Her Christmas Family Wish

by Lois Richer

  “I’ll meet you at my truck in five minutes, after I unsaddle Esau.” Wyatt walked the horse toward the tack room. Lefty met him halfway and insisted he’d take care of Esau. Wyatt was almost to his truck when his phone rang.

  The private investigator. Finally he’d know the truth about his mother.

  *

  “Albert, did something happen with Wyatt?” Ellie murmured as they waited for the vet to unbuckle his son from his car seat and join the choir that was to sing at the seniors’ home. Earlier she’d met Wyatt at the church as they’d planned then spent the entire choir rehearsal trying to figure out what was wrong with him. “He seems…sad.”

  “He got a phone call before we left Wranglers Ranch,” Albert said. “I think it was something about his mom.”

  Ellie sucked in her breath on a silent prayer that the news hadn’t been bad. Wyatt so needed answers. Maybe if he—

  “Sorry to hold you up for the caroling.” He led Cade by the hand as he approached.

  “The seniors are going to love him.” Ellie helped the choir leaders shepherd the children inside to a large room.

  Knowing their part, the kids assembled immediately, smiled at the seniors and, when given a chord, burst into a series of songs they were going to sing at their Christmas concert in a few days. She had to laugh when Wyatt set Cade down and the boy immediately headed for the Christmas tree with its glittering decorations. Wyatt, busy texting on his phone, didn’t seem to notice Cade’s disappearance, so Ellie scooped the child into her arms and took him to the back of the room where she gave him a toy truck to play with.

  “Sorry.” Wyatt’s face was pale when he caught up. “I should have been paying more attention.”

  “No problem.” Ellie couldn’t ignore the trouble brewing in Wyatt’s eyes as he gazed at his phone. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” He quickly shoved the phone in his pocket.

  “Haven’t we gotten past the social niceties yet?” she said in a very quiet voice. “Please, tell me what’s wrong.”

  “The investigator found my mother.” He said the words without emotion.

  “Isn’t that good news?” But she could see from his haggard look that it wasn’t. Fear snuck in and grabbed Ellie by the throat. “Wyatt?”

  “My mother is in a care home,” he said. “A care home for mentally unstable people. She’s been there for nearly twenty-eight years, Ellie.”

  Oh, Lord. Help him. Please, help him. Heal his hurting heart.

  When the silence between them stretched too long and she couldn’t stand it anymore, she said, “It doesn’t change who you are, Wyatt.”

  “Doesn’t it?” His dark eyes seemed frozen.

  “Of course not. She has an illness, and she’s in a place where they can treat it. That’s something to be thankful for.” Ellie felt as if her words were bouncing off him but she didn’t know what else to say to break his stony demeanor.

  “Why didn’t my father tell me?” The words seemed pulled out of him. “Why let me go on wondering, thinking she’d abandoned me?” His tortured words begged her for an answer. “If the dates are right I was barely two when she left. Maybe he couldn’t have told me then, but why not later on when I asked about her?”

  “He didn’t tell you anything?” Her heart ached for him. If only she could ease this burden for the man she loved.

  “When I was eighteen, just before I left for college, I asked him if he knew where my mother was or if she was dead.” Wyatt lifted Cade and cradled him in his arms so the weary boy could rest his head on his daddy’s shoulder. “He said she was never coming back, and that was the end of it. We never spoke of it again.”

  “I’m sorry.” She placed her hand on his arm, wishing she could bear some of his pain. “Do you know where the care home is?”

  “Right here in Tucson.” His lips pressed in a tight line of anger. “Eventide Rest Home.” He made a face. “Would you believe I made a call there recently to treat an injured cat? I was in the same place as my mother, and I never even knew it.”

  Anger and pain oozed through the words. But Ellie needed to help this man she loved see past the pain to the opportunity.

  “You have to go see her,” she said firmly. “Talk to her, find out what you can. Get your questions answered.” As the choir neared the end of their final song, she asked, “Did your investigator say you could do that?”

  “He didn’t say.” Wyatt frowned. “You think I should go there?”

  “Don’t you want to?” She couldn’t believe he didn’t.

  “Yes, but—” He swallowed hard. “What if she isn’t able to tell me anything?”

