Chapter 14 The bright light streamed in through the slim space between the two sides of the dark drapes across the room. "What time is it?", Kari asked herself.  "It’s 6:30.", a slightly gruffy voice sounded from the kitchen.  Gil. Kari wrapped the blanket around her and sleepily made her way into the kitchen.  A smile crept across her face as she looked out the kitchen door.  There was snow everywhere.  "You want some coffee?", Gil asked holding a cup out towards her. She didn’t hear him as she walked out onto the back porch.  She was mesmerized.  She had gotten use to living in California, where there was never any snow.  She had forgotten just how beautiful a newly fallen snow could be.  She curled herself up in her blanket in the swing.  It was freezing, but at the same time it was refreshing. "You’ll catch your death of cold out here.", Gil said handing her a cup of coffee and wrapping another blanket around her.   "Thanks.  It’s just so peaceful - serene.", she said sipping the coffee. It warmed her slightly as she didn’t take her eyes off of the snow covered yard and trees. Gil sat beside her and said, "I’m really glad you’re here.  Now all my kids are home for Christmas."   She grabbed his hand, "I’m glad I’m here too.  I forgot how beautiful it was here in the winter."  She smiled at him.  He got very serious.  It almost scared her when he looked like that, she never knew what he was going to say.  He didn’t pull any punches, he always spoke his mind. "You seem to have forgotten a lot of things.", he spoke.   She just looked at him puzzled.  He continued, "Like how much these boys love you.  How much we all love you."  She felt the tears welling up in her eyes, "I know you do.  I love you guys too.  I never forgot that." He continued, "I can’t say that I raised you - you pretty much raised yourself.  But you became a part of my family.  You gave up your childhood, or a good bit of it, to help me raise these boys.  There’s not many kids that would have done that, or could have for that matter.  I’ll never forget how much you helped us." By this time, the tears were falling silently down her cheeks.  Gil tried to hide the occasional tear that fell down his cheek. "I think you’ve got it all wrong.  Your family helped me more than you will ever know.  You took me in and took care of me when my own family wouldn’t.", she said. "It’s not my family, it’s our family.  I will always consider you my daughter.", Gil stated. "And I’ll always consider you my Dad.", she returned.  There was silence for a moment, then Gil spoke up, "Then, let me give you a little fatherly advice.  Give him a second chance."   Kari sighed loudly, she was afraid that was where the conversation was going - Jeff.  "Hear me out.", he insisted, "He loves you, honey."  "Does he love me, or the idea of us?", Kari asked. "I can see it in his eyes.  He loves you like…..like I loved his mother.", Gil said looking Kari straight in the eyes, "I know what he did was wrong, and so does he.  But he’s only human.  People make mistakes."  "I know that.  But what’s to say it won’t happen again?", Kari asked. "There are no guarantees in life, you know that as well as I do.  But one thing I know for sure is that he learned his lesson.  He can’t live without you.  He loves you that much."  Kari sat in thought for a moment. She laughed slightly, "You sound just like another Hardy man I know.  Matt pretty much told me the same thing."  "Well, I always did say he was smart.", Gil said, chuckling now himself.  Again, there was  silence. "So, what do you say?", Gil pleaded, "Will you give him another chance?"  Before she could answer, the back door swung open and out bounded Matt, "You guys are crazy.  It’s freakin cold out here."  And as quickly as he had bounded out the door, he went right back in.  Gil and Kari laughed then headed back inside. "You didn’t even have a coat on Kar, have you lost your mind?", Matt asked.  "Me?!?!  You’re the one who went out there in only a pair of pants.", Kari said laughing. "Go put a shirt on Matthew.  You’re not gonna walk around here half naked.", Gil insisted. "Yeah, Matthew!!!!", Kari spouted playfully. "You too, Missy.  It’s time you got out of those pajamas and got dressed.  This is not romper room.", Gil said. Kari poked her bottom lip out as Matt laughed and pointed at her, "He got you!"  "Go, Matt!", Gil insisted again. Kari laughed at him. "You too.  Go!", Gil said. Kari and Matt shoved each other playfully as they went to get dressed.  Gil chuckled happily to himself at the sight.                                                                       Last Chapter ..*.. Next Chapter ..*..Chapter Index ..*.. Home