22. Billie
CHAPTER 22
BILLIE
B illie woke early on Christmas Eve, as always. She was filled with a mix of excitement and morning sickness that proved to be a less-than-fun combination, but after a cup of ginger tea and a plain bagel, she felt ready to face the day. A glance at her delivery list almost sent her running back to bed — it would take hours to drive all over Denver delivering each gift. Billie had sent out several emails asking for volunteers, but even her usual volunteers were always hesitant to work on Christmas Eve, and Billie couldn’t blame them. Most years, she’d rather do the work herself than make anyone else get up early on Christmas Eve.
Today, though, she wouldn’t have said no to a little help.
Yawning, she took a last sip of her ginger tea, put the cup in the dishwasher, and went to shower and dress. As long as she didn’t get too dizzy or nauseated and have to take a break, she could be done with all the deliveries by mid-evening and could crawl back into bed for an early night. Tomorrow, Jamie had insisted that she come over to spend Christmas morning with her, Stewart, and their parents. Billie wasn’t sure she wanted to go but had agreed anyway.
She picked out a red sweater and a pair of jeans, then added a red Santa hat at the last minute. She might be tired and sick, but this was still supposed to be a magical day of giving gifts to children who really deserved it. Billie wasn’t about to let them down.
The Sweetest Surprise car was waiting for her at the center, where she’d also be picking up the first load of gifts. Billie took the bus to the center, and she was one of only two people riding. The other was an elderly gentleman who smiled at her and wished her a merry Christmas when he disembarked, leaving Billie completely alone. Clearly, most of the city’s residents were home with the people they loved this early on Christmas Eve. Billie rested a hand lightly on her stomach. She had someone she loved right here with her.
At the center, she hurried to the door, shivering as she pulled out her key and put it in the lock. To her surprise, and worry, the door swung open before she was able to turn the key — it hadn’t been locked. Inside, the table where she’d laid out the gifts was nearly empty, with only one batch of gifts left to go. Billie’s heart sank. Had someone stolen all the presents? Who would do such a thing?
“Merry Christmas Eve, Billie.”
Billie turned to see Barbara, her accountant, with several bags of gifts in her arms.
“Barbara, what’s going on?”
“Well, a few last-minute volunteers signed on to help with deliveries,” Barbara said. “They got here at the break of dawn and have been delivering gifts all morning.”
Billie almost slumped to the floor in relief. Not only had the gifts not been stolen, but they’d already been delivered! If Billie took this last batch herself, she’d still be home before lunchtime.
“That’s wonderful. I had no idea.” Billie pressed a palm to her heart. “Who are these volunteers? I need to thank them.”
“Most of them are out on deliveries, but I’m sure they’ll be back soon.”
“All right. I’ll take the last batch of gifts and be back as soon as I can. Please, tell the volunteers to wait if they can. I want to thank them personally.”
“Oh, I’m certain at least one volunteer will wait for you,” Barbara said. She grinned, and Billie’s eyes narrowed.
“Do you know something?”
“Not at all. Enjoy the deliveries!”
Still suspicious, Billie loaded her arms with gifts and headed out to the car. Barbara followed with a second armload, which they packed into the trunk. Billie hurried back inside to make a huge batch of hot chocolate and set out some Christmas cookies, telling Barbara to make sure the volunteers enjoyed them when they got back. Then Billie bade Barbara goodbye and headed out on her rounds.
Now that almost all the gifts were delivered, Billie’s spirits were high. She sang along to Christmas songs on the radio as she drove to the first house, even dancing a little in her seat as she went. The day got even better when she realized that many of the kids on the list were ones she knew. She delivered Mrs. Cowper and the donation certificate to Eloise’s mom, dropped off gifts with the foster family she had met with Max, and handed presents to Chloe’s dad for the older girl and her younger siblings.
The whole morning had a wonderfully festive air. Billie loved bringing a little magic to each home, and she loved the way the parents’ faces lit up when they saw the gifts, the food, and even the small presents Billie had made sure to include for the parents. After making the last delivery of a toy guitar to the home of a musically inclined three-year-old boy, Billie drove back to Sweetest Surprise with a light heart.
