What Child Is This

What Child is This, Chapter 2

An hour before the guests were due, Garret changed into dark jeans and a thick fisherman knit sweater that would keep him warm for the evening festivities, many of which took place outdoors.

One more time he checked his email hoping for something from Jimmy. His mother would be so happy if his younger brother actually showed up for the festivities this year.

But there was no message.

No one in the family even knew where Jimmy was living these days. He'd last been home for their father's sixtieth birthday party, but had stayed only one night for that. He hadn't told any of them where he was going or what he was up to.

Lucky thing their parents hadn't been depending on him to run the family business.

Garret checked his reflection, stooping a little to see in a mirror that had been hung when he was a young boy. After Sara's death his parents had invited him and Duncan to move back into the family home. Though not ideal, it had been a practical solution to Garret's new childcare dilemma. Who better to take care of Duncan, than his doting grandmother?

And frankly Garret had been relieved not to have to face all the memories in the house he'd shared with Sara.

Downstairs, he found his mom in the foyer with Duncan. She had him bundled into his snowsuit and was trying to convince him to wear his mittens.

As soon as he spotted his dad, Duncan stopped resisting and held out his hands. Sylvia triumphantly pulled on one red mitten, then the other.

"Is the party starting, Dad?"

"Just about." He slipped on his sheepskin jacket and stepped into his boots. "Want to be the first one on the toboggan hill?"

Duncan grinned. "Will you come with me?"

Garret hesitated. There was so much to do—but he had Lily to count on now, he reminded himself. One of his mother's main reasons for hiring her—besides wanting to reduce her own commitment to the business—had been so he would have more time for his son.

"Sure. Let's get the first run in together."

"But then you have to work?"

"Then I have to work," he agreed. He kissed his mother's cheek on the way out the door. "Thanks, Mom."

"It's my pleasure. You boys have fun. I'll grab my things and join you in about fifteen minutes."

The evening began without a hitch. Soon, over a hundred people were milling around the Old Sugar Shack. Many of the younger ones were on the toboggan hill or the skating rink. Others were filling their plates with ham, maple-flavored baked beans and crispy coleslaw.

Every time Garret spotted Lily she was working the crowd and handling problems in her own calm, capable way. But he knew her well enough now that he could tell her smile was a little tense and she was holding her shoulders tighter than usual.

Maybe she'd hurt herself in that fall and just hadn't admitted it. He wanted to ask her. But though it almost seemed like she was capable of being in two places at the same time, never was one of those places anywhere near Garret. He tried lingering under the mistletoe, hoping for a second chance to catch her there.

But all he got for his troubles was a kiss from April Rochester, Jimmy's old high school flame. As she leaned in to give him a peck on the cheek, she asked about Jimmy.

"Haven't heard from him in months," Garret said.

"That's Jimmy, I guess." April shrugged, then took the hand of her ten-year-old adopted son Marcus. Marcus was autistic and showed no reaction when Garret said hello. Garret glanced up at April, somewhat disheartened because kids usually liked him.