All Hearts Come Home for Christmas

by Annalisa Russo

  She elbowed up and glanced at the clock, which now seemed to be in perfect working order but telling her how late she’d slept. “I’m up, I’m up!” Jillian shouted at the tabby, “and if you were a little nicer to me, maybe I’d jump up and feed you.”

  She yawned loudly and swung her legs over the side of the bed. She never overslept. Her body clock was set for five, and even when she was on summer vacation or off for holidays, she rarely slept much past five o’clock. After the night she’d had, she found she could.

  Rising early only meant more time to contemplate her life and all the craziness of the last two weeks. No more procrastinating. She’d make an appointment with a shrink and get it over with.

  Not that the strange experiences Melah forced on her were bad. She was glad some of her good deeds had made a small difference. Wasn’t that the reason she tried to live her life a certain way? She didn’t need praise, but it could be discouraging to do something nice and think it hadn’t made a smidge of difference. Maybe she was just needy.

  She’d have to mull it over, or talk it out with a shrink, but first, she’d better feed Buster before he tore her fluffy new robe apart—the robe he was sniffing around right now. The one he would either snuggle up on or use his claws to rip to shreds. You never knew which way Buster would roll.

  She padded to the kitchen, opened a can of kitty food, and dumped it into Buster’s bowl. The Christmas cats on his bowl reminded her suddenly that today was Christmas Eve! How could she have been so preoccupied? Well, of course, she was preoccupied. She was roaming around the city at all hours of the night with Crazy Lady. Who wouldn’t be preoccupied? Her mood improved immediately.

  She filled the teakettle and turned up the heat. Grabbing the box of Winter Fruit Blend from the cupboard, she dug in the drawer for her tea ball and filled the ball with loose tea.

  In her fog, she hadn’t even glanced out the window. Now, as she leaned back against the counter to wait for the water to boil, she realized about six inches of snow had piled up on her side porch. Had Melah manipulated the weather for her? Surely the woman had limits to her abilities, but during the night, one of her wishes—for a white Christmas—had been granted. She rushed to the living room’s bay window.

  Not only was the ground covered with snow, but big, fat snowflakes still floated softly from the sky. There would be another five or six inches if this kept up for any length of time. Then she heard a squeal and watched as Tristán and his daughter rounded Abuelita’s house, Tristán ducking snowballs from his daughter, who reveled in pounding him with the white stuff. He lay on the snow laughing while Sadie kept up the assault.

  Jillian smiled broadly and then rushed to the kitchen and the whistling teakettle. Maybe she’d just happen to shovel her walkway and wave at Tristán and Sadie, and then maybe she’d get an invitation…

  The doorbell rang, and someone pounded heavily on the door besides. A snow-covered Tristán, together with his daughter, stood on her porch in boots almost covered from the deep snow. She wedged the front door open as far as she could. “Hey, there! Goodness sakes, you’re both covered in snow. Looks like fun.”

  “C’mon out and play, Jillie,” Tristán said, his gloved hand in Sadie’s mittened one, his smile slow and wily.

  “Pleeaassee, Jillie,” Sadie echoed.

  Jillian wondered how many times over the years she’d heard the same request from him. “I’d love to. Give me a few minutes to change. And then, watch out. I’m pretty good with a snowball.”

  Sadie squealed again and pulled her father down the steps. “We have to make more snowballs,” she yelled. “Hurry up!”

  Jillian closed the door and took the stairs two at a time to her bedroom.

  ****

  “That brought back a few memories,” Tristán admitted as he sat at her kitchen counter while Sadie lingered over hot chocolate at the table and a Daniel Tiger video on Jillian’s iPad.

  “Yeah.” Jillian sighed. “Good times.” She took a sip and then licked her top lip to check for marshmallow foam.

  Tristan reached over and wound his fingers through hers, setting all five of her senses on fire. The gesture might have been innocent, but it was intimate at the same time.

  She found it hard to breathe; even his scent evoked memories. Was he remembering their kiss last night like she was?

  He was the first to break the silence. “Would you like to come over later and help me put the t-o-y-s together? You were always better at mechanical stuff than me. We can pop some corn, watch a few Christmas movies, and when I can finally talk Sadie into bed, we can…” He wiggled his eyebrows up and down, looking so comical Jillian laughed.