The mystery volunteers had really saved the day. Not only was Billie not stressed out of her mind, as she usually was on Christmas Eve, but she’d also been reminded of how good people really were. Sure, there were always people who cared only about themselves, but there were many others who were willing to get up early on December twenty-fourth to bring a little magic to children in need. Billie couldn’t wait to thank the volunteers. Hopefully, they’d stuck around and would still be there when she returned.
When she pulled into the parking lot, she saw that several cars were still parked outside. That was a good sign. Inside, volunteers were sipping hot cocoa from paper cups and enjoying Christmas cookies. Several of them looked familiar, although Billie was almost certain they hadn’t worked with her before.
“Thank you so much for helping with the deliveries this morning,” she told them.
“No problem,” one woman replied with a smile. “We’re happy to help, Billie.”
Billie wasn’t sure how this woman knew her name. Perhaps they had met before, even if she didn’t remember, which was embarrassing. Was it possible that pregnancy brain had started already?
“Do you mind if I ask what inspired you to sign up last-minute?” she asked.
“Well, when the boss asked if any of us were interested, we jumped on the opportunity,” the woman said. “If he wanted to help, we knew it must be special.”
“The boss? Who’s your boss?”
“He’s just arriving now.” The woman nodded out the front window, where a white van with the Bluebell Diner logo on the side was pulling into the parking lot.
“Thanks,” Billie said, but she was already distracted. Bluebell Diner. A boss who wanted to help. People who looked vaguely familiar. Was it possible that Max was the man in the van outside?
Billie’s heart began to beat faster, but she told herself to stay calm. This didn’t necessarily mean anything. Even if Max really had come to help, it was possible that he’d just wanted to take an opportunity for one more photo shoot or that he was trying to make up for walking out on her. It didn’t mean that anything had changed between them.
Billie made her way outside, more than a little nervous. On the way, she passed a smiling Stephanie, who was breaking down empty cardboard boxes that had been used to transport the gifts and food.
“Hey, Billie, nice to see you!” Stephanie said as she used a box cutter to rip through a strip of boxing tape.
“Nice to see you too,” Billie replied, a little confused. Stephanie had never really gotten her hands dirty and helped with the charity work before. It was nice to see, but it was more than a little puzzling, too. Her confusion grew when she spotted Jim Grayson talking to a woman around the same age, both of them wearing Sweetest Surprise T-shirts. She slipped past them.
Billie exited into the cold December air. Outside, the van door slid open, and Max hopped out. He was dressed in casual, comfortable clothes and, to Billie’s great surprise, he wore a Santa hat just like hers.
“Thanks for all your hard work today!” he called to someone in the van. “As a small bonus, I’d like to offer everyone who helped here today Monday off.”
“Thanks, boss!” came the reply from the front seat. Max waved before turning right into Billie. They both looked at each other for a long moment.
“Are you the kind volunteer who did all the deliveries this morning?” Billie asked.
“Along with a few of my charity-minded employees, yes.” Max stepped closer. “Is there somewhere we could talk?”
“Um, sure. We can go to my office.” Billie’s stomach turned. She wasn’t sure if it was pregnancy nausea or nerves. Trying to calm herself, she led Max through the lobby, past the volunteers, and up to her office. There, she leaned against her desk, arms crossed, as Max closed the door.
“Thank you for all your help with the deliveries,” Billie said. She bit her lip. “You really saved my life today. I wasn’t looking forward to doing everything while feeling nauseated.”
“You’re feeling nauseated?” Max looked concerned. “Do you want to sit? Do you want some water?”
Billie shook her head. “I’m fine now, but thank you. What did you want to talk to me about?”
“I wanted to apologize.” Max took a step closer. “I’m so sorry for how I reacted about the baby. It wasn’t right for me to walk out without talking to you.”
“Thank you for saying that. Um, and I got your child support check in the mail. I tore it up, though. I don’t need child support until there’s actually a child.”
