Upon a Midnight Clear (Legend, Colorado 2)

"Yes," Kim said. "Wait until you see the back. I've strung lights all around the ice rink."

"How do you like that," her father said, smiling proudly.

Kim stopped the car and hurried around, helping her father inside the house.

"A Christmas tree," her father said happily, glancing inside the living room. "I don't think there's been a tree in this house since… well, since you were here last."

Harold sat down on the couch as Kim turned on the tree lights. He smiled. "Beautiful."

"Do you want dinner, Dad?"

He shook his head. "Actually, I'm feeling a little tired. And I want to be well rested for tomorrow." He pushed himself up and Kim hurried to assist him. "That's okay, Kim," he said. As he stepped into the hall he glanced in the den, his eye catching sight of her easel. "What's that?"

"Oh," Kim said. "I've been working in your den. I hope you don't mind."

"Of course not," he said, stepping inside and turning on the light. "What are you painting?"

"Well, actually, it's your Christmas present."

He smiled. "Can I see it?"

"You don't want to wait until Christmas?"

He shook his head. "I've never seen your work before."

She led him around the easel. He nodded his head slowly, a proud smile creeping up his lips. "It's beautiful. Absolutely beautiful."

"You really like it?" she asked, analyzing his expression. She had feared he might not like it; after all, not everyone enjoyed abstract art.

"I love it," he said with uncharacteristic enthusiasm.

He touched the stiff canvas of the painting, and it fell forward slightly, revealing another finished painting underneath. "What's this?"

"Oh, just something that I did for fun."

Her father gently held his painting as he looked at the canvas behind it. In a magnificent, almost blinding display of colors, little lines shot out from a large red heart.

"I like this. It looks like fireworks."

Kim laughed uncomfortably. "I started painting that one for Tony. It was going to be his Christmas present. I don't know why, but I finished it anyway." She shrugged. "I guess I thought it might help to exorcise him from my system."

"And did it?" he asked, looking at her intently.

She smiled sadly as she stepped away. "Come on, Dad," she said. "I'll help you upstairs."

"Can I get you anything, Dad? Are you comfortable?"

Kim's father looked at her as he flashed her a kind smile.

Since he had arrived home the day before, Kim had been scurrying around the house, making him breakfast and lunch, making sure his pillows were fluffed and his ice cubes solid. As much as he loved her, he didn't like having her fuss over him so. "I'm fine," he said. "Look, you don't have to stick around here with me all day. Go on out… get some fresh air. It'll be good for you." He paused. "Do your own thing, isn't that what they say?"

"Maybe twenty years ago," Kim said with a laugh.

"Well, go. I don't want you sitting at home all day, taking care of me."

"Well," she said, thinking. "I was going to run to the grocery store…"

"Then go."