A Christmas Message

by Debbie Macomber

  Gone.

  “Karen,” Jake said, walking directly past a customer to confront one of the other sales associates. If this was a practical joke, he was not amused. “Where’s the robot that was on the counter in the storeroom?” he demanded, ignoring the last-minute shopper she was assisting.

  Karen blinked as though he was speaking in a foreign language. “I beg your pardon?”

  “The wrapped gift in the storage room?” he repeated.

  “I... I don’t have a clue.”

  “You know what I’m talking about, don’t you?”

  Her face became flushed. “I’m not sure.”

  “It was wrapped and ready for delivery and now it’s missing.” Jake couldn’t believe anyone would steal the robot. He knew his employees, and there wasn’t a single one who was capable of such a deed. He’d stake his career on it.

  “Did you ask John?”

  “No.” Jake quickly sought out the youngest sales associate. John had just finished with a customer and looked expectantly at Jake.

  “The robot’s missing,” he said without preamble.

  John stared back at him. “The one in the storeroom?”

  “Are there any others in this department?” he snapped. If there were, he’d grab one and be done with it. However, no one knew better than Jake that there wasn’t an Intellytron to be had.

  “I saw it,” Gail said, joining them.

  Relief washed over Jake. Someone had moved it without telling him; that was obviously what had happened. The prospect of facing Holly and telling her he didn’t have the robot didn’t bear thinking about.

  That morning, the moment she’d received her Christmas bonus, Holly had rushed over to Finley’s to pay for the toy. Her face had been alight with happiness as she described how excited Gabe would be when he found his gift under the Christmas tree. That robot meant so much to the boy. If Jake didn’t bring it as promised, Holly might not forgive him. He hoped that wouldn’t happen, but the thought sent a chill through him nonetheless.

  Frances, another sales associate, came over, too. “Mrs. Miracle had it,” she said.

  “When?”

  “This morning,” Frances explained. “She didn’t mention it to you?”

  “No.” Jake shook his head. “What did she do with it?”

  Frances stared down at the floor. “She sold it.”

  “Sold it?” Jake exploded. This had to be some kind of joke—didn’t it? “How could she do that? It was already paid for by someone else.” That robot belonged to Gabe Larson. She knew that as well as anyone.

  “Why would she sell it?” he burst out again, completely bewildered.

  “I... I don’t know. You’ll have to ask her,” Frances said. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Finley. I’m sure there’s a logical explanation.”

  There’d better be. Not that it would help now.

  Sick at heart, Jake left the department and went up to his father’s office. Dora had already gone home; the whole administrative floor was deserted. He didn’t know what he’d tell Holly. He should’ve taken the robot to his apartment and kept it there. Then he could’ve been guaranteed that nothing like this would happen. Still, berating himself now wouldn’t serve any useful purpose.

  Preparing for his flight, J. R. Finley was busy stuffing paperwork in his computer case when Jake entered the office. J.R. looked up at him. “What’s the matter with you? Did you decide to come with me, after all?”

  “No. Have you decided to stay in New York?” Jake countered.

  “You’re kidding, right?”

  Jake slumped into a chair and ran his fingers through his hair. “Gabe’s robot is missing,” he said quietly. “Emily Miracle, or whatever her name is, sold it.”

  “Mrs. Miracle?” J.R.’s face tightened and he waved his index finger at Jake. “I told you that woman was up to no good, butting into other people’s business. She’s a troublemaker. Didn’t I tell you that?”

  “Dad, stop it. She’s a sweet grandmotherly woman.”

  “She’s ruined a little boy’s Christmas and you call that sweet?” He made a scoffing sound and resumed his task of collecting papers and shoving them into his case.

  “Do you have any connections—someone who can locate a spare Intellytron at the last minute?” This was Jake’s only hope.

  Frowning, his father checked his watch. “I’ll make some phone calls, but I can’t promise anything.”

  Jake was grateful for whatever his father could do. “What about your flight?”

