you wanted to see Grandma. It's okay that you wanted her…sometimes Grandma can make things better when no one else can...so I understand why you wanted her. You could've told me though and I would've called her."

"Are you mad at me, Mommy?"

"No, honey, I'm not mad. I just want you to know that you can always tell me when something is wrong just like you always have. It's okay sometimes if you feel like Grandma can make something better instead of me or Daddy…that's why it's good to have a family, because you know there's always someone who can make you feel better. Sometimes when I'm sad, Daddy tries to make me feel better but it doesn't work…sometimes I need my mommy to make me feel better…or my daddy…and when I was a little girl like you, sometimes I needed my grandma and that was okay. Today, I needed to feel better, so you know what I did?"

"Called Grandma?"

"No," she said with a shake of her head. "I called my daddy."

"Grandpa?"

"Mhmm; I called him and told him I needed to see him so we went to lunch and we had a long talk and he made me feel a little better."

"Cause he's your Daddy?"

"Yes; just like you needed Grandma to come over today to help you feel better."

"Grandma brought our book and we read some of it," McKenzie told her.

Kate smiled. "Did that make you feel good?"

McKenzie nodded. "I like when we read our book. I got sleepy and Grandma tucked me in and told me to have sweet dreams."

"And your belly was all better then?"

"Yes, I drank all my Sprite."

"Good, I'm glad that helped."

"Does Grandma bring you Sprite when your belly hurts, Mommy?"

"When I was a little girl she did…when you were a tiny baby in my belly, I was sick a lot, because that's how it is when a baby is growing in there, so Grandma got me a special tea to drink so my belly wouldn't be so sick."

"You felt better?"

"I did…and I'm glad she made your belly feel better."

"Me too."

Kate took a breath and did her best to find the right words to bring up the rest of the topic as she reached for McKenzie's hand and held it. "Kenzie…sometimes Mommies and Daddies make mistakes…a mistake is when you've done something you shouldn't do…"

"Did you do something, Mommy?" McKenzie interrupted.

"Yeah, I did," she said with a nod. "I was wrong to tell you about what happened to Grandma a long time ago. I shouldn't have done that…you're such a big girl…but you're not a big enough girl for that story. It scared you and it upset Grandma too. I made a mistake and I'm very sorry, I shouldn't have told you those things, McKenzie."

"But I'm a big girl," her daughter insisted.

"Yes, I know you are…but you're just not quite big enough. The things I told you…they scared you and they make you worry about Grandma; but I want you to listen to me, okay, nothing like that is ever going to happen to Grandma again. No one is going to hurt her. She is never going to live far away again; I promise you that. The only times she goes away is when she's on vacation with Grandpa and they always tell us where they'll be and when they're coming back. I know you've been worrying about it but you don't need to; Grandma isn't going away and no one is going to hurt her, okay?"

"You promise?"

"I promise."

McKenzie's gaze met hers once more. "That's what Grandma said too."

"Then you know it's true…because Grandma and I wouldn't tell you that if it wasn't true, would we?"

McKenzie shook her head.

"Then you don't need to worry anymore, okay? Everyone is fine and it's going to stay that way."

"Okay, Mommy."

Kate rubbed her daughter's small hand. "When I told you that story, I thought I was helping Grandma…but I wasn't. I just made her sad and upset…she doesn't like to think about those bad times and it's hard for her to talk about it. She was never mad at you. She was mad at me…she was right, I shouldn't have told you. I made her sad…I told you those things and then Grandma had to think about them…and it hurts her to do that."

"Does her belly hurt?" her daughter asked.

Kate nodded. "I think it probably does…and I bet she hasn't told anyone that it does."

"Maybe we should get her a Sprite."

"I think that's a good idea, we'll get her one tomorrow when I take you and Landen to her house. So, I know it's hard…but now that you know there's nothing to worry about, I think we shouldn't talk about that story anymore with Grandma. It just makes her sad and we don't want her to be sad for Christmas, do we?"

"No, I want Grandma to be happy."

"Me too…and you know what? Grandma is happiest when she's doing things with you and Landen, so when you go back to her house tomorrow, you just do what you always do and have fun with Grandma…because that other stuff doesn't matter and we don't need to talk about it…that way you'll be happy and you're belly won't hurt; and Grandma will be happy and she'll feel better too."

"Do you feel better?" McKenzie asked.

