by Lynn Austin
“I see. Well, according to these documents, his lawyers in Britain have been going over his will to settle his estate, and it seems that he did leave you a bequest after all.”
“A bequest?”
“Yes, a gift.”
Audrey sat forward in her chair. It was unimaginable that he would do that.
“Mr. Clarkson specifically asked that it be designated as a gift. It’s quite a large sum of money, in fact. I’ve calculated the dollar amount according to today’s exchange rate.” He passed a paper across the desk to her. Audrey stared in disbelief.
“That’s . . . that’s over a hundred thousand dollars!”
Eve peered at it too and whistled. “Didn’t I always say he was richer than King George?”
Audrey tried to speak but nothing came out.
“There’s more,” Mr. Barrett said, passing her a second piece of paper. “This is a copy of the deed to a town house in London that now belongs to you.”
“That can’t be right.” Audrey shook her head as if to dislodge her confusion. “The town house was destroyed during the Blitz.”
“According to these documents, Mr. Clarkson had it rebuilt. And since the original deed to the property was in your mother’s name, he said the town house rightfully belongs to you. The lawyers are asking what you would like them to do with it.”
Audrey leaned back in her chair, holding her forehead as the room seemed to spin. She must be dreaming. None of this could be true.
“Are you all right?” Eve asked. “You look a little faint.”
“I feel faint! This is such a shock! Why . . . why couldn’t he have given me all this news a year and a half ago? Before I uprooted my life and moved across the ocean?”
“It seems that your father—I mean Mr. Clarkson—decided to revise his will only recently, shortly before he died. Nearly all of his assets will go to various charities, but he specifically earmarked this gift for you and your son. And he included this letter.”
Tears filled Audrey’s eyes as she took the sealed envelope from Mr. Barrett and tore it open. Her father never had seemed to care about her and had certainly never shown her any love. But to remember her now . . . on his deathbed? Perhaps he had cared after all. She pulled the letter from the envelope.
Dear Audrey,
I am a dying man with many regrets, and chief among them is the way I treated you and your son. I allowed bitterness and grief to poison me after Alfie and your mother died, and you didn’t deserve to be treated so shamefully. As I now prepare to face my Maker, I pray you will find it in your heart to forgive me. You were a kind and loyal daughter to me in spite of my failings as a father.
The gift I’ve designated for you in my will is not an attempt to buy your forgiveness but is given because you are my daughter, joined to me by the family we loved and shared. I am sorry that it will come too late for us to be reconciled, but my wish for you and your son is that you will have a happy life, surrounded by people you love.
Sincerely,
Alfred Clarkson
When she finished, Audrey refolded the letter and tucked it back into the envelope.
“What does it say?” Eve asked.
“He . . .” She cleared the lump from her throat. “He asked me to forgive him. He called me his . . . his daughter.”
“Oh, Audrey,” Eve breathed. “I’m so happy for you. All these years, you thought—”
“I know. I thought he didn’t care about Bobby and me. But maybe he did.” She looked up at her father-in-law again, at a loss for words.
“It will take time for Mr. Clarkson’s lawyers to sell off all of his businesses and stocks and other assets in order to settle the estate,” Mr. Barrett said. “In the meantime, they’ll need to know whether to wire the money here or to an account in London. The town house is available for you to move into if you wish, and your bequest can be set up as an annuity that will provide you with an income. Although I certainly hope you will continue to feel that this is your home.”
“You’re rich, Audrey!” Eve grabbed her hand, squeezing it. “You can move back home to London if you want.”
Audrey could only shake her head and mumble, “I can’t . . . I can’t comprehend this.”
“You’re mentioned in Mr. Clarkson’s will as well, Eve.”
“Me?” She gave a little laugh. “That can’t be right. Are you sure?”
“The will states that a gift should also be given to the family of Mrs. Clarkson’s longtime lady’s maid, Mrs. Ellen Dawson, for her loyalty to Mrs. Clarkson on the night she died.”
