Chapter Forty
While the girls shopped for shoes, Jack worked at the office, making phone calls with the rest of the volunteers, working late into the night.
By the time he got back to Angie’s it was almost midnight.
With huge pressures facing him because of the election the next day, his juices were flowing nonstop, and his nerves had lit up like an active volcano.
He saw the lights still on as he thanked Brian. Good, Angie’d waited up for him. She’d talk him down so he could sleep. “You didn’t have to bring me here, bro. I could’ve driven myself.”
“Nope, no driving until we have this election in the bag tomorrow. Then you can have your keys back, son.”
“Yes, Daddy.” Sarcasm wrapped in a friendly smile. “You’ve been a pal, Brian. I don’t know how to thank you.”
“Maybe a raise?” Brian laughed good humoredly.
“Done.”
“I was just messing with you, man.”
“I’m not. You’ve been swell over these last weeks, and we both know the company has gotten a lot more business because of the limelight from the campaign.
Once people found out what I do, there’s more work than we have men and time for.
So, you’ll be going the hiring route yet again.
Trust me, bro, you’ll earn the five bucks an hour more. ”
Brian’s face lit up and the tired smile glowed. “See you bright and early. And don’t be worrying about Angie’s place. We have a few of the guys camping outside around the perimeters, just on the off-chance there’s any problems.”
“Hey, five’s my limit, stop ass-kissing me.”
This time Brian roared before he stepped on the gas and waved his goodbye through the open window.
Jack continued into the house, heading toward the light coming from the living room. He expected to see Angie but got the shock of his life. Because there was only one person waiting for him, and it wasn’t her.
***
Mia had said her goodnights to Maisie and Mark at the casita earlier and had returned to the house, sitting in the glow of the living room lamps where she did the final stitches on her and Maisie’s dresses for the next day.
Wanting them to be extra special, she opted for material she’d kept aside for this occasion where looking their best needed to happen.
She spread the material over her lap and smoothed it gently, loving the soft feel.
It was coming close enough to Christmas that she’d decided to go just a bit seasonal and had found white material with silver and red snowflake decorations.
Maisie had jumped up and down with glee when she’d seen her dress.
“It’s Chwistmas, Mia. My dwess is for Chwistmas. ”
“That’s because the holidays are coming soon, Maisie. You’ve been such a good girl, letting me and Mark get on with our work, that I’m thinking to write a big letter to Santa Claus and tell him how well you’ve behaved.”
“I’m a good giwl.” Maisie stated it with the certainty of a four-year-old genius.
“Yes honey, you’re a splendid girl. It’s been a madhouse lately trying to get all the orders finished for Christmas.
For the most part, you’ve played quietly and let us keep working.
I know it isn’t easy, pumpkin. I know you’ve been bored.
But if you can hang in there just a little longer, I promise things will be better. ”
“Angie plays with me.”
“Thank goodness. Should I write Santa a letter for her too?”
Maisie giggled. “Can I help?”
“Of course. We’ll write it together.”
Mia grinned, lost in her memories. She picked up the hem once again to finish the last bit. She must remember to grab a minute the next day so she could keep her promise to her little girl.
The lovely music she’d requested from Alexa, her Echo, played in the background adding to the peaceful atmosphere. Pine smells from the Christmas tree Angie insisted had to be real, took her back to many previous holidays she’d spent here as a youngster.
The house shone with seasonal fripperies.
Angie went overboard most years, but this time she’d gone above and beyond.
Christmas was everywhere, especially in the huge tree decorated and glowing with traditional decorations that made it appear as one might have forty years earlier.
They’d even brought out the tinsel Angie used year after year and painstakingly gathered to be placed in tissue paper at the end of each season.
In the lower workroom, Angie had insisted they use a multitude of small teddy bears, millions of tiny lights and a selection of colored bows to highlight that tree with a little girl’s happiness in mind. The females had spent Sunday afternoon placing the decorations and singing along to the music.
But this main tree in the house was the exact same year after year. Mia’s mother had told her that Angie always kept it the same as during the time when her sweetheart had been alive.
Days ago, Mia had built up her nerve and asked Angie about her lost fiancé. She’d spoken briefly, tears appearing, showing strong emotions full of grief that were still affecting her.
“I loved him dearly, Mia. If you ever find a love like that, you grab hold of it and never let go. We don’t know how long we have on this earth.
Too much energy is wasted on the small problems that could be easily discussed and dealt with, and not enough time is taken to spoil your man, love him and let him know how special he is, how much he matters.
If only people would wake up and see that if you love someone in that way, they’ll return it tenfold.
My man loved me till he died and even after.
I never had to wonder. I still feel him with me, caring for me. ”
Mia sighed deeply, her sewing bunched up on her lap, forgotten, while she fantasized about a love so deep it never disappeared. Whatever kind of a person he’d been, Angie’s fiancé had won her heart, and she’d never strayed.
In the background, the low music changed from one carol to another. Suddenly, it played an old favorite… Blue Christmas by Elvis.
Lost to the world, thinking how terribly she’d miss Jack if he hadn’t survived the latest accident, she let sadness have its way.
Tears began forming from just the idea of a life without him in it.
Deep into her thoughts, she didn’t hear the door open, or the footsteps from the man who now leaned against the doorframe, watching her closely.
When he sang along with some of the last words, his voice surprisingly in tune, she gazed up at him and swallowed. Her heart suddenly acted like an African drum. Her tummy began dancing along.
Sniffling, aching from wanting him so much, having him appear seemed like a dream. She was in such a mess that speaking became impossible.
Laying aside the dress she was hemming, she struggled to gain her composure and waited to see what he would do.
Like a man who couldn’t believe his good fortune, he approached. “How lucky can a man get?” he asked, as if she would answer.
“I’m sorry. I just got busy and didn’t realize the time. I’ll let you get some rest now. You look exhausted.”
“Funny thing, I was tired a few minutes ago. Now I just feel thankful to be alive and here with you.”
Not sure how to take his words, Mia stood and went to pass by on her way out of the room. Only one word could have stopped her, taken her back to a night she’d relived a thousand times.
“Don’t.” His voice dripped with need. “Don’t leave.”
With her back to him, she stopped. “If you want me—”
Interrupting, he flipped her words back to her.
“Want you? Lady, I’ve never wanted anyone more.
You’ve snuck into my very soul and lodged there since the first day we met.
Every time I look at you – and I find myself doing that a lot more than maybe I should since you don’t return my feelings – I can’t accept that you don’t want my love.
For me, you’re like sunshine drawing me from the darkness. ”
Silence – heavy with tension – filled every corner of the room. She couldn’t move, had no strength. Words crowded, coming so fast that she couldn’t think, couldn’t speak.