During dinner, Emily entertained them with story after story of various jobs she’d taken through the years. She’d certainly had her share of interesting experiences, working as a waitress, a nanny, a nurse and now a salesperson.
All too soon, it was time to get ready for church. Holly reluctantly stood up from the table.
“Everything was lovely,” Mrs. Miracle told her with a smile of appreciation. “I’ve never had chicken that was more delicious.” She carried her empty dessert plate to the kitchen sink. “And that coconut cake...”
“I liked the sauce best,” Gabe chimed in, putting his plate in the sink, too.
“I loved the salad,” Holly said, and was sincere. “I hope you’ll give me the recipe.”
“Of course. I’ll be happy to write it out for you now if you’ll get me some paper and a pen.”
Holly tore a page from a notebook and grabbed Gabe’s Santa pen; minutes later, Mrs. Miracle handed her the recipe with a flourish. “Here you go.” Then she frowned at her watch. “Oh, my. I hate to run, but I’m afraid I must.”
“No, no, don’t worry,” Holly assured her. “We have to leave for church, anyway. I’m just glad you could be with us this evening. It meant a lot to Gabe and me.”
The older woman bent down and kissed the boy’s cheek. “This is going to be a very special Christmas for you, young man. Just you wait. It’s one you’ll remember your whole life. Someday you’ll tell your grandchildren about the best Christmas of your life.”
“Do you really think so?” Gabe asked, eyes alight with happiness.
She reached for her coat and put it on before she hugged Holly goodbye. “It’s going to be a special Christmas for you, as well, my dear.”
Holly smiled politely. Maybe Mrs. Miracle was right, but it definitely hadn’t started out that way.
* * *
Gabe woke at six o’clock Christmas morning. He knocked on Holly’s bedroom door and shouted, “It’s Christmas!” Apparently he suspected she might have forgotten.
Holly opened one eye. Still half-asleep, she sat up and stretched her arms above her head.
“Can we open our presents?” Gabe asked, leaping onto her bed.
“What about breakfast?” she said.
“I’m not hungry. You aren’t, either, are you?” The question had a hopeful lilt, as though any thought of food would be equally irrelevant to her.
“I could eat,” she said.
Gabe’s face fell.
“I could eat...later,” she amended.
His jubilant smile reappeared.
“Shall we see what Santa brought you?” she asked, tossing aside her covers. She threw on her housecoat and accompanied him into the living room, where the gifts beneath the small tree awaited their inspection.
Gabe fell to his knees and began rooting through the packages she’d set out the night before, after he’d gone to sleep. He must’ve known from the size of the wrapped boxes that the robot wasn’t among them. He sat back on his heels. “Santa didn’t get me Intellytron, did he?”
“I don’t know, sweetie. I hear Santa sometimes makes late deliveries.”
“He does?” Hope shone in his face. “When?”
“That I can’t say.” Rather than discuss the subject further, Holly hurried into the kitchen.
While she put on a pot of coffee, Gabe arranged the gifts in two small piles. Most of them had been mailed by Holly’s parents, and Gabe’s didn’t take long to unwrap. He was wonderful, sweetly expressing gratitude and happiness with his few gifts. A number of times Holly had to wipe tears from her eyes.
“I hope you’re not too disappointed,” she said when she could speak. “I know how badly you wanted the robot—and I’m sure Santa has one for you but it might be a little late.”
Gabe looked up from the new video game she’d purchased on her way home from work. “I bet I’ll still get Intellytron. Mrs. Miracle said this was going to be my best Christmas ever, remember? And it wouldn’t be without my robot.” He jumped up and slid his arms around Holly’s neck and gave her a tight hug.
She opened her gifts after that—a book from her parents, plus a calendar and a peasant-style blouse. And the origami purse from Gabe, which brought fresh tears to her eyes.
They had a leisurely breakfast of French toast and then, while Gabe played with his new video game, Holly got the turkey in the oven. The doorbell rang around eleven o’clock.