  “Then you’ll know.” The children were bowing to their audience’s applause. They only had seconds before they’d be interrupted. “Tomorrow, Wyatt. You go after work and get the answers you want. All right?”

  Wyatt didn’t answer until they were outside in the parking lot, the kids buckled in.

  “I’d like to go tomorrow,” he said for her ears alone. “And I’d be very grateful if you would come with me, Ellie, because I don’t think I can do this alone.”

  “I’ll go with you,” she assured him. “And so will God. He’s known the truth all along. And now you’ll learn it, too.”

  Cars pulled out of the parking lot as the rest of the choir left. Wyatt stared at her for so long that eventually they were the only ones left in the lot. Finally, he spoke.

  “I’ve never known anyone quite like you, Ellie.” His voice was low, deep. “You go way above and beyond, as if you can never give quite enough. You’re like the song, making spirits bright wherever you go.” He leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers and then suddenly, he deepened the kiss, showing her without words that he cared about her.

  At least that’s what she thought he was showing her.

  Ellie kissed him back because she couldn’t help herself. Wyatt was the man of her dreams. He held her heart in his hands, though he didn’t know it.

  You’re not free to love him, her brain whispered. You gave your life, your wants, your dreams and your future to God. And He’s given you Gracie to care for. That has to be enough.

  The thought sobered her like a snowball in the face. Ellie drew back, breaking the kiss.

  “Get some rest, Wyatt,” she whispered. “Tomorrow’s going to be a big day. Good night.”

  “Good night,” he called just before she closed her car door.

  “You were kissing my da—you were kissing him,” Gracie accused. “Me ’n Albert saw you.”

  “Be quiet now, Gracie,” Albert admonished softly. Then he looked at Ellie. “I could take the bus home.”

  “Be quiet, Albert,” she said, unable to stem the spill of tears down her cheeks.

  The ride to his home was utterly silent. When they pulled up to the curb, a large man in a tattered T-shirt came barreling down the walk, yanked open the car door and dragged out a cringing Albert.

  “You’re late,” he said in a furious voice. “I told you to be here at eight.”

  “I’m sorry, sir,” Ellie apologized. “It’s my fault we’re late. I—” She caught her breath when the man turned on her, his eyes blazing hate.

  “Leave, lady,” he ordered with menace. “And don’t come back.” Then he looked at Albert. “Get into the house.”

  Ellie clearly saw fear in Albert’s eyes. How she wished Wyatt was here. But just because he wasn’t didn’t mean she’d leave without trying to make Albert’s life easier.

  “Excuse me?” She cringed when the man wheeled around with a sneer. “You don’t have to be so mean,” she said in her firmest nurse voice. “He’s just a boy.”

  “I’m the only thing standing between him and reform school, so I’ll talk to him any way I please. Butt out, lady.” After another sneering glare the man stomped toward the house.

  Ellie drove home with a terrible feeling that Albert was going to pay for her interference.

  “Is that mean man going to hit Albert
again?” Gracie asked in a voice brimming with fear.

  Again?

  “Did he hit Albert before?” Ellie asked as nonchalantly as she could.

  “Lots of times, Albert said. Can’t you stop it, Mommy?”

  “I’m going to try,” she promised grimly.

  Later, once Gracie was in bed, she phoned Wyatt and asked for the number of his investigator.

  “Why?”

  Ellie admitted what had happened.

  “I’m going to have him investigate Albert’s uncle. Maybe then the boy won’t have to live there.”

  “Where will he live?” Wyatt asked.

  “I don’t know. Somewhere where he’s not terrified, I hope,” she said staunchly.

  “That’s my Ellie. Spreading love and happiness wherever she can.”

  My Ellie? How she wanted to be!

  Wyatt’s chuckle didn’t sound like he was making fun of her. It sounded tender. Maybe even affectionate.

  “Isn’t that what a Christian is supposed to do?” she finally asked, then quickly added, “See you tomorrow, Wyatt,” before she hung up.

  Ellie turned on the Christmas tree, switched on the electric fireplace and stared into the flickering light.

  “I’m scared, God. I’ve let myself fall in love with Wyatt. Please, help me.”