Max smiled a little, though he quickly schooled his expression. “That sounds like you.”
Billie sighed. She felt a little teary. Max was here, so close, and apologizing. It was almost exactly what she’d imagined. Yet now, it just hurt, because she knew that, no matter how sorry Max was, he still wouldn’t want to be with her or be a real father to their baby.
“I appreciate your help,” she said again. “I really do. But I do still have a lot to do.”
“Billie, please, wait.” Max closed the distance between them and took her hands. “I know I messed up. Not just about the baby, but about our relationship. I was scared. I was scared to become a father and to fail our child. I was scared to try a real relationship with you and to let you down. All my life, I’ve been scared of messing things up and falling short.
“But I talked to my father yesterday, and he made me realize something. The biggest and worst way I could fall short is by not being there at all. I know that I’ve made mistakes, but I want to be a father to our baby. I want to be a partner to you.” Max raised his eyes to Billie’s. “If you’re willing to let me, I want to be a part of your life.”
Billie felt breathless. For a long moment, she didn’t know what to say. Max wanted to be with her. That was amazing — but what if it wasn’t enough?
“I’m so glad to hear you say that,” she replied. “But Max, how do I know you won’t walk out again when things get tough? Raising a baby isn’t easy. Being in a real relationship isn’t always easy. I can’t let you into my heart again if I don’t know whether I can count on you.”
“I won’t run away again.” Max shook his head. “The difference now is that I love you. I love our baby. And I want you to know how serious I am about you — both of you. That’s why I got you a small gift.”
Max let go of her hands and reached into his pocket. Inside was a small box wrapped in Christmas tree paper, which he handed to her. Billie took the gift and looked up at him. Her heart fluttered in her chest.
“Should I open it?”
“Yes.”
Billie slid away the wrapping paper, her hands shaking slightly from nerves, to reveal a ring box. Her eyes widened as she opened it. Inside, nestled on a piece of velvet, was a gorgeous engagement ring made of a glittering diamond set on a band inlaid with snowflakes. Billie looked up from the ring to see that Max was on one knee.
“I know we haven’t known each other that long,” he said. “But I love you, Billie. I want to be with you. I want to be a father to our child. I want to marry you.”
“Max.” Billie felt teary. “Are you sure?”
“I’ve never been surer of anything in my life.” Max smiled up at her. “For a long time, I used to hesitate when it came to big decisions because I worried that I was making the wrong one. But I know that this is the right decision. I don’t want to waste another minute without you. Billie, you’re the most amazing woman I’ve ever met. You’re incredibly generous and always ready to help others — or give a second chance. You always make me laugh, whether we’re shopping for toys or wrapping gifts, or just eating dinner together. You’re the person I want to tell when something good happens. You’re the person I want to see every night before I go to sleep and every morning when I wake up. And you’re the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen. Billie Renee Stone, will you marry me?”
Billie felt tears finally spill from her eyes. “Yes. Of course I’ll marry you.”
Max slid the ring onto her finger then pulled Billie into a tight hug that turned into a lingering kiss. When they separated, Max was smiling.
“I love you so much, Billie.”
“I love you, too.”
They kissed again, this time longer, slower, and more tenderly than before. Billie could hardly believe what had just happened. She’d gone from waking up this morning feeling more alone than ever to being engaged to the man she loved, a man who loved her, too. It was the most wonderful feeling in the world.
They kissed for a long time, the universe seeming to stand still around them. Billie never wanted this moment to end.
“Don’t worry,” Max added a few minutes later, when they were standing in each other’s arms. “We don’t have to get married right away.”
“Good,” Billie replied. “Because I’d kind of like to fit into my wedding dress.” She looked down at her belly meaningfully, and Max chuckled.
“Fair enough, but you’ll be beautiful no matter what.”
“Even in my Santa hat?”
“Especially in your Santa hat. Merry Christmas, Billie.”
“Merry Christmas, Max. Let’s make this one the best yet.”