"A little…but you can help me feel better."

"How?"

"You can say that you forgive me for telling you that story when I shouldn't have. Do you forgive me, Kenzie?"

McKenzie nodded and slipped into her arms for a hug. "I forgive you, Mommy."

Kate hugged her tightly. "Thank you, baby; I'm glad you forgive me."

"You're not sad now?"

She smiled. "I'm still a little sad."

"Why?"

"Because I need Grandma to forgive me too."

"She will," McKenzie said with conviction. "Grandma will make you feel better…maybe you need a Sprite too."

Kate nodded. "Sprites for all of us tomorrow, in fact, we'll leave a little early and get breakfast for us and Grandma to take to her…and listen, tonight before you go to bed, I'll let you call Grandma and talk for a few minutes so you can have sweet dreams, okay?"

"Okay, Mommy."

She met her daughter's eye. "Do you feel better?"

"I feel better," McKenzie replied.

She smiled and pressed a kiss against her hair. "Good. You go ahead and play and I'm going to help Daddy get dinner ready and then I'll play Barbies with you, okay?"

"Okay," her daughter said with a smile. "I want a cherry juice box with my dinner, please."

"You got it," she replied as she got up from the floor. She hoped their talk would help settle things for McKenzie…and she prayed she could fix things with her mother.


Jim stepped through the backdoor that evening with the bags of food he had picked up, hoping that the frigid air hadn't chilled it on the short trip from the car to the door. Scarlett meowed at him from the doorway of the kitchen as if she was chastening him for being a few minutes late.

"I'm not all that late, Scarlett," he remarked as he put the bags on the counter. "Where's your mommy?"

"I'm right here," Johanna said as she moved into the kitchen. "I was putting some things away upstairs."

He smiled as she moved toward him and he reached out to draw her to him for a kiss. "I missed you," he murmured.

"I missed you too," she said softly. "I could've cooked dinner for you."

"I know…but you've had a rough few days and I figured you deserved a break."

She gave him a small smile. "Thank you."

"Anytime," he said before stealing another kiss.

"I'll get the food on the table while you get settled," Johanna said, reluctantly slipping out of his arms.

He gave a nod, silence falling between them as she got their meal on the table and he went through his routines. A short while later, they were settled down with their meal, Scarlett in her designated corner of the kitchen happily eating her own meal.

"Did you get McKenzie taken care of?" Jim asked before picking up his cup of coffee and taking a sip.

"I hope so," Johanna replied. "She was napping when I left."

"Hopefully that means her mind is more settled."

"It should've never been unsettled in the first place," she muttered. "She's a baby, she shouldn't have been put through this."

"I agree…and for what it's worth, your daughter is feeling pretty badly about the whole thing."

"What makes you think that?"

"She asked me to have lunch with her today…she's worried about you, about McKenzie…feeling guilty…there were tears."

Johanna frowned. "Must be the day for it."

Jim nodded as he met her eye. "I wondered how many you shed today while working on the tree."

She breathed deeply, staring down at her meal. "Quite a few…before the phone call and after."

"I figured that…and it's okay, you know?"

She shrugged. "I guess some things just never get better."

"It's better than it was," he said gently. "You've come a long way…and I know that it's hard for you to change the routines we've gotten into, but it'll be okay. It might be a little awkward and painful in some ways but maybe in the end things will look and feel better."

"I guess we can at least hope so…but I'm not holding my breath."

"I know, but I think it's going to turn out just fine for everyone involved."

"I want it to be that way," Johanna said softly. "Don't think that I don't…."

"I don't…I know you want it; you've just been burned a lot and you're hesitant to put your faith in it," Jim replied.

"It's not just that…it's that I'm afraid I can't live up to McKenzie's expectations. I don't know if I remember how to have Christmas the way I did when Katie was little…it's been so long and so much has changed. I just…I don't know, Jim."

"It'll come back to you," he assured.

"I wish I was as sure of that as you are."

"It's okay I can be sure enough for both of us until you're ready. Did you hear from Valerie?"

"Not yet but I'm sure she'll get back to me this evening."

"I hope there's still room for McKenzie."

"Me too."

He gave her a small smile. "I'll get to see this one…I missed Katie's first Christmas pageant."

Johanna nodded. "I thought you were going to miss that whole Christmas."

