Little Shoes and Mistletoe

by Sally Laity

  Four tiny arms hugged her breath away as she bent to embrace them.

  “Is’a time to get up’a now?” Gabriella asked in a small voice.

  “It is time. Put on your slippers and let’s go downstairs. I think I even smell breakfast—and here I thought we were the first ones awake. Isn’t that silly?”

  The girls giggled. Hopping out of bed, they did as told, then latched onto Eliza’s hands.

  The fragrant scent of the pine boughs which had been hung here and there about the first floor grew stronger as she and the girls descended the stairs. Partway down, Gabriella glimpsed the tree and some of the other decorations adorning the sitting room. She caught her breath. Wide-eyed, she tugged her fingers free and scampered the rest of the way, pausing just inside the doorway to stare.

  Eliza and Rosa joined her within seconds, and the little ones beamed with delight when Micah and Aunt Phoebe also came from the kitchen. Eliza lowered her lashes.

  “Is’a so. . .so. . .” Unable even to express herself in English, Gabriella grabbed Eliza and started pulling her closer to the lovely tree.

  “Yes, it’s ever so pretty,” Eliza finished for her, warming under Micah’s gaze. “And some of these nice presents are for you and Rosa.”

  Her chocolate-brown eyes widened. She stole a peek at her sister, and the two of them squealed.

  “You may open one or two now, and after breakfast we’ll all come back in here for the rest.”

  No other invitation was needed, as instantly the little ones chose tempting-looking packages and began tearing into them, Gabriella discovering a warm sweater and a coloring book with colored pencils; Rosa finding a new dress and a ball.

  The length of time it took for them to put down the first items and take up the second touched Eliza deeply. For children who’d had so little, everything was appreciated.

  A pancake breakfast followed, with the girls almost too animated to eat. But the adults prevailed upon them to finish their portions.

  Returning to the sitting room afterward, a pair of dainty little basket cradles Aunt Phoebe had fixed up for the girls’ dollies were a great hit, as were new gloves and church dresses. They touched their new bounty with reverent fingers and hugged each one in turn. And Gabriella planted a huge kiss on Micah’s cheek in thanks for the new picture books he’d brought.

  “Oh, you’re not quite finished yet,” Eliza said, kneeling to reach below the bottommost branches of the tree for two more boxes. She held them out, and the girls happily came to get them.

  Ripping into hers, Gabriella removed the lid and peered inside. “Ohhh.” Her mouth dropped open as she pulled out some new, laced, high-top shoes for everyday and a pair with dainty buckles for Sundays. Then she caught her lower lip in her teeth and burst into tears.

  Eliza flew to her side and stooped beside her. “But what is wrong, sweetheart? Don’t you like them?”

  At this, the little girl wailed even louder, throwing her arms around Eliza as she collapsed in wrenching sobs.

  Eliza didn’t know what to think and looked at Aunt Phoebe and Micah for answers, but they appeared as flabbergasted as she. There was nothing to do but wait it out. And when the weeping evolved into watery smiles, everyone was thoroughly confused.

  “I. . .I. . .graci,” Gabriella choked out at last as she eased from Eliza’s embrace. “Da shoes, dey’sa new. Always’a we get old’a shoes, Rosa, me. Too big. Too small. First time’a new. Graci. Graci.” And she crossed to hug Aunt Phoebe—the older woman unabashedly wiping her own cheeks—and Micah, who couldn’t even speak.

  Eliza, too, had been reduced to tears, but the short span provided a chance to dig out her handkerchief and recover a bit. And the sight of Rosa hobbling around in one of each of her new footwear provided some comic relief.

  “Well,” her aunt said at length, patting Micah’s knee and smiling at Eliza. “I don’t know about you two, but I almost don’t care what we’ll find in our packages.”

  “I couldn’t have said it better myself,” he replied. “Why don’t we wait till later? I’d just as soon drink in the wonder of those young faces for awhile.” He averted his gaze to the children playing with their new toys.

  “I’ll go put on a fresh pot of coffee,” the old woman offered. “It’ll soon be time for church.”

  ❧

  The afternoon passed fairly quickly, and by the time it ended, all the grown-ups had entered into playacting with Gabriella and Rosa at one time or another. Aunt Phoebe pretended to be the dollies’ grandmother and helped change and dress the babies; Micah read over and over to them from the books he’d brought, plus sat on the floor too with Rosa to roll her new ball back and forth; and Eliza rediscovered her love of coloring.

  Finally, after partaking of a veritable feast the two women had prepared, the children actually asked if they could go to bed. “Go on,” Aunt Phoebe told Eliza. “I’ll clean up here.” And a noticeable quiet settled over Harper House, one so still that Eliza’s light steps could be heard on her return downstairs.

  “My. What a day.” She sank wearily into an overstuffed chair in the sitting room, where Micah was stoking up the fire in the hearth after adding some new logs.

  He grinned over his shoulder. “I’ll say. Longer than usual, too. I feel like I’ve been up forever.”

