Chapter 17
CHRISTMAS DAY
“What was that all about last night?” Josie's mother asked from the backseat. With her trunk stuffed full of gifts from Victoria’s Pantry, Josie and her parents were on their way to the Open Hearth clinic for the Christmas Day celebration.
“Well, it sure was different.” Josie had hardly been able to sleep last night. Malcolm's announcement had been more than a surprise. Her head spun just thinking about it. When they’d said good night, he’d whispered that they could talk more today.
“And you do this every year?” her dad said, sitting in the seat next to her. “You should've mentioned that caroling before. We would have come up from Sarasota earlier.”
Josie smiled as they drove along. Her father would focus on the caroling, not the romance and baby drama that had filled the air. But not her mother.
“And that sweet little baby,” Mom piped up from the back. “Where did that baby come from?”
Josie had an idea in her head but she wasn't going to voice it.
At this point it was just speculation. “Good question.
The manger is usually filled each Christmas morning.
The women from the church take care of that.
Families come to visit that nativity scene throughout the day on Christmas.
Of course the baby is exchanged every hour or so and the mother stays nearby. They're probably doing that today.”
“Oh, was there a mother there?” her mother asked.
“I don't think so.” Josie was glad that they were almost to the clinic.
Obviously the details had been lost on her parents.
They probably were still wondering why Malcolm had declared his love for her as part of the caroling session.
“I thought the doctor took that baby away to a hospital,” Mom said, still trying to figure everything out.
“He did. And we’ll probably find out more about that today. Dr. Darling should be with the group today because it's his clinic.”
“I'm starving,” her dad grumbled. “I sure hope they have food at this place.”
“Oh, you have no idea.” She pulled up in front of Open Hearth.
Clients who filled the rocking chairs on the front porch raised their mugs of Christmas coffee and waved hello.
When she popped open her trunk, some of the men rushed to help her bring the gifts inside.
Dad helped Mom from the car and inside they went.
Her father's frown immediately disappeared when he sniffed the air. “Sure smells good in here.”
The long serving table was heavy with stainless steel serving trays of French toast and scrambled eggs. Rashers of bacon sat alongside mounds of sausages. Broiled tomato halves were heaped with bubbling cheese. Chocolate croissants sat alongside cinnamon rolls and pecan sticky buns.
Her father's eyes lit up and he glanced around. “Where are the plates?”
Malcolm was beside her in a second. When he kissed her on the forehead, it seemed so natural. She beamed up at him. Certainly this was a dream. He pointed to the plates stacked at the end of the table. “Right there, sir,” he told her father.
Josie wasn't at all surprised that her dad was more interested in the food than in getting to know Malcolm better. But her mother raised her brows before hustling after her dad. “Sir?” her mother echoed. “Such a gentleman.”
“Emily and Bryn are saving a place for us toward the back.” Malcolm pointed.
Looking over, Josie saw his mother sitting with her friends. Obviously, Aurelia was fitting right in. Josie tugged on his sleeve. “Last night was quite a surprise.”
He smiled down at her. “I know. My mother can't stop talking about it.”
Josie glanced back at the table where Aurelia was peering over the heads of the others. “Right now your mother is looking at us.”
“Is she? Does it matter?” Malcolm drew her closer.
Feeling a little dizzy, Josie pointed to the tree. “Let's go check out the gifts. I want to make sure everything made it over here.” Phyllis and Victoria were busy arranging the wrapped packages and gift bags.
“Good morning,” Phyllis greeted them with a cheery smile.
Looking a little green around the gills, Victoria gave them a little wave and went back to checking each gift off on her clipboard.
“Hey, are you feeling all right?” Josie asked Victoria.
“Not really.” She clutched her clipboard tighter.
Not wanting to catch anything, Josie backed away. “Do you think you're contagious?
“Ha. Absolutely not.” Here she jabbed the clipboard at Josie and dashed toward the ladies room. Her long green and black plaid skirt fluttered around Victoria's ankles as she ran.
From what Josie could see, the tables closest to the tree were filled with families who had small children, including Ana and her brood. “You all stay just where you are,” Josie heard Ana tell her children before she slipped away from the table and came closer.
“I have something for you,” she said, reaching into a pocket and bringing out an envelope.
“How lovely. A Christmas card?” Josie felt so happy about the relationships forged at the clinic. The children's Christmas story hour had helped bring that about.
Taking the card from Ana, she turned to Malcolm. “Look, the card is for both of us.”
“Thank you, Ana,” Malcolm said as Josie slit open the envelope.
“Oh, it’s not from me,” Ana said.
“Dear Malcolm and Josie,” Josie began to read out loud so Malcolm could hear. “You are so kind to everyone. Now I am asking for a big favor. Please take my baby Luz and raise her as if she were your own. I know she will have a happy life with you. A life I cannot give her. XXOO Liliana”
“Oh, my goodness.” She looked over at Ana who simply nodded. Josie could hardly breathe. “Did you know about this?”
“Yes, yes. She asked me to write this for her. She was a quiet one, that Liliana. But she had a sad past and is now on her way to relatives up north. You will make her very happy if you are able to do as she asked. Luz means light.”
“Luz. How beautiful.” Thinking back to the tiny infant she’d held in her arms, Josie didn't have any words. It had been so hard to give the baby to Derek. Josie had felt such a connection to that helpless infant. If only this could be true. She felt Malcolm’s arm encircle her shoulder.
“Good morning and Merry Christmas.” Suddenly, Derek Darling was at their elbow. He glanced down at the card in Josie's hand. “Christmas card?”
Malcolm shook his head. Josie handed the card to Derek, who quietly read it. “Liliana. Well, I'm not surprised.” He glanced up.
