Mia's Gift (Small-Town Christmas Wishes Series Book 1)

by Cindy Flores Martinez

  Mia shrugged.

  “If wanting to leave Snowflake is really about Don, you’re going to get over him. Your heart is going to heal.”

  “Will it?”

  “Yes.”

  “When?”

  “I don’t know but it will happen. One of these days you’ll see him, and it won’t hurt anymore. Not like it does now.”

  The doubt clouded Mia’s face.

  “Why don’t we wait a while?” said Diane. “Let’s pray and give it more time.”

  THE LIGHT IN THE KITCHEN inside the Snowflake Homeless Shelter shone like a beacon. The warmth that radiated from the building soothed Mia.

  She stopped and glanced around at everyone in the spacious kitchen. Was Jesse here? Sometimes he volunteered with a few friends from Snowflake Chapel. The delight on his face when he chopped vegetables on the counter or stirred the food on the stove flashed through Mia’s mind. The mere thought made her smile.

  “Hello, there.” Joy Cheng’s voice pulled her back to the present.

  “Hi, Joy.” Mia held up a large pastry box in her arms. “We had some cupcakes left over today. I brought them for the people here.”

  Joy’s face brightened. “That’s so sweet of you. Thank you.” She took the box.

  “I heard there’s a storm coming,” said Mia. “I’m sure the shelter will fill up tonight.”

  “That’s right. It’s already gotten so busy.” Joy strolled to the kitchen counter and set the box on it. She tugged at the lid.

  “It’s just cupcakes,” said Mia. “It isn’t much.”

  “Are you kidding? It means more than you can imagine. For some of the people here, a gourmet cupcake is the only splurge they’ve had in a long time.” Joy removed the lid all the way. “Believe me, I know from experience. Back when I depended on the food bank because I didn’t have enough money to buy food, the sweets they gave me were the highlight of my day.” She peered inside the box. “My goodness. These are beautiful.”

  Mia smiled. “Thanks.” If only more people thought so.

  “Do you make holiday flavors? I’m going to a family dinner next week, and I would love to take your cupcakes.”

  “We have the pumpkin spice flavor. We could make extra ones for you.”

  “Pumpkin spice, huh?” Joy bit her lower lip. “Do you have other holiday flavors? Like the kind that the coffee shops make for their coffees. Gingerbread, peppermint, eggnog. Something Christmassy like that.”

  “We don’t,” said Mia. “We sold the gingerbread flavor cupcakes for a while, but they weren’t popular, so we stopped. Most of the other Christmas flavors—like eggnog and peppermint—evaporate in the oven. Getting them to taste the way they’re supposed to is a challenge.”

  “Is that so?”

  “It’s like chocolate,” said Mia. “Making a cake taste as good as chocolate isn’t easy. The flavor always turns out so different.”

  “That’s true. I didn’t think of that.”

  “But we can try to put something together for you. I can’t make any promises.”

  Joy’s face brightened. “I’m sure whatever you make will be delicious.”

  The ceiling lights flickered. Thunder rumbled.

  Mia winced. “I should get going. I don’t want to get caught in the storm.”

  “Thanks again for the cupcakes.”

  THICK RAINDROPS TAPPED the rooftop. Thunder rolled across the sky.

  Lying awake in bed with the lamp on, Mia gazed at Charity’s letter.

  You probably don’t know this, but I was a secret angel every year...

  “Oh, Charity,” whispered Mia. “What a sweet thing to do.” She picked up the check and studied her name. “Why did you choose me to help you with this? How could I ever make someone else’s life better?” She gazed at the numbers.

  Lightning lit up the room. Thunder rumbled.

  Mia set the check and letter on her antique nightstand. Well, the nightstand that belonged to the extended stay room that she rented at Snowflake Inn.

  She pushed the covers off her body and crawled out of bed. The wood floor beneath her bare feet creaked from the chill and because the restored Victorian structure was so old.