  “And then you can show me your etchings. I get it.” She plucked a candy cane out of a jar on the counter and stirred her hot chocolate. “Don’t think you can fool me, Tristán Solano. I’ve known you too long.” She glanced over at Sadie. “You’ve done a wonderful job raising her, Tris. She’s a great kid. Take it from a person who has personally dealt with the Brown twins.”

  “Yeah, I met those two hooligans the day of the Christmas concert. What one didn’t think of, the other did. Maybe they’ll grow out of it.”

  Jillian snorted. “I doubt it, but I’ll do my best to straighten them out, at least in math class.”

  “So…what do you say? Would you like to come over, trim the tree with me and Sadie? I’ll even pop for dinner—frozen pizza?”

  “Yuk. How about a compromise? I’ll bring dinner, and you wait on me, hand and foot?”

  Tristán pretended to think it over. “Sweeten it with a kiss under the mistletoe, and you’ve got yourself a deal.”

  ****

  “What a delightful day.” Jillian snuggled under the knitted throw on Tristán’s couch and mentally critiqued the Christmas tree. The seven-foot Douglas fir, decorated with strings of twinkling, multicolored lights and popcorn garland, dazzled. Abuelita’s antique Shiny Brite ornaments, dug out from the attic and dusted off, were hung on every branch, along with silvery tinsel from the local drugstore. A heavenly tree-top angel beamed down from her lofty perch with love and joy, just like the song.

  The fire in the grate had burned down but still had enough power to throw glowing embers up the flue. With some persuasion, Sadie had gone to bed with a request that Jillian help tuck her in. Jillian couldn’t help but think that, in a different time, a different place, she could have been Sadie’s mother—an ache to the heart. Would she ever have her own children? Or would she forever only be little Allie’s Aunt Jillian?

  “Excuse me for a minute,” Tristán said. “I’ll be right back.” When he returned, he held a hand behind his back. “I want to give you one of your Christmas presents early.”

  “I have a little something for you and Sadie, too, but it’s at home. I can run over and get it, but I’d rather wait until tomorrow—Christmas Day.” Jillian patted the seat on the couch next to her, and he sat.

  “Since your parents and Noah won’t be here tomorrow, unless you have other plans, I thought maybe you’d like to spend Christmas Day with Sadie and me. We can have breakfast here while we open presents, and then go to church together at Sacred Heart. Maybe a movie and dinner later? Though Sadie will probably want to play with her toys most of the day.”

  “You mean that mountain of toys?” Jillian pointed to the tree’s bounty, which overflowed the tree skirt. “I thought we’d never get them all assembled.”

  “I guess I overdo because she doesn’t have a mother. Plus, I schlepped her around the globe instead of putting down roots, giving her a family. Talk about feeling guilty. I hope it’s not too late for her to forgive me.” Tristan’s eyes glimmered with his sincerity.

  “Sadie will make up her own mind about you and her birth mother. I wouldn’t worry if I were you.”

  “Thanks for the confidence in my parenting skills.”

  “I didn’t say you were skilled, just that your daughter is naturally sweet.” She curled her legs under her and turned
toward him. “Now, I think someone mentioned a present?”

  His mouth did a slow grin. “I hope you’re not disappointed. And remember you owe me a kiss, regardless of what you think of the present.” He handed her a shirt-sized box.

  Jillian shook the package and held it to her ear. She hefted it in her hand. “Hmm…doesn’t rattle much, pretty lightweight.” She sniffed the box and then pursed her lips. “No guess. I’ll have to unwrap it.” Then she tore at the paper, balled it up and tossed it on the coffee table. Carefully, she opened the lid to the cardboard box and pulled back the tissue. “Ha! Just what I need.” She pulled out five pieces of coal, a plastic carrot, a candy-cane-striped woolen scarf, and a black, pop-out top hat. “Perfect! We’ll have to set aside some time tomorrow to build Frosty. Sadie will love it. I love it.” This was the boy she’d fallen in love with, Jillian thought, as she popped out the top hat, the loyal friend who knew her, who really got who she was.

  “You always built the best snowmen.”