“But we are not... a couple.” Josie circled one hand between Malcolm and herself. She felt his grip on her shoulder tighten. “At least, we weren’t when we were with Liliana.”
“Maybe Lilliana was a very perceptive young lady.” Derek gave a little quirk to his head just as his wife reappeared, looking very pale. “Victoria. Are you all right?”
“I guess so,” Victoria said, pressing one hand to her stomach. “Merry Christmas, honey. I'm pregnant.”
Derek swayed on his feet. “Really? I didn't realize. Maybe I've been working too much.”
“Maybe?” Victoria asked with one of her sassy smiles.
Well, this had become a very private moment. Emily and Bryn were waving to them from the table. Josie's parents had taken a seat next to Aurelia. “I think it's time we get some food,” she whispered to Malcolm, stuffing the card into one pocket.
“I'll finish checking off the gifts.” Phyllis reached for the clipboard.
“This is quite a spread,” her father said to her when they finally took their seats.
“You’d think I never fed the man,” her mother grumbled.
“So much excitement today.” Aurelia raised her brows at Malcolm.
Settling in with her food, Josie didn't know if she was even hungry. This day was filled with so much happiness. And she loved having both her parents and Malcolm's mother there.
Over at the front door, Victoria's father had arrived with his wife.
Obviously they had just been given Victoria's news.
The man was absolutely beaming, clapping his son-in-law on the back.
Usually Mr. Pomeroy gave the clinic a very generous gift at Christmas time.
Josie had a feeling that in light of Victoria's pregnancy, that gift might be even more generous this year.
Although so much was happening, Josie’s hunger finally got to her and she picked up her fork.
In her hurry to get dressed that morning, she hadn't bothered with her makeup.
No way did she want the peppermint lipstick to interfere with her tastebuds this morning.
At the table in the back of them, Emily and Jackson were feeding Alex.
But their rambunctious little boy insisted on feeding himself.
Sheldon was in Trevor's arms, while Bryn hovered over them.
Josie didn't know when she’d had a Christmas this happy, although everything was a bit of a muddle in her mind.
She would sort this all out later when she had time to think.
Right now it was enough to relax in the glow of a perfect holiday when she was with all the people she loved.
Still, her mind kept going back to the infant she’d held in her arms. Later, she wanted to get Derek alone and ask him some questions.
She'd read about single women adopting. Why not?
Before long, Phyllis positioned the rocking chair in front of the tree. “Can I ask you a favor?” Victoria tugged at her sleeve, looking paler than ever. “Josie, can you help Phyllis hand out the gifts? Make sure everyone gets the right one. I just can't handle it today.”
“Of course.” Slipping away from the table, Josie took her place. Every package was marked, so it wasn't very hard.
Carrying a huge sack over one shoulder, Big Mac ambled in dressed as Santa, shouting, “Ho, ho, ho.” The children exploded. Before long wrapping paper was flying as the kids opened the gifts from the patrons of Victoria's Pantry.
“Alexander Hart,” Santa called out, holding a cumbersome package in his lap that must have been the fire truck.
Looking like a proud father, Jackson approached with Alex in his arms. But when they reached Santa Claus, the little guy was more interested in Santa than in the package. His tiny fist reached toward the snowy white beard.
“Oh, let the child sit on my lap,” Big Mac murmured.
“If you're sure.” Jackson handed his son over but stayed close, with Emily right behind him.
Looking oh so pleased, Alex smiled up at the big man with the white beard and red hat. “Dada,” the baby said, loud as could be.
“What? No.” Jackson look horrified and Emily burst out laughing.
“Dada,” the little boy said again, reaching for the white beard.
Still laughing, Emily stepped in and lifted Alex from Santa's lap while Jackson carried the gift back to the table. The poor man looked absolutely crushed but he quickly recovered.
The gifts had almost all been distributed when Malcolm reached under the tree and came up with a gift bag. The wrapping looked like something she had seen Eileen working on in the library that week. “This is for you,” Malcolm said.
“Oh that Eileen.” She quietly sat down at the table and began to unwrap it.
Inside was a lot of shredded red tissue, but when she pushed all that aside there was a little blue box.
Feeling breathless, she was glad that everyone seemed caught up with their own gifts.
But not her parents. And certainly not Aurelia.
Oh no, her eyes were glued to that beautiful velvet box.
Hands shaking, Josie flipped up the top. The most beautiful ring she'd ever seen winked up at her. “Oh, Malcolm. Really?” She looked up into his eyes.
“Just say yes. Say yes and make me the happiest man in the world.”
“Yes, oh yes.” And everyone at the tables nearby erupted into applause.
If she hadn't been so dazed with disbelief and delight, Josie would have been embarrassed.
This was like the ending of every great rom con she'd ever seen.
This was Richard Gere sweeping Debra Winger into his arms and marching through the airplane hanger with her.
Or Colin Firth cuddling Renee Zellweger into his coat out in the falling snow.
But this time it was her. And the ring fit. When she was handing back the box, she noticed a construction paper tree crumpled inside. Josie pulled it out. “Really? My Christmas Wish?”
Malcolm smiled. “We’ve had a lot of help. Phyllis gave this to me.”
“I'm almost embarrassed.” She glanced down at the wish where she’d scrawled “husband and family,” never dreaming that her wish might come true.
“Well, we have part of it anyway.” Fingering her Christmas Wish, she held that sweet baby in her heart. And looking up, she thought she recognized the same longing in Malcolm’s eyes. “We have each other.”
“Yes, yes I know. And I am more than grateful.” His kiss reassured her but yes, they would be happy with whatever the future brought them now that they were together.
Apparently Derek had overheard. “Sometimes Christmas wishes are granted,” he said with a mysterious smile.