The Forbidden Trilogy(290)

Sheryl laughed and then glanced down at her father's feet. "Maybe we should go inside first, before we make grandpa sick out here in the cold."

He stepped aside. "Of course! Please come in, everyone."

Higgins hung back, choosing to wait in the limo, while we filed into Charlie's house. I clutched the box in my hand and once again hoped I'd done the right thing. At least their reunion   was going well.

As everyone crowded the small living room, Charlie pulled me aside. "This is your doing, isn't it?"

"Yes. I hope you're not mad, but I peeked into your thoughts and saw what happened. I just wanted you to have a good Christmas and be with family." My throat thickened with tears. "I'll never know what it's like to have parents or a family, but I'm sure that if I could pick any father I'd want him to be like you."

Charlie hugged me and whispered in my ear. "Thank you, Sam. This is the best present I've ever gotten."

When he pulled away I picked up the box by my feet and handed it to him. "I have one more thing for you. I… hope you like it."

He opened it and pulled out the frame inside, then gasped. "How… how did you do this?"

"Mr. K's been teaching me to draw images from people's thoughts and memories. I'm still learning, so I hope it's okay."

Sheryl walked up behind her father. When she saw the painting, her eyes widened. "It's the three of us, when I was a little girl. That's the day we went to the park to fly a kite and I told you I wished I could fly away on the kite to see where the birds went."

Charlie nodded. "I remember. It was one of our happiest days."

"Mom looks so beautiful. Just the way I remember her."

They both looked at me and Charlie smiled. "You captured that memory perfectly. I've never seen a painting like this. How did you do it?"

I chuckled. "Let's just say I had a unique drying process that created that finish. I'm so glad you like it! Merry Christmas to you both."

My friends and I hugged Charlie and his family, then left to join Higgins back in the limo so they could enjoy Christmas Eve together.

On the way back to campus, Higgins asked how it went.

"Great! Thank you for setting it up. How much do I owe you for the use of the jet?"

"We'll help pay, too," Lucy volunteered.

Higgins looked at the three of us. "You know that would wipe out almost all of your money. That thing is expensive."

We nodded. It didn't matter. This had been worth it.

He sighed. "You're making me look bad. Let's just call it an unexpected assignment. I'll list the client as Santa Claus."

Luke snorted, sending Lucy and me spiraling into hysterical giggles.

That night we traded presents and engaged in our favorite holiday tradition of staying up all night watching old Christmas movies and eating cookies.

Snuggled between Luke and Lucy, with It's A Wonderful Life playing on our big screen, I suddenly realized something.

I may not have had a traditional family, but I did have a family. And that made my life pretty darn wonderful.

—The End—