Free A Mummy for Christmas by Clare Revell

custody? Would the fact she hadn’t signed the papers and not given consent nullify the adoption?
    Haley-Jo yawned. “Thank you for reading. Now we say my prayers.”
    Stan moved away from the door. “I’ll do those.”
    Carly stood. “OK. I’ll go and put those photos on your computer for you.”
    He sat on the bed. “OK, thanks.”
    Carly smiled. “Night, Haley-Jo.”
    “Night, Carly.” Haley-Jo snuggled into Stan. “If I do get a new mummy, can she be just like Carly?” she asked quietly.
    Stan closed his eyes, his heart aching. “We’ll see.”
    When he got downstairs, Carly had packed away all her things. “The pictures are on the desktop. I really enjoyed today. Thank you.”
    “It was fun.” Stan moved across the room to her. “It’s been just the two of us for so long, but having you here seems right, somehow.”
    She gave him a wry smile. “Might even get a tree for my place after this.”
    “Well, if you want help putting it up, give us a shout.”
    Her gaze landed on the wooden box on the table. “What’s that?”
    “That’s the nativity scene. I’m surprised Haley-Jo didn’t insist on putting it up. It goes on the fireplace.”
    “May I?” she reached out a hand to it.
    Stan nodded. “Sure.”
    Carly sat on the couch and picked up the ornately carved box. She ran her fingers over it. “This box is lovely.”
    “The chest belonged to Julie’s grandmother. It got passed down to her daughter, then Julie and now Haley-Jo has it.”
    “Is the nativity set that old?”
    Stan shook his head. “I don’t think so. We got it when Haley-Jo was a baby.”
    Carly opened the box. She pulled out the pieces one by one, recognition flickering in her eyes, before tears filled them.
    Stan knelt beside her. He laid his hand on hers, worried by her reaction. “What’s wrong?”
    “I used to have one exactly like this when I was a child.” She put the pieces down one at a time. “It’s like seeing old friends again.”
    “Do you still have yours?”
    She shook her head. “No, I haven’t seen it in years. I assumed it got lost when they packed up and sold my house after the accident.” She pulled out the donkey and caught her breath. “Ohhhhh….”
    “What is it?” He looked from the donkey to Carly. “Carly?”
    Her fingers moved over the broken ear. “Mine had a break here, too.” She turned the donkey over, the color draining from her face. “I don’t believe it…” She held out the donkey for him to see. “My name…”
    Stan took the donkey. On the underneath, written in tiny childish writing, it said Carly Jo. How come he’d never noticed that before? He’d always assumed it said Haley-Jo. Something slammed into his gut knocking the breath and stuffing from him. His entire world crumbled around him.
    “Where did you get it?”
    “Julie got…” He broke off. “If it’s yours then you should have it back. I’ll get a new one tomorrow.”
    Carly hesitated, as if unsure whether to leave the nativity set here or not. “Are you sure?”
    He nodded. “Yes.” His heart broke. He looked away, unable to watch as she slid the pieces into her camera bag.
    “Thanks. I should probably make a move.” She stood. “What time is the carol service on Sunday?”
    “Six thirty.”
    “OK. I’ll see you then.”
    He noticed she hadn’t mentioned the party, but maybe that was a good thing now. He saw her out and shut the front door. He turned and leaned against it, burying his head in his hands.
    Julie ran into the room, her eyes sparkling. “Stan, look at this. It belonged to Haley-Jo’s mother. Her relatives want us to have it. I figured we could put it in my wooden box and unite the two families properly. Something from them and something from us for Haley-Jo to pass on to her kids one day.”
    Tears ran slowly down Stan’s face. He could no longer class it as an “if” or a “but.” It was a fact. Carly was Haley-Jo’s mother. He dropped to his knees, hands whitening