Chapter 5 — The Ornament Wasn’t Irreplaceable
Robert believed Helen’s red ornament was unique.
It wasn’t.
At least not in the way he thought.
Helen carefully picked up one broken piece.
“Do you remember where this came from?”
Robert answered immediately.
“Your first Christmas with your mother after we got married.”
Helen smiled.
“No.”
Robert frowned.
“Yes, it was.”
“That one was green.”
Daniel almost smiled.
Robert looked confused.
Helen explained.
The red ornament came from a Christmas market only twelve years earlier.
She bought it with Sophie when Sophie was a baby.
Daniel stared.
“Sophie was there?”
Helen nodded.
She had pushed baby Sophie through the market in a stroller.
The vendor sold dozens of almost identical hand-painted ornaments.
Helen loved hers because of the memory attached to the day.
Not because the object itself was rare.
Robert stared at the broken glass.
“I’ve been treating this like some family artifact.”
Helen laughed softly.
“You have.”
Then Sophie asked:
“Can we get another?”
Helen thought.
“Maybe.”
The same Christmas market was running downtown that weekend.
They had no idea whether the original vendor still attended.
But they could check.
Sophie immediately looked toward Robert.
“Can we go?”
Robert was surprised she was asking him.
“If you want.”
She nodded.
Then added:
“But you have to tell me sorry first.”
Helen looked toward Robert.
Daniel tried not to laugh.
Robert crouched.
“You’re right.”
Then he looked directly at Sophie.
“I’m sorry I blamed you.”
“I didn’t see what happened.”
“You told me the truth.”
“And I kept telling you that you were wrong because I thought I already knew.”
Sophie stared at him.
Robert continued.
“That wasn’t fair.”
“And I shouldn’t have tried to make you confess.”
Sophie thought for several seconds.
Then nodded.
“Okay.”
Robert looked relieved.
Then Sophie added:
“Milo should say sorry too.”
Everyone looked toward the cat.
Milo began licking one paw.
Helen smiled.
“I don’t think we’re getting much accountability from him.”