Memories

The guests left one by one after a while, Alex and Nathan saw them off and after the last one, they returned to the living room where his father was. The maids were already cleaning up.

"Father are you okay," she asked.

He smiled, "I am, Nathan told me something that you suggested and I love it"

"What is it?" he asked.

"About the presents in my daughter's room. Your right we need to unwrap them so she can see what is inside" he said.

"I thought it would be a good idea"

"It is, so let's go up to her room," he said.

She helped him up and they walked up the stairs.

Nathan got his father a seat while Alex sat down next to the presents.

"So which one goes first," she asked.

"Mine, I know Dad's presents are all old-fashioned," Nathan said.

"Look who is talking, I assure you Alex half of his gifts are dolls," his father said.

Alex laughed, choosing one, "Let's start with this"

They opened the presents one by one laughing at the silly ones and admiring the best. After Nathan's father retired for the night leaving putting the opened gifts away.

"That's the third time you have yawned, let's go to bed. The maids will help with the rest" Nathan said.

"But I want to finish them before I go to bed," she said.

He signed looking around at the hill of gifts in the room, "Let me go get you some coffee" he said.

"Thank you," she said

His father was still awake when he walked into the kitchen, busy making coffee for himself.

"Dad, still awake," he said.

"Yes, still had some work to handle, just finished," he said. "why are you here?"

"Getting Alex some coffee she is sleepy but still wants to continue," he said

His father smiled, "She's a sweet soul. I used to think talking about Ruth would hurt but today I was able to without feeling the sadness I used to feel" he said.

Nathan smiled, "I didn't know I had all those memories of Ruth until we started talking about her and am glad we did"

"You choose well Son," he said "Don't leave her for too long, go ahead then"

"Goodnight Dad" he walked off.

...

He returned to find her laying down next to the big teddy bears, he smiled watching her sleep. He pushed the long strands of her golden hair aside and kissed her forehead.

"Missing your teddy bear?" he muttered.

She was holding one tightly next to her, gently he carried her away.

"Hold on to me, am your bear now" he kissed her cheek and walked out of his sister's room with a smile.