Mary escorted her to the door. “Find something relaxing to do this afternoon. You’ve had a trying morning.”
Mrs. Gallagher reached to embrace Mary but was interrupted by the arrival of a tall, teenaged boy.
“Grant?” Mary said with surprise. “What are you doing here?”
The boy ducked his head. “Hi, Miss Thompson. Neil said I should come to his office, so we could work on the finishing touches of my project. Hope that’s okay.”
Mary could remember being just as bashful as Grant and her empathetic heart ached for the boy. “Of course. I’ll take you to Neil’s office.”
Mrs. Gallagher headed toward the employees’ lockers. “I’m just going to get my coat and then I’ll be on my way. Thanks again, Mary.”
Mary raised her hand to acknowledge Mrs. Gallagher’s goodbye. Mrs. Gallagher had asked to work from the day after Thanksgiving until the end of the year. She’d only be at the store two more weeks. Surely she’d be all right in toys. If not, gift wrapping was always an option.
Grant shifted his weight from one foot to the other, reminding Mary of his presence. “Neil recently moved into a new office,” she said as she led him down the short hallway. “Did you come by yourself?”
“My dad picked me up after my final exam and drove me. He’s parking the truck.”
Mary stopped in front of Alexis Lange’s former office. Neil had wasted no time transforming it into a technology hub. Neil sat behind the spacious desk, his eyes obscured by the reflection of monitors in his glasses. Mary tapped on his open door. “You have a visitor.”
Neil’s head popped up. “Oh, hi there, Grant. Glad you found me.” Neil removed some papers from his desk and pulled a chair closer. “Sit here and show me what you’ve got.”
“I’ll see you geniuses later,” Mary said.
Neither Neil nor Grant answered, but Mary wasn’t insulted. It was common for Neil to be so engrossed in his work that the rest of the world faded. As she headed back toward her office, she saw something that made her freeze in her tracks.
Will Stewart stood in her doorway, looking very tall, very masculine, and very handsome. “Hey, you,” she said.
Will turned at the sound of her voice and smiled broadly.
Mary fought to calm her heartbeat. “I just took Grant to Neil’s office. He didn’t tell me you were coming too.”
Will’s eyes shone like a five-year-old’s on Christmas morning. “I have a surprise for you.”
“Good surprise or bad surprise?”
“Good. Your kitchen’s finished.”
Mary’s heartbeat raced faster. “Really? Can I see it? When can I see it?”
“Right now if you want.”
She almost skipped down the hallway. “Let me tell the secretary I’m taking my lunch break early. I can hardly wait.”
* * *
Mary sprinted up the back steps, unlocked the door, and entered her new kitchen. How had Will made everything shine like dewdrops in sunlight? She ran her fingers over the mahogany countertops, opened the new refrigerator’s door, and turned the stove burners on and off. Then she walked to the middle of the room and gazed at the wonder of it all.
Will stepped behind her. “You’re too quiet. Makes me nervous.”
Mary turned toward him. “It’s beautiful. So much better than I imagined. This is sure to be a happy place. People will share food and stories of their day. They’ll…”
“They’ll what, Mary?”
Tears sprung to her eyes. “They’ll share love here.”
Will stuck his hands in his pockets and frowned. “Don’t cry about it.”
“I’m not crying. Well, I am crying, but not because I’m sad or disappointed. I never thought…”
Will stepped closer, the toes of his boots rubbing against Mary’s shoes. “Tears motivate me better than anything else.” He used one calloused thumb to wipe a tear from Mary’s cheek. “What can I do to make you stop crying?”
Mary shook her head. “As long as I’m smiling while crying, you have nothing to worry about.”
One side of Will’s mouth rose to form a crooked grin. “That’s good to know.”
Mary sniffed. “I can’t wait to see what you do with the rest of the house. But why did you paint? I was going to do that.”
“I only put on the primer. You can still choose the colors. Besides, didn’t you know I’d do almost anything for you?”
