by Lynn Austin
“I’m Eve Dawson.”
“I’m Clara Jackson, a friend of Mrs. Herder. She ordered these toys for your two boys from the Sears Wish Book and had them sent to my house. She asked me to deliver them to you on Christmas Eve and to tell your sons they’re from Santa Claus.”
“My goodness! Thank you.” Eve took one of the packages from her, and Audrey let go of Cooper’s collar to take the other.
Mrs. Jackson lowered her voice and said, “They’re fire engines with ladders that move up and down. I peeked before I wrapped them up.” Eve thanked the woman, who refused their offer to come inside for tea and cookies, and closed the door again.
“Dear, kind Mrs. Herder,” Audrey murmured. “We’ll need to write her a thank-you note.”
“I think this is her thank-you note to us.”
“I suppose you’re right.” They put the new gifts beneath the tree, then Eve tiptoed into the boys’ bedroom to check on them. They were asleep.
“I think it’s time for Santa Claus to come,” she told Audrey when she came out again. They retrieved the first presents they had purchased from their hiding place in the bedroom closet and put them beneath the tree. The gift-wrapped airplanes she and Audrey had purchased that afternoon were still in the trunk of Audrey’s car. They were about to put on their coats to bring the packages inside when Cooper gave another bark. The doorbell rang again.
“Shh!” Audrey said, holding his collar. Eve opened the door and was stunned to see her boss from work, holding a wrapped Christmas present.
“Mr. Carpenter! Hello! Would you like to come in?”
“No thank you. I have a few more errands to run tonight. This present is for you, Eve. I didn’t have a chance to give it to you before the office closed for Christmas, but I wanted to show my appreciation for all your hard work. You’re always so cheerful and reliable and diligent. I don’t thank you often enough for the fine work you do.”
“Thank you,” she managed to say. Seeing her boss made Eve realize again that she had been working all this time to repay a debt that had already been forgiven.
“The other typists told me how you and your friend are raising your sons on your own,” Mr. Carpenter continued. “So I just wanted to say how much I admire you for that.”
“Thank you . . . That’s so kind of you . . .”
“Please accept this gift with my gratitude and in the spirit of the season. Merry Christmas, Eve.”
She closed the door and leaned against it, still holding the present. “I don’t think I can take any more surprise gifts today,” she said. Audrey laughed and took the package from her, shaking it as she put it beneath the tree as if trying to judge what was inside. “I can’t believe my boss brought me a gift.”
“He honored you for the work you faithfully do, the same way my father honored your mother with a generous gift for her loyalty. And did you hear what he said about you, Eve? You’re always so hard on yourself because of what you’ve done in the past, but no one else sees you as a terrible person. We all see the wonderful, hardworking woman we love.”
Tom had tried to tell her the same thing. Maybe it was time she stopped punishing herself and accepted forgiveness. She drew a deep breath and let it out with a sigh. “Right. Now let’s go get those presents from the car.” They put on their coats and boots and fastened Cooper’s leash to his collar to go outside. Afterwards, Eve stared at the growing pile of presents beneath the tree as she sank down on the sofa again. “Harry was right when he said we’d need to lop off some branches to make more room under the tree.” She took one of the cookies the boys had set out for Santa and bit into it. “We still haven’t talked about the surprise gifts from your father.”
“I can’t comprehend it, Eve. The town house . . . and enough income to live on? It doesn’t seem real.”
“Do you think you’ll go back home to London?”
Audrey picked up a cookie, too, holding it for a moment. “I’ve been thinking about it all afternoon, and again in church tonight, trying to decide what to do. I might have gone back to London a year ago. But this is my home now. Bobby’s home. All of our friends are here. And our family. We have all become a family, haven’t we, Eve? You and me and Nana and Granddad Barrett and Tom and Grandma and Grandpa Van . . .”
“And don’t forget Mrs. Herder and Cooper. And your new friend Alan.”
Cooper had been asleep at Eve’s feet, but he suddenly lifted his head and barked. Seconds later, the doorbell rang. “Not again!” Eve said, laughing. “I’ll hold Cooper this time. You go answer it.”
