19
SAVANNAH
DECEMBER 25, 2020
Kathy was still dressed to the nines.
The annual Ballentine Christmas party had been canceled. It felt wrong not to celebrate the way we always had, but big parties weren’t exactly done this year.
I was in a silky red dress that I’d designed but barely sold any of. I was drinking out of a flute of champagne, sitting on a velvet chair, as Kathy stared up at the Christmas tree. Christmas music filtered in through the sound system. Derek was still in Atlanta with Marley. They’d decided against driving down for the holiday. The holiday was sort of sad.
My dad appeared then in a tuxedo, and Kathy’s face lit up as bright as the tree.
“Shall we?” he asked.
Then, he held his hand out, and she took it. He swept her up in his arms, and they moved around the room