Jake and his father came in, carrying a large wrapped box between them. Holly’s heartbeat accelerated. It must be Intellytron, although the box actually seemed too big.
“Merry Christmas,” Jake said, and held her close. “Don’t get excited—this isn’t what you think it is,” he whispered in her ear just before he kissed her.
“Merry Christmas, young man,” J.R. said, and shook Gabe’s hand.
“What’s that?” Gabe asked, eyeing the box Jake had set on the carpet.
“Why don’t you open it and see?” J.R. suggested.
Jake stood at Holly’s side with his arm around her waist. “I’m sorry I had to cancel last night,” he said in a low voice.
“It’s fine, don’t worry.”
“Mrs. Miracle came over,” Gabe said as he sat on the floor beside the box.
“Emily Miracle?” Jake frowned. “Did she happen to deliver something?” he asked, his eyes narrowing.
“She brought a Christmas salad for dinner,” Gabe told him, tearing away the ribbon. He looked up. “We didn’t eat it all. Do you want to taste it?” He wrinkled his nose. “For green stuff, it was pretty good.”
“I wouldn’t want to ruin my dinner,” J.R. said, smiling down at him. “Go ahead, young man, and let ’er rip.”
Gabe didn’t need any encouragement. He tore away the wrapping paper. “It’s a train set,” he said. “That was the second thing on my Christmas list, after Intellytron. Can we set it up now?”
“I don’t see why not,” Jake told him and got down on his knees with Gabe. “I wanted one when I was around your age, too.”
“Did you get one?” Gabe asked.
Jake looked at his father, who sat on the sofa, and nodded. “I certainly did, and it was the best train set money could buy.”
Gabe took the engine out of the box. “Wow, this is heavy.”
“Let’s lay out the track first, shall we?”
Holly sat on the sofa next to Jake’s father. “I’m so glad you could have dinner with us.”
“I am, too.” A pained look came over him and he gave a slight shake of his head. “I was sure I’d never want to celebrate Christmas again, but I’ve decided it’s time I released the past and started to prepare for the future.”
“The future?” she repeated uncertainly.
“Grandchildren,” J.R. said with a sheepish grin. “I have the distinct feeling that my son has met the woman he’s going to love as much as I loved his mother.”
Embarrassed, Holly looked away. With all her heart she hoped she was that woman.
“Jake would be furious with me if he knew I’d said anything. It’s too soon—I realize that. He probably isn’t aware of how strongly he feels, but I know. I’ve seen my son with other women. He’s in love with you, the same way I was in love with Helene.”
Holly was about to make some excuse about dinner and return to the kitchen when the doorbell chimed again. Everyone looked at her as if she knew who it would be.
“I... I wonder who that is,” she murmured, walking to the door.
“It could be Mrs. Miracle,” Gabe said hopefully.
Only it wasn’t.
Holly opened the apartment door to find her brother standing there in his army fatigues, wearing a smile of pure happiness. In his arms he held a large wrapped box.
“Mickey!” she screamed. He put down the box and hugged her fiercely.
/> “Dad!” Gabe flew off the floor as though jet-propelled and launched himself into his father’s arms.
Eyes closed, Mickey held the boy for a long, long time.
Merry Christmas, Holly thought, tears slipping down her face. Just as Emily Miracle had predicted, this was destined to be the best Christmas of Gabe’s life.
Baby Arugula Salad with Goat Cheese, Pecans and Pomegranate Seeds
(from Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove Cookbook)
This salad is a lively blend of sharp arugula,
tangy goat cheese,
mellow pecans and tart pomegranates. If you can’t find
arugula, substitute any delicate salad green.
1 small shallot, minced
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Salt and pepper, to taste
1⁄2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
10 to 12 cups baby arugula (about 10 ounces)
1 cup pomegranate seeds (from one pomegranate)
1⁄2 cup toasted pecans, chopped
1 cup crumbled goat cheese
In a measuring cup, whisk shallot, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper until combined. Slowly pour oil in a stream until blended.