“What?” Eve clutched Audrey’s arm.
“Am I correct in assuming that Ellen Dawson was your mother?”
Eve nodded. She looked as stunned as Audrey felt. “Our mothers died together when a bomb struck our London town house,” Audrey explained.
“Your gift, Eve, with the current exchange rate, is just over twelve thousand dollars.”
Eve threw her arms around Audrey, hugging her tightly. “I can pay you back, Audrey!” she wept. “I can pay back all the money I spent.”
Audrey pried Eve’s arms away, laughing through her own tears. “Eve, look at this!” she said, shoving her paper into Eve’s hands. “I don’t need any more money. I told you from the beginning that you didn’t have to pay me back, but you were so bullheaded about it.”
“But it was wrong of me to steal your name and pretend to be you. Your family is wealthy and belongs to the aristocracy, and I’m just their scullery maid. I’m nobody—”
“Don’t say that!” Audrey said fiercely. “Do you think God looks at our wealth and social class to decide who’s worthy of His love? Every person is valuable in His sight. And every job we do in His name is valuable. I think that’s what my father was trying to say when he gave this gift to your mother’s family. Ellen served as Mother’s lady’s maid unselfishly and with all her heart.” Audrey turned to her father-in-law again. He wore a rare smile, as if pleased to have given them such wonderful news on Christmas Eve. “I can’t comprehend this,” she said. “I don’t think either of us can.”
“You don’t need to make any decisions today. I just wanted to let you know about these surprise Christmas gifts. I thought it would brighten your holidays.”
Audrey left the study arm in arm with Eve. “You can return home to London, Audrey,” Eve said again. “You’ll have a home and an income there.”
“You could come with me. The town house is twice the size of our bungalow. We could easily live in it together.” Home. She and Eve and Bobby and Harry could go home to England.
Eve was still shaking her head. “I can’t believe that your father would give me this . . . this gift. I didn’t do anything to deserve it.”
“I did nothing to deserve my gift, either. It’s . . . it’s amazing.” They were still clinging to each other when they reached the living room. The boys were sitting on the floor near the Christmas tree, playing with the electric train set while Nana watched. They barely looked up when their mothers entered.
“I’m taking turns,” Harry announced.
“Me, too,” Bobby echoed.
“Would you mind watching the boys for an hour or so?” Eve asked Mrs. Barrett. “Audrey and I need to run a quick errand.”
Audrey had no idea what errand Eve was talking about. She was about to protest but Nana said, “Of course not. Take your time.”
Eve pulled Audrey toward the door and retrieved their coats from the closet.
“Are we picking up the cake?” Audrey asked. “I think the boys would like to come along with us for that.”
“We can get the cake later.”
“Well, what’s going on, then? Where are we going? I can’t take any more surprises today.”
“You’ll see,” Eve replied. She hurried Audrey to the car.
“Well, wherever we’re going, you’d better drive,” Audrey said as she went to the passenger side. “I’m not sure I can or should be behind the wheel. I’m still in
shock.”
“I know how you feel.” Eve started the engine and drove the few miles from the Barretts’ elegant neighborhood to the village center. The town was bustling with activity on Christmas Eve, and they searched for several minutes for a parking space.
“Tell me what we’re doing here, Eve,” she said as they got out of the car. Audrey was a little afraid that it had something to do with Alan, since Eve was always pushing him into her life.
“We’re going to buy those aluminum airplanes that Harry and Bobby want so badly.”
“Are you serious?” Audrey pulled Eve to a stop in the middle of the sidewalk, forcing the other pedestrians to weave around them. “I thought we’d decided not to indulge their greed by buying them too many toys.”
“It’s Christmas, Audrey!” Eve looked happy enough to float into the air like a helium balloon.
“I know that, but—”
“Harry and Bobby both love that airplane. And now we can both afford to buy them one!”
“Well, I know, but even so—”
“Listen, if Robert were here, don’t you think he would buy that shiny new airplane for Bobby? Maybe a dozen airplanes!”
