Ria nodded her understanding, laying her head on his chest. He'd told her about his brother two nights past. It hadn't been easy for him, even though ten years had gone by.
"Maybe it's time for the healing to begin, Pete. For all of you."
He remained silent, waiting for her to continue.
"I think of how my parents' lives were, after Papa disowned Julio. I think … sometimes he was sorry, but he was too proud to take it back. Julio turned even more to the gang, since he felt his family had abandoned him. I know that was why Mama was so angry at my father. He backed himself and Julio into separate corners that there was no way out of." Her fingers idly strayed across his chest.
"I don't know your father, Pete, but it could be he feels the same about you. Maybe he's trying to make amends. I know as a mother, I could never stop loving my son, or wanting to see him, no matter what."
He didn't answer for a moment. But in the deep sigh he breathed, Ria heard regret and defiance leave him.
"You're right."
"Now I'm worried."
"Why?"
"What will they think of me, Pete? And there's Miguel—"
He kissed the top of her head, his grin curving against her. "You have no worries. My mom's been concerned about me for years. My dad's been worried sick over not having anyone to carry on the family Christmas tree business."
Ria laughed. "Two more wishes fulfilled. I don't think there's anything Miguel would rather do than work with Christmas trees."
"And you?"
She rose up to look at him. "I intend to be the best thing that ever happened to you, Pete. Now and forever."
Chapter Nine
The day started with breakneck speed and never slowed down.
Pete called his parents to let them know he'd be coming – and bringing two very special guests with him.
"Is it the woman you delivered the tree to?" his father asked bluntly.
"Eric's got a big mouth. But yes, it is, and her son."
"Well, your mother will be wanting to carve the turkey around one o'clock."
"We'll be there."
"We're … looking forward to it, son."
Pete hung up, touched at the gentleness in his father's normally gruff tone. Ria was right … maybe the healing could begin for all of them.
They braved the crowds at the grocery store next, buying only essentials they'd need in the next couple of days. As they were checking out, Miguel pointed to the red and white stockings in a bin beside them.
"What are those for?"
"They're stockings for Santa to fill," Pete said. "Don't you have one?" But in the moment he asked, he knew that was one more thing Ria couldn't have spent money on.
"No," Miguel said.
"I don't either," Pete said. "Let's get all of us one."
Miguel's face lit up. "What does Santa put in them?"
"Uh…" Pete looked at Ria. "Candy … small toys..." Things we haven't bought. He read the same thought in her face. "Tell you what – why don't you all take these groceries out and just wait for me in the truck? I'll only be a minute—"
"Pete—" Ria began.
"I forgot shaving cream." He gave her a quick kiss and slid his bankcard at the register. "Can you manage?"
"Sure," Ria said with a grin. "I've had to do all this myself forever. You don't think I'm gonna forget how now that I have you, do you?"
"I'll be there in a minute, honey." He watched as they walked away, until they'd gone through the doors. Then, he headed for the Christmas candy aisle.
Once they got home and unloaded the groceries, they sat down to a quick meal of grilled cheese and soup.
"Can we wrap presents, Mama?" Miguel took a drink of milk. "It's almost time to open them already and we haven't wrapped them yet."
"I know, sweetie." She sat down and took a bit of her sandwich. "We'll do better next year."
"This has been a lot of days of Christmas."
Pete smiled. "We've crammed a lot into the last few days, haven't we?"
"Uh-huh. Now it's wrapping time."
"But first, it's eating time," Ria said.
"I'm excited. Too excited."
Pete laughed. "Sounds like you've been making wishes again."
"No. I want to wrap what Mama and me bought for you. I picked it out."
Pete shot Ria a glance.
"Yes … Miguel wanted to buy you something and I – we – well, we got it."
There was something she couldn't say in front of Miguel, a cryptic meaning in her words.
"You are going to love it." There was a wistful tone to Miguel's words. Ria started to say something but remained silent, taking a bite of soup instead.
"I know I will," Pete answered.
"I hope so too," Ria said softly.
* * * * *
Pete listened to the whispers and laughter coming from behind the closed bedroom door for the past half hour.
Finally, Miguel proudly carried the package in from the bedroom and placed it under the tree. "Here it is."
"Say, that's a beauty of a package," Pete bragged.
"I know. Mama says it will be your most favoritest thing you get."
No, Pete thought. You and your mother are my "most favoritest" things.
"She said … if you don't care, we can all open one present tonight."
"Well, I guess once your mom gets finished wrapping, it'll be our turn, won't it?"
Miguel nodded. "I've got her present hid real good in my new room."
It didn't take Ria long to finish up the wrapping. She began to carry in the gifts and Miguel judiciously placed them under the tree. Joy shone in Ria's eyes as she watched her son, and Pete grinned at her when she looked his way. Who knew watching a child place gifts under a tree could bring the spirit of Christmas into their world, enshrouding them with happiness that could never be measured?
Once darkness fell, they climbed into Pete's truck and drove through their neighborhood, looking at the Christmas lights.
"We'll have some next year," Pete promised Miguel.