  “I think we all have. Thank you for coming to help make Christmas special for Gabriella and Rosa. And for the lovely necklace watch. It’s simply exquisite.”

  “I hoped you’d like it. And I’ll enjoy the devotional book and the new gloves from you. Thanks.” Finished with his task, he brushed off his hands and took a chair across from Eliza.

  “And wasn’t my aunt’s gift rather sweet? Imagine, that carved chest—which she alleges is only my first Epiphany gift.”

  “Yes, she’s been in her element, coming up with surprises for the lot of us. She’s recovered amazingly well from that last spell since the little ones have been here.”

  Eliza smiled. “She’s doted on them every spare minute, and they get along wonderfully with Aunt Phoebe.”

  “Did I hear my name?” the silver-haired woman asked, drying her hands on a kitchen towel as she came into the room.

  “Oh, we were just mentioning how well you’ve managed to cope with the girls’ presence.”

  “Hmph. I daresay, I’ve done more than cope. It’s been a downright pleasure to do for those two. They’ve got a lot of love to give. It’s a crying shame they were left with nobody to give it to.”

  “Oh, now,” Micah cajoled. “Looks to me like they’re not having any trouble at all passing their love around. In many ways, their sad loss has turned out to be a blessing.”

  “For us, perhaps. And I’m not at all in a hurry for you to plunk them in with another bunch of strangers, so you just take your time doing that, if you can.” She gave a tired sigh. “Anyway, I was just finishing up in the kitchen and thought I’d see if there’s anything you two wanted before I turn in. I’ve about walked these old feet off and need to put them up.”

  Eliza rose and went to hug her. “No, Auntie, you’ve done quite enough. If there’s anything we want, I’m perfectly capable of seeing to it. You just have a good rest. Tomorrow’s another day.”

  “Yes, dear lady,” Micah added. “You’ve worked much harder than any of us deserved. Thank you for the hospitality—and the leather case for my papers. I’ll put that to good use, believe me.”

  She looked from one of them to the other and smiled. “Well, good night, then. And Merry Christmas.”

  Within seconds of the almost-inaudible click of her aunt’s bedroom door latch, Eliza became aware of a sudden change in the atmosphere. The crackling of the fire was the only sound in the room. In the whole house, for that matter. She ventured a look in Micah’s direction.

  His gaze was centered on her, his expression unreadable.

 
; She cleared her throat. “Would you care for some tea? Coffee?”

  “Not especially, thanks.”

  Taking another tack to calm her growing nervousness, Eliza settled on a safe subject. “The girls had a truly delightful day today, far beyond what I’d even hoped.”

  Micah’s eyes gentled with his smile. “Yes. Just watching them, witnessing their genuine thankfulness, was quite humbling, I must say. The rest of us, we take a lot for granted. They helped put things back into perspective for me.”

  “For me, as well.” She paused. “I. . .I don’t know how I’ll ever find strength to give them up when the time comes. I didn’t mean to become so attached. In fact, I tried very hard not to. But now—”

  “I know,” he said gently. “I’ve been watching it happen. But you’re only human, Eliza. How could a person open up her home to those less privileged, unless possessing of a heart easily touched by the need? And look at those two, for pity’s sake. Those big doe eyes, the trust and vulnerability, the honesty. It’s a combination impossible to resist.”

  Neither spoke for a short span.

  “You look very beautiful today,” Micah said at length. “Is that a new gown? I don’t believe I’ve seen it before.”

  “It’s from my trou—I mean, yes. I’ve been saving it.” Fighting a maddening blush, she gave a silent huff at her near blunder. She’d been so stupid—first for imagining she loved Weston and then for comparing him to Micah. Why, just looking at him, anyone could see Micah’s face was not so long, his features were much more noble and expressive, his eyes—they were so much more compelling, so. . .near.

  He had gotten up and now stood before her.

  “Come here,” he said, holding out his hand to her.

  Eliza knew her knees couldn’t possibly support her right now. She would collapse at his feet in a heap, and he’d have to pick her up. But as she placed her fingers in his, she felt his strength flow into her being, enabling her to stand.

  “We almost missed a very important part of Christmas,” he said, those hazel eyes challenging hers unmercifully.

  Having no idea what he was talking about, Eliza nevertheless let him draw her toward the hallway.

  But rather than leave the sitting room altogether, he stopped at the arch marking the entrance to it and smiled.

  “What are you doing?” she asked, thoroughly confused now.

  His gaze traveled upward.

  Hers followed. And stopped directly above her head.

  “Mistletoe!”

  “A very important part of Christmas,” he said again.

  Every fiber of her being turned to liquid, and her heart raced as he turned her to face him.

  “I’ve been waiting all day for this moment,” he whispered. He was not teasing now, and his smile faded as his eyes searched hers, waiting for her reaction. Giving her time to pull away, if that’s what she wanted.

  What she wanted, she realized, was for this moment to be real. More than just a Christmas kiss. But dared she hope for that? Throwing caution to the wind, she leaned toward him ever so slightly, her lips parted.