  She pulled the closet doors open and reached for her warm flannel shirt. With a gentle tug, she released it from the hanger and slipped it around herself.

  Her wedding dress captured her attention from the corner of her eye. Tucked in a white garment bag, it hung in the same place as the day she stored it there. Tonight, it beckoned her. She reached up and scooted the other hangers aside to expose it. She gazed at the bag as if she hadn’t seen it in the longest time.

  With trembling fingers, she reached out and pulled the zipper. The white fabric and intricate beading on the dress peeked out.

  “Why do I still have this dress?” she whispered.

  She stepped away from the closet and glanced around the room. “Why am I still here in this place?”

  She gazed up at the stormy sky through the window. “I get it now, God,” she whispered. “Don isn’t coming back. He didn’t change his mind like I wanted.” Her gaze searched the clouds. “What happens now? Where do I go from here?”

  Chapter 4

  The wreath on the front door of the Cozy Coffee Shop was so striking Mia stopped to admire it before entering the building. Her eyes widened at the lush, evergreen circle and enormous shiny ornaments.

  She glanced at the stenciled white snowflakes on the shop window and the Christmas lights around the window frame.

  A familiar face came into view at a table in the seating area.

  Jesse.

  Her heart skipped a beat.

  She reached for the door handle and entered the shop. The aroma of coffee dazzled her the way it always did. “Good morning,” she said.

  He glanced up but didn’t smile as usual. “Hey, Mia,” he said with a glum voice.

  “How are you?”

  He shrugged and glanced down at the table.

  “Is everything okay?”

  “Not really,” he said.

  “What happened?”

  “It’s Kristi. I met with her caseworker yesterday and she told us that the group home is closing its doors, and Kristi will be sent to a facility in Denver.”

  Mia’s body froze. Her stunned gaze searched his. “Wait. Do you mean Home Sweet Home is closing its doors—as in forever?”

  “That’s right.”

  “Why?”

  “The state is pulling its funding.”

  “But—" said Mia. “I, I can’t believe it.” She dropped onto the chair across from him. “Home Sweet Home has been open for so long.”

  “So I’ve heard,” he said.

  The shock and disbelief swept through Mia in waves. “Why are they moving Kristi so far away?”

  “Because there aren’t any other homes for foster kids in Snowflake or anywhere else around here.”

  “Poor Kristi.”

  He nodded. “She’s so devastated. She didn’t even want to go to church today. I couldn’t convince her to get out of bed.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “I don’t know what to do.” His voice broke. He blinked hard. “I need to get out of here.” He scooted his chair back, bound to his feet, grabbed his disposable cup of coffee, and swept past her toward the door.

  Mia turned and watched him step outside the shop. Should she follow him? Should she leave him alone?

  She jumped up and hurried after him. Exiting the shop, she glanced across the sidewalk.

  Jesse walked toward the parking lot on the corner. The steam from each breath filled the frigid air.

  Mia bounded after him and slowed to join his trek.

  “I was supposed to take care of Kristi,” he said. “That’s what my sister wanted. I’ve completely failed her.”

  “This isn’t your fault.”

  “It feels like it is,” he said. “It feels like it’s my fault that I can’t provide a home for my niece the way Karen wan
ted.” He shook his head. “I’ve been trying to make it right. I’ve applied for every job in my line of work in Colorado. I’ve sent resumes and emails and made more phone calls than I can count but the jobs just aren’t there.”

  “I had no idea.”

  They arrived at the corner and stopped for traffic behind a few people waiting to cross the street.

  “I thought the group home would always be there,” said Jesse. “I never expected it to shut down. Karen would be devastated if she knew this was happening.”

  A few people turned in his direction after hearing his words.

  He tightened his lips and refrained from saying more. “I’m sorry,” he said to Mia. “Were you going to get coffee?”

  “I can get some at church. I was running late anyway.”

  “Where’s your car parked?”

  “Over there in the parking lot.”

  “Mine too,” he said.

  The light at the crosswalk turned green.

  They crossed the street and walked to the parking lot.

