“What kind of question is that? Of course I like you. Why would I be standing here arguing with you all this time? You’ve got a smart mouth sometimes, honey. But you’re tough. I admire that. You’ve been through a lot and you’re a smart girl. You could straighten yourself out and do all right. You could have a good life,” he added in a gentler tone. “But you’ve got to let us help you. Don’t be so . . . so thickheaded. It doesn’t help you much in life, believe me.”
“So you want to help me now, too? Whoa. That is news. Let me process.”
Charlie didn’t answer at first. He didn’t entirely understand her but thought they were moving in the right direction. “Yeah, I do want to help you. Now once and for all, will you come with me? I don’t have all day. I have to drop my mixer at the restaurant equipment place. The service window closes at three.”
Zoey let out a long breath. “Well, in that case, I guess we’d better get going.”
Charlie felt an amazing wave of pure relief, so strong it nearly knocked him off his feet. He stared at Zoey a second, then started off back to his truck, feeling a little weak in the knees. He couldn’t quite believe he had not only found her but persuaded her to come back with him. Even when she sat in the truck cab on the seat right next to him, he could not quite believe she was really there.
He started up the truck, then pulled out his phone. “We’d better call Lucy. She’s going to be mad at me for not calling her the moment I spotted you.”
He punched in Lucy’s cell phone number, and Lucy picked up almost at once. She greeted him in a huff. “Charlie, where are you? Trudy called me in a panic and I had to run over to the diner to help her. I have to leave for work in a few minutes. I can’t stay here all day. What were you thinking, walking out like that—?”
“Hey, slow down, Lucy. Stop yelling at me. I’ll tell you where I’ve been if you give me a second. Guess who’s sitting right here in the truck. . . .” He handed the phone over to Zoey and felt his smile get so wide, his face hurt. Oh, he wished he could see the look on Lucy’s face when she heard Zoey’s voice.
“Lucy? It’s me . . . Zoey,” she said, her voice apologetic.
Charlie heard Lucy on the other end of the phone, her reaction was so loud and emotional. “Zoey? Is that really you? I can’t believe it. . . . Are you all right, honey? We were all so worried about you. . . .” Then he heard Lucy start crying, her words dissolving into sobs.
Zoey sighed. “She’s crying,” she reported softly.
He glanced at the girl. “So are you.”
Zoey looked over at him. “So are you,” she sniffed.
“Me? What—are you kidding?” Charlie rubbed his eye with the back of his hand. “I just got some dust in my eye, that’s all.”
Zoey gave him a look but didn’t reply, turning back to her phone call with Lucy. “We’re on our way back, Lucy,” Zoey explained. “But Charlie has to drop off his kitchen machine in Needham.”
Zoey listened for a moment, then handed the phone to Charlie. “She wants to talk to you.”
“Charlie, you turn around and come right home this instant,” he heard his wife say.
Charlie laughed. “Okay, okay. We’ll be right back. But who’s going to do all the mixing until that machine is fixed, huh?”
“Drive safely,” Lucy said. “I’ll be waiting right here.”
He hung up, glanced over at Zoey, and laughed. “That’s Lucy for you. I should be the hero of the day. But I just can’t do anything right, can I?”
“Oh, I don’t know, Charlie. You’re not so bad,” Zoey replied, looking out the window. “I’ll put in a good word for you.”
“Well, thanks, Zoey. You’re not so bad yourself. In fact, you’re a pretty great kid,” he added in a more thoughtful, affectionate tone. “Isn’t it funny how things work out? I popped my cork this morning and ran out of the diner with that broken mixer, like it was a life-or-death situation. But if I didn’t get so fired up, I would have never caught up with you. And that would have been a real shame.”
“I guess it was meant to be,” Zoey said, turning in her seat to look at him again.
“I guess so. Lucy will probably say there was the hand of God in this.” He shook his head and grinned. “And this time, I don’t know that I’d disagree with her.”
ABOUT AN HOUR LATER, CHARLIE FOLLOWED ZOEY INTO THE DINER. Lucy rushed up to greet them, hugging Zoey close and bursting into tears all over again. The boys were there, too, and took their turns hugging her and teasing her. Even Trudy gave Zoey a hug and playfully held out an apron. “Boy, did I miss you on the floor. Are you sure you don’t want to work with me tonight?”
“Not tonight, Trudy,” Lucy answered. “We’re going home.”
Lucy glanced at Charlie and he nodded. “That’s right. What the heck. This is a big day. I’m closing up. Everybody has the night off,” he announced.
“With pay?” Jimmy asked from behind the counter.
Charlie hesitated, feeling his jaw tighten.
“That’s right. With pay,” Lucy answered for him. “See you at home, Charlie. I’ll take the kids,” she called out happily.
“Okay, I’ll be right there,” he promised. After Trudy and Jimmy left, Charlie locked up without even cleaning the place. That was a first for him, too. Seems today was a rare day. Funny how you never knew what was coming your way when you got up in the morning, he reflected.
When he got home, he smelled something good cooking in the kitchen. Lucy greeted him, happier than he’d seen her in weeks, and he felt a familiar tightness in his chest slowly begin to dissolve. “Dinner’s almost ready,” she told him. “The kids are upstairs, doing homework. Zoey’s in her room, putting her things away.”
Charlie followed Lucy back to the kitchen and sat down at the table. She was making spaghetti and meatballs, one of his favorites. Lucy made the dish better than he did, though he wasn’t sure he had ever admitted that to her.
“So, quite a day,” Lucy said, turning to him as she stirred the pot of sauce. “I called Rita Schuman from the car on the way home. She was absolutely thrilled. She’s coming over later to talk to Zoey.”
“That sounds like a good idea,” Charlie said.
“Zoey told me how you found her in the truck stop. She told me all about it, how that man was pressuring her to go with him and you just walked up and scared him off.”
“It wasn’t that dramatic, Lucy,” Charlie said, though he did feel a puff of pride. “We had some words. Dirty slime bucket,” he grumbled. “Did she tell you that she didn’t want to come back with me at first? But I persuaded her.”
“Yes, she did tell me that part.” Lucy nodded and turned to him. She gave him a grateful look that just about melted his heart. “Thank you, Charlie. Truly and absolutely, from the bottom of my heart. This is the best thing you’ve ever done for me. You never have to buy me another gift . . . or sit through a play or a symphony . . . or take out the garbage.”
“Whoa, now,” he said, laughing. “Let’s not get carried away. I might remember all this stuff and take you up on it.”
“I mean it. Bringing Zoey back here safe and sound was the answer to my prayers.”
He heard Lucy’s voice tremble and knew she was going to cry again. He stood up and put his arms around her. “Hey there, Lu-lu. There’s nothing to cry about. The kid is snug as a bug in a rug. She didn’t need too much persuading to come back. When I mentioned you, that sort of clinched it,” he explained. “But she can be a sassy little cat. A real spitfire.” He laughed, remembering some of Zoey’s smart-aleck answers. “We’ll have our hands full with that girl, don’t fool yourself. She’s going to take some special handling.”
Lucy looked up at him. “Does that mean you’re willing to keep her here—permanently?”
Charlie nodded. “Yeah. She didn’t tell you that part? We worked it all out, me and Zoey. We’re all square. I told her we would stick by her with this legal situation and we’d keep her safe, no matter what. But she�
��s got to trust us and treat us straight.”
Lucy dabbed her eyes with a paper napkin and nodded. “You said the right thing.” She sighed and smiled. “When Rita Schuman comes, can we tell her we’re ready to apply as foster parents?”
“I’ll tell her myself,” he promised. “I know I’ve been difficult about this, Lucy. Maybe too practical and even a little suspicious of the girl. But you were right. My eyes were open, but my heart was closed. I had to open my heart to her and now . . . well, I feel like she’s one of our own. I wouldn’t let her go anywhere else.”
“Thank you, Charlie,” Lucy said simply. “Thank you for this. I’ll never forget it.”
“You don’t have to say that. I’m the one who should be thanking you, Lucy. You show me how to be a better man.”
Lucy put her arms around him and they kissed. She rested her head on his shoulder a moment, and he felt as if she had pinned a medal on his chest. “I think we should both be counting our blessings right now and thanking heaven that she’s back safe and sound.”
“Amen to that, dear,” Charlie said quietly.
EPILOGUE
“SHE WAS DESPER ATE. I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.” BETTY glanced over at Nathan, feeling guilty.
“That’s all right. We’ll catch the movie some other time. I’m sure it will be out on DVD soon.”
She noticed that he wasn’t smiling. They had plans to drive up to Newburyport, to see a movie and have dinner. The film was at a small art theater and would only be showing over the weekend. Nathan had been talking about it all week. But at the last minute, Molly had called with an emergency. She and Matt had to attend a big fund-raiser for the hospital, and their sitter had canceled at the very last minute. The older girls were both back at college, and Jill was away at a basketball tournament. And Molly’s mother was down in Florida, and Sam and Jessica had taken their kids skiing. The list went on and on.
“I tried everyone,” Molly promised. “From age eleven to eighty. I wouldn’t call if it wasn’t an absolute emergency. Could you possibly please come over and watch little Betty for us? Otherwise, Matt will have to go by himself, and I won’t get to wear my new dress, and I just had my hair done—”
“Okay. Calm down, I get the idea. You spent a fortune primping and you don’t want to be left at home, watching SpongeBob videos.”
“What a pal,” Molly had exclaimed in relief. “I owe you for this one. Big-time.”
“You don’t have to stay,” Betty told Nathan as they pulled up to Molly’s house. “You can just drop me off, go see the movie, and come back later.”
Nathan sighed. She could tell he was considering the idea. “We’ll see. Let’s just play it by ear. I think there’s a good Hitchcock movie on TV. Maybe little Betty will go to sleep early.”
“Let’s just hope,” Betty said as they walked up to the front door. She hit the bell and waited. The house was quiet and dark except for a few lights on upstairs. She guessed that Matt and Molly were still dressing.
Finally, the door opened. Molly stood there clutching a bathrobe around her neck, though her hair and makeup were perfect. “Come in, come in. Sorry to make you wait. I just have to put my dress on.”
Betty stepped into the foyer. It was so dark, she could hardly see.
Suddenly the lights glared and people jumped out from every corner.
“Surprise!” they all yelled at her.
“What in the world . . . !” She turned to Molly, who was laughing, and then to Nathan, who was smiling from ear to ear.
“Happy birthday, Betty. I guess you were surprised,” he said, kissing her soundly.
“Was I ever . . .” She gasped, catching her breath. “How in the world did you pull this off?”
“It wasn’t as hard as you think, hon. You’re getting old. Not so sharp anymore,” Molly teased.
Betty socked her in the arm. “This is all your doing, I’ll bet.”
“Actually it was Santa’s idea,” Molly said, slanting her head in Nathan’s direction. She leaned closer so that only Betty could hear her. “You were right about him, pal. I have to give you credit. He’s a diamond in the rough, that one.”
Betty beamed. “I told you so.” But before she could say more, she was quickly surrounded by friends, wishing her well and teasing her about her astonished reaction.
Emily held out a digital camera, showing her pictures of the big moment. “Look at this one. You look like you’re in shock.”
“Don’t make fun, Emily. You’re next,” she reminded her old high-school chum. “You’re all lucky I didn’t have a heart attack.”
“We know you’re tougher than that,” Emily said, giving her a hug.
So many friends and people she knew from business and the church surrounded her, Betty felt like a movie star.
“We have one more surprise for you,” Molly said, taking her hand. “This one just arrived, special delivery.”
She led Betty toward the kitchen, and Betty imagined that Molly had cooked up some exotic dish and their helpers were bringing it over from the shop.
But when Betty reached the kitchen, she stopped in her tracks and just stared. “Brian . . . and Tina? What are you guys doing here?”
“It’s your birthday, Mom. Did you think we’d miss it?”
“Oh my goodness . . .” Betty started crying. “This is just too much.” Nathan was beside her in a flash. He put his arm around her shoulders and she buried her face on his chest, until she could get control of herself again.
“Here, take my hanky,” he offered.
“That’s all right. I already wiped my eyes all over your nice sweater,” she confessed.
Nathan just laughed and let her go, and she greeted her son and his fiancée with hugs. “You guys didn’t have to come all this way for me,” she insisted.
“We wanted to. We wanted to celebrate with you,” Tina said.
“Oh, that’s so sweet of you, dear. I’m so happy you’re here.” Betty smiled at her and then looked over at her son, who stood next to Nathan. And then at Molly and Matt, who also stood nearby.
“You all know how much I was dreading turning fifty,” Betty told them “But I must say, if I knew it was going to be this good, I would have done it a lot sooner.”
It was a wonderful party, with warm company, high spirits, and Molly’s terrific food. Betty blew out the candles on her cake with one big puff, wishing hard. The happy hours went by in a flash and before Betty knew it, she and Nathan were back in the car, heading home with a pile of gifts in the backseat.
“So, did you enjoy your party?” Nathan asked.
“I had a great time. I didn’t really want a big party for this birthday, but thank you for ignoring my wishes and charging ahead anyway.”
Nathan laughed. “Well, Molly had a little to do with that part. But as long as you’re happy.”
“I am happy,” she assured him. So much in her life had been resolved, Betty reflected. Her relationship with her son, her solitary state. She had never really been afraid to be alone, but she was definitely happier being with someone she truly cared for.
She took his hand as they pulled up to her house. “I think my happiness has a lot to do with you,” she said softly.
“I hope you’ll always feel that way.” He turned and glanced toward the back of the car. “You have a load of gifts back there,” he noted. “But I didn’t give you one yet.”
“Oh, you don’t need to give me a gift, Nathan. You just gave me a beautiful party. That’s enough of a present.”
“Of course I have to give you a gift. I never got you anything for Christmas,” he reminded her. “And then there’s Valentine’s Day coming up. So it had to be something really special,” he explained. “It’s just that it’s in this tiny box.” He took a small blue velvet box out of his jacket pocket. “I didn’t want to put it in with the rest of the gifts. I was afraid it would get lost.”
Betty eyed the box and then looked at him. She felt suddenly breathless. He h
anded it over to her, smiling softly in the dark. “This is for you. Happy birthday, Beautiful.”
She took the box, noticing her hands were actually shaking. Was this what she thought it was? She tried not to get her hopes up. It didn’t have to be a ring box. It could be holding any sort of jewelry. Earrings maybe . . . or a pendant.
“Don’t you want to open it?”
She took a deep breath and felt him watching her intently. She slowly opened the box and peered inside. A beautiful dark blue stone—a square-cut blue sapphire—glittered in an elegant gold band.
“Oh, Nathan . . . this is so beautiful.” She looked up at him, speechless.
“Do you like it? I know that we only met a few months ago. Some people might not think that was long enough to know for sure. But I think I knew from the first time I saw you. You were the one for me. The only one. I love you with all my heart. I would be the happiest man on earth if you’d have me. Will you marry me, Betty?” he asked, staring into her eyes.
“Marry you? . . . Of course I will. Oh, Nathan . . . I love you so much.” Betty flung herself into his arms and held him close. “I never thought I could feel like this again,” she confessed. “But I think love is even better now when you’re our age. I appreciate it more. . . . I appreciate you more. I couldn’t think of anything that would make me happier than to spend the next fifty years of my life with you.”
Nathan laughed softly. “Is that all you’ll give me? It would never be long enough with you. We are truly blessed,” he whispered against her hair.
Betty didn’t have to answer. She looked back at her past, feeling healed and resolved over all that had gone before. And looked ahead now to the rest of her life beside this remarkable man, feeling complete and unexpected joy. They had so much to be grateful for.
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On Christmas Eve Page 33