In a large serving bowl, combine arugula, pomegranate seeds and pecans. Add dressing; toss to coat. Top salad with cheese; toss once.
Tip: Extra-virgin olive oil, which comes from the first cold pressing of the olives, has a stronger, purer flavor than virgin olive oil. Since it is more expensive, most cooks prefer to use it only for salad and other uncooked dishes. Virgin olive oil is better for sautéing.
Serves 8.
Chapter Nineteen
Searching for a new look?
Have your faith lifted!
—Mrs. Miracle
Mickey stepped into the apartment, still holding Gabe, and extended his hand to Jake. “You must be Jake Finley.”
“And you must be Holly’s brother, Mickey.”
“I am.”
“What’s in there?” Gabe asked, looking over his father’s shoulder at the large box resting on the other side of the open door.
“That’s a little something Santa asked me to deliver,” Mickey told his son.
Gabe squirmed out of his arms and raced back into the hallway. He stared at Holly and his grin seemed to take up his whole face. “I think I know what it is,” he declared before pushing the box inside. “Aunt Holly told me Santa sometimes makes deliveries late.”
No one needed to encourage him to unwrap the gift this time. He tore into the wrapping paper, which flew in all directions. As soon as he saw the picture of Intellytron on the outside of the box, Gabe gave a shout of exhilaration.
“It’s my robot! It’s my robot!”
“Wherever did you find one?” J.R. asked Mickey. The older man stepped forward and extended his hand. “J. R. Finley,” he said.
“He bought it at Finley’s,” Jake answered in a confused tone.
“Our department store?” J.R. sounded incredulous. “When?”
“My guess is that it was late on Christmas Eve.” Again, Jake supplied the answer.
“And how do you know all this?” Holly had a few questions of her own.
“Because that’s the gift wrap Mrs. Miracle used.”
“But...who sold it to him?” J.R. appeared completely befuddled by this latest development.
“Mrs. Miracle,” Jake and Holly murmured simultaneously.
“He’s right,” Mickey said as he sat on the couch next to his son, who remained on the floor. “I remember her name badge. Mrs. Miracle. We talked for a few minutes.”
Thankfully, Gabe was too involved with his robot to listen.
“I had a chance to go into the city yesterday,” Mickey told them.
“Wait.” Holly held up her hand. “You’ve got some splainin’ to do, Lieutenant Larson. Why are you in New York in the first place?”
Mickey laughed. “Don’t tell me you don’t want me here?”
“No, no, of course I do! But you might’ve said something.”
“I couldn’t.”
“Security reasons?” Holly asked.
“No, just that I wasn’t sure I’d get the leave I was hoping for. I’ve been sent back for specialized training—I’ll be at Fort Dix for the next six weeks. I didn’t want to say anything to Gabe yet, in case it fell through. I could tell from his emails that he was starting to adjust to life here with you. It would’ve been cruel to raise his hopes, only to have Uncle Sam dash them. Turns out I was on duty until nine this morning...so here I am. I thought I’d bring Gabe his Christmas surprise.”
“You might’ve mentioned it to me,” Holly said with more than a little consternation.
“True, but I had to take your poor track record with keeping secrets into consideration.”
“I can keep a secret,” she insisted.
“Oh, yeah? What about the time you told Candi Johnson I had a crush on her?”
“I was twelve years old!”
Jake chuckled and she sent him a stern look. If Mickey had asked her not to say anything about his possible visit, she wouldn’t have uttered a word. Then it occurred to her that he’d hinted at it when he referred to the surprise he was sending Gabe. Fantastic, stupendous, exhilarating though this was, a Christmas visit was the last thing she’d expected.
“But why buy the robot?” Holly asked. “I told you I’d get it for Gabe.”
“Yes, but you were going without lunches—”
“True,” she interrupted, whispering so Gabe wouldn’t hear. “Then Lindy Lee had a change of heart and decided to give me a Christmas bonus, after all.”