Audrey opened the door and said, “Alan!”
“Merry Christmas, Audrey.” He was carrying two packages.
“Come in, come in! Merry Christmas. But you’re early for the birthday party.”
Alan laughed. “I know. Here, I brought these for Harry and Bobby. I liked your idea of giving away Wise Men gifts, so I decided to buy a present for each of my Boys’ Club members. It’s just some things the boys will need when they go to the church campout next year—a flashlight, canteen, compass, a mess kit. And there’s a penknife in there, too. It isn’t sharp. I hope you don’t mind them having one.”
“Not if you teach them how to use it properly.”
“I will. But please tell them the gifts are from Santa, not me.”
“That’s very kind of you, Alan. Would you like to stay and have some coffee or tea? We have cookies.”
“No thanks. I have a few more of these to deliver.”
“Alan, look up,” Eve called from across the room.
He did. “Is that mistletoe?” he asked with a grin.
“It is. I hung it there myself,” Eve said. “I’ll look away.” But Eve peeked between her fingers as Alan gave Audrey a kiss.
“I’ll see you at the birthday party tomorrow,” he said.
Audrey closed the door and put Alan’s presents beneath the tree with all the others. She was shaking her head. “Just look,” she said. “Our boys gave away a few gifts, and look at all of the ones they received in return.”
“Harry and Bobby aren’t the only people who learned how much fun it is to be a Wise Man.”
“What about you, Eve? What do you think you’ll do with the gift from my father? I hope you believe me now when I tell you I don’t need or want any of your money.”
“I do believe you . . . finally. Tonight’s sermon made me realize that I’ve been behaving like a child, trying to prove that I’m ‘good’ so I would deserve good gifts from Santa Claus. But God isn’t Santa Claus. He’s more like you and me, giving gifts to His children because He loves us. I can’t buy forgiveness or a new reputation, not by working hard, not even with all of the money your father gave me. Forgiveness is a free gift because of Christmas. He makes all things new.”
“And so . . . you and Tom?”
“I think Tom and his family and the farm are all gifts to me from God. And I’ve been too ashamed and stubborn and stupid to accept them.”
“We both had a lot to learn this Christmas about giving gifts, haven’t we?”
Once again, the dog lifted his head and barked. Once again, the doorbell rang. Eve and Audrey burst into laughter. “Who could it possibly be this time?” Eve asked as she went to answer it.
“Maybe it’s the real Santa Claus. We don’t have a chimney, you know. He would have to ring the doorbell, wouldn’t he?”
Eve opened the door—and there stood Tom! He was holding two long, narrow boxes, wrapped in Christmas paper. “I think Santa Claus dropped these off at my house by mistake,” he said. “They’re toy rifles. Every cowboy needs a rifle. They shoot corks, but I’ll be happy to teach the boys how to shoot a BB gun when they’re older. In the meantime, they still need to know how to handle a gun and to never point it at anyone.” Eve looked up at him, unable to speak. “Eve? Why are you crying?”
“Because . . . Harry is going to get another gift from his Wish Book list—a daddy!”
“Does that mean . . . ?”
>
“Yes! It means I’m saying yes! Merry Christmas, Tom!”
He dropped the presents and pulled her into his arms.
Chapter 14
CHRISTMAS DAY
“Mummy! Mummy, wake up! It’s Christmas!” Audrey opened her eyes to find Bobby standing beside her bed, shaking her. “Santa Claus came, Mummy! Wake up!”
Harry had climbed onto his mother’s twin bed and was bouncing to awaken Eve. “You should see all of the presents under our tree, Mommy! Santa’s sleigh must have been very full last night!”
“Did you go into the living room already?” Eve asked, her voice groggy.
“We peeked just a little,” Harry replied. “Cooper wanted to see if Santa came, and he did, Mommy! He did! He even ate our cookies and fed the carrots to his reindeer.”
“It’s barely light outside,” Eve said, groaning. “What time is it?”
Audrey smiled as she looked at her alarm clock. “Twenty minutes until seven. But we may as well get up, Eve. You know none of us is going back to sleep.” Audrey got out of bed and put on her dressing gown while Harry continued to bounce on his mother’s bed.