  Ellie’s Christmas list dangled on the fridge, but for once she didn’t try to check off anything. For this one moment she sat silent, waiting for God to show her how to get over a very handsome vet to whom she’d given her heart.

  Chapter Twelve

  “Albert’s scared stiff of his uncle. I can’t just let that go.” Ellie’s passionate voice made him proud of having her for a friend.

  “I wish you’d waited till I could be there.” Wyatt grimaced as he drove toward the place where his mother lived. “But I’m glad you talked to the social worker and that she’s laying down the law to his uncle.” Because he guessed Ellie was already stretched thin in the finance department, Wyatt had instructed the investigator she’d hired to send him the bill.

  “Why are you so quiet?” she asked moments later.

  “I saw something this morning at Wranglers Ranch that really got to me.” With school closed for Christmas break, the ranch was full of youngsters. But one in particular had drawn his attention today.

  “I saw Albert,” he said.

  “So did I.” Something about the way she said it made Wyatt glance at her. Her lips were pursed, and she was frowning. “He was clutching his side, but when I asked him about it, he said he’d bumped into something.”

  “Like maybe his uncle?” Wyatt inwardly fumed. “I hope that social worker acts fast. He needs to be out of there if there’s even a suspicion of abuse.”

  “I have way more than a suspicion.” Ellie grimaced. “Anyway, you were saying?”

  “Albert was talking to a kid in the corner of the tack room. Gracie was hiding around the corner outside. She had dirt on her face, and I think she’d been crying.” Wyatt held the picture in his mind. “They were all quick to make an excuse and leave when they saw me, but—Ellie, I think Albert was defending Gracie.”

  “Defending her?” Ellie frowned at him. “From what?”

  “Whom,” Wyatt corrected. He wished now that he’d talked to Albert first before he worried Ellie. But it was too late for regrets. “I only overheard a little of what Albert said.”

  She poked his side when he didn’t immediately speak. “What did you hear, Wyatt?”

  “I thought I heard him say, ‘We don’t bully little kids at Wranglers Ranch.’” When Ellie didn’t respond, he glanced at her.

  “Gracie’s had mud on her shirt a couple of times, and once she had a tear on her jeans, but she never said anybody was bullying her.” Ellie sounded shocked.

  “Maybe she didn’t know that’s what it was. But Albert did.” He studied his hands on the wheel, trying to sort through his feelings. “Does he know because he’s suffered the same thing?”

  “I don’t know.” Ellie sighed as she stretched out her legs. “It’s so hard being a single parent. You have to be constantly aware of every detail in your kid’s life and if you miss one tiny thing—” She couldn’t finish.

  “We’ll talk to them both when we get back,” Wyatt promised. “We’ll sort it out. Don’t worry. I just thought you should know.” He took the exit ramp toward Eventide Rest Home, trying to ignore the stir of uneasiness in his stomach.

  He was going to see his mother, a woman he’d stopped hoping was alive.

  He parked in the visitors’ lot, then looked around. It was a typical one-level care facility spread out over an area with lovely winding paths and raised beds burgeoning with flowering pansies in a host of different colors. Brown wicker deer wearing big red bow ties stood here and there throughout the landscape, tiny lights covering them. At night it would look like they’d come to feed.

  “I guess we should go in.” He pulled his keys from the ignition. “My appointment with the administrator, Graham Parker, is in five minutes.”

  “Are you ready for this?” Ellie waited while he thought about it, then finally nodded.

  Before they got out, she reached for his hand. Her warm capable fingers closed around his and gently squeezed, imparting comfort and solidarity, as if she knew he was a quaking mass of jelly inside. In his mind one question grew to gigantic proportions.

  What if his mother wanted nothing to do with him?

  As they walked up the path to the main door Wyatt wondered if he’d ever be able to forgive his father.

  They went in and were ushered in to see the administrator.

  “We didn’t know Mrs. Wright had a son,” Mr. Parker said, studying Wyatt from his seat behind a massive desk.

  “I didn’t know I had a mother,” Wyatt shot back, frustrated by the man’s need to chat. “May we please see her now? You understand if I’m impatient after all these years.”

