by Judy Baer
“Accept it graciously, Merry. I have it to give.”
She saw the intensity on his face and nodded. “Vince, this is amazing and I thank you so much. I’ve never actually had a real vacation, unless you count spring breaks in college and I hated those.”
“Much better. Enjoy it. If you want to go to the North Pole and see Santa it’s okay with me, but I’m thinking of something more like Florida, Sanibel Island, or Naples, for example. Your choice.”
She hugged the paper to her chest. “This is going to be fun!”
Merry picked up a box and handed it to him. “Now it’s your turn. It’s not much and it’s really kind of silly, but at least it will remind you of this Christmas.”
“Whatever it is, it’s perfect,” Vince assured her. The tissue paper fell away and a startled look passed across his features. Carefully he lifted a quilt out of the box. Each square featured a different Christmas scene.
“I just pieced the top,” Merry hurried to explain. “I didn’t have time to back and quilt it, but I will. Then I’ll send it to you. On those days when even California feels damp and chilly, you can use it to take a nap on your couch and think of tonight.”
“When did you manage to do this?” Vince asked. His throat was full and his voice unsteady.
“At night, after you guys went to bed. It’s a simple nine-patch pattern. I was just afraid you might hear my sewing machine and wake up. I put the machine in my closet and used it in there. That’s as far away as I could get from your rooms.”
“You did this in a closet?” Jack asked. “Just so Vince would be surprised?”
“It worked, didn’t it?” She gave him a bright smile.
Vince seemed truly moved by her gesture. “I never expected anything like this. I’ll treasure it.”
He offhandedly tossed a similar envelope at Jack. “Here’s something for you too.”
Inside was a note indicating that Jack now had season tickets for the LA Lakers. He whistled appreciatively. “You expect me to take time off to attend all these games?”
“I do. You’ve got to ease up, buddy, or you’ll run out of steam far too young. I know you’ve never cared about that, but I do.” Vince’s gaze flickered toward Merry and back again. “Other people who love you do too.”
His smile wavered a little but Jack said, “You know, I might have been wrong about ignoring Christmas. I’m beginning to like this part, the gift-giving, I mean.”
“Good, because I have something for you too.” Merry went to the back of the tree against the wall and dragged a package toward Jack. His box was considerably bigger and heavier.
“What do we have here?” he asked as he untied the ribbon and ripped away the sparkling red-and-green wrapping paper.
“I have something to confess first.” Merry looked worried. “Your gift is something I started a long time ago, before I knew you, Jack, but it seemed like the right present to give you. I’d planned to make something special just for you, but—and I’m not sure why—I felt like this should be yours.”
He peeled back layers of tissue to expose another quilt. This one was flannel and much larger and far more detailed. It depicted scenes of lakes and rivers, bears and bison, deer and turkeys, canoes and kayaks. There was intricate appliqué on each square. The colors were so rich and inviting that one could snuggle into the quilt and get lost in it.
“It’s scenes of Minnesota,” Merry explained unnecessarily. “Minnesota as I see it, at least. And I hand quilted it.”
“You made every stitch by hand?” Jack ran his hand across the softness.
“Yes, I did.”
“I can’t take this. It’s too special. You worked on it so long.”
She waved her hand in the air, dismissing his statement. “This is Christmas, my favorite time of year. One of the things I love most is blessing people with gifts. You’ll make me sad if you don’t take it.”
Doubt played on Jack’s features.
“Please?”
“You mean it will hurt you if I don’t take this beautiful thing?”
“Yes. To the core.”
He sighed and pulled out the weighty comforter. As it bloomed out of the box it was even more beautiful. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say thank you,” Merry teased.
“Thank you, a hundred times, thank you.”
She sat back looking pleased.
“Merry,” Jack said, “I understand that this is something you’ve been working on for a very long time. May I ask what you’d initially planned for it?”
She didn’t answer for a long time, weighing the pros and cons of telling him the truth. Truth, as usual with Merry, won out.
“I made it for my trousseau, my hope chest, that old-fashioned thing women don’t do anymore. But I’m an old-fashioned girl at heart, and I decided to make something I thought my future husband would like—fishing, hunting, you know. When I didn’t marry, I began to use the other things I’d put in there like my dishtowels, sheet, and pillowcases. I was never quite sure what to do with the quilt until this week. I knew in my heart that I wanted to give it to you for Christmas.”
She looked at the expression on Vince’s face and laughed. “I didn’t give it to him in hopes of snaring him for myself, Vince. I did it because I couldn’t not give it to him. Jack needs it. He lost so much.”
She turned back to Jack. “Call it a healing quilt, if you will.”
She hadn’t known how Jack would receive her gift, but she’d been compelled to give it. Sometimes God put in her impulses she couldn’t ignore. This had been one of them. Thankfully Jack received it graciously.
Jack stared at Merry for a long while before nodding.
He dug in his pocket and pulled out a small wrapped gift. “This doesn’t look like much after something hand-made, beautiful, and so close to your heart.”
“Oh, come on!” Vince broke the solemn mood. “Give the girl her present. I want to see what it is.”
With a sigh, Jack handed over the small box. “Store-bought. I didn’t even do the wrapping, but the sentiment is there.”
