The Wolf Came on Christmas (Johanna and Alexander) novel Chapter 123

Chapter 123-1

Not even the important scar that began at the right corner of his mouth and ran about three or four

centimeters across his cheek.

“They’re very important people in industry and those things,” my mother added dismissively. “That kinc person is always in the terrorists‘ sights. They have a lot of money.”

“…I’m listening, Mom,” I scolded her, because I didn’t like her assessment.

If she only knew…

Alexander’s interview lasted a while longer. I had no idea what they were talking about. I couldn’t stop looking at the scar at the side of his mouth, stunned. It was true that it looked quite bad, but it suited h it went with the rest of the scars on his body, proof that he had fought with everything he had not only t save his life, but his children’s, his friends‘, and mine. It did not diminish the nobility or beauty of his features. More than ever, he looked older than his twenty–eight years.

So, terrorists, huh? People could swallow that. I knew the truth and I was more at ease.

“He’s a very handsome young man,” my mother said casually, and went to the kitchen.

I bit into the apple, distracted, chewing on those words. I felt heat rising through my body, because it wa very true. He looked very good like that. I felt a pleasant fire in my stomach just thinking that I preferred him in casual clothes and not so dressed up, that such an elegant style didn’t suit him. Or didn’t suit the idea I had formed of him. And that he wasn’t my type, as I had always told myself.

I ate another piece of apple and moved closer to the television.

Knowing I was alone in the dining room, I couldn’t help stretching out my hand toward the screen and touching with the tips of my fingers the silhouette of that scar on his mouth, which looked so painful. At that moment, the Alexander on the screen curved his lips into a slight smile, without showing his teeth, and I did the same

I accepted that he would not call me again, at least not for a long time

I returned to Wyoming on January sixth, with no further news than what the newspapers and television had already reported

Even so, I undertook the return with enthusiasm, because the keys to my “new” house were waiting for me at Luke’s place. The sheriff and his wife accompanied me to enter for the first time to check that everything was in order, for my part, I was already thinking about the thank you letter I would write to

Rictue

And according to my expertations, the house was the same as the one that had burned down, unly new My father would travel in a couple of weeks to install a lower kitchen cabinet cupboards, and a new table in the kitchen, all of his own making The living room carpet, however, was different from the one I had before The one they placed tumed out to be another color and with a different weave, but even so I

thanked Richie from the bottom on my

before it blew up. I also thought that doing a small remodel was not a bad idea. After all, I had eight million dollars to spend.

So I stayed busy, enough not to think about the voices I missed.

Alexander had not given interviews after the one conducted following the press conference, but every da new images appeared, all irrelevant to me. There were no photos of the children either, although speculation circulated around them and their mother. I tried to shut myself off from those far–fetched theories and concentrate on what I had to do. I was back in my house again, and I felt more at ease, even though the smell of new wood, rubber, and sealing resins still flooded the air.

As I had anticipated to Eric, I deleted what I had written of my third novel and began again. The days passed while I wrote at full speed. My editor became convinced of how good the changes were once I started sending him chapters to review, and my routine resumed without problems. Another interesting thing was that, if anyone realized what had happened at the Berkeley sawmill, it did not transcend in any way The supposed “cleanup team” had done their job very well. The factory with all its machinery was

eventually bought by another company, and before I realized it, the sirens and the sound of the voracious

saws were heard again, or the logs hitting heavily against the silence of the morning.

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Chapter 123-2

+25 Paints

As if nothing had happened? Maybe.

The scars already fully healed on my right arm and back were more than enough and unforgettable proof of what had happened, but I was not willing to let that affect me. Now things were different. I was different; it didn’t take long to notice that I had changed. I left the house more often, even if sometimes it was only to take walks around the area, and I talked more with people. I stopped going to appointments with Larry, after telling him I wanted to try postponing my treatment for a while. I didn’t think I needed

therapy. I had no nightmares, nor did I sleep poorly.

It was as if the old Han, the person who had once been coordinator of the entertainment and variety supplement at a Minneapolis newspaper, had returned to stay.

I felt strong in Wyoming. Again, in my home.

One weekend at the end of January, Luke and Kaylee visited me. She was already very close to giving birtl and it showed; she walked more slowly and carefully, no longer as agile. They expected their baby to be born at any moment, and the news made me very happy. However, they had not come to my house to tell me that, but to give me a gift. Luke handed me a shoebox with holes on the sides, and I received it with cunosity.

They were two kittens, recently weaned. Two precious little creatures, with their tiny bodies marked in orangish, white, and brown.

“If no one claimed them at the animal shelter, they were going to put them down. Their mother abandoned them if you don’t want them, we can take care of them, but Kaylee insisted that we ask you first. I think you don’t have a cat anymore.”

Luke spoke very cautiously, as if he feared I might reject the pair.

“Of course I’d love to keep them!” I replied at once. “I was already missing having a pet They’re beautiful thank you for thinking of me”

“I told you she’d like them,” Kaylee smiled, teasing her husband

“Why don’t you tell her the real reason for this visit, huh?”

Kaylee rolled her eyes and turned to me, blowing her blond hair out of her face

“I want to invite you to dinner, but Mr Grumpy here says if not a good idea

7 did not say that Luke stiffened annoye

“He thinks you wouldret ar cept the puma woman continued speaking to me as if nothing

“That’s not truelt told you to find your business

Kayler looked at turn and wirited divinely

“It is my business, my life. You’re the one who’s always sayll

but the truth is I don’t even remember when was the last time we invited someone we trust to dinner.”

“That’s because we don’t have many people we trust around here.”

“See my point, darling?” she grabbed his chin playfully, and Luke looked away, irritated in a way that made me smile. Kaylee turned back to me again and continued enthusiastically: “The problem is there’s no way to remove those stray–cat genes he has.”

“Do you have to use that nickname?” the sheriff complained, muttering in embarrassment.

“But baby, you are such a stray. Admit it.”

That time their intimate banter seemed so pleasant to me that I couldn’t help laughing. Rarely in front of me had they treated each other with such familiarity, even remembering the days I lived in their house.

That gave me more encouragement; it meant I had made two good friends in Luke and Kaylee. I looked a

the kittens inside the box and thought I had the perfect place to put a cushion so they could sleep more

comfortably, and I smiled at them tenderly. A short, sweet meow brought us all back to the heart of the matter–the invitation.

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