A Christian Christmas (Book #1 Andersen Brothers series)

by Pat Simmons

  Joy’s instructions to stop running fell on deaf ears. Bethani quickened her steps, too. Squatting, Christian braced himself to receive the winners of the children’s impromptu race. He gave them hugs at the same time a robust laughter echoed throughout the crowd, drawing the children’s attention. A man in a Santa costume had them star struck.

  Joy casually strolled up to them. She pointed at the crowd waiting to take a picture with the jolly old man. “That is one line I’m not feeling.”

  Christian reached for her hand. “Then don’t. Let’s feed them first and then it’s time for one more stop in preparation for a Christian Christmas.”

  Chapter 11

  Once they were in the food court, Christian took their orders and strolled to the counter. Joy watched him walk away still wearing his silly chauffeur cap. She sighed, enjoying a moment of contentment. When she noted others admiring Christian, she couldn’t believe the twinge of jealousy she felt even though Christian never gave them an encouraging glimpse.

  “I like him, Auntie,” Bethani said, breaking into her reverie.

  “He’s a nice man.” Joy smoothed back a few loose hairs that had escaped Bethani’s hair band.

  Shane screamed his displeasure at his sister and cousin about something. “Jada, let him stay there. Why don’t you sit by me?” Of course, Shane scrambled off his chosen seat to make a beeline for her lap. Lord, You know I don’t know what to do with this boy…

  “Here we go,” Christian said, balancing two food trays. The girls grinned.

  Joy chuckled. “You are their hero.”

  Straddling the seat next to her, Christian said, “I aim to please. What about your hero?”

  “You’re the reigning champion.” Together they portioned out the children’s chicken nuggets and fries.

  While Christian blessed their meal, Joy thought about how much she enjoyed hearing him pray. He was soft spoken almost in reverence, yet his voice was strong and powerful.

  Once they finished eating, Bethani asked for permission to take Jada and Darla on the carousel. Shane was about to drift off any minute, so she held him. Joy agreed and watched as the attendant strapped the girls in a kiddie seat. Joy turned to Christian who was watching her.

  “Here, let me hold him.” Christian scooped the boy out of her arms and lovingly adjusted Shane in his.

  “Have you ever married?”

  “No, I haven’t met a woman who I wanted to ask,” Christian said, looking at her as if she was supposed to read between some lines. Joy’s brain was too tired after crunching numbers to make sure she didn’t go over her monthly budget.

  “Are you sure we aren’t keeping you from any other plans?”

  “I wanted to be here, remember?”

  “But for how long? Will you disappear along with Santa after Christmas?”

  She shivered under his intense scrutiny then squirmed in her seat.

  “Unlike Santa, Christ is with us year round. I’m reminded of that every morning when I wake and write my name. As for Christian, I’m hoping you will want to keep me around.”

  “My mind is screaming, ‘Why?’ Between work and the children, I’m exhausted.”

  “Joyce Knight, Jesus died for us so that He can carry our load. Let Him carry yours.”

  “God may answer your prayers, but mine are still in the on-hold pattern.” Joy paused and thought about what she saw Christian do earlier. “I don’t know what was in that envelope you gave that man at Walmart, but that was nice of you. You’re a secret Santa.”

  “No, there is no secret what God can do. It’s important that Jesus gets the credit here, not me. The Bible says in Luke 12 to whom much is given, much is required. My parents and my grandparents have always had money. Up until a few years ago, everyone knew I had money, too, but I’ve learned cash can’t buy you happiness or love. I cringed when people didn’t call me Chris. I didn’t want to be reminded that the first Christian church began with the Apostles teaching and preaching Jesus. I wanted no part of holiness. Then one afternoon, my father sat me down and told me enough was enough of my rebellious actions.”

  Shane made a sucking sound with his lips. Christian glanced down. The tender moment made Joy want to weep for the years Shane had already missed with his father.

