Sophie Was Blamed for Ruining Christmas — Then the Living Room Camera Showed the Real Culprit Had Four Paws
Chapter 4 — The Christmas Eve Package
Richard had always assumed his mother sent the ornament.
She loved music-themed decorations.
But she denied it.
Richard never investigated.
The package had no return address.
Inside was only the glass music note.
And a card:
MERRY CHRISTMAS. KEEP LISTENING.
Richard had forgotten the card completely.
Michael looked toward the hidden note.
“Thomas sent it.”
Richard nodded slowly.
“Maybe.”
Then Sophie asked:
“Why didn’t he just call?”
Richard smiled sadly.
“That’s a very good question.”
Michael wanted an answer too.
They searched online.
Thomas Bell was not difficult to find.
There were dozens of Thomas Bells.
But one obituary from Oregon caught Richard’s attention.
THOMAS EDWARD BELL, MUSIC TEACHER, 1957–2018.
The photograph showed an older man holding a guitar.
Richard immediately recognized him.
“That’s Thomas.”
He was dead.
Richard leaned back.
For a moment, he looked much older than he had that morning.
Michael read the obituary.
Thomas taught public-school music for thirty-one years.
He directed community theater productions.
He was survived by one daughter.
Elena Bell.
Then Richard noticed something strange in the obituary.
Instead of flowers, Thomas’s family had asked for donations to the Winter Morning Youth Music Fund.
Michael stared at the name.
“Winter Morning?”
Richard whispered:
“He kept the title.”