“I’m sure it is.” Merry felt her fingers shaking as she carefully undid the paper. She always saved Christmas wrap to reuse in the store, and this was particularly beautiful.
She felt velvet beneath her fingertips as the small jeweler’s box was revealed. She held it to her ear and shook it, but it gave away none of its secrets.
“Open it,” Vince encouraged.
When she did, she saw a platinum necklace with the largest, most beautiful diamond she’d ever seen. She ran her finger over the stone before she took the necklace out of its box and held it to her neck.
Vince whistled. “Good job, Jack. That’s a beauty.”
Merry cradled the necklace in her hands and said nothing. Silently she handed it back to Jack.
“What are you doing?”
“And you said my gift to you was too big! That diamond has to be almost a carat. You could probably buy my store for the money you spent on that, Jack.”
“So? Like Vince, I have it to spend. You know my financial situation.”
“Why spend it on me?” Tears shone in her eyes.
“Merry,” he said intently as Vince’s presence receded into the background, “whether or not you know it, you gave me my life back. If it hadn’t been for you I’d still be angry, guilty, and living in the past. I didn’t believe there was a way to get over Jamie’s death and move on. You opened my eyes. Your crazy joy over the holiday, your passionate faith, your giddy pleasure at helping others . . . it was like nothing I’ve ever experienced. You gave me a gift that no one else has even been able to—I got myself back and, I believe, my life. If that’s not worthy of a diamond bauble, I don’t know what is.”
Vince cleared his throat and stood up. “And now that I’ve witnessed another miracle, I’m going to bed. See you in the morning for church.” He quickly disappeared up the steps.
Jack chuckled. “I don’t think
Vince is comfortable with gooey stuff.”
“Are you comfortable with it?”
“More every day,” and he kissed her.
They sat together watching the fire, Merry curled into Jack’s chest, his arm around her protectively, as if he’d never let her go. There was such peace in the room that neither felt the need to speak.
It was some time before Jack shifted so he could look at Merry. “I have something to confess.”
“Confess away,” she purred. “I forgive you for everything.”
“Not that kind of confession. I want to tell you when something clicked inside me like a switch turning the light on.”
“Hmm?”
“It was when we were playing Mary and Joseph for the living Nativity. I felt you against me and saw the look in your eyes as you studied that baby. It was the first time I truly realized what I’ve been missing. I’ve held everyone at arm’s length, friends, coworkers, women who expressed an interest in me, everyone.”
She sat up and looked into his eyes.
“I realized that I wanted a wife, that I wanted a child, that by carrying Jamie’s death on my shoulders I’d denied myself that kind of life. I want that kind of life now, Merry. And I want it with you.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
• • • • • • • • • • • •
They slept late after attending the midnight candlelight service at church. Merry was the first to awake, and she had the coffee brewing when Vince and Jack came downstairs.
“There are rolls and coffee. Church starts at eleven. I’m going upstairs to get dressed.” She looked shyly at Jack, wondering if she’d imagined last night. It was almost too wonderful to have been real.
But the intimate, only-for-her smile Jack gave her told her it hadn’t been a dream.
Merry was tempted to look down at her toes and make sure she wasn’t walking on air.
* * * * *
The church was full with not only the families of Frost but all their Christmas guests. As Merry sat beside Jack, their shoulders rubbing, a sense of peace filled her. It was as if God had planned this moment in time just for her. Nothing would make her forget this feeling of contentment with her life and her love for—
She snapped back to attention as Pastor Ed began to read the Christmas story and then shared a short message. When he was done, the congregation joined together for several carols. The singing was joyful and robust. At the end of the service, everyone filed out, and each child received a small brown paper sack to take home.
“What’s that?” Vince asked. “Do we get one?”
By the time they got to the back of the church to shake hands with the pastor, most of the children had gone. Merry took a bag out of the still overflowing basket and tipped her head toward Vince. “Do you mind, Pastor? Vince wonders what’s inside.”
“Help yourself,” Pastor Ed said. “By the way, Hildy called to tell me what happened. Praise God!”
He turned to Jack, then Vince. “Christmas blessings to both of you.”
By the time they got back to Merry’s, Vince was digging into the paper sack. He took it to her kitchen table and removed the contents piece by piece.
“Peanuts in the shell, an orange, peppermints, hairy candy . . .”
“That’s ribbon candy. The fuzz is from the peanut shells. It wouldn’t be the same if everything didn’t melt together a little under the lights.”
“But what is it?”
“A treat for the children. Fifty or sixty years ago it was a very big deal to hand out these sacks. Sometimes kids didn’t get much more than that for Christmas. It’s a tradition we’ve continued. I think it reminds us of how little we need and how much we want.”
“I feel like I’ve stepped back in time.” Vince paused. “I’m going to miss it when I head back to California.”
Merry glanced at him. “When is that?”
“Yeah, when is that?” Jack echoed. “You’ve kept me in the dark lately as to what you’re doing.” He scowled at his friend.
“And look how much healthier you look. You have me to thank for it. No stress, no strain.”
“Trusting you is both stress and strain, Vince. I need to get back in the loop.”