  “Kenneth Andersen put the fear of God in me. He quoted the scripture that it is hard for a rich man to get into heaven because of his pride and pompous behavior. Dad said he wanted me to make it into heaven, and the only way to do it was to strip me of everything I was given—monthly allowance, clothes and everything else I had on a silver platter. It’s nothing like being stripped naked to appreciate the bare minimums in life.”

  Joy couldn’t imagine Christian any other way except as the humble man sitting in front of her. She checked on Bethani and the girls. One more round and she would make them get off. “Am I one of your charity cases?” she asked, but wasn’t sure she could bear the answer.

  “Last I checked, you weren’t on my company’s list of charitable organizations. Making up your difference at the register was not the same as blessing the man with a money envelope. Once you got in my heart, I couldn’t stop giving to you. You just fit. I want you to make room for me in your life. God knows my intentions, and I would like for you to know, too.”

  Flattered—absolutely—but Joy couldn’t fathom any romantic entanglement at the moment. Joy stood and waved the girls off the ride. “I have four children. You might as well say I’m their only parent. How does that fit into a bachelor’s life?”

  Christian also got to his feet, still holding Shane. “Who says I’m content with my life as a bachelor?”

  “That was fun, Mommy. Can we go see Santa Claus?” Jada pointed in the direction of a long winding line.

  “Not today. Mommy is tired.” She turned to Christian. “I know I agreed to you showing me something about Christmas, but can I take a rain check? I desperately could use a nap.” Joy thought Christian would give her a disappointed look for not keeping up her end of the bargain after he drove them around all day.

  “There are thirty days before Christmas, so we still have time for you to see what I see.”

  As they bundled the children to leave, Joy marveled how his words could cause warmth to radiate through her. She started the countdown. Tomorrow, I’ll have twenty-nine days to find out.

  Chapter 12

  Later back at home, Christian stretched out on his sofa, catching the end of a basketball game. For the past two days, he had enjoyed the company of a beautiful woman, but he was exhausted, so he could only imagine how Joy felt. Yet he didn’t want the day to end with her.

  Honestly, he hadn’t expected Joy to invite him to be around the children so soon because of their vulnerability for attention. But she opened the door and Christian crossed over and he didn’t plan to walk out.

  Although their attraction was mutual, Christian doubted Joy was going to act on it. That would be a first. Women threw themselves at him and his brothers all the time. That made Joy even more special.

  Closing his eyes, Christian began to pray. “Lord Jesus, bless this extraordinary woman. She’s not a charity case to me. God, please allow me to make a difference in her heart about Your love and concern for her. And while You’re sprinkling good will to all men, please remember me with a special gift this year in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

  ***

  The following morning, bright sun rays danced outside Joy’s bedroom window, nudging her to wake up. Hugging her pillow, Joy rolled over in her bed, smiling. Evidently, she had no night visitors, which helped her get a good night’s sleep.

  Her house was still quiet. Since it was Saturday, maybe she could sneak in twenty more minutes before she had to get up and prepare breakfast. She had the most intoxicating dream anyway. Christian had a starring role where she was free to date him without a care in the world.

  Stretching, Joy closed her eyes again. She couldn’t return to that dream. Reality was she was a single parent and in seriou
s financial trouble. Taking one day at a time, Joy got up and prayed for strength and patience for another day.

  She made up her bed, showered quickly and dressed more like a bum than when Christian saw her the previous morning. Scrutinizing her reflection in the mirror, she wished she had curled or wrapped her hair before bed. The sight was a messy wild look that would see a flat iron soon.

  Peeping in on the girls, she found they were all knocked out. When she checked on Shane, Joy was surprised to find him awake and playing quietly in his bed with a toy truck. By the time she got him cleaned and dressed, Bethani had walked in, rubbing her eyes. She gave Joy a morning hug before leaving to get the other girls up.

  Within an hour, Joy’s home was in full swing while she prepared pancakes in the kitchen, cartoons playing on the flat screen, and Joy snacking on bacon when the doorbell rang. Flipping the pancakes, Joy lowered the temperature so she could go to the door. She opened it to see Christian holding an armload of garland. Did the man ever not look his best?

