Indigo slept calmly in her cat tree, which now had paper stars hanging from the upper portions with fishing line. They twirled whenever she flew back, making the glitter sparkle in the light.

I snuck out of the room quietly to not wake her and closed the door, but didn't latch it so she could get out when she wanted. Slowly, I made my way back to the living room, keeping an eye out for the Cat. He wasn't on the balcony or in the room when I entered.

"Hey, Betty, can you warn me if the Cat comes in?" I asked, quietly.

A burst of warmth under my feet made me smile as I opened one of the other boxes from earlier. Inside sat a bunch of hand-knitted stockings I'd ordered from online. I pulled the first out, which was a bright white with red writing.

'Indigo', in a pretty slanted writing, blazed across the front. It had small purple dragons flying along the cuff. I hung it from the hook attached to the mantle, smiling. The next one was for the Cat. The body was dark green with white writing. One side had 'Cat' on it, while the other said 'Felix'. The white trim had a black cat decorating it. I hung it up next to Indigo's, with the Cat side facing out.

The second to last stocking had my name on it. It was blue with white writing on it. My name practically glowed on the front, and golden stars decorated the white cuff. I paused, staring at it, before pulling out the order slip.

"That's strange…" I whispered. I hadn't ordered the cuff decoration on mine. Maybe the knitter wanted something there. I hung it up next to the Cat's stocking.

The last one was a bright red with green writing. 'Betty' stretched across the front, and coffee cups decorated the cuff. It was exactly as I'd imagined. I hung it up next to the other three, smiling.

The blast of warmth that came out of the fireplace almost knocked me over as I giggled.

"I'm glad you like it, Betty…"

I added some dark green garland to the mantle with a strand of red beads wrapped around it, to give it a little more presence.

Standing back, I declared the fireplace to be done.

"So, did you get the secret project up?" I whispered into the room.

A controller appeared on the coffee table with all the required buttons. I did a little happy dance, knowing that my gift for the Cat was complete, along with the one for Indigo.

I hoped both would enjoy their presents, even if they weren't wrapped under the tree.

Still, I needed to get some things to fill their stockings with. Small things that'd be cute or useful.

Then I had nothing else to distract me from making the phone call I'd been dreading. I really didn't want to do this.

I tossed myself back on the fluffy couch and pulled my phone out of my pocket. To my surprise, I had a text from Cyan asking to call him. I dialed his number.

"Hey, I just got your message," I said, staring at the fireplace.

"Glad I caught you… Are you coming home for the holiday?"

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I hadn't expected him to be so blunt.

"No, I can't get the time off that week…"

"Ugh, that's not great…" said Cyan. He sounded conflicted and slightly worried.

I sat up.

"Okay, what's going on?"

"You should call and talk to Dad. It really isn't my place to discuss it, but maybe, just like, call him right now? He… One sec…" His voice cut off, and I heard him walking somewhere.

"Yeah, he's in his study, alone. Now's your best shot."

"Okay. I'll call him."

Cyan hung up the phone, and I quickly hit my dad in my contacts list. It rang a few times before he picked it up.

"Hey Dad, how are you doing?"

"Wow, calling your old man, I feel special." He chuckled. "I'm… not doing okay."

My hands shook, and I switched the call to speaker phone.

"You gotta give me more than that."

"I'm having a few health problems. Nothing serious that your mother can't handle, but I'm spending more time resting than I'd like."

I'd always pictured my father as a healthy man. He practically hadn't aged – no white hair, no slowdown. Nothing like that. So this threw me.

"Are you going to be okay?"

"Yeah, it's just going to take some time to recover. Just a few weeks and I'll be back on my feet."

My eyes narrowed.

"Are you downplaying this, right now?"

He didn't answer immediately. Then he sighed.

"A little, but I expect you're not going to be home for the solstice, and I didn't want you to worry."

"I'm not. I wish I could, but I can't get the time off that week." I leaned back, staring at the ceiling. "Of course I'm going to worry. I love you. What's wrong? For real, I mean?"

"It's a small lump that is going to be removed."

"Cancer. That's what you're not saying."

"We don't know yet, and your mother doesn't think so. I trust her more than anyone."

"Maybe you should see a more modern doctor than mom…" I added softly. My mother was a fantastic nurse, with several credentials, but she also practiced some very far out there new-age type things.

"I'm going to pretend you didn't say that and get upset," he said sternly. "You mean well, and I know that, but don't you dare put down your mother's skills. I'm not worried about this, just feeling down."

"I might be able to figure out…"

"No, do not put your job at risk over this. While I want to see you, and so does your mother, this isn't big enough to risk your job." His voice came out very matter-a-fact.

"To prove it, I'll even be the one to discuss you not coming home with your mother."

"Dad… you don't need to do that."

"I know, but I love you and want you to not worry…" his voice trailed off and then he continued with a brighter tone. "Have you started writing in your journal yet?"

"Not yet, but I'll make sure to soon."

"You better." He chuckled. "I saw that and had to get it for you. I know it's not my normal type of birthday gift."

"It's perfect," I said thinking of everything happening in my life. I had plenty to write.

"Well, I need to go talk to your mother. I hope you have a fantastic Solstice."

"You too. I love you."

"Love you!"

I hung up the phone, unsure of what to do. While Dad talking to Mom was such a relief, this health thing of his worried me. Even if he didn't want me to worry.

"Everything will be alright," I whispered to myself.

***

I hated technology. Maybe it'd be more pleasant if I had thumbs, or hands, again. The tablet in front of me made me want to yell, but I couldn't do that without Sable finding out what I was up to. The email thing frustrated me, too, but the shop helped me as best it could. Words flowed across the screen, as best as I could get them to.

The email address the shop pulled from Sable's computer. I didn't know, or care, how that worked. Only that the shop could do it.

Hopefully this would help, ramifications be damned.

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