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One by one, she began to remove the contents.
The first thing she took out was a snowman Christmas tree decoration. Written in blue cursive script, it said, “Baby’s First Christmas.” She had bought it in the after Christmas sales. It and about a dozen other cute baby’s first Christmas decorations. She couldn’t make up her mind which one she liked best, so she had bought them all. She’d had to get all of them in blue and pink since it had been too early on in her pregnancy to find out if they were having a boy or a girl.
This year she had considered putting one of them on the tree in memory of her son, but she hadn’t been able to make herself do it.
Maybe it would be good for her.
Maybe it would be a gentle reminder of her son, a special thing to do each year to keep his memory alive. She didn't ever want to forget him. He might have only lived a few minutes, but he would forever be a part of her.
Taking the snowman with her, she stood and crossed to her tree. It was smaller than the one she and Fin had because she’d left that one behind at their old place when she left. That one had been nine feet tall, barely fitting in their living room. This one was six feet tall, and just the perfect size for her living space.
As well as a new tree, she bought new lights and tinsel but had retrieved the special decorations from her childhood from Fin’s house. They made the tree feel like hers, and even though she wasn't full of her usual Christmas spirit this year, the tree made her feel more normal. Like she was at least pretending to moveon with her life.
Choosing pride of place right in the front, she hung the snowman.
It looked perfect.
While she would never hold her baby in her arms as she hung his special ornament or watch him do it himself when he got old enough, and then look at it on his own tree when he grew up, every time she put it on, she would think of him.
Her beautiful baby would live on in her memories.
A single tear trailed down her cheek.
Chloe returned to the box and began to unpack the rest of the contents. Besides the ornaments, there were several little baby Christmas outfits. She hadn’t just gone overboard buying decorations; she had done it with the clothes too. There were several little onesies, a reindeer, a snowman, a Santa, a candy cane, a Christmas tree, and an elf. There were matching booties and baby mittens, there were beanies—including a little reindeer beanie just like the one she always wore.
She had been so excited to dress him in these adorable little outfits.
She couldn’t part with them, and she wasn't sure she would be able to dress any future children she may have in them.
They were Christopher’s.
Chris.
That’s what she’d secretly been hoping to name the baby, although she and Fin had never finalized their choice of names.
Chris would forever be a tiny baby, and all of these baby things would forever remain his.
Although her eyes burned, tears wouldn’t come tonight.
She was too tired.
Mentally, emotionally, and physically.
The last few months, especially the last few days, had taken their toll on her.
Her body ached worse than it had this morning after her scuffle with Taylor Sallow. The poor woman was struggling. She knew what that was like. She could have pressed charges, but what would be the point?
So, she had a few scratches on her chest and arms, and the stitches in her forehead had been ripped open. That was nothing compared to what Taylor was going through.
She just wanted the woman to get the help she needed.
Even if that help was Fin.
There was no point in being jealous of Fin helping Taylor. She and Fin weren’t going to get back together, so she had to get used to the idea of him with another woman.
Besides, she had bigger things to worry about right now than Taylor. Or Fin, for that matter.
Marcus King.