  “Can I ask you something?” said Mia. “Where’s Kristi’s father? Why did your sister name you as Kristi’s legal guardian in her will instead of him? I’m sorry if it’s personal.”

  “It’s okay,” he said. “Kristi’s father has never been around. He’s never taken fatherhood seriously—or anything else for that matter.”

  “He hasn’t?”

  “When Karen and Kristi were in the hospital after the accident, he didn’t visit or call. He didn’t even show up at my sister’s funeral. And it wasn’t because he was in jail like the other times he wasn’t there for them.”

  A slight gasp filled Mia’s throat.

  “He didn’t care that his daughter nearly died and that her mother was gone.” He shook his head. “I’ll never understand it. He has no idea what a blessing Kristi is. I guess some men don’t believe that a child is a gift from God.”

  Mia watched Jesse. First, he had made her heart skip a beat and now he melted it.

  They arrived at Mia’s red compact car and stopped at the driver’s side.

  “When will Kristi be sent to the new facility in Denver?” she asked.

  “They couldn’t give us a specific date, but they said it would happen before Christmas.”

  Mia’s eyes widened. “Why before Christmas? Won’t they let her stay until after the holidays?”

  “I asked the same thing. I told them Snowflake has been her home for the past ten years. Her mother wanted her to grow up in this town.” He shrugged. “It obviously doesn’t matter to them.”

  “How sad.”

  Jesse’s gaze searched the ground. “I need to find a way to fix this. Losing her mother was hard enough on Kristi. Now she’s losing what’s left of her life.” He blinked hard. “I’m afraid that this will change her and not in a good way. She’s a strong kid, but she’s still just a kid.”

  “Yeah,” said Mia.

  Jesse sighed and glanced at his watch. “I need to drive to the airport. I have to catch a flight to my next job site in California.”

  “When will you be back?”

  “In a few days,” he said and exhaled. “I love working at the firm. I fought so hard to get promoted to the auditing department, but the job takes me everywhere except the place I want to be right now.”

  MIA GLANCED AT THE empty seat that Jesse occupied at Snowflake Chapel whenever he was in town. Even though the regular members filled the sanctuary—including Diane who sat beside her—the church seemed a little less full without him. Knowing that Kristi’s seat at the teen Bible study in the other room was also empty made the beautiful white chapel seem even less full.

  Mia’s gaze drifted to the red poinsettias around the front of the ornate oak pulpit. The memory of Jesse in the parking lot on Main Street flashed through her mind. The sadness that darkened his face replayed. It competed with Pastor Tom Callahan’s Bible study.

  “As I wrap up our study,” he said, “I want to say a few words about these coming days and weeks. Now that the Christmas season is here, your lives will probably become busier.”

  Mia turned her attention back to his words.

  “For some, they’ll become hectic,” he said, “but I want to urge you to stay focused on the true meaning of the holidays. Christmas is about Christ. It’s about the greatest miracle that’s ever happened.”

  Mia gazed up at him.

  “God is a God of miracles. And He’s a God of love. He cares for you,” he said. “Do you want to experience His love? Do you need a miracle in your life?” He glanced down at his Bible. “Jeremiah 29:13 says, You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all of your heart.” He raised his head. “Call out to Him. Seek Him with all your heart, and He’ll answer you.” He lowered his gaze. “Let’s pray.” He led everyone in a heartfelt prayer, gathered his things and left the altar.

  The worship band sang a final song.

  Everyone in the room rose to their feet except for Mia. She turned to Diane. “It’s Jesse,” she said. “And Kristi. They’re the ones I’m meant to help. They’re the ones I want to grant the wish for.”

  Diane glanced at her. “You do?”

  Mia nodded. “I want to help find a way for Kristi to stay in Snowflake.”

  Chapter 5

  The wood sign in front of Home Sweet Home looked the same as the last time Mia saw it close-up. She glanced around at the Bungalow Style house with a nostalgic gaze.