"I know…it was the first time you threatened to divorce me," he remarked.

"It wasn't our best Christmas," Johanna replied.

"No, but we made it work…and you didn't divorce me."

"No, but I had to continue to threaten you with divorce well into the New Year."

"I know…you had the papers filled out by summertime."

"I didn't enjoy filling them out."

"I didn't enjoy knowing you had filled them out."

She met his eye. "I guess it's a good thing we got our act together so we could rip those papers up."

"Agreed…but the point I was originally going to make is that that Christmas was rocky but we got through it and managed to have some happy moments…and that will be true of this year too."

"I hope so. I don't want McKenzie to be disappointed."

"I don't want you to be disappointed," Jim stated.

"Well we know how that goes," she said with a short, soft laugh.

"It's going to be okay, sweetheart, I promise."

She gave him a smile and nodded, one way or another, no matter what, it would be fine…she just wanted the good kind of fine that didn't require a period of dwelling and what ifs.


Johanna had just finished putting away the dishes when her phone rang on the counter. She quickly snatched it up, worried that it might be McKenzie needing more reassurance that all was well, but instead of her daughter's name on the screen she saw her sister-in-law's. She accepted the call, hoping it was the news that McKenzie was hoping for. "Hello."

"Hey," Valerie answered. "I got your message but haven't had a minute to get back to you until now."

"That's okay, I figured you were busy and would call when you had a free minute."

"I was glad to see your message," Valerie stated. "We definitely have room for McKenzie to join our little angels in the pageant; we had one taken out of the play today because of an unexpected last minute holiday trip, so if she wants in, it's no problem."

"Oh she definitely wants in…it's all my fault," Johanna remarked. "She saw the pictures of Katie when she was in it at her age…and then I showed her the video…and now she wants in it, my trip has been cancelled and I've had to put up a Christmas tree," she rambled.

Valerie gave a soft hint of a laugh. "You say all of that like it's a bad thing."

"Yeah, well…you know how it is."

"Maybe you should say 'how it was'," Valerie replied. "Sounds like it's not going to be that way this year."

"I'm not getting my hopes up."

"You don't have to get your hopes up as high as the clouds but I have a feeling that you better pull them up a little higher than they are right now. I know you have your usual holiday routine that you've gotten used to after a few bad years…and your usual hint of holiday blues but it's going to be okay if that changes."

"That's what everyone keeps telling me," she replied.

"We can't all be wrong, can we?"

"Probably," she said without hesitation.

Valerie laughed. "I don't think so…I think you're worried that you're going to be wrong this time…and I know how much you hate to be wrong…and how much you hate to have your favorite phrase of 'I told you so' used against you."

"Don't be harsh, Val, I'm having a bad week."

"I don't think that staying home for Christmas is a reason to call it a bad week."

"It's more than that," she sighed.

"Then tell me what it is and get it off your mind, maybe you'll feel better."

Johanna took a breath and leaned back against the counter as she explained to Valerie everything that had gone on that had led to her change of holiday plans.

"Oh, Jo," her sister-in-law said softly. "I'm sorry that the past got dug up again…especially this time of year when we all know you struggle a little."

"Like I said…it's my own fault," she replied, her voice cracking a little. "I got nostalgic…I got this ball rolling by showing pictures and videos and…"

"And nothing," Valerie said as she cut her off. "You were being human…you were being a grandmother, showing your grandchild what her mother did when she was her age. Those were happy times, you miss those times and you still ache over the times you missed…and McKenzie wants to have Christmas with you the way it was in the pictures…so you'll give it to her…because you can and I know, it might be hard, but you can do it and you will."

"I keep telling Jim that I'm not sure I remember how."

"Yes, you do, you put up the tree, you bake the cookies, you watch the Christmas cartoons and play the songs, you just let yourself remember, you let yourself feel it."

"It might've been easier to do without this cloud of the past suddenly hanging over me again," Johanna remarked, a touch of bitterness in her voice.

"I get that," Valerie assured. "And I agree, McKenzie is far too young to be subjected to it…but she's going to be okay…and she's going to be okay because you're going to make it that way. You're Grandma, you'll make it be okay with a little help from everyone else. We're going to get her occupied with the pageant and thoughts of Santa Claus and that stuff that she didn't need to know about, it's going to fade away…and you're going to be okay too. We're going to get you occupied too."