Mary smiled mischievously and echoed Will’s earlier statement. “That’s good to know.”
“Seriously, Mary, from the moment I first met you, I couldn’t understand why someone as beautiful as you was single. Then you showed such kindness to my children, and my heart yearned to know you better.”
Mary couldn’t speak. Astonishment and amazement strangled whatever response her mind could form.
Will’s fingertips grazed her hair. “Is it too much, Mary? Have I surprised you?”
She nodded.
Will chuckled and gathered her into his arms. “I’m sorry. I’ve always been this way. Once I make up my mind about something, I go straight for it.”
“I, uh…I need time to think and, uh…”
Will kissed her forehead and stepped back. “I’ll give you time. Your house will be like new in a few months and, if you tell me you never want to see me again, I’ll disappear. But I hope you won’t say that. Let me spend time with you. Get to know me better and—”
Mary’s cell phone rang, but she sent the call to voice mail. There was no way she’d disrupt the magic created by Will’s loving words. Standing so close to him, breathing in his scent and knowing he desired her, was like receiving a gift she’d wanted all her life. Why couldn’t she find the words to say how she felt?
Mary took a deep breath and let it out. She had to act. Standing like an ice sculpture wouldn’t get her what she’d always wanted. She found the courage that had never failed her, placed one trembling hand on his chest, and then stepped closer.
Will wrapped his arms around her and a sound of pleasure came from his throat. He kissed the top of her head and her temple. Then his phone rang.
His soft laughter rumbled in his chest. “I think someone’s trying to get hold of us,” he said, fishing his phone from his pocket.
Mary stepped away but Will pulled her back. “No, no. Don’t move. I like the way you fit.” Will looked at his phone, pushed a button, and spoke into it. “Hey, Grant. What’s up?”
Mary could hear Grant’s voice, but couldn’t distinguish his words.
“Okay, son,” Will said. “I’ll be there in about thirty minutes.” He pocketed his phone and smiled down at Mary. “Should I get you some lunch before I take you back to work?”
Mary shook her head. “I have something in my desk. I usually don’t leave for lunch.”
“Good enough.” Will placed a hand on her head and pressed it against his chest. “My duty as a father says I must pick up my son, but I don’t want this moment to end.”
Mary closed her eyes and breathed in his scent. Her heart beat so fast she could feel her pulse in her neck and every part of her felt lighter. “There will be more moments like this.”
“I certainly hope so,” Will said.
CHAPTER SEVEN
The Saturday before Christmas turned out to be sunny but cold. Snow held on stubbornly in some spots while brown grass showed itself in others. Christmas was everywhere. Homeowners proclaimed the holiday with lighted decorations and the cheery bell of the Salvation Army kettle attendant sounded above the traffic. It was turning out to be a season of firsts for Mary. Her first real home, her first time to prepare an entire Christmas meal, and her first Christmas tree. She was running to catch up to all the adjustments.
She felt like a beaten wrestler as she stepped back from the Christmas tree to check its alignment. Robin had picked a tall, slender tree from the few left at the Boy Scouts’ lot, but Mary had never considered how difficult it would be to position it in the holder. On her first few tries
, the tree had tilted precariously first to the right and then to the left. Just as she was about to declare the tree the winner, she heard a familiar voice outside her front door.
“MaryMaryMary!”
She opened the door to see Robin’s face smiling up at her.
“I came to help you decorate. Did you get the lights? Did you put up the tree? Did you wait for me?”
How could anyone not be infected with the girl’s Christmas spirit? “Yes, yes, and yes,” Mary answered with a laugh.
Robin ran into the living room and stopped in front of her tree. “It’s so big,” she said, bouncing on her toes. “I’ve never had such a big tree.”
Will leaned against the door frame and crossed his arms in front of his chest. “That tree is big enough for Goliath.”
“Let’s put the lights on,” Robin said, still bouncing like a kitten on caffeine.
