Landon sighed. "We still have some work to do, you and me.
Ashley laughed. "True. It is Christmas Eve. The kids be up bright and early."
Their tradition was the same every year. They wrapped presents for the kids and hid them in their closet. Then late on Christmas Eve when everyone else was asleep they set them out in piles--one for each of the children. The final touch was always the kids stockings-embroidered with their names.
"Thank you." Ashley turned to her husband. "Thanks for putting up with me."
"Ash.. I loved you as far back as I can remember."
"I knew it." she laughed and kissed him. "I love you so much"
" I love you too. I always have." Landon returned the kiss.
For a long moment they forgot about the Christmas presents and the stockings. But then they heard a sound behind them. Ashley turned around first.
There, standing in the doorway in her red flanner christmas nightgown was Amy. She was still wearing her heart locket.
"Hi." Her voice was soft.
"Honey, we thought you were asleep. "Ashloy went to her and hugged her shoulders. "Is everything okay?"
" Yes, sorry." Amy looked up at her, "It just...... I couldn’t steep." She fiddled with her heart locket and stared at the picture inside. Then she lifted her eyes to Ashley again. "I wanted thank you. For letting me meet Kendra.
" Aww, honey...... of course. As soon as I knew that what you wanted, me and uncle Landon changed our minds right away.
"I know." Amy smiled. "That why I wanted to thank you." She closed the locket and held her free arm out to Landon. "Can you come here, too?"
Landon did as she asked, "We so glad you got to meet her, sweetie."
Amy hugged them both and after several seconds she looked first to Ashley and then to Landon. "I love meeting Kendra, and I loved hearing my mom heartbeat again. But I wanted you to know something."
"Okay, honey, We listening." Ashley felt beyond touched. Whatever Army was about to say, it clearly was important.
"Kendra will never be my family. She a nice lady and she right. Me and her both have a piece of my mammy heart.