Mickey shrugged. “You didn’t say anything to me. Not that it matters because I wanted to get this for Gabe.”
“I didn’t tell you I received my bonus?”
“You’ve done enough for the two of us,” Mickey told her, his eyes warm with appreciation. “I didn’t want to burden you with the added expense of Christmas.”
“Hey, Holly, that means Finley’s owes you two hundred and fifty dollars,” Jake said. “Plus tax. By the way, Mickey, did you tell Mrs. Miracle who you were?” he asked, approaching the two of them. He slipped his arm around Holly’s waist and she casually leaned against him.
Mickey shook his head. “Should I have?”
Jake and Holly exchanged a glance, but it was Jake who voiced their question. “How did she know?”
“Know what?” Mickey asked.
“That it was you,” Holly said.
“Look, Dad!” Gabe cried out.
Mickey turned his attention to the robot, who walked smartly toward him, stopped and asked in a tinny voice, “When...do...you...go...back...to... Afghanistan?”
Mickey’s eyes widened. “How’d you make him say that?”
J.R., who’d been working with Gabe, grinned at Mickey. “I programmed him,” Gabe announced proudly. “Mr. Finley helped, but he said I can do it on my own now that I know how.”
“You managed to get the robot to do that already?”
“He does all kinds of cool tricks, Dad. Watch.”
While Mickey and Gabe were engaged in programming the robot, Jake and Holly stepped into the kitchen.
“She couldn’t have known Mickey was Gabe’s father.” Jake’s face was clouded with doubt. “Could she?”
Holly didn’t have an answer.
Jake continued, still frowning. “I tried to reach her, but the phone number she listed with HR wasn’t in service.”
“Then ask her when you see her again,” Holly said. Jake had mentioned that, as seasonal help, Emily Miracle would be working until after inventory had been completed in January.
“I won’t be able to,” Jake told her. “When I went to HR for her personal in
formation, I discovered that she’d handed in her notice. Christmas Eve was her last day.”
“But...” Holly wanted to argue. Surely Mrs. Miracle would’ve said something at dinner the night before. Things didn’t quite add up.... And yet, this wonderful woman had done so much to brighten their Christmas.
Before she could comment, the doorbell rang again. Holly chuckled, not even daring to guess who it might be this time. Her apartment was turning into Grand Central Station. If she had to guess, the last person to cross her mind would’ve been...
“Lindy!” Her employer’s name shot out of Holly’s mouth the second she opened the door.
Lindy Lee smiled hesitantly. “I hope I’m not intruding.”
“You came, you came.” Gabe bounded up from the floor and raced to Lindy Lee’s side, taking her hand.
Lindy gave Holly an apologetic look. “Gabe invited me and since I, uh, didn’t have any commitments, I thought I’d stop by for a few minutes and wish you all a merry Christmas.” She glanced about the room. “I see you already have a houseful.”
“I’m Gabe’s father,” Mickey said, stepping forward. “Holly’s brother.” He set his hands on Gabe’s shoulders.
“She’s the lady I wrote you about,” Gabe said, twisting around and looking up at his father. “Isn’t she pretty?”
“Yes, she is....” Mickey seemed unable to take his eyes off Lindy Lee.
Holly wouldn’t have believed it possible, but Lindy actually blushed.
“Thank you,” the designer murmured.
“Make yourself at home,” Holly said. “I was just about to serve some eggnog. Would you like a glass?”
“Are you sure it won’t be any bother?”
“She’s sure,” Gabe said, dragging Lindy Lee toward the couch. “Here, sit next to my dad.” He patted an empty space on the sofa. “Dad, you sit here.”
Mickey smiled at Lindy Lee. “I guess we’ve got our orders.”
“Yes, sir,” Lindy joked, winking at Gabe.
“You know what she said to me, Dad?”
“What?”
A Christmas Message Page 31