  Walking up the front porch, the memories flooded her. She pressed the old familiar doorbell.

  The chime echoed from inside the house and footsteps resounded. The lock on the door clicked, and the hinges creaked.

  June, the most recent owner, peered through the opening.

  “Hi, June. I brought cupcakes for you and the girls.”

  “Oh!” June’s face lit up like everyone’s face always did at the mention of the sweet confections. “Come inside.” She pulled the door open wider.

  Mia entered the warm and bright home and glanced around the living room.

  June gazed at the box of cupcakes. “My goodness. What’s the occasion?”

  “Just because.” Mia handed it to her.

  June held it like a treasure in her arms.

  “You know, I used to visit my friend Anne who lived here when we were in middle school,” said Mia.

  “Is that so?”

  “You can’t imagine how overwhelmed I am. The house looks so much smaller than I remember.”

  June laughed. “It’s funny how that happens, isn’t it? Have a look around. It hasn’t changed over the years.”

  Mia stepped further inside the living room and took in her whole surroundings. She glanced through the window. “Is that the same backyard? It looked so much bigger before.”

  June chuckled. “Some of our former residents have come back to visit, and they all said the same thing.” She glanced at the pastry box in her arms. “Would you like some coffee?”

  “No, thanks. I need to rush back to the shop. I’m on my lunch break.”

  “Okay, well, I’ll put these in the kitchen.” June entered the small room.

  Mia followed. “I hope I brought enough cupcakes for you and the girls. It’s a dozen. I remember there were four bedrooms, and two girls occupied each one.”

  “A dozen is more than enough.” June set the box on the counter and opened the lid.

  “Anyway,” said Mia, “I stopped by because I heard Home Sweet Home is shutting down and I wanted to find out more.”

  “That’s right. It’s shutting down this month.”

  “Kristi’s uncle told me it’s because of the funding.”

  “Uh-huh,” said June. “The state no longer plans to use group homes for displaced girls, so they’ve decided not to provide funding anymore. A lot of homes like ours are shutting down.”

  “Why?”

  “They believe it’s more cost effective to place kids with foster families.”

  “I see,”
said Mia. “So, the girls here will be placed in foster homes?”

  “That’s the plan,” said June. “But the trouble is, there aren’t enough foster homes available. They’ll go to a foster care facility until a home opens up for them.” She shook her head and pursed her lips. “I’ve seen a lot of girls get stuck at those facilities until they turned eighteen because a home never became available for them, and those facilities are nothing like a home. I just hope that doesn’t happen to the girls here.”

  Mia’s heart sank.

  June stretched her neck and peered into the shadowy hall. “Kristi, why don’t you come and have a cupcake?”

  Mia glanced at the hall. “Kristi’s here?”

  “She didn’t feel like going to school today. I told her she could stay home. She’s been upset since she heard the news.”

  “I don’t blame her.”

  June approached the cupboards and pulled a door open.

  Mia glanced at the stack of dessert plates on the shelf. “Is there anything that would help Home Sweet Home stay open? What I mean is...would funding help?”

  “Unfortunately, no.” June grabbed two plates. “The higher-ups have already made their decision.” She set the plates on the table. “And I’ve already made plans to move away.”

  Mia exhaled. So much for the hope that Charity’s money would save Home Sweet Home.

  June placed a cupcake on a plate.

  “Jesse mentioned that there isn’t another home in Snowflake for the girls that live here.”

  “He’s right,” said June. “I talked about it with their caseworker. She said Snowflake has no foster homes right now and no one here has expressed interest in becoming a foster parent.” She grabbed a napkin from the napkin holder on the table.

  “What would it take for someone to become a foster parent?”

  June stopped and pondered the thought. “It’s a long process. People need to qualify, and if they do, there’s a lot of paperwork involved and classes to take. Some people give up before they ever finish.”

  “Do they?”

  “But there are some who are serious about it and stick with it. You can get the list of requirements from the child welfare office. Are you thinking of becoming a foster parent?”