"I'm not as easy to occupy," she quipped half heartedly.

"Oh I think we can accomplish it," Valerie stated. "Don't you worry about that. Are you going to be coming along to the rehearsals for the pageant?"

"I've been told that I'll be the one bringing her."

"Great," Valerie stated. "Because I need a piano player for rehearsal this week because the woman who is supposed to do it is sick and I know you're an excellent piano player."

"Valerie…I haven't played Christmas songs since Mom died. I haven't been in that church since her funeral…I…I don't know if I can even come in there. I just…" she said, her voice breaking once more.

"You're going to come in," Valerie said. "Sitting in the car isn't an option…and I know, it's hard to think of being there without her…but did you ever think that it might be just what you need? You have so many memories of Naomi there…her and Sophia…and maybe it won't be sadness you think of when you step through the door. Maybe instead, you'll remember those good times and feel her love all around you. You can sit down at the piano she played…feel her warmth and happiness, because you know she'll be happy to see you back in church for the holidays, helping your granddaughter with her pageant, teaching her the traditions that were taught to you…that's how she lives on, Jo. She lives through you…and through Katie…and now it's time to pass those traditions on so she can live through McKenzie too. You're going to be fine…you're not going to feel the way you do right now…you're going to feel another piece of coming home, because you're coming inside that church and you're going to play that piano and help McKenzie with her songs and her costume…you're going to be there for mass with your brother and me…and Jim, and with McKenzie in the pageant, then Katie is going to be there too and your nieces and nephews. It's going to feel different…but it's going to feel like home all the same."

Johanna swallowed hard as she swiped away a tear that spilled down her cheek. "I want it to be that way," she murmured.

"Then we're going to make it that way…you just have to let go and let yourself, Johanna…and I know you can. It's going to be fine…and if I need to come outside and walk in that church with you that first time, I will. I will hold your hand and walk with you…and if you need to pause for a minute inside the door and let yourself feel the not so pretty things, like grief and longing for a minute, we will…and then we'll let it go, remember the good memories and get started on making the new ones with your granddaughter, okay?"

"Okay," she answered as she forced herself to get her emotions back under control.

"Alright then, the next rehearsal is Thursday, which I know is an odd day but the church is reserved for Friday this week."

"What time?" Johanna asked, her voice still trembling slightly.

"Six; it'll only be an hour, maybe a few minutes over, but we try not to run too long so the kids can get home and get wound down for bedtime."

"Okay, we'll be there."

"Good; and like I said, if you need me to walk in with you, I will, you just let me know. I'll give you the other rehearsal times and dates that night too. Don't worry, everything is going to be okay…it's going to be good this time, I feel it in my bones."

"You're sure it's not arthritis?" she asked, a touch of lightness in her tone.

Valerie laughed. "Definitely not; your brother is the one who can tell the weather with his knee."

"But I suppose he still says that that touchdown was worth it?"

"Oh most definitely," she replied. "You know that story gets more glorious every year."

Johanna laughed softly. "I know…and I've forgiven him for my wrist which aches when it rains thanks to someone pushing me out of a tree when I was five."

"See, he deserves that knee that can predict the weather."

"The bitter five year old in me is going to agree with that."

"Nothing wrong with that," Valerie said with a laugh. "Are you okay now?"

She took a breath. "I think so."

"Okay, I'm going to let you go so you can go relax for awhile…I think you need it."

Johanna smiled a little. "Love you, sis."

"I love you too, see you Thursday."

"I'll see you then," she replied before they said their goodbyes and ended the call.

She closed her eyes for a moment, breathing deeply as a hundred different feelings rolled through her but then she pushed them away and focused on her phone once more. She didn't really feel up to more discussion right now so she figured a text to Rick about the news would suffice and then she'd take Valerie's advice and go relax for the rest of the evening.


Kate was in the process of cuddling Landen when Castle held his phone out toward her. "What?" she asked.

"Read it, it's from your mother…about the 'you know what'," he stage whispered.

Kate glanced at the screen, reading the message her mother had sent. "Valerie called, there's room for McKenzie in the pageant. Rehearsal is Thursday at six; I'll pick her up between 5:15 and 5:30. I know Katie doesn't like to miss dinner with her but you might want to feed her early…or I can get her something to eat after rehearsal, whichever you prefer. Kiss the kids for me and tell them I'll see them in the morning."

