A Girl Named Christmas

by Kimberlee R. Mendoza

  “He has a daughter. He wouldn’t be alone.”

  Their mother wiped her hands on her apron and faced Barbara with a stern look. “You know what I mean, young lady. Now go get the nice China out of the hall closet.” She moved toward the swinging kitchen door and stopped. “Oh, and set an extra place for Mr. Thompson’s son.”

  Amy squealed from the kitchen.

  Their mother shook her head and grinned. “There will be no living with her now. Please put Amy on the opposite end of the table. Chris, you can sit next to him.”

  Chris’s heart dropped into her stomach. She knew her mother’s intentions were good, but her facts were misconstrued. She diverted her attention to folding the napkins.

  “And why is he coming?” Barbara asked.

  “Must there be an inquiry on every guest?” her mother asked.

  Barbara looked away. “Sorry, Mom.”

  “His father is ill and his mother is working hard to take care of him. She can’t be bothered with making a dinner today. I asked him to eat with us and then take plates home to his folks.” She disappeared behind the kitchen door which swung back and forth in her wake.

  Chris finished the last napkin, as the front bell sounded. Her face warmed at the thought of Elijah sitting next to her. “I’ll get it.” She walked to the door and opened it. “Hi, Reverend. Thanks for coming.”

  “Happy Thanksgiving, Christmas.” He met each of their eyes. “Martha. Barbara.”

  Chris shut the door, but something blocked it from closing. She peered around the edge. Elijah smiled. “Hi.”

  “Hi.” She stepped back and allowed him to enter.

  Amy flew into the room. “Elijah! I’m so glad you made it.” She stopped just short of him and pivoted back and forth, her flowered dress swaying around her calves. She looked exceptionally sweet today. Mom had taken the time to curl her hair and pin the front sides.

  “Hello, Amy.” He grinned at her.

  Chris wondered how he thought she looked in comparison to her sister. Chris wore a skirt at her mother’s insistence, but it was tame in distinction. The navy a-line skirt hung straight to her ankles, just meeting her bobby socks. She wore a plain white top and a light blue sweater with her hair neatly pulled back into a ponytail. If she’d known he was coming, she might have taken the time to add lip-gloss. She blinked at that thought and crossed to the table. It unnerved her to think any guy could affect her in that way. Lip-gloss? Please.

  “Girls, come help me bring out the food.” Their mother entered with a large, browned bird on a tray. Juice seeped from the skin, making Chris’s mouth water. She walked to the kitchen and grabbed a dish of cranberries and a plate of butter. Within seconds, the women had filled the table. Stuffing, giblet gravy, yams, green beans, corn, potatoes, Jell-O salad, and rolls—there was enough food for a whole other family.

  “Okay, Amy you can sit by me here at the end. Reverend, you can sit there.” Their mom pointed across from her chair. “Barbara and Marty you can sit next to the Reverend. Chris next to me and Elijah next to Chris there on the end.”

  Elijah pulled out the chair and sat. He met Chris’s eyes and a grin tipped at each corner of his mouth.

  “Mom, why do I have to sit down here by you?” Chris heard Amy whisper as everyone took their place.

  She ignored her. “Reverend, would you mind blessing the food?”

  He folded his hands and nodded. “Certainly.” He closed his eyes and everyone responded by doing the same. “Dear Lord, we give thanks for Your love and for all You provide. Thank you for allowing us to enter Your presence and for dying on the cross for our sins. Please bless us this day and nourish our bodies. We are grateful for the friends You have blessed us with. Thank you for Your undying love. Amen.”

  “Amen,” everyone echoed.

  “While we fill our plates, why don’t we go around and say what we are all thankful for,” their mother said.

  Amy’s hand shot in the air. “Ooh, I’ll go first.”

  Their mother reached for the mashed potatoes and nodded. “All right, Amy. Go ahead.”

  “I’m thankful for the beautiful flowers in our garden and for those that tend them.” Her face beamed as she glanced at Elijah.

  Elijah bit his smile and focused on scooping from a bowl of green beans.

  “Thank you, Amy,” her mom said. “Marty?”