  J.R. looked at his watch again and shrugged. “I’ll catch a later one.”

  Jake started to remind his father that changing flights at this point might be difficult, but stopped himself. If J.R. was going to offer his assistance, Jake would be a fool to refuse.

  “I’ll shut down the department and meet you back here in twenty minutes,” Jake said.

  His father had picked up his phone and was punching out numbers. One thing Jake could be assured of—if there was a single Intellytron left in the tristate area, J.R. would locate it and have it delivered to Gabe.

  He hurried back to the toy department and saw that the last-minute customers were being ushered out, bags in hand, and the day’s sales tallied. The store was officially closed. His staff was waiting to exchange Christmas greetings with Jake so they could go home to their families.

  “Is there anything we can do before we leave?” John asked, speaking for the others.

  “No, thanks. You guys have been great. Merry Christmas, everyone!”

  As soon as they’d left, he got Mrs. Miracle’s contact information and called the phone number she’d given HR. To his shock, a recorded voice message informed him that the number was no longer in service. That wasn’t the only shock, either—she’d handed in her notice that afternoon.

  He groaned. Mrs. Miracle was unreachable and had absconded with precious information regarding the robot—like why she’d sold it and to whom.

  Jake returned to his father’s office to find him pacing the floor with the receiver pressed to his ear. J.R. glanced in Jake’s direction, then quickly looked away. That tight-lipped expression told Jake everything he needed to know—his father hadn’t been successful.

  He waited until J.R. hung up the phone.

  “No luck,” Jake said, not bothering to phrase it in the form of a question.

  J.R. shook his head. “Everyone I talked to said as far as they knew we’re the only store in five states to have the robot.”

  “Had. We sold out.”

  “Apparently there isn’t another one to be found anywhere till after Christmas.”

  Jake had expected that. A sick feeling attacked the pit of his stomach as he sank into a chair and sighed loudly. “I appreciate your help, Dad. Thanks for trying.”

  “I’m sorry I couldn’t do more.” J.R. nodded and placed a consoling hand on Jake’s shoulder. “I know how you feel.”

  Jake doubted that but he wasn’t in the mood to argue.

  “Holly’s special,” J.R. said. “I’ve known that since the first time you mentioned her.”

  “She is.” Jake was in full agreement there.

  “If it’d been your mother who needed that thing, I would’ve moved heaven and earth to make sure she got it.”

  He reconsidered. Maybe his father did know what he was feeling. He’d done his utmost to keep Holly and Gabe from being disappointed. Unfortunately, nothing he or J.R. did now would make any difference. It was simply too late.

  “Every Intellytron in New York State and beyond is wrapped and under some youngster’s tree,” J.R. said.

  Jake rubbed his face. “I’ll come up with something to tell Holly and Gabe,” he said, thinking out loud.

  “Is there anything else the boy might like?” his father asked.

  The only toy Gabe had refe
rred to, at least in Jake’s hearing, was the robot. He’d even risked Holly’s wrath and traveled into the city on his own just to see it again and watch it in action.

  “What about a train set?” his father suggested. “Every little boy wants a train set.”

  Jake had. He’d longed for one the Christmas his mother and sister had died. But there’d been no presents the next morning or any Christmas morning since the accident.

  “He might,” Jake said. “But—”

  “Well, we have one of those.”

  Jake wondered what his father was talking about. As head of the toy department Jake was well aware of the inventory left in stock and there were no train sets. This season had been record-breaking in more ways than one; not only the robot but a number of other toys had sold out. The trains, a popular new doll, a couple of computer games... “Exactly where is there a train set?” he asked. “Unless you mean the one in the window...”

  “Not the display train. A brand-new one. Except that it’s twenty-one years old.” J.R. swallowed visibly. “I have it,” he said. “It’s still wrapped in the original paper. Your mother bought it for you just before...” He didn’t need to finish the sentence.

  “Mom bought me the train set I wanted?” Jake asked, his voice hoarse with emotion.