Ria reached for Pete's hand, glancing back at her son. "Someone's getting tired," she said.
Pete nodded, turning the truck toward home.
"We have to have our hot chocolate," Miguel said as the truck came to a stop in the driveway. "Then, open a present." Pete opened the door and Miguel took his hand. "I'll go first."
Pete tousled his hair. "You better, I think. Otherwise, you might be asleep."
Miguel yawned, and Pete picked him up.
"Already have my pajamas on."
"You're prepared." Pete unlocked the door and held it open as Ria entered. He set Miguel down, and the boy ran to the tree, carefully pulling out the present he wanted to give Pete. He sat down on the floor, the gift in his lap, waiting for Pete and Ria.
"This is for you from me," he said as Pete sat down beside him.
Ria pulled a gift out from under the tree and laid it beside her as she joined them, an uncertain look in her eyes.
"I thought you were going first," Pete said.
Miguel shook his head. "No. We're supposed to think of others. I bought you something really special. I want you to open yours first." He carefully laid the package in Pete's lap. "Mama says we should give the very best to others."
Something familiar nagged at Pete as he picked up the box and began to remove the paper. The weight of it … the feel of it…
Hadn't he carried a box around like this yesterday in a plastic sack? A sack from Toy Town? As the paper fell away, he swallowed hard. The box was just what he's suspected. The familiar yellow and black Batman insignia came into his view as the last of the red paper fell to the floor.
He couldn't look at Miguel for a moment – not until he got control of himself. No one had wanted a Batman car more than Miguel. Yet, he'd bought that very gift for Pete, and given it to him with a free heart.
"Miguel…"
"Do you like it?" Miguel came to his knees, carefully picking up
the box. "Look – it has a Batman deflector ray. This is the best present ever." His face was alight with pleasure.
"Yeah." Pete pulled the boy to him. "It is the best present, Miguel. Thank you."
Ria blinked back tears as she handed Pete the package she'd pulled out from under the tree. He knew exactly what lay inside the neatly wrapped gift, as he handed it to Miguel. A Batman car like the one he'd just received – and a lifetime of wishes fulfilled by the best Christmas tree ever – the wishing tree.
The End
About the Author
Cheryl Pierson is a native of Oklahoma. She lives in the Oklahoma City metro area with her husband. The mother of two grown children, and pet-sitter on occasion, she is always busy. A romance author who loves to read, Cheryl also teaches novel writing classes and is a freelance editor. She writes short stories published by Adams Media, Western Trail Blazer, Western Fictioneers, and Victory Tales Press, as well as historical and contemporary romance novels.
Ms. Pierson's novel, Fire Eyes, was an Epic Award Finalist and Cheryl received the PNR PEARL Awards Honorable Mention as Best New Author of 2009 for her novel Time Plains Drifter. She also placed third in the San Antonio Romance Authors (SARA) Merritt Contest with her newest novel, Gabriel's Law. Kane's Redemption, Ms. Pierson's Young Adult Western Novella, was chosen Best Mainstream Short Story of 2012 in the Preditor & Editor Readers' Poll.
Cheryl's Western/Time-Travel/Romance, Time Plains Drifter, is now available from Western Trail Blazer in digital formats and in print.
To learn more about Cheryl and her exciting books, visit her author page at: https://www.amazon.com/author/cherylpierson
* * Works by Author Cheryl Pierson * *
Novels:
Time Plains Drifter
Fire Eyes
Temptation's Touch
Sweet Danger
Kane's Chance
Gabriel’s Law
* * * * * * * * * *
Novellas:
Kane's Redemption
Kane's Promise
Kane's Destiny
* * * * * * * * * *
Single-author Collections:
A Hero for Christmas
* * * * * * * * * *
Short Stories:
White Christmas
Every Girl's Dream
Meant to Be
Jason's Angel
Homecoming
A Night for Miracles
One Magic Night
A Heart for a Heart
To Make the Magic Last
The Last of Her Kind
Always and Forever
The Gunfighter's Girl
The Wishing Tree
* * * * * * * * * *
Multi-author Anthologies: Chicken Soup for the Soul: Empty Nesters Chicken Soup for the Soul: Messages from Heaven Christmas Through a Child's Eyes
Classic Christmas
Christmas Traditions
The Traditional West
Six Guns and Slay Bells
The Rocking Chair Reader: Memories from the Attic The Rocking Chair Reader: Family Gatherings A Summer Collection
A Valentine Collection
A Halloween Collection: Stimulating
A Christmas Collection: Sensual
A Christmas Collection: Spicy
A Christmas Collection: Sweet
2011 Christmas Collection
2011 Summer Collection
A Mystery/Suspense Collection
2012 Christmas Collection
A Historical Collection
A Western Saga
Wolf Creek Book 6: Hell on the Prairie * * * * * * * * * *
Collaborative Novels
Wolf Creek Book 1: Bloody Trail
Wolf Creek Book 5: Showdown at Demon’s Drop
[Cheryl's works may be found at most online book retailers.]
The Wishing Tree Page 5