“I’m doing what has to be done and you know it.”
The discussion had taken on a somber, ominous tone, Merry noted. Vince was telling Jack to back off so he could do what needed to be done. What, exactly, did that mean?
Merry forgot about it as they drifted through the day, eating leftovers and playing Scrabble. Eggnog and Peppermint got to open their gifts—treats from Merry and toys from Jack.
“I can see whose gift Nog likes best.” Merry pretended to pout.
She watched Jack play with the cat. He’d tied a string to a small branch and feathers to the string. The cat chased the feathers and purred loud as a motor until Jack’s arm became tired. Then Nog curled up in his lap and fell asleep. For Peppy, Jack had purchased an enormous bag of rawhide bones. The dog disappeared, dragging one of the bones in his mouth, and they heard crunching sounds emanating from behind the couch for the entire afternoon.
“Well?” Vince said to Jack as dusk fell. “How do you rate Christmas this year?”
Merry, who was carrying dishes into the living room so they could eat by the fire, stopped in her tracks.
Jack propped his feet on the footstool and looked thoughtful. The look of distress that was usually present when he considered Christmas was absent. His handsome features were serene, his expression relaxed.
“It’s a fresh start. A new beginning. A rebirth, which is fitting considering the other birth we celebrate.” His gaze caught Merry’s. “A Christmas full of miracles.”
Later, alone in her room, Merry’s prayers were ones of joyous gratitude.
* * * * *
Jack woke up feeling better than he had in weeks . . . no, months . . . or perhaps years.
Merry greeted him in the kitchen. “You look rested.”
“I feel great. Where’s Vince?”
“He left a half hour ago.” She frowned. “He said something about pulling the trigger on all the work he’s been doing.” She handed him a mug of coffee. “What does that mean?”
“We told you we had found mistakes in the recording of some deeds and tax rolls from years ago when my great-grandfather was in Frost. Vince thinks that when they computerized, they input the wrong information. It shouldn’t have happened, but who knows back then? I’m sure it wasn’t intentional.”
“What can he do now?”
“The deeds will be updated, and whatever confusion was caused will have to be rectified. Vince is a great attorney and a wonderful business associate who looks out for me. I’m confident that whatever he has done, it’s correct.” Jack grinned. “I’m learning to enjoy sitting back and letting him do the work.”
“Isn’t that what he was hired for in the first place?”
“Sure, but I always had a hard time letting go of the reins. Work was all I had. If I wasn’t busy, I spent too much time regretting my life.”
“And now?”
He put his hands around her waist and pulled her into his lap. “Now I have you to think about. Who needs work?”
He kissed her then. She tasted of cinnamon and strawberry jam. As Merry sank deeper in his arms, Jack couldn’t imagine that he could ever be happier.
“What do you think we should do about this?” he murmured, his lips pressed into her hair, eyes closed.
“About what?” She sounded dreamy, content.
“You and me.”
“Oh, that.” She tipped her head back so she could look at him. The expression in her eyes was sheer tenderness and love. “Maybe we need to think about that.”
“I don’t. I know what I want to do.”
He felt her tighten her arms around him.
“I want to marry you.” The words were easy to say, smooth and welcome on his lips.
“Oh, Jack . . .” She leaned her head aga
inst his chest and buried herself in his warmth. “I want to marry you too.”
He kissed her deeply, ardently, and she responded with an eagerness and enthusiasm that surprised him. “You do? Really?”
“You sound surprised.”
“I am, a little. I never expected to feel as happy as I do right now.” Tenderly, he brushed a stray hair from her eyes. “Or so lucky.”
The flavor of her was still on his lips when his cell phone rang.
They both jumped, startled by the piercing sound. Jack wanted to ignore it but knew he couldn’t. Vince had told him to be on hand today in case any questions came up.
“Sorry. I promised Vince.”
“It’s okay. I’ll have you forever. I can share you for a minute.”
He kissed her nose and punched TALK on the phone.
“Hi. It’s Vince.”
Vince sounded a little nervous, Jack thought. Odd.
“I know you’re thinking about Merry and how she’ll respond once she hears that you own . . .” Vince cleared his throat. “Never mind.”
“What do you mean, never mind? What were you going to say?”
“Remember that you told me that your great-aunt once lived in Merry’s house?”
“Yeah, so?”
“It’s still your house, Jack. You also own two lots on the other side of Hildy’s place. There’s a little house on one lot and the other is empty. And apparently your relative also owned the majority of Main Street. You own all the land on which Frost sat when it was founded. Still, the majority of the confusion involves the farmland. We’ll get it straightened out, don’t worry.”
Jack held a finger in the air, signaling Merry to wait, and then went up to his room to speak privately with Vince.
“What is Merry going to say?” he hissed.
“I know she isn’t going to be happy about this, but she’s a reasonable woman.”
“Merry’s passionate about Frost. Even though she understands on a logical level, she’s going to resent anything I do to upset its residents.”
“I’ve filed an action to quiet the deed,” Vince told him, and Jack winced. An action to quiet the deed was a lawsuit filed in order to discover the real owner of the land in question. “It had to be done, you know that.”
