Taylor and Stephanie picked Anna up from basketball practice 
after to school. Then headed to Tulsa for Christmas. When they 
arrived, the whole family was already there. They were greeted at the 
door by Zac. 
        "So you finally decided to show up!" Zac exclaimed 
sarcastically.
	"At least I didn't show up late to my wedding!" Taylor shot 
back.
	Diana ran to the door from the kitchen, where she was cooking, 
and gave them all a hug. During dinner, Mackenzie announced something.
	"I'm getting married," he said suddenly.
	"Finally, how long have you been going out with Rachael? Four 
years?" Isaac asked.
	"That's not that long, compared to how many years Tay and Beth 
would've been going out!" Zac said.
	Everyone in the immediate family, except Mackenzie and Zoë, 
dropped whatever they were holding.
	"Zachary!" Walker exclaimed.
	Taylor could feel everyone's eyes on him.
	"Oh, who's Beth?" Stephanie asked, jokingly.
	"No one, just drop it," Taylor replied.
	"Sorry, you know me. Blabber mouth and Peeping Zac."
	"Zac, be quiet. Don't dwell on the past," Taylor said, wanting 
to drop the subject.
        "If you don't dwell on the past then you're destine to repeat 
it!" Zac shot back.
        "Both of you! Just drop it!" Walker exclaimed, stopping all 
conversations.
	The rest of dinner went mostly in silence. After dinner, 
Stephanie decided to ask Isaac something.
	"Who was Beth anyway?" Stephanie asked.
	"No one, just a girl from the past," Isaac said quickly, then 
walked into the living room.
	After the kitchen was cleaned up, Diana went into the living 
room.
	"Taylor, I need to talk to you," Diana said.
	They went into Diana's room. She picked something up from the 
dresser and sat down on the bed. Diana motioned for Taylor to sit 
next to her. She handed him wrapped box with a card on top of it as 
he sat down.
	"What's this?" Taylor asked.
	"Taylor, I've waited a long time to give you this. I didn't 
think you could handle it back then, but I think you're ready now. 
When I was going through Beth's things after she died, I found this. 
I better get back to the family, but I think you should open it," 
Diana said, then left the room.
	Taylor looked at it for a while, then opened the card. It 
read:
	Happy Birthday Tay! You can now drive leagally (with an adult,
of course).
	Because you are who you are,
	we're friends.
	Whether it was your smile
	or your laugh
	that caught my eye,
	it was definitely your
	concerned attitude
	that captured my heart.
	I can talk to you so easily
	and laugh with you on
	the spur of the moment.
	With you, my friend, I don't have to
	pretend to be anything that I'm not.
	You accept me for who I am and what
	I represent.
	You are that rare kind of person
	who cares enough to allow
	and even encourage a person to be
	who they are.
	You have helped me through
	what has been a difficult time
	"Thanks" just doesn't adequately
	express my appreciation.
	But even more that that,
	I appreciate your friendship.
			Love,
			      Beth
	Taylor had tears in his eyes after he read the card. He shut 
it and put the gift on the bed. Then walked down the stairs, and into 
the living room.
	"Dad, you had long hair when you were a kid?" Brad asked.
	"Yep, so did your uncles," Taylor replied, as he sat down on 
the couch and started watching the tape that was playing.
	Halfway through the video, Northern Lights came on. It showed 
them all standing together talking. When they realized that the 
camera was on them, they got shy.
	"Um, hi! Bye now!" Beth said, as they all ran off.
	The next part was of Taylor and Beth. They were talking on 
the couch, sitting close to each other.
	"Oh, how sweet. How long until you're getting married?" Walker
asked, from behind the camera.
	"Dad!" Taylor whined.
	"Next Saturday!" Beth burst in.
	"Excuse me. I can't watch this," Taylor said, walking out of
the room. Walker followed him into the kitchen.
	"When are you going to get over her? I miss her too, but you 
have to get on with your life," Walker said to him. 
	"It's hard to when everything in this house reminds me of her. 
I can't even walk into Zoë's room without thinking of back then."
	"I know it's hard, but you have your own family now. You have 
to concentrate on them," Walker said.
	Taylor just looked out the window. In the other room, 
Stephanie was trying to figure out what was wrong.
	"What's wrong with him?" Stephanie asked.
	"That was Beth," Zac explained.
	"Why'd he take it so hard? Did she dump him?" Stephanie asked.
	"No she . . . died," he said, his voice hetting softer.
	"Oh, sorry I asked," Stephanie said, then walked into the 
doorway of the kitchen and knocked.
	Walker walked into the living room, while Stephanie tried to 
comfort Taylor. Taylor just refused to talk. After Christmas, everyone
went back home.