  J.R. grinned. “You were spoiled, young man. Your mother loved you deeply. And your little sister adored you.”

  A sense of loss hit him hard and for a moment that was all Jake could think about. “You kept the train set all these years?” he finally asked.

  J.R. nodded solemnly. “I always meant to give it to you but I could never part with it. In a way, holding on to it was like...having your mother still with me. I could pretend it was Christmas Eve twenty-one years ago and she hadn’t died. Don’t worry, I didn’t actually believe that, but I could indulge the fantasy of what Christmas should’ve been. That train set made the memory so real....”

  “And you’re willing to give it up for Gabe?”

  “No” was his father’s blunt reply. “I’m willing to give it up for you.”

  Jake smiled and whispered, “Thanks, Dad.”

  “You’re welcome. Now we’ve got a bit of digging to do. I don’t remember where I put that train set but I know it’s somewhere in the condo. Or maybe the storage locker. Or...”

  “Do we have time? Did you change your flight?”

  “Flight?” J.R. repeated, then seemed to remember he was scheduled to fly out that evening. Shaking his head, he muttered, “It’s fine. I’ll catch one tomorrow if I have to.”

  Jake didn’t want to pressure his father, but he’d promised Holly he’d invite J.R. to dinner at her apartment. Although he’d already tried once, he’d ask again. If he was going to disappoint her on one front, then the least he could do was surprise her on another.

  “Since you’re apparently staying over...” he began.

  “Yes?”

  “Have Christmas dinner with Holly and Gabe and me tomorrow afternoon. Will you do that, Dad?”

  His father took a long moment to consider the invitation. Then, as if the words were difficult to say, he slowly whispered, “I believe I will. Something tells me your mother would want me to.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  God isn’t politically correct.

  He’s just correct.

  —Mrs. Miracle

  Holly set the phone down and forced herself to keep the smile on her face. Gabe’s robot was missing. Because Gabe was in earshot, she couldn’t ask Jake the questions that clamored in her mind. He’d said something about Mrs. Miracle, but Holly had been too disheartened to remember what followed.

  Adding to her distress, Jake had said there was something he needed to do with his father, which meant he’d have to renege on dinner that night. In addition to the bad news about the missing robot, Jake had passed on some good news, too. Evidently his father had changed his plans and would be joining them on Christmas Day, after all, which delighted Holly and greatly encouraged her. She recognized that this was no small concession on J.R.’s part.

  “Isn’t Jake coming for dinner?” Gabe asked, looking up from his handheld video game. He lay on the sofa as he expertly manipulated the keys.

  “I... No. Unfortunately, Jake has something else he has to do,” Holly explained, doing her best to maintain an even voice. “Something really important,” she emphasized.

  Gabe frowned and sat up. “What’s more important than Christmas Eve?”

  Again Holly made an effort to pretend nothing was wrong. “We’ll have to ask when we see him tomorrow,” she said airily.

  Her nephew slouched back onto the sofa. His downcast look prompted Holly to sit beside him. She felt as depressed as Gabe did, but was trying hard not to show it. In the larger scheme of life, these disappointments were minor. Nevertheless, she’d hoped to give Gabe a very special gift this year. And she’d hoped—so had Gabe—to spend Christmas Eve with Jake.

  “Did Jake promise to come tomorrow?”

  “He’ll be here.”

  “But he said he’d come for dinner tonight, too—and he didn’t.”

  “We’ll have a wonderful time this evening, just the two of us.” She slipped her arm around his small frame and squeezed gently.

  Gabe didn’t seem too sure of that. “Can I email my dad?”

  “Of course.” Holly would come up with ways to keep them both occupied until it was time to walk to church for the Christmas Eve service. They could watch a Christmas movie; Gabe might enjoy The Bishop’s Wife, Holly’s favorite, or A Christmas Carol with Alastair Sim as the ultimate Scrooge. Still cheering herself up, she headed into her kitchen to start frying the chicken, which had been marinating in buttermilk since six that morning. They’d have turkey tomorrow, but tonight she’d make the meal she associated with her mother...with comfort.