“Wait until you see how many presents Santa brought, Mommy! And my name is on a lot of them!”
“I thought you just took a little peek,” she said. But Eve was smiling and putting on her robe, too.
What followed was an explosion of ribbon and wrapping paper and hoots of delight as the boys ripped into their presents. “Wow! Look at this! This is just what I wanted!” they said over and over again. Audrey used the camera she’d purchased a few months ago to try to capture the expressions of astonishment and joy on Bobby’s and Harry’s faces. She was especially pleased by their reactions when they saw the shiny aluminum airplanes. “Santa remembered!” Bobby said. “He remembered!” He hugged the airplane to his chest.
When the last present had finally been opened, Bobby and Harry sat on the floor like little kings, surrounded by their plunder. They seemed unable to decide which toy to play with first. “This is the best Christmas in my whole life!” Bobby said.
“Mine, too,” Audrey said softly. And it was, if for no other reason than to see her son’s joy. This must be how our heavenly Father feels, she thought, when He gives good gifts to His children. And Audrey was ready at last to accept His gifts.
“Our toy box is going to be so full!” Harry said.
Bobby tugged on Harry’s pajama sleeve. “Maybe we can give some of them to other kids again, to make room.”
“Yeah! Mommy, can we still give Wise Men presents after Christmas?”
“Of course,” Eve said. “I think that’s a wonderful idea.”
Audrey leaned close to Eve and whispered, “They’re getting it, Eve! Isn’t it amazing?”
When it was time for the birthday party that afternoon, Harry and Bobby helped blow up the balloons and set the dining room table. The boys put the presents they had purchased for their party guests at each of their places. Audrey was surprised when Alan was the first to arrive, shortly before three. “I came to see if I could help with anything,” he said. But the boys began tugging on his hands before he even had a chance to take off his coat.
“Look, Mr. Hamilton! Santa Claus brought us everything we need for the Boys’ Club campout,” Harry said.
“There’s even a real pocketknife!” Bobby added. Alan grinned as he tried to look suitably surprised and amazed by the new gear that he had purchased.
A few minutes later, Tom’s truck pulled into the driveway. Eve had been watching for him, and she raced outside without her coat to greet him. Audrey had tears in her eyes as she watched Eve run into his arms. Tom held her close, rocking her. Then Grandma and Grandpa Van got out of the car, and Eve hugged them, too. Audrey saw them laughing and wiping their tears. They all came inside and the boys opened their presents from Tom and his parents—two brand-new sleds.
“Now we can each ride on one,” Bobby said.
“Yeah! We can have a race!”
“Santa Claus brought us the rifles we wanted, Uncle Tom.”
“Will you teach us how to shoot them?”
“I’ll be happy to.” He ruffled Harry’s red hair. Tom had also brought the two wrapped presents that the boys had purchased on their secret errand with him and Alan.
“They’re for you and for Harry’s mommy,” Bobby told Audrey. “That’s what our secret surprise was.”
“Open yours now, Mommy! Open it now!” Harry begged.
“Shall I?” Eve asked.
“Yes! Wait till you see what I bought! We worked and worked out at the farm to earn all the money, and then I picked it out for you myself!”
“Open yours, too, Mummy,” Bobby told Audrey as Eve began ripping the paper off her present. Audrey peeled the paper from hers carefully, as if she might want to reuse it, but she really just wanted to savor this tender moment. She glanced at Eve and saw that Harry had bought her a necklace with a heart-shaped locket.
“It opens up, Mommy, and you can put my picture in it.”
“That’s exactly what I’ll do. It’s beautiful, Harry. I love it,” she said, hugging him.
“There’s room for two pictures inside, if you want.”
Eve looked at Tom as she fastened the locket around her neck. “I think I know whose picture that will be, too.”
Audrey finished opening her present from Bobby, surprised to find a lovely gold compact with flowers engraved on the cover and a mirror inside. “Oh, my! It’s gorgeous, Bobby. Thank you.” She pulled him into her arms and kissed his forehead.
