The Christmas List: A Novel

As Kier started his car he glanced down at his cell phone. There were two missed calls. The first was from his office. Linda, he guessed, as Brey was still afraid to call him. It took him a moment to recognize the second number; he hadn’t gotten a call from Sara for some time.

Seeing the number filled him with mixed emotions, but to his own surprise, mostly gladness. He immediately dialed the number. Sara answered on the seventh ring. “Hello.”

“Hi. It’s Jim.” When she didn’t speak he added, “I’m returning your call.”

“I didn’t think I’d hear from you so soon, Jim. Actually, I didn’t think I’d hear from you at all. I was calling to tell you that Juliet got a call from Le Jardin.”

“Who?”

“Juliet. Our son’s fiancée.”

Kier silently berated himself. “Of course. Sorry.”

“She said they’re going to let them use the facility for free. Was that your doing or Robyn’s?”

“Do you really need to ask?”

“Yes.”

“It was me,” he replied. “Why didn’t Jimmy just call me?”

“When was the last time you talked to your son?”

“Fair enough.”

“Juliet wanted me to thank you.”

“Tell her she’s welcome.”

“You should tell her yourself.”

“She should thank me herself.”

“You’re right,” Sara said. “I’ll tell her.”

Neither of them spoke for a moment. He scrambled for something to say. “I just saw Estelle Wyss.”

The memory still brought Sara pain. “How is she?”

“She was fine. Her husband . . . Kyle . . .”

“Karl.”

“Karl. He passed away.”

“I know. I sent a condolence card. I knew Estelle wouldn’t take my call. Where did you see her?”

“I went to their home. Actually, I’m still parked in front of it.”

“Why?”

“Just . . .” Something stopped him. “Business.”

“Business?” Sara asked. “Hadn’t you done enough ‘business’ with the Wysses?”

Stupid thing to say, he thought. Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play? “So, you called about Le Jardin?”

“In part. Steve tells me that you haven’t signed the divorce papers yet.”

“No, I haven’t.”

“May I ask why?”

“I’ve had second thoughts.”

“Don’t tell me you’re not happy with the settlement.” An edge of anger had crept into her voice.

“No. I’m just . . .” he hesitated. What he had intended to say now seemed absurd even to himself.

“You’re just what?”

“I’m not sure I want it to end.”

“Want what to end?”

“Us. Our marriage.”

There was a long pause. “Are you kidding?” she finally asked, her voice rising.

“No.”

“ ‘Us’ has been over a long time, Jim. And it’s not your choice anymore.” Sara sighed. “Isn’t it really because I looked worse than you thought and you’ve decided to wait for me to die so you can take everything?”

“No, Sara, I would never . . .”

“Of course you wouldn’t,” she said. “Just sign the papers, Jim. It’s time for this mistake to end.”

The full force of his own words hit him. “I’m sorry I said that.”

“Me too. More than you will ever know. Goodbye, Jim.” She hung up.

Kier flipped his phone shut. This just keeps getting better.