  “Of course. But I must caution you. Your mother has days when things are crystal clear in her mind. Then she has times when she’s terribly confused.” The administrator narrowed his gaze. “If she becomes agitated, my staff will ask you to leave. Mrs. Wright’s comfort is our primary concern.”

  “As it should be.” Wyatt had to ask one more question. “How is her care paid for?”

  “By an annuity. Her husband set it up. As I understand the terms, it will take care of everything she needs until she, er, doesn’t need it anymore.”

  “I see.” Anger burned at his father’s actions. Why the secrecy?

  “Are you ready?” Mr. Parker rose and walked to the door. “I’ll take you.”

  “Maybe I should wait here, Wyatt.” Ellie hung back. “This is a special moment between the two of you. You don’t need me there.”

  “Yes, I do.” He reached for her hand and clung to it. “I need you with me, Ellie.” The words came from his heart, without forethought. But they were the truth.

  He did need her. Ellie was the glue that held his days together. It was she who had brought back his joy in Christmas, her and Gracie. Maybe he was being selfish, but at the moment Wyatt couldn’t imagine taking this next step without Ellie at his side.

  As they walked down the hall, her hand in his was about the only thing that kept him from turning tail and getting out of there.

  Mr. Parker stopped. “Here we are.” After giving a quick rap on the door, he pushed it open and stepped inside. “Hello, Ruth. You have visitors today. This is Wyatt and Ellie.”

  Wyatt stood gazing at the woman seated in a soft blue upholstered rocker. Her hair was long and tied to the top of her head, sandy brown like his. Her eyes shone a dark brown—also like his—as she peered up at them through small gold-framed glasses. She was delicate-looking, as if one of Tucson’s windstorms might pick her up and toss her away.

  “Hello. Have you come to help me decorate the Christmas tree? It will soon be Christmas, you know.” Her voice was soft and musical. She clasped her hands together and smile
d. “I do so love Christmas, though some call my decorations geegaws.”

  Ellie’s glance shifted from him to the paper chains covering the table in front of his mother. Wyatt knew she was recalling the time he’d used the same word when she’d been decorating his house. But he couldn’t take his eyes off his mother.

  “Please, do sit down.” She glanced around. “I think the teapot’s here somewhere.”

  “No tea for me, thank you, Ruth.” Ellie sat across from his mother on the small footstool. “These are very lovely,” she said fingering the chains. “You’ve done so many.”

  “I have a large tree to decorate.” She frowned suddenly and peered at him. “Your name is Wyatt?” He nodded. “Oh, how wonderful.” She smiled and leaned toward him to whisper, “I have a son named Wyatt, you know. He’s such a sweet boy.”

  Wyatt moved behind Ellie and let his hands rest on her shoulders as he listened to his mother recall his birth and the first few months of his life. Ellie’s hands covered his, lending him the strength to stay still and listen to his own history. But then his mother’s memories grew vague, confused, and she began to ramble.

  “I couldn’t stay because I was ill,” she whispered, peeking over one shoulder and then the other. “Everything kept going wrong, and he blamed me.”

  “You mean my father, Bernard, your husband?” Wyatt asked, speaking for the first time since they’d arrived.

  “You mustn’t say his name. That’s the rule.” She began rocking back and forth, repeating, “That’s the rule.”

  “Ruth—uh—” Was he supposed to call her that? Wyatt didn’t know, but there were so many things he wanted to ask her, so many blanks to fill in. He stepped forward, placed his hand on top of hers. “Can you tell me—”

  “No. Can’t tell.” She reared away from him, crossed her arms in front of her and resumed rocking back and forth.

  “I’m sorry, but Ruth can’t visit anymore.” A pleasant-faced woman stood in the open doorway. “You’ll have to leave now.”

  “But I need to know—” Wyatt froze as his mother screamed.

  “Can’t tell. Can’t ever tell. No. No,” she shrieked.

  “We have to make decorations, Ruth.” Ellie quickly and carefully laid a paper chain in her lap, her tone calming. “Here’s yours. What a lovely thing it is. See how it dances in the light. How shall we hang it on the tree? I know. We’ll use ribbons. Bright red ribbons. And maybe we can add some silver bells.”