“You can keep it in your purse for when you want to put on your lipstick. Mr. Hamilton helped me pick it out.”
“You both did a wonderful job,” she said, looking at Alan. “I will treasure this.”
“You mean, like pirate treasure?”
“Yes,” Audrey said, laughing. “Like pirate treasure.”
“Okay, it’s time to settle my bet with Alan,” Tom said. “Which one of the boys squealed first?”
“And how long were they able to keep it a secret?” Alan added.
“There were a few close calls,” Audrey said. “But you’ll be surprised to learn that neither one of them gave anything away.”
Alan laughed. “I guess we both lose—or win, depending on how you look at it.”
Nana and Granddad Barrett arrived last, their arms filled with more presents. Nana seemed very surprised when Cooper greeted her at the door. “My goodness! Did Santa Claus really bring you boys a dog for Christmas?”
“No,” Harry said, giggling as he hugged her. “He’s a borrowed dog, Nana.”
“But we can pet him and play with him and take him for a walk whenever we want to,” Bobby said.
“Why, hello, Alan,” Mrs. Barrett said when she saw him. “It’s so nice to see you here for this very special occasion.” Audrey wished she had snapped a picture to capture the look of surprise and delight on her face.
“Thanks, Mrs. Barrett. I couldn’t miss Jesus’ birthday party.”
Harry and Bobby opened their presents from Nana and Granddad, and of course they wanted to change into their new Roy Rogers cowboy hats and boots and fringed vests and chaps the moment they opened them. They strapped on the holsters and pistols, too.
“Now I’m a real cowboy!” Harry declared.
“Me, too!”
It was time for the birthday party to begin. Audrey slipped into the kitchen to put candles on the cake and was surprised when Mr. Barrett followed her, carrying a wrapped present. “I bought this for you, Audrey, and I just want to say . . . Well, open it first.” Her fingers trembled as she pulled off the wrapping paper. She had always felt as though her father-in-law didn’t quite approve of her or the decisions she made, but inside the box was a beautiful, professional stethoscope. “You’re doing a fine job raising your son,” he said. “I’m so proud of you. And I want to wish you all the best with your career as a nurse.”
Audrey turned and hugged him tightl
y. “Thank you, Dad. Thank you.” It was the first time she had ever called him Dad. “I’m so sorry for turning down your generous gift when you offered to pay for my nurse’s training. Please forgive me for my idiotic pride in wanting to do it all myself. I would be pleased to accept your gift.”
“There’s nothing to forgive,” he said, patting her back. “We’re family. Now let me help you with those candles. There seem to be a great many of them.”
Audrey laughed. “Bobby wanted to know how old Jesus was. We had to convince him that one thousand nine hundred and fifty-one candles were too many for a single cake.” Mr. Barrett carried the cake to the dining room table when they finished. The adults sat down, and Audrey snapped photographs as Alan and Tom and Grandma and Grandpa Van and the Barretts opened their presents from Harry and Bobby. Each gift was met with smiles of surprise and hugs of thanks for the boys. But her greatest joy came from seeing the expressions of delight and anticipation on her son’s face as he watched each person open his or her gift. Cooper liked his new ball too and growled playfully whenever someone tried to take it from him.
“They earned the money to buy these presents by doing chores,” Audrey told everyone.
“And we picked them out and wrapped them all by ourselves,” Bobby added.
“We’re so proud of our little Wise Men,” Eve said.
“Hey, everybody, come here!” Harry called. “We have to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to baby Jesus.” He stood beside the TV console, where the manger scene was set up, and beckoned to everyone to come over. Jesus and the other Christmas figures were still surrounded by a humorous collection of cowboys and horses and soldiers. Mr. Potato Head was there, too, and Clarabell and Flub-a-Dub from the Howdy Doody Show.
“Why is your candy from the country-club party strewn all over the top?” Eve asked. She had Tom’s ring on her finger and was holding his hand.
“Because everybody is bringing candy to baby Jesus for His birthday,” Harry replied as if it should be obvious. The family crowded around, and Grandma Van led them in singing “Happy Birthday” to baby Jesus.