  Gabe leaped up from the sofa and hurried into the kitchen. “Can we invite Mrs. Miracle for dinner?” he asked excitedly.

  “Oh, Gabe, I wish we’d thought of that sooner.”

  “I like Mrs. Miracle.”

  “I like her, too.” The older woman had never mentioned whether she had family in the area, which made Holly wonder if she was spending this evening by herself.

  Gabe returned to writing his email. “Dad’s surprise didn’t come, did it?” he said in a pensive voice.

  Holly suddenly realized it hadn’t. This complicated everything. Not only wouldn’t she be able to give her nephew the only toy he’d requested for Christmas, but the gift his father had mailed hadn’t arrived, either.

  “He might be mad at me for going into the city by myself,” Gabe murmured.

  “Oh, sweetie, I’m positive that’s not it.”

  Before she could finish her reassurances, the doorbell chimed. Hoping, despite everything, that it was Jake, Holly answered the door, still wearing her apron. To her astonishment, Emily Miracle was standing in the hall.

  “I hope you don’t mind me dropping in unexpectedly like this.”

  “Mrs. Miracle! Mrs. Miracle!” Gabe rushed to the door. “We were just talking about you.” He grabbed her free hand and tugged her into the apartment. “Can you stay for dinner? Aunt Holly’s making fried chicken and there’s corn and mashed potatoes and cake, too. You can stay, can’t you? Jake said he was coming and now he can’t.”

  “Oh, dear,” Emily said, laughing softly. “I suppose I could. I came by to bring you my Christmas salad. It’s a family favorite and I wanted to share it with you.”

  “That’s so nice of you, Emily,” Holly said, adding a place setting to the table. Her mood instantly lightened.

  “Jake said he’d come,” Gabe pouted.

  “He’s doing something important,” Holly reminded her nephew.

  “I’m sure he is,” Emily said, giving Holly a covered ceramic bowl and removing her coat. “It
isn’t like Jake to cancel at the last moment without a good reason. He’s a very responsible young man—in his personal life and in business, too. He’ll do his father proud.” She held out her hands for the bowl.

  “You mean does his father proud,” Holly corrected, passing it back. She had every confidence that Jake would one day step up to the helm at Finley’s, but that was sometime in the future. Jake seemed to think it might take as long as five years, and he said that suited him fine.

  “Yes, that’s what I mean. I’ve enjoyed working with him this Christmas season.” Emily made her way into the kitchen and put her salad in the refrigerator.

  “Can you come to church with us?” Gabe asked, following her. “It’s Christmas Eve, and there’s a special program and singing, too.”

  “I’d like that very much, but unfortunately I already have other plans.”

  “We’re grateful you could have dinner with us,” Holly said. She waited until Gabe had left the room before she asked Emily about the robot.

  “Do you have any idea what happened to the you-know-what Jake put aside?” She spoke guardedly because the apartment was small and she wanted to ensure that Gabe didn’t hear anything that would upset him.

  Mrs. Miracle was about to answer when he dashed into the kitchen again.

  Grasping the situation, she immediately distracted him. “Do you want to help me fill the water glasses?” she asked.

  “Okay,” Gabe agreed.

  Emily poured water into the pitcher, which she handed to Gabe. Holding it carefully, he walked over to the dining area, which was actually part of the living room. The older woman turned to Holly. “I think there was a misunderstanding between Jake and me,” she said in a low voice. “I’ll clear everything up as soon as I can.”

  “Please do,” Holly whispered. She tried to recall her conversation with Jake. He seemed to imply that Emily had sold the robot to someone else. That didn’t seem possible. She’d never do anything to hurt a little boy; Holly was convinced of it.

  The fried chicken couldn’t have been better; in fact, it was as good as when her mother had prepared this dish. Holly had wanted tonight’s meal to be memorable for Gabe, and because Mrs. Miracle was with them, it was.