From the Heart

of presents under the tree. She chattered like a magpie. What might this be? What that had to be. How many hours were left?
    “Not quite one less than the last time you asked,” Jordan told her and pulled her up on his lap. “Why don’t we open everything now?”
    “Oh, no, Uncle Jordan, we couldn’t!” She glanced at Kasey, waiting to be overruled.
    “No, we couldn’t. Santa would be very annoyed.”
    Alison laughed and snuggled into the curve of Jordan’s arm. “Kasey, you know there isn’t really a Santa Claus.”
    “I know nothing of the sort. You, Miss Taylor, are a cynic.”
    “I am?” Alison digested the word. Reaching over, she picked up a small glass ball that held a miniature forest scene. Turning it upside down, she let the snow fall. “I haven’t seen this before.”
    “No.” Jordan had wondered when she would notice it. “I found it in the attic this morning. It was your father’s when we were boys.”
    “Really?”
    “Yes. Really. I thought you might like to have it.”
    “To keep?” She curled her fingers around the glass and looked up at him.
    “To keep.”
    Alison looked back at the glass and watched the snow drift. “He liked the snow,” she mused. “When we lived in Chicago, we had snow fights. He’d let me win.” She leaned back against Jordan’s chest and tilted the ball again.
    Kasey watched them and kept silent. He’d gone searching for that to give Alison something of her father for Christmas. If she hadn’t loved him before, she would have fallen in love with him at that moment. He’s a good man, she thought. Above everything else he is, he’s a good man.
    She rose, wanting to give them time alone.
    “Kasey?” Jordan’s eyes lifted to hers, and she stopped.
    “I think I still have a few things to wrap,” she told him. He smiled, seeing through her.
    “Didn’t someone mention something about stringing popcorn?”
    “Popcorn?” Alison’s eyes lit up. “For the tree?”
    “Kasey told me a tree wasn’t suitably dressed unless it wore popcorn,” Jordan stated. “What do you think?”
    “May we do it now?”
    “I’m all for it, but Kasey seems to have something else to do.” Jordan kept his eyes on her, still smiling.
    “I’m flexible,” Kasey returned, then looked at Alison. “We’ll need several miles of string and three needles. Can you handle it?”
    “Are we going to eat some, too?”
    “Absolutely.”
    Alison scrambled up and, taking the glass ball with her, shot out of the room.
    “Sometimes you’re transparent, Kasey.” Jordan rose and went to her. “You were going to cry and didn’t want to do it in front of Alison. Or in front of me.”
    “That was a marvelous thing you did.”
    “Alison was with me last Christmas, and it never occurred to me.” He lifted Kasey’s chin a bit higher and kissed her.
    “Don’t make me cry, Jordan. It’s Christmas Eve.”
    “I’ve got them!” Alison came to the doorway at a full run. She held up a packet of needles and a thick ball of string.
    “Half the battle.” Kasey crossed to her, then turned back to Jordan. “Coming?”
    “I wouldn’t miss it.”
    As they approached the kitchen door, Jordan said, “You know, I’m not sure how Francois is going to take this. His kitchen’s sacred.”
    “Piece of cake,” Kasey murmured as they entered.
    Francois turned and bowed. He didn’t wear the white hat Kasey had hoped for all those weeks ago, but he did have the moustache. “Monsieur.” He bowed at Jordan. “May I assist you?”
    “Francois.” Jordan took a moment. He’d witnessed more than one tantrum over the years. “We have a need to make something for the Christmas tree.”
    “Oui, monsieur?”
    “We’re going to string popcorn.”
    “Popcorn? You want to make this popcorn in my kitchen?” Before Jordan could answer, Francois was off on a stream of indignant French.
    “Francois?”
    He turned and gave a stiff bow. “Mademoiselle?”
    Kasey smiled at him. “Vôtre cuisine est magnifique,” shebegan, then continued in flawless French. She praised his food, his stove, his counters, sampled the stock pot he had simmering while he joined the discussion with passion. She was enthusiastic about the perfection of his cookware and impressed with his cutlery.
    When she had finished, he kissed her hand cordially, bowed to Jordan again and strolled from the room.
    “Well.” Jordan glanced at the closed door, then back at Kasey. He watched as she took down a pan and