  “I am grateful for all of you and God’s blessing despite all that has happened to this family.” Marty looked at Barbara.

  “I’m thankful for Mom letting me go to the sock hop. It was the best time ever.” Her mom raised an eyebrow and Barbara continued. “And to you, Mother, for taking such good care of us all these years.”

  Her mother pinched her lips together and nodded. “Thank you, Barbara. Reverend?”

  “Call me David, please.”

  Barbara shot her mom a look. Their mother only nodded, revealing nothing in her expression.

  “I praise God for His provision during this time. It has been a rough year.” David blinked. “Thank you for letting me share this holiday with you. When my daughter had to go out of town yesterday…” His eyes welled. “Well, it is just a blessing to be here. Thank you.”

  “You’re in our prayers, David.”

  “Thank you.”

  It was Elijah’s turn. Chris didn’t face him, instead she studied her plate.

  He cleared his throat. “Um, I’m thankful for your generosity and to Christmas for being such a great friend.”

  Her heart quickened. All eyes turned to her. She glanced up without lifting her head and cleared her throat. “Um, I’m thankful for all of you. God is truly good.”

  “Amen,” David said and lifted a roll from the basket. “This all looks wonderful.”

  Her mother smiled. “I guess that leaves me. I’m thankful for my daughters and my Savior. Now enough talking, let’s eat.”

  ****

  After everyone cleared the table, they went into the living room. All except Elijah and Chris. She grabbed his arm and pulled him into the kitchen. “Why did you say that?”

  “Say what?”

  “That I’ve been a good friend to you.”

  He leaned his hip against the counter and crossed his arms. “Because you are.”

  “Are you delusional? I’m horrible to you.”

  He laughed. “I just see it as flirting.”

  She stepped towards him and whispered, “I don’t flirt. You’re wasting your time on me.”

  Elijah searched her eyes. “I don’t think so.” He lightly brushed her cheek with his finger.

  Chris closed her eyes for a second, then breathed. “I won’t fall for you.”

  He shrugged. “Then let’s be friends. That’s all I said. We’re friends.”

  “I suppose.”

  “Unless you’re afraid you’ll fall for me.” He winked.

  She pinched her lips together, ready for a fight, when Amy pushed through the swinging door. “What are you two talking about?”

  “Nothing,” Chris said, glaring at him.

  “Well, Mom wants you to bring out the pies.”

  “Good.” Chris broke from his gaze and reached for the pumpkin-filled tin and nodded for him to grab the whipped cream. As she walked to the door, she felt his eyes on her. She glanced back and he smiled. An exasperated grunt escaped her lips and she pushed into the dining room. She stayed close to the door to hear what awful thing he might say to embarrass her further.

  “Well, I better go. Good night, Amy.”

  Chris rushed from the door to the table. Elijah walked out of the kitchen to the entryway and reached for his jacket. “Tell your mother thanks.”

  “Are you sure you’ve got to go?” Amy said, coming up behind him. “You haven’t even had pie.”

  He smiled. “Yeah, I’d better.”

  Chris glanced over at him, then to the floor when she saw her mom approach. He took his cue and left.

  “Are you okay?” she asked, feeling Chris’s c
heek with the back of her hand. “You look flushed.”

  “I’m fine, Mom.”

  She stared at Chris a moment, then handed out two foil-wrapped plates from the table. “Chase down the Thompson boy and give him these to take to his folks, won’t you?”

  “Yes, Mom.” Chris walked outside. She didn’t see his truck. Wait, no there it is. She crossed to it, but it was empty. Where did he go? She glanced around and saw him locking up the shed. “Elijah.”

  He turned and smiled. “Missed me already, huh?”

  She thrust the plates out in front of her. “My mother wanted you to take these to your parents.”

  He looked from her eyes to the plates, then back to her eyes. “Okay.”

  She placed them in his hands and stepped back. “Goodnight.”

  He nodded. “Goodnight.”

  Chris turned for the door, then back. “Friends?”

  The corner of his mouth turned up. “Friends.”