She smiled a little. "She made it happen."

"Wasn't a doubt in my mind," he remarked. "Should we go ahead and tell her or let your mother tell her in the morning?"

Kate thought about it for a moment as Landen snuggled against her. "Let's tell her now, it'll give her something happy to think about before she goes to bed."

He nodded. "Good idea…I'm going to let you have that honor."

"Why is that?" she asked.

"Because that way we'll both have a win for the day…I had my win by providing her grandmother for a little while and you can have a win telling her the good news…and then maybe we'll all sleep better tonight."

Kate worried her bottom lip for a moment. "That would be ideal…but I don't think I'm going to be able to sleep well until this thing is settled between Mom and I. You notice that she messaged you instead of me."

"That's probably only because I'm the one who brought it up to her about getting McKenzie into the pageant."

"Maybe…maybe not. I told McKenzie we'll leave earlier than usual tomorrow and go get breakfast to take to her…maybe then she'll say more than three words to me."

Castle considered his words carefully. "Your mother and I aren't known to see eye to eye on much as you know more than anyone…and I freely admit that she aggravates me with her need to always be the one to apologize…but I think maybe this time she feels like she deserves the apology and that's probably all she's waiting for…that way she can tell you what she told me today."

"And what's that?"

"That this whole thing is her own fault for getting nostalgic and leaving the photo album out where a certain little girl would find it. She's blaming herself as usual…just not doing the apologizing to go with it like she normally would. I told her I was sorry today and for once she didn't brush it off with a comment about not requiring apologies or that it was unnecessary. So I think if you just tell her you're sorry and let her do her part of blaming herself for getting this ball rolling…then we can probably get past it and work on getting through the holiday."

"We can hope at least," she murmured.

He gave her a reassuring smile. "Do you want me to take Landen so you can tell McKenzie her good news?"

"No, I'm not done cuddling my boy," she said, pressing a kiss to Landen's hair. "I can multitask, cuddle and give news."

"I know you can," he laughed.

"McKenzie," Kate called out, drawing her daughter's attention away from her coloring book that she was coloring in at the kitchen table.

"What, Mommy?"

"Come here, baby, I want to tell you something."

McKenzie scooted off of her chair and hurried toward them. "Are we having cookies?" she asked.

Kate looked at her oddly. "No, why?"

"Cause I want cookies," her daughter replied.

"Daddy will get you a cookie when we're done."

"My belly is all better," McKenzie stated.

"I'm glad…but that's not what we're going to talk about."

"I didn't mean to get crayon on the table, it was a accident," McKenzie replied. "Do we have to tell Santa?"

"You got crayon on the table?" Kate repeated.

"I'll go take a look," Castle remarked.

"Yes," McKenzie said, shifting on her feet. "Just a little bit, I didn't mean to."

"Why didn't you tell me when it happened?"

McKenzie shrugged. "You were talking to Daddy."

"That's never stopped you before."

"I thought maybe I could tell you later."

Kate's brow rose. "Later? When would later be?"

"Before we have sweet dreams," her daughter replied as she shifted on her feet. "I'm sorry, Mommy. Do we have to tell Santa?"

"No, we don't have to tell Santa," Castle stated as he returned to them. "The marks are very small where she came off the page a little, no real harm done if it doesn't come off…but listen, jellybean, I'm going to get you a big piece of paper that you can put under your coloring book so that you don't get crayon on the table, okay?"

"Okay, Daddy, I'm sorry."

He lifted her into his arms and kissed her cheek. "It's okay, accidents happen and it's not a big one. Now Mommy has something to tell you," he said as he put her back on her feet.

"What is it, Mommy?"

"Grandma sent Daddy a message," Kate stated. "She talked to Aunt Valerie and she got you into the Christmas pageant."

McKenzie's eyes lit up. "I get to be an angel like you were, Mommy!?"

Kate smiled. "Yes, baby; you get to be an angel…and Grandma is going to take you to your first rehearsal in a few days."

"Grandma's going with me!"

"Yes, she's going to take you…are you happy?"

McKenzie scrambled up in the chair with her. "I'm so happy, Mommy. Now we're going to have Christmas like when you were a little girl like me! It's going to be so much fun!"

Kate smiled, a little part of her heart aching as she hoped that it would all come out the way they wanted it to. "I hope so, baby…I hope so."