The Key to Holiday Joy part 4

Hannah sat on the floor sobbing, unable to control her emotions.  She knew her mother was right, but how

was she suppose to let go of all the bitterness? There is just too much hate, resentment and anger built up, and it only intensifies with each passing day. Every night after she puts the kids to bed she feels the loneliness of the betrayal. The daily struggle of juggling everything alone only fuels her hatred.  In the evenings when she sits with her kids at the dinner table, the empty chair just stabs at her heart. Why didn't he think about the damage this would cause, and about the sadness and insecurities it would bring upon them all?  How will she teach her boy Daniel to be a man, when his role model let him down? "I am so afraid, afraid to do it wrong, afraid to let my kids down, afraid to love again, just afraid"

At that moment she heard little footsteps coming her way, the sound of her baby's feet stomping on the wood floor brought a smile to her face.  It was Daniel, she quickly got up from the floor and stretched out her arms to hug him. "mom, were you crying, do you miss daddy? if you do, don't worry I will never leave you."  Her heart sank, she had to deal with this, she will never allow her children to feel the responsibility of making her happy.  "Daniel, mommies get sad sometimes just like you and everyone else. There is nothing you can do about that.  I will be just fine sweetie, it has nothing to do with what you do or don't do. Mommy just wants you to concentrate on being a kid and not worry about a thing, ok?" Daniel gave her a big hug and walked back to bed.  Hannah stared at his little body walking away; she realized now more than ever that she had to do something.  "I need help, I cannot do this alone." Her mother Rachel was standing behind the wall listening to it all, she looked up to heaven with a big smile and said "thank you." 

It was Saturday morning, Hannah had promised her friend Becky that they'd go Christmas shopping.  Becky had a girl about the same age as Hannah's Victoria and Daniel.  Hannah got ready, then joined the kids at the kitchen table for breakfast.

She loved her parents house, it looked like something out of a Thomas Kinkade painting.  The breakfast nook had a bay window overlooking the woods she used to hike through as a child.  Her mother had made her favorite blueberry pancakes with homemade blueberry syrup.  No one else liked them, not even her mom; it was her way to make her feel special.  Her mother always knew just what to do without saying a word.

 Hannah couldn't help herself, she got up from the table, walked over to her mom, that was pouring coffee, and gave her a tight hug and a big kiss on her head

"Thank you mom."
"Oh sweetie, its no trouble I know how much you love those pancakes."
"Not just for the pancakes, but for everything you do."

Her dad, Milton walked in "what's all this "grandma" mushy stuff? what does a grandpa have to do around here to get some love?" both kids jumped up and out of their seat to cover him with hugs and kisses.  "What about you young lady, looking straight at Hannah, do you think you are too old to love on your old man? Hannah rushed to him and threw her arms around his neck saying "I'm not too OLD for anything old man" they all started to laugh.