  A Girl Named Christmas

  A Girl Named Christmas

  Chapter Six

  A fresh snow blanketed the ground and the icicles held steady to the roofs, but the sun had begun to break through the gloom. Chris, bundled in at least three layers topped off with a purple wool hat and matching gloves, crunched along the lake edge in constant chatter with her new friend.

  Elijah squatted to the snow and balled a clump with both hands. “Can I ask you a personal question?”

  Her heart flipped. A question like that pumped her legs for retreat. “Maybe.”

  “Maybe I can ask. Or maybe you’ll answer.” He smiled.

  That did it every time. His smile lit more than his face and eyes. It was contagious. “Ask.”

  He stood from the ground and wiped his gloved hands together. “Where’s your dad?”

  A rather loud sigh escaped her lips. “Whew!”

  Elijah raised an eyebrow. “What was that for?”

  “You had me worried, that’s all.”

  He went back to building what appeared to be a lopsided snowman. “Why’s that?”

  “No, forget it.” Why did he always make her feel so out of sorts, but at the same time so at peace? The conflicting emotions flustered her. He peered up from under his hood, his expression saying, “no way are you going to get away with that.” She sighed. “You have a way of embarrassing me. I didn’t know what personal thing you would ask.”

  He plopped a third ball on his icy creation and stood. “Well, now I’m intrigued.”

  Chris turned away and walked to a tree a few feet away. The brisk air messed with her sinuses. She sniffed. “My dad died ten years ago from pneumonia.”

  His face turned somber. “I’m sorry. That must have been rough.”

  She pinched her lips together in a half-grin. “My mom is amazing. She has raised us four girls without a hiccup.”

  Elijah walked over to the tree and Chris inhaled. He was so close. Her heart thundered in her chest. She couldn’t breathe, then she realized she’d forgotten to exhale. Slowly, she labored to push the air out. His hand went over her shoulder. Everything slowed. His mouth inches from hers. Beautiful, blue eyes lingering. She swallowed. A snap sounded behind her head and she turned. He pulled a part of the branch down and stepped back. He broke it in two and shoved it in the snowman’s sides.

  “Arms. Now, for a face.” He smiled and stuck his finger in the air. “Perfect.”

  She followed him with her eyes.

  He walked down to the frozen water’s edge and reached for some rocks. “See anything for a mouth.”

  Chris blinked out of her stupor and glanced around. Snow, snow, and more snow. She started to shake her head, when she spotted a piece of old ribbon blowing to her side. It looked to be stuck on a partially buried bush. She crossed to it and tugged. The red satin flowed in her hand. She recognized it as a hair ornament for Amy’s Raggedy Anne doll—not that she played with it anymore. Boys were much more interesting. Chris grimaced, then turned her eyes to Elijah. “I think I found something that will work.”

  She handed out her find and he grinned. “Well, done.” He took hold of it and laced it under the rock nose. “The first snowman of the winter. How do you do, Mr…” Elijah looked at Chris for an idea.

  “Mr…” Her mind blank, then she remember the baker, who was about as white as their snow friend and about as bald, too. “Fredrick.”

  The corner of Elijah’s mouth turned up. “Mr. Frederick it is.” He reached out and clasped the end of the stick and pretended to shake. “Have you met my good friend, Christmas?”

  Chris giggled, then stepped forward and curtsied. “Very nice to meet you.”

  Elijah watched her with amusement.

  She glanced over at him and smiled.

  He held her stare for a moment, then asked, “So, why is it that the Blevins sisters can’t date?”

  Chris frowned. “You just couldn’t resist, could you?”

  A breeze blew and Elijah pulled his hat tighter around his face. “I’m just curious. That’s all.”

  She shrugged. “My mom is protecting us.”

  He crossed his arms and inched closer to her. “How so?”

  Good question. Chris had never asked or given it much thought. Mainly because boys weren’t a problem for her—well, before. She turned from him and paced a few steps away. “My mom was only sixteen when she met my dad. She had four daughters before her twenty-fifth birthday and was a widow before age thirty.” Chris shook her head. “I don’t exactly know, other than she wants us to have a different life. Like I said—she’s protecting us.”