Tears filled Audrey’s eyes as she pictured Robert strolling through the toy department, grinning as he picked out gifts for their son. It would have brought him joy. Audrey’s father had just shown his love for her by giving her an extravagant gift. And it reminded Audrey that her heavenly Father had shown His extravagant love by giving Jesus to the world at Christmas.
“You’re right,” she said, wiping her eyes. “Robert would have bought every toy in the Wish Book. And besides, I’m no longer spending Bobby’s trust fund money. This is my very own money.”
“I know! For the first time in my life I have money of my own. I can splurge on anything I want. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, Audrey.”
They hurried to the store together and bought two aluminum airplanes, asking the clerk to gift wrap them. As she left the store with her gift, Audrey couldn’t remember ever having so much fun spending money.
Chapter 13
THE CHURCH WAS PACKED that evening for the Christmas Eve candlelight service. Eve crammed into a pew beside Audrey and their two boys to hear the story of Jesus’ birth retold and to sing all the old familiar carols. The scent of fresh pine permeated the sanctuary, filling Eve with longing for the woods. The day had flown by since she’d learned about Mr. Clarkson’s gift this morning. She couldn’t have said what she’d done after retrieving the boys from the Barretts’ house and picking up the cake and buying more cookies from the bakery. All she had been able to think about was this life-changing gift. It was unexpected, undeserved, unbelievable. She was still trying to comprehend it when the pastor began his Christmas Eve message.
“This evening, I want us to join the Wise Men, who traveled from the East to bring their gifts to Jesus.”
Harry had been wiggling beside Eve, but he froze at the minister’s words and whispered, “Mommy! The Wise Men!” Eve nodded and put her finger to her lips.
“Guided by a star, they ‘fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.’ These were gifts for a king in a palace, not a poor infant in a stable. They brought Him gold—gold for the One who created the universe and its infinite stars. Gold for the One who said ‘the world is mine, and the fulness thereof’; ‘every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.’ How foolish we are to think we can give anything back to God. We can’t earn His grace and favor by our own efforts. No amount of money or gold or good deeds can pay for forgiveness.”
That’s what she had been trying to do, Eve realized. She’d been working hard and trying to repay Audrey in order to make up for all the wrong choices and mistakes she had made. How foolish. The words seemed meant for her alone.
“We each owe a debt that we can never repay. But God has reached down from heaven to pay it for us, giving us the gift of Jesus. He offers His forgiveness to us as a gift, to show ‘the exceeding riches of his grace . . . For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.’ God delights in giving this gift to us, the way we delight in giving gifts to our children.”
The word gift echoed in Eve’s heart. She had delighted in buying the airplane for Harry. And thanks to Audrey’s father, she’d seen what a true gift was—something she’d done nothing to deserve, given to her only because of the wealth and generosity of the giver. She could do nothing in return for the Savior who had freely forgiven her.
“The Wise Men brought frankincense and myrrh to Jesus,” the pastor continued, “expensive gifts that were used to bring healing, to soothe pain, and to anoint the dead for burial. They gave frankincense and myrrh to the One who ‘hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows,’ the One who ‘was wounded for our transgressions . . . bruised for our iniquities . . . and with his stripes we are healed.’ This became the greatest gift exchange of all time—we bring to Christ our sorrow and grief. We bring our sin and shame and lay them at His feet. And in return, He gives us comfort and forgiveness and everlasting life with our heavenly Father.”
Eve bowed her head as her tears overflowed. She had asked God for forgiveness, and she knew that He had given it. Why, then, had she been trying to repay a debt that had already been paid? Everyone had forgiven her—Audrey, the Barretts, Tom and his parents. But she had refused to forgive herself.