  “I brought the hallmark of Christmas to your house. There’s no need to leave home.” He grinned and sniffed as she closed the door behind him. “Am I interrupting breakfast?”

  Joy jumped. “Whoa.” She raced back to the kitchen as everyone else ran to see Christian.

  She quickly stacked and buttered the pancakes before returning to her living room. “So what are you doing with all that stuff?”

  “Mr. Andersen says we’re going to build Jesus a house to be born in.” Bethani explained.

  “Oh…well, before you start, you might want to eat. Christian, there’s plenty for you.”

  He closed the distance between them. “Thank you, but I didn’t come to eat. The truth is I didn’t get enough of seeing you yesterday. My excuse is bringing Christmas to you instead of dragging you and the children around. I hope you don’t mind me taking the liberty to show up at your door unannounced.”

  Joy could see herself having a hard time getting upset with this man. “Your timing is terrible.” She fanned her hand from the top of her hair to her house slippers.

  Leaning closer, he whispered, “You can’t hide beauty.”

  His husky baritone, the appreciative gaze and his genuine compliment made her want to kiss him, but this wasn’t a dream, so it was hands off of a man she hadn’t known a month.

  “Go ahead and eat. I’ll just get started, if you don’t mind.”

  “I don’t.” She had the children wash their hands and then ushered them into the kitchen.

  The children seemed to wolf down their food, despite Joy’s instructions to take their time. She didn’t blame them for wanting to get back to Christian. She enjoyed being with him, too. Once she cleaned up after breakfast, Joy strolled in the living room with two mugs of hot chocolate. “Here.” She handed one to Christian. Sipping on hers, Joy sat on the sofa and watched Christian construct some contraption in the corner of the room where the Christmas tree would normally stand.

  Christian patiently instructed the children how to place the garland and fake palm trees to build a hut. Next, he took a crate. “Okay, does anyone have a pillow for baby Jesus to sleep on?”

  “I do.” Jada waved her tiny hand in the air. She turned at look at Joy. “Can I, Mommy?”

  “I know you’re not talking about your favorite pillow that you have to have at night?” Joy chuckled. Her daughter would never give that up.

  “Of such is the kingdom of heaven,” Christian mumbled without looking at her.

  “It’s…it’s for Baby Jesus,” Jada said with eyes wide with excitement.

  “Sure.” Joy didn’t believe for one moment her daughter was serious as Jada scrambled up the stairs on her own. She returned within minutes, sliding down the stairs on her belly. She raced to Christian—to Joy’s surprise—with her Dora the Explorer pillow.

  Christian told Jada to carefully lay it in the wooden crate. “I can’t believe she is willing to give her favorite thing up,” Joy said in awe, amused.

  “Children have an unshakeable faith in God.” He lifted his mug of hot chocolate for a toast.

  Joy reluctantly clinked his mug. “Yeah, but that’s before life’s storms rock the boat.”

  “But Jesus can calm the raging sea.”

  Shane pulled a temper tantrum, wanting to pull Jada’s pillow out. Christian intervened before she did.

  He lifted Shane off the floor and waited for him to calm down. “You go get something to give to Baby Jesus.” The boy nodded.

  “Come on, let’s go find a toy.” Bethani took her brother and kissed his cheek. Holding Shane’s hand, she helped him up the stairs.

  While Christian waited, he returned to Joy’s side. He folded his arms and just looked at her. “Joy to the World.” Christian sang the first chord, which exhibited his musical ability. “How about joining me for service tomorrow?”

  Now the man was asking too much, and she was about to dim the light in his gorgeous brown eyes. “Sunday is a day of rest, and I need it before the start of another work week. I can’t keep that promise.”

  His eyes seemed to glow brighter and he added a smile. “Then don’t promise me, just try.”

  “You’re not giving up on me, are you?” Joy held her breath. She couldn’t take any rejection at this point in her life.

  “Nope, not in this lifetime,” Christian said and went back to work.