“I’ll get the lights and you get the decorations,” Mary said.
“Okay,” Robin called as she bounded up the stairs.
Will sauntered into the room and wrapped his arms around Mary. “Are you sure you’re up to this?”
“Sure I am. I always helped the younger kids decorate the tree at Good Shepherd.”
Will pulled a pine needle from Mary’s hair and gave her a quizzical look.
“Don’t ask,” she said.
Will smiled. “Are you growing pine cones too?”
Mary nudged him playfully with her shoulder. “Is Grant with you?”
“No. School’s out for the holidays, but he’s still working on that computer project. All he talks about is Neil Jorgensen. Apparently, your friend fixed a lot of Grant’s problems.”
“Glad to hear it. What are you going to do while Robin and I decorate?”
“Keep working on the outside repairs.”
“Want to stay for lunch? I have the most beautiful kitchen in the state, but I haven’t used it yet.”
Will traced her jawline with the tip of his finger. “I want to stay as long as you’ll let me. When I’m with you, I feel like everything’s okay. Whatever I worried about during the day simply disappears.”
How good it felt to rest in the safety of his arms. She laid her head on his chest and let out a long, slow breath. What would it be like to have someone with whom she could share her life? She’d believed a solitary life was all she’d ever have. Could Will and his children be the answer to her prayers?
Two surprisingly strong arms pushed against Mary’s legs, prying her away from Will. Robin glared up at her like a very cross schoolteacher.
“We have to decorate the tree,” Robin said through clenched teeth. “Christmas is three days away.”
Mary glanced at Will. “Want to help?”
“Not this time. I’m going to take advantage of the good weather while it holds. Daisy and I will be outside if you need us.” He gave Robin’s hair a quick caress, winked at Mary, and walked toward the back door.
Robin pulled on Mary’s sweater. “Lights?” she asked in an exasperated tone.
“Yes, ma’am,” Mary answered with a laugh. “Coming right up.”
* * *
Silver Bells was playing as Mary walked through the store with Mr. Alden on Christmas Eve. “Five hours until we lock the doors,” he said with a big smile. “Our numbers are fantastic this year, and that’s without the after-Christmas sales.”
Mary was counting the minutes. December had been an eventful month and she still had to prepare for her holiday guests.
“I don’t know about this year’s decorations,” Mr. Alden said. “They don’t really evoke the Christmas spirit, do they?”
Mary glanced at the nearest mermaid mannequin. Was she imagining it or did that particular sea creature look exhausted? “I agree with you. We should ask the employees if any of the customers have made comments.”
“Good idea, but next year remind me I’d like to do something more traditional.”
She wouldn’t forget. Maybe she could even include a manger scene and remind people why they were celebrating Christmas in the first place.
By the time she made it back to her office, she had five voice mail messages waiting. When she heard Will’s voice, her heart soared. If she didn’t calm down soon she’d have to visit her doctor. She returned his call first.
“I got your message,” she said when he answered. “What’s on your mind?”
“Christmas Eve services. Would you like to go with us?”
Mary wouldn’t have to sit alone this year while the families around her practically glowed with happiness. “That would be wonderful.”
“Great. We’ll pick you up at seven thirty.”
“Wait,” she hurried to say before he ended the call, “I have an invitation for you too.”
“I’ll say yes to anything you ask.”
Mary couldn’t stop smiling. “I’m not used to having so much power.”
“I trust you with it.”
Mary didn’t know how to reply. Her heart was warm with hope and tremulous with fear of disappointment. “I just wanted to say you’re all welcome to join me for lunch tomorrow. If you don’t have other plans.”
“I was hoping you’d ask. Robin has been pestering me all week about allowing her to spend Christmas day with you.”
“Good. I can’t wait to see what color she paints your nails for Christmas.”
He laughed loudly. “I’m looking forward to seeing you tonight.”
“I’ll be ready.”