“Myrrh was brought to Jesus at His birth, and again after His death on the cross, because even as the innocent Christ child lay in His manger in a stable, His death on a cross for you and for me had already been planned by God since the creation of the world. Like the Wise Men who witnessed His coming and bowed to worship Him, we are walking witnesses to His grace, showing His saving power to the world. That is what God’s gift at Christmas accomplishes. The weight of our guilt and sin has been lifted from our shoulders. And what does He ask of us in return? ‘To do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.’”
Eve pulled a handkerchief from her pocket to wipe her tears, remembering Tom telling her she was worthy of a second chance. She had felt the weight of her debt to Audrey being lifted from her shoulders when she’d learned of Mr. Clarkson’s gift. And now she was reminded that an even greater debt had been lifted. Tears of joy closed Eve’s throat. She was too emotional to sing the closing hymn, “Silent Night.” Audrey looked deeply moved as well. They hugged each other without speaking as the candlelight service quietly ended.
Eve still felt dazed as they drove home and helped Harry and Bobby get ready for bed. Audrey made hot chocolate, and they brought it into the living room with a plate of cookies from the bakery to have a little party beside the Christmas tree. And as Eve delighted in her son’s squirming happiness and his anticipation of what tomorrow would bring, Eve knew that the fierce and tender love she had for her son was just a fraction of what her heavenly Father felt for her.
The boys set out a plate of cookies for Santa Claus and some carrots for his reindeer. Audrey read them a story to help them settle down before bed, but Harry was still wiggling and giggling when she finished.
“I’m so excited!” he said.
“Me, too! Me, too!” Bobby said.
“Because Santa Claus is coming tonight?” Eve asked.
“Yeah, and because of the birthday party tomorrow! Wait until you see what we—”
“Don’t tell!” Bobby shouted so loudly that Cooper barked.
Everyone laughed as Harry put his hand over his mouth. Audrey had told Eve about the friendly wager between Tom and Alan, guessing which boy would be the first to give away their secret. Eve expected it to be Harry. Twice now, he nearly had given it away before Bobby stopped him. The boys hung their stockings on their bedposts, and they all said good night with kisses and hugs. Audrey agreed to let Cooper stay in the boys’ r
oom for a while.
Afterwards, Eve and Audrey went into the living room together, but neither of them felt like turning on the television. Audrey put a Christmas album on the phonograph instead, turning the volume down low.
“I think that sermon was meant just for me,” Eve said.
“No, it was also meant for me. I realized that I’ve been hanging on to my sorrow and grief for Robert instead of offering it to God and allowing Him to heal it. Even Robert’s mother must have done that, or else she wouldn’t have been able to wish for my happiness with Alan.”
“You aren’t being unfaithful to Robert or to your memories of him if you’re happy. And if you love again.”
“I see that, now. Mrs. Herder talked about making grief into a shrine, like the gold star that used to be in her window, and that’s what I’ve done. Now I need to stop trying to live the life I think Robert would want me to live and live the one that God is giving me.”
Eve smiled. “And it seems to me that God is determined to keep you rich.”
“Yes,” Audrey laughed. “It seems He is indeed!”
“You know, Robert was raised with wealth and he still made wise decisions. So did you, growing up. You could have chosen the things that Alfie did. Having money doesn’t make you a bad person.”
“It’s like the pastor said in his sermon: God asks us to be just and merciful and to walk humbly with Him. Instead of trying to avoid wealth, I should probably ask for His help in managing it wisely—like maybe giving a nursing scholarship to a young woman who needs it.”
“And I think I know a handsome young banker who would be happy to help you with advice about investments.”
“Yes . . . Alan . . .” Audrey sighed. “Thank you for pushing him into our lives, Eve. I do enjoy his company.”
Suddenly the dog came trotting out from the bedroom and gave a little bark. Seconds later, the doorbell rang. Eve tried to shush him before he barked again. “Shh! Quiet, Cooper. You’ll wake up the boys.” Audrey held on to his collar while Eve went to open the door. A woman she didn’t know stood on the doorstep holding two large, wrapped presents. “Hello. This must be the right house because I recognize Cooper. Are you Eve or Audrey?”