  “And snow girls,” she corrected. “And you usually knocked them down as soon as I built them. Shame on you, Tristán Solano.”

  Tristán pulled her into his arms. “That’s why I bought this gift. I need to make up for every time I slighted you or made you unhappy. I want to make you happy, Jillie. I need to make you happy. I love you.”

  When she sucked in a breath, he put a finger over her lips. “When I slept at Abuelita’s, I’d watch out the front window in the dark for lights to come on at your Nonna’s house. Then I’d dress in a hurry and within minutes I ‘d be at your front door. I didn’t know at the time what I felt for you was love. Being without it made me realize what I lost…what I gave up. So you don’t have to say anything now. Please…just accept the way I feel. I’m in love with you, Jillie. I think I’ve always loved you, and I’m not going anywhere. Sadie and I are here to stay.”

  Jillian pulled Tristán’s finger away from her lips. “I was going to say…I feel the same. Before you came back, I didn’t even know I was lonely. I fell in love with you when I was five years old and you punched Billy Evans for pulling my pigtails.”

  “I can hear a ‘but’ coming.”

  “But…” She drew out the word. “When you get hurt, it doesn’t get better until you finally realize you’re looking at everyone like you’re waiting for them to hurt you. It takes a while to get out of that mindset. There were moments—terrifying moments—when I thought there wouldn’t be an end to the pain. I’m past that now, but it took a long time.” She cupped his face. “Can you understand?”

  “I don’t want to make light of how I made you feel by leaving. You let me walk away even though it broke your heart. I can’t tell you how sorry I am for doing that to you.” He lowered his eyes. “I could have taken Sadie anywhere after I left Last Bluff, but I wanted her to experience a real Christmas here, because Green Earth feels like home, the home of my heart.”

  He tucked a curl behind her ear. “I’m better with music than I am with words, Jillie, but believe me when I say I love you. And I’m sorrier than you’ll ever know. Please don’t give up on me.”

  She took a moment to calm herself. Despite the emotion involved, she knew, on some innate level, Tristán had always been a good person, a good friend, one with standards. “I’m not going anywhere either. We can take our time getting reacquainted.”

  When Tristán’s lips came down on hers in a searing kiss, Jillian lost herself in the moment, to the drumming of her heartbeat. She knew trying to deny her feelings out of fear wasn’t going to work. She loved Tristán, always had, always would, and now his daughter, too. Besides, he would give her time to sort everything out, without pressure.

  They snuggled together under the afghan and fell asleep in each other’s arms.

  ****

  “Ahem…”

  The familiar voice pulled her out of the dream state and the warm embrace of the man she loved. “What are you doing here?” Jillian hissed. “Can he see or hear you?”

  “What do you think? Merry Christmas, by the way.” Melah pointed to what looked to be a diver’s watch on her wrist. “One minute after midnight. Thought I’d be the first to wish you glad tidings.”

  Jillian slipped out of Tristán’s arms. He snuggled into the corner of the couch and continued to sleep peacefully. Gosh, how she loved him. He was the answer to all her Christmas wishes. And Sadie was a blessing. How had she gotten so lucky?

  “Ain’t about luck, Jillie girl,” Melah said. “He’s the one for you, and you for him. I came by to say I’m happy for both of you. And to say goodbye.”

  “Nooo…you can’t go now. I just got used to you,” she whispered. She stood up and gestured for Melah to follow her into the kitchen.

  “I got a little bit of time left here. I could use some of that hot chocolate you make. It’s pretty good if you put some of that Irish Cream stuff in it.”

  Jillian reached for a saucepan to heat the milk. “Will I see you again?” It didn’t seem right that just when her life was coming together, she was losing her personal cheerleader.

  “You will—unless you do something real stupid. But I think you’ll make it up there.” She pointed an index finger at the ceiling. “You got lots of points racked up.”

  “Points? What do you mean?” She turned down the pan to simmer and scooped cocoa into two mugs.

  “Well, remember the little Advent calendar you kept as a kid?”

  “Sure. I used it until it fell apart. I don’t know why I didn’t replace it.”

  “You didn’t have to, because doin’ good deeds was second nature to you by then, with all those little doors filled with good things to do for other people right up to Christmas.”