  With a smothered groan, Micah encircled her in his strong arms and lowered his head. His lips met hers in a kiss that was joyous, reverent, passionate, promising. And over too soon.

  “Oh, Micah,” she whispered breathlessly, her cheek pressed to his chest, knowing he must feel her heart thundering against her ribs. As she could feel his.

  He cupped the back of her head, rocking her for a moment in his arms. “I think I’ve known for some time that I was falling in love with you,” he admitted. “But I tried to convince myself I was wrong. I don’t want to be wrong anymore, Eliza.”

  She lifted her head and raised her lashes to look into those soulful eyes she loved.

  “And I know you’ve been hurt before,” he continued. “So I promise I won’t rush you. But I’m asking for permission to court you, if you’ll allow me to.”

  Her heart soared, but she wasn’t about to interrupt. Not now. Not for anything.

  “I don’t have a lot to offer you right now, but I have plans and dreams I’ve never shared with anyone. Dreams I believe you could be a part of, if you’ll only trust me.”

  Eliza felt a smile moving across her lips.

  “Will you please say something?” he finally pleaded.

  “For your information, Micah Richmond, I have quite a lot to say. That was quite a speech.”

  “It wasn’t just a speech. I meant every word.”

  She placed a palm along his face, loving his warmth, loving the feel of him, almost beyond herself at God’s goodness. She had gotten up this morning hoping the day would be one Gabriella and Rosa would always remember, never once entertaining the hope that it would be special for her, too. But Micah had made it so. Micah and Aunt Phoebe, and the girls, all together. And then came the heartfelt touches brought by little shoes and mistletoe. Her being could scarcely contain her happiness.

  “I know you meant it, Micah,” she said softly. “Your heart told me it was all true.”

  His face brightened as a hope-filled grin spread from ear to ear.

  “So, yes, I will trust you. Because, yes, I love you, too. And it would be my great honor to hear more about all those dreams of yours.”

  “Well,” he began, “my dearest dream has been to have someone I could share them with. So come with me, my love.” He led her toward the sitting room once more. “I hardly know where to begin.”

  With her hand in his, Eliza felt supreme peace at last. A peace that brought with it a gentle conviction that God had already begun to work all things together for good. . . this was His time.

  epilogue

  “Mama, Mama! Papa, he comes!” Rosa skipped up the steps of the big Richmond house and into the parlor, long curls askew from play, her arms golden-brown from the summer sun. “He’sa bring a lady.”

  Moving to peer outside through the lace window shade, Eliza smiled with recognition and lumbered to the door with as much haste as possible, a hand on her rounded abdomen. She waited on the broad front porch for the buggy to draw to a stop.

  Gabriella, who always ran ahead to latch on to the side and ride from the corner, hopped down from the vehicle’s step and stood while Micah got out and gave a hand to his stylish blond passenger. A tall man of medium build alighted last and linked a proprietary elbow through the woman’s before the small troupe came up the walk.

  “Anabelle!” Eliza exclaimed as her friend, ever so fashionable in her leg-o’mutton-sleeved gray jacket and matching skirt, swept up the steps.

  “Eliza, dear.” She withdrew her arm and came to grab Eliza in a huge hug. “Ned and I are just now returning from our honeymoon in Europe. Micah happened along the quay as we were arranging transport—”

  “And insisted they make their first stop here,” Micah finished. Beside him, Gabriella smiled, appearing quite the young lady as she gazed from one adult to the other.

  “Well, I’m so glad you did.” Eliza stepped back to assess Ana’s slender form. “You look simply marvelous!”

  “And so do you.” Anabelle patted Eliza’s tummy with a smile and leaned close to whisper in her ear. “I think I might be joining the ranks of motherhood soon myself.” But she put a finger to her lips before turning around. “You really must meet my husband. Ned?” She turned adoring eyes on him.

  The finely attired young gentleman stepped forward, removing the bowler from his auburn head, silver-gray eyes obviously glowing with pride as they fastened on his wife. His reddish mustache quirked with a smile.

  “Ned, love, I’d like you to meet my other dearest friend in the world, Eliza Richmond. Eliza, my husband, Ned Fairbanks.”

  “It’s an honor,” he said pleasantly. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

  “Very pleased to meet you,” Eliza said, offering a hand which
he clasped warmly. “You both must be tired from traveling. I’ll put on some tea.”

  “I’ll help, Mama.” Gabriella opened the door for them, while Micah took Ned on a tour of the grounds, Rosa tagging along with her papa.

  “My,” Ana gushed when they reached the kitchen. She took a chair and glanced casually about the tidy workroom, observing Gabriella’s quiet movements as the child took cups down from the cupboard. “You’ve got a ready-made family.”

  “Yes. We’ve had our two sweet girls for a couple years now. Actually, they were the first residents in that guest room you helped me fix up at Aunt Phoebe’s. Auntie’s looking after an infant now, a little boy, while Micah finalizes matters for the family who will adopt him.”

  “You don’t say. How interesting.”

  Eliza smiled. “But my heart went out to this pair from the start. We couldn’t imagine being without them.” She brushