number of happy years believing in Santa that you did. It’s made your mommy and me sad, too. We don’t want to see either one of our girls disappointed, and we don’t want to know either of you can’t be trusted to do what is kind and thoughtful where others are concerned.”
Nika’s heart hurt far worse than her still-tender bottom. Upsetting Mommy was a scary proposition all its own, but disappointing Daddy was pain she simply couldn’t tolerate.
She threw herself into his arms, sobbing her grief with only one discernible word — “Sorry.”
“Yes, I know you are,” he said after a moment. “We’re all feeling sorry today.”
And he eased her back against her pillow and tucked her favorite blanket into her arms before quietly leaving her room.
She remembered that it was a couple of days before she felt completely welcome in her own home again, although no one berated her for her actions after that terrible time. Over the years, parts of the story were referred to with a humorous twist at family get-togethers, and although Nika always grinned good-naturedly when the tale was told, she found there was still a sore place in her heart that had scabbed over but never completely healed.
It wasn’t an accident, either, that she had been cruel where Miss Smothers was concerned. She had shown her true colors at least once before at Christmas, and now her spirit shuddered beneath the weight of two self-aggrandizing sins. She deserved everything that had been dealt out to her – as a 10-year-old and a 32-year-old.
Some part of her knew the start of finding peace lay in confessing her wrong and seeking forgiveness from those she had injured. Even at this late date with Andee. And even though her apology must be directed to a wide range of people in the most recent instance.
She was planning what she would say, alone in her dim corner and still feeling ashamed and lonely, when she heard Colin’s steps behind her.
His hands rested on her shoulders and he leaned in close to whisper in her ear.
“Tell me what you’ve been thinking.”
Nika gulped and two fat new tears slid down her cheeks.
“I need to s-say I’m s-sorry where it matters. I’ll g-go online tonight and apologize to everyone who was there. I’ll ask them to be k-kinder than I was, and maybe M-miss Smothers will never have to be hurt by it. But I’ll t-tell her how sor-sorry I am, too, if I ever think she’s heard about it. And C-Colin, I’ll be her friend. I pr-promise I will. I feel awful.” She leaned her head into the corner again and her slender shoulders shook with quiet sobs.
For just a moment, she was overcome with the need to beg him not to leave her — a miserable little girl again, huddled on a lonely bed with only her blanket and her sorrow and shame for company. But then he whispered her name tenderly, and her heart lifted. She was no longer that repentant, but unforgiven, 10-year-old little girl.
She was Colin’s girl. And Colin believed in redemption.
Then she was in his arms. Those strong arms she depended on to correct her when she sinned, and to comfort her when she repented, and to protect her all the time. He was her completeness; he was what she had been longing for since the first time she transgressed.
Colin held her close, one hand sliding down to caress her still-aching bottom, and kissed away her tears.
“No more feeling awful, sweetheart. It’s all over now. You’ve just shown me what a special, wonderful girl you are, and I’m so proud of you.”
He scooped her up effortlessly and snuggled her securely against his chest.
“Lotion coming up, and when you’ve finished your emails, we’ll celebrate a new beginning. Now, turn out the lights for me and let’s get started.”
She stretched out of his arms just far enough to find the light switch, but she hesitated over the control for the white lights outlining the Christmas tree.
“Could we celebrate in here?” she asked shyly. “In front
Nika’s heart hurt far worse than her still-tender bottom. Upsetting Mommy was a scary proposition all its own, but disappointing Daddy was pain she simply couldn’t tolerate.
She threw herself into his arms, sobbing her grief with only one discernible word — “Sorry.”
“Yes, I know you are,” he said after a moment. “We’re all feeling sorry today.”
And he eased her back against her pillow and tucked her favorite blanket into her arms before quietly leaving her room.
She remembered that it was a couple of days before she felt completely welcome in her own home again, although no one berated her for her actions after that terrible time. Over the years, parts of the story were referred to with a humorous twist at family get-togethers, and although Nika always grinned good-naturedly when the tale was told, she found there was still a sore place in her heart that had scabbed over but never completely healed.
It wasn’t an accident, either, that she had been cruel where Miss Smothers was concerned. She had shown her true colors at least once before at Christmas, and now her spirit shuddered beneath the weight of two self-aggrandizing sins. She deserved everything that had been dealt out to her – as a 10-year-old and a 32-year-old.
Some part of her knew the start of finding peace lay in confessing her wrong and seeking forgiveness from those she had injured. Even at this late date with Andee. And even though her apology must be directed to a wide range of people in the most recent instance.
She was planning what she would say, alone in her dim corner and still feeling ashamed and lonely, when she heard Colin’s steps behind her.
His hands rested on her shoulders and he leaned in close to whisper in her ear.
“Tell me what you’ve been thinking.”
Nika gulped and two fat new tears slid down her cheeks.
“I need to s-say I’m s-sorry where it matters. I’ll g-go online tonight and apologize to everyone who was there. I’ll ask them to be k-kinder than I was, and maybe M-miss Smothers will never have to be hurt by it. But I’ll t-tell her how sor-sorry I am, too, if I ever think she’s heard about it. And C-Colin, I’ll be her friend. I pr-promise I will. I feel awful.” She leaned her head into the corner again and her slender shoulders shook with quiet sobs.
For just a moment, she was overcome with the need to beg him not to leave her — a miserable little girl again, huddled on a lonely bed with only her blanket and her sorrow and shame for company. But then he whispered her name tenderly, and her heart lifted. She was no longer that repentant, but unforgiven, 10-year-old little girl.
She was Colin’s girl. And Colin believed in redemption.
Then she was in his arms. Those strong arms she depended on to correct her when she sinned, and to comfort her when she repented, and to protect her all the time. He was her completeness; he was what she had been longing for since the first time she transgressed.
Colin held her close, one hand sliding down to caress her still-aching bottom, and kissed away her tears.
“No more feeling awful, sweetheart. It’s all over now. You’ve just shown me what a special, wonderful girl you are, and I’m so proud of you.”
He scooped her up effortlessly and snuggled her securely against his chest.
“Lotion coming up, and when you’ve finished your emails, we’ll celebrate a new beginning. Now, turn out the lights for me and let’s get started.”
She stretched out of his arms just far enough to find the light switch, but she hesitated over the control for the white lights outlining the Christmas tree.
“Could we celebrate in here?” she asked shyly. “In front
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