  “To be honest, my mother started the tradition. Noah and I took turns each day opening a door until the last one on the twenty-fourth.”

  “And you got to put a bit of straw in the manger for each good deed, so Baby Jesus would have a nice warm bed, come Christmas mornin’.”

  Jillian realized she didn’t care if the woman knew every aspect of her life now. She poured milk into the mugs and started to hand one to Melah. The woman pointed to the bottle of Baileys on the counter. Jillian grinned and poured some of the flavored liqueur into Melah’s mug.

  “I never thought much about it back then. Noah and I just did it for Mom’s sake.”

  “Don’t be so modest,” Melah said. “Do you remember the Christmas candy you gave Agnes the year before she died? She wrapped that candy right up again and gave it to a good friend in the nursing home, even though it was her favorite. See what I mean? Points.”

  “I didn’t know she did that, but I’m glad she felt comfortable regifting it. I would have applauded her generosity if I had known, and would have replaced the candy, too.”

  “And remember when Melissa had a cryin’ jag at work last month and then found a goofy ‘thinkin’ of you’ card in her mailbox after she got home? Well, it healed her heart a little bit.” Melah sipped the chocolate and sighed. “I’m gonna miss this stuff.”

  “You can’t get hot chocolate in heaven? Say it’s not true!”

  Melah laughed so hard Jillian stuck her head back into the living room to see if Tristán was still asleep.

  “We can have anything we want, Cher,” Melah said, “but what makes your hot chocolate so special, it’s made with love. Never change, Jillie girl.”

  Melah got quiet and sipped her hot chocolate. Jillian waited.

  “I was sent because you were getting’ tired and sad, like John Griparis. You were thinkin’ maybe you would change things up—skip the carolin’ party next year, cut back on the homemade Christmas gifts, put up half the decorations. But I was sent here to tell you everything we do matters, Jillie girl. I could show you each of your good deeds and how they affected the world in ways you couldn’t even begin to imagine. Everything we do, everything… It reaches far, and if we do it right, heals the soul.

  “When we pass by others on our way, and see n
eed, if we take steps to bring those people a ray of sunshine, we chip away at the nasty people. You know the ones, Jillie girl. They got those pencil-minds.” She rose and cupped Jillian’s cheek. “It’s you, Cher—you, and the others like you—you’re the key.”

  And then she was gone.

  Tears formed in Jillian’s eyes. She let them fall and held Melah’s words to her heart.

  ****

  Jillian woke in Tristán’s arms and to Sadie’s squeals from the staircase when she saw piles of presents under the tree. She rushed down in her footed PJs and jumped on both of them, talking non-stop. “He was here! Santa was here, Daddy. I got presents. I got presents!”

  Tristán sat up and rubbed his eyes, his grin stretched across his face. Jillian ran her fingers through her hair and tried to smooth down her wrinkled sweatshirt and jeans. She probably had a sleep crease somewhere on her face.

  “Jillie,” Sadie screamed. “An American Doll.” She wagged the doll back and forth and hugged it to her chest. “I love her. I love her. She looks just like me! Ohhh…look!” And on she went, from present to present, each one being her favorite until she unwrapped the next.

  “Well, Daddy, looks like you did a great job. Every present is a hit.” Jillian rose from the couch. “As it’s only six o’clock and barely dawn, I could start some breakfast while you do some shoveling. How about ten o’clock Mass? Enough time for me to go home and change after breakfast. Then we can talk about the rest of the day.”

  “Sounds like a plan. Eggs over easy, bacon, and hash-brown potatoes?”

  “Don’t push your luck, bud. Scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast, and maybe some fried potatoes. I have to check your pantry.”

  She put her arms around his neck and let him kiss her silly under the mistletoe.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Tristán tilted his chair back on two legs and rubbed a hand over his stomach. “Great breakfast, Jillie. What do you think, Sadie?” He swiped a napkin across his daughter’s chin. “Use your napkin, honey.”

  “I like bacon,” Sadie answered around a mouthful. “Thank you, Jillie. It was good.” She glanced at her father and grinned. “Daddy burns the bacon every time.” She giggled and tried to evade his fingers when he reached for her. “Can I go play with my new presents?”