  Elijah walked around the snowman, rubbing his hands together. His eyes fixed on hers. “I don’t think her plan is working.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  He stopped within a foot of her and said, “Barbara has a beau. Marty—well, let’s just say I have my suspicions. Amy…”He blew through his lips. “Given the chance, that girl will be married in no time. And you…” He stepped closer.

  She gulped. “Me?”

  “Someone has their eye on you.”

  Their eyes fixed, a current drawing them together, his lips moved within inches of hers…

  “Christmas?”

  Chris jumped and faced her caller. “Marty!”

  Elijah stuffed his hands in his coat pocket and stumbled back a few steps. “Hi, Marty.”

  Marty didn’t smile, just nodded. “Elijah.” She then turned to Chris. “Mom wanted me to find you.”

  “Here I am,” Chris said, a bit too jovially, and then mentally kicked herself for the obnoxious grin that adhered to her face.

  “Yes, well, you need to come in.” Marty glanced at Elijah, then back to Chris. “It’s getting a bit cold and you don’t want to get sick.”

  “Okay.” Chris met Elijah’s eyes and smiled. “Bye, Elijah.”

  “Bye, Chris.”

  Chris started up the snow-covered hill, but Marty didn’t follow. “Don’t start trouble here, Elijah. My mom likes your Dad, but if she gets wind of what’s going on here, she’ll not hesitate in letting him go.”

  Chris flipped around. “Marty, please. He didn’t do anything.”

  “To the house, Chris.” Marty pointed. “I’m not kidding.”

  She started to object, but thought better of it. She stormed up the icy hill, trying not to fall flat on her face. The mixed emotions added more confusion. Now, not only did Chris not know what to do with her feelings for Elijah, she didn’t know what to do with the guilt of her sister’s suspicions. The fear of her mother finding out dropped her heart into her stomach. With too many emotions to process, tears streamed down her cheeks.

  ****

  Chris stayed in her room all night, dismissing a loss of appetite as an upset stomach. It was partially true. She was nauseous with grief. The thought of Marty telling their mother made everything hurt. And why wouldn’t she? Marty told on Barbara and Amy all the time.

  The sun had just set outside the window, when a tap came a
t the door. Chris didn’t respond.

  “Chris?” Marty pushed open her door. “Can I come in?”

  Chris flipped away from the door and stared at the window. She didn’t want to hear anything from her sister. She just wanted to be left alone with her turbulent feelings.

  Marty turned on the light and shut the door. “I know you’re angry with me…”

  Chris sat up. “Why do you have to do that all the time? Why can’t you just let us have one mom? It’s hard enough without you being her spy.”

  Marty shook her head. “I didn’t tell Mom anything.”

  That couldn’t be true. “Really?”

  “Really.” Marty walked over to the bed and sat on the edge of the mattress. “I just wanted to warn Elijah. I like him. And if you like him, that’s okay. I just don’t want anything bad to happen to his family.”

  “Nothing’s happened.”

  Marty pinched her lips together and nodded once. “That’s good. Because if you saw what’s going on downstairs with Barbara and Mom, you might understand my warning.”

  Chris’s eyes went wide. “What?”

  Marty indicated the door. “Go peek.”

  Chris flipped her legs over the edge, stood, then snatched open the door and crept down the hall to the landing. Tempers flared below.

  “Mom, please!” Barbara said.

  “You deceived me, Barbara. I was only protecting you and now I’m angry!”

  Marty came down the step next to her and Chris shifted over.

  “Tom’s a good man, Mom. I love him.”

  Their mom grunted. “You’re young. You don’t know what love is.”

  “We’re engaged.”

  There was a gasp, and Chris almost fell off the step. She shot a look at Marty. Her sister’s mouth hung open, her eyes wide.

  “You’re what?”

  Barbara stepped next to the stairs and Chris faintly made out her face. She looked happy, but had been crying. “I know you’re mad but we’ve been friends for over a year. I didn’t tell you, because I knew you’d be mad.”

  “You’re right, I’d be mad. I’m furious! If you’d told me, I would have locked you up until you were thirty.”