  Relieved and happy, Joy stretched out on the sofa and decided to take a short nap since the children were occupied. She felt Christian was trustworthy, but to keep him honest, she kept one eye open. Child molestation was real and it wasn’t going to happen on her watch.

  Chapter 13

  The next morning, Christian squeezed in the pew with his family. He knelt and thanked God for allowing him another opportunity for grace to wake up. As he took his seat next to his mother, she smiled. “I didn’t know if you were going to make it, considering we’ve seen little of you since you took off with my pie,” Dorcas whispered, teasing.

  Pastor Peyton’s booming voice drew everyone’s attention. “It’s preparation time. I’m not talking about for the holidays, but eternal life. You can’t have the latter without the former. No Christ, no Christmas, no salvation, no escape out of this hellish place…”

  Christian turned and glanced back at the sanctuary’s entrance, then checked his smartphone for the time. Would Joy make it?

  His mother nudged him. “Who are you looking for?”

  “I was hoping Joy and the children would make it.” Christian tried to hide his disappointment.

  Pastor Peyton interrupted, “This is the perfect time to be that voice crying in the wilderness to prepare the way of the Lord. I caution you not to get so caught up in the holiday sales and miss the rapture. When people speak of gifts, remind them of Christ’s ultimate present…”

  His pastor preached with intensity until he ended the sermon. He swiftly moved to the urgency of redemption through the altar call, appealing to anyone who wanted to be prepared for Jesus. “Repent in your heart of deeds that you know are wrong and ask God to forgive and forget. The Bible says in Isaiah 43:25, He’ll forget our sins when no one else will. So surrender and walk to one of our ministers who will pray for you. Then go all the way. Reading the Bible is not enough. We must repent and be baptized to complete his salvation conversion. The baptism will remove your old armor and then Jesus will equip you for spiritual battle. God will fill you with power to live right through His Holy Ghost. You can’t be holy without Him.”

  Christian was glad he had made the right decision years ago and never looked back as many hurried to the altar. Soon the repenting candidates had changed and were waiting to be baptized.

  One of the ministers standing in the baptismal pool lifted his hand. “Dearly beloved, upon the confession of your faith and the confidence we have in the blessed Word of God, we indeed baptize you in the mighty name of Jesus Christ for there is no Name under heaven by which man must be saved and you shall receive the Holy Gho
st.” Three men were dunked under water as sinners and raised up new creatures. The sanctuary went crazy with praise and shouting.

  Not long after that, the pastor gave the benediction. People began to spill out into the vestibule toward the parking lot. Dorcas patted his shoulder as he turned to give her a hug.

  “Be glad for one soul at a time, son. We can pray, but remember God is the One who draws them. You said she has four little ones. It’s not that easy to get them fed, cleaned and dressed to be on time. If she hasn’t been attending church for a while, then it takes practice, determination and patience.” She leaned closer with a curious expression. “Are all of them her sister’s children?”

  “No. She has one adorable daughter. Jada is a mini Joy—just beautiful.”

  “Maybe I can meet them soon. You know I’ll bake them cookies.” It was a known pastime of his mother’s during the holidays. She and his dad would make two to three deliveries a week to schools, senior citizen homes and shelters. They never left without saying a prayer and leaving a monetary donation.

  “Be careful, son. When children are involved in a relationship, especially with as many as she has, it’s as much about them, too. The children could fall in love with you and the mother could hate you.”

  Christian banished that scenario. “I am genuinely attracted to her, and the children are part of the package.”

  “But would you be so quick to say that without a deep pocket to give them all what they want? Finance is only part of the relationship. Children will try your patience, buck your advice and devise every way known to man to make you want to kill them.”

  “Okay, Mom, I know you’re talking about me.” Christian chuckled, recalling his rebellious streak that almost got him put out the house as a teenager. That was the day his mother invaded his bedroom and found alcohol and cigarettes. Dorcas didn’t even call his father for backup. When she got through with him, Christian thought he had been beat down by a martial arts expert.