* * *
The night was clear and cold as Will drove Mary home after Christmas Eve services. Although Robin had pleaded with her father for permission to go with him, Will had left the girl with her brother.
The silence between Will and Mary felt easy. She’d never been one to fill the air with empty chatter, and her full heart needed this quiet time to recover from the flood of emotions she was experiencing. Was a family part of God’s plan for her life? Robin clearly liked her, and, if she and Will went no further than friendship, perhaps Robin could still be in her life.
After stopping in Mary’s driveway, Will sprinted around the truck to open her door. He offered his hand to help her out, then threaded his fingers through hers as they walked to her door.
“Thank you for inviting me tonight,” Mary said. “It was so lovely. Especially the candlelight at the end. Seeing the light reflected in the children’s eyes was magical.” She unlocked the door, stepped inside, and flipped on the light.
“What time do you want us tomorrow?” Will asked.
“Is one o’clock all right?”
“Perfect. We’ll visit my parents and then head this way.”
“Does Robin open gifts in the morning?”
“At the crack of dawn.”
Mary chuckled and tucked her hair behind her ear. “Okay, then…I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“I have something to show you before I go.” He reached into his jacket pocket and withdrew a twig of green leaves. “Mistletoe,” Will said, holding the sprig above her head.
Mary squinted up at the greenery. “I’m pretty sure that’s juniper.”
Will stepped closer and narrowed his eyes. “Could you just pretend it’s mistletoe? For me?”
“Oh,” Mary said. “Mistletoe.”
“And if I catch a pretty girl under the mistletoe,” Will said with a grin, “I get to kiss her.”
Mary lips ached to feel Will’s kiss. She inched closer, and Will used his free arm to pull her against him. She lifted her mouth to his and closed her eyes.
Will’s lips were soft and warm against hers, no more than a hint of passion, a whispered promise. “What do you think, Mary?” Will whispered.
Mary’s lips tingled as his breath touched them. She wanted another kiss, something she’d never wanted from other men.
“Mary?”
Why was he talking instead of kissing her again? Perhaps she needed to act. Placing her hands on either side of his face, she pulled his mouth down to hers.
Will emitted a sound that was part surprise and part pleasure.
“The next time you want to kiss me,” Mary said when they broke apart, “you won’t need a juniper twig.”
“I’ll remember that when I see you tomorrow,” he said.
When he closed the door behind him, Mary ran up the stairs to her room. Children were too excited to sleep on Christmas Eve. A feeling Mary shared.
CHAPTER EIGHT
For the first time since leaving Good Shepherd, Mary smiled when she woke up on Christmas morning. She had a lot of work to do in the next few hours, but her heart no longer felt encumbered by the mantel of loneliness. Friends were coming. Friends who would fill her home with love and laughter.
She was still in her pajamas when someone knocked at the back door. She tightened her robe and opened the door.
Mrs. Kaminski stood in the cold. “Morning, Mary.”
“Come in,” Mary said. “What brings you over so early?”
“My husband,” her neighbor said as she stepped through the doorway. “He’s in a hurry to get going, so I brought over those folding chairs you asked to borrow. I left them by your back door.”
“Thanks so much. Does your sister live far away?”
“Not really.”
Once she was in the kitchen, Mrs. Kaminski paused to examine the renovation. “Nice work,” she said, slowing nodding her head. “Really nice. I’d love to have a kitchen like this. New countertop, new appliances. The floor looks brand new. What color are you going to paint?”
“I haven’t decided yet. A shade of white for the cabinets, I think. But I don’t know about the walls.”
Mrs. Kaminski favored Mary with one of her rare smiles. “It’s absolutely beautiful. I can’t wait to see the rest of the house once it’s finished.”
Mary let out a sigh of relief. Her neighbor’s judgment didn’t really matter, but Mary was glad to have her approval, anyway.
Mrs. Kaminski gestured to the small table overflowing with groceries. “What are you cooking today?”
“A turkey, cornbread dressing with gravy, squash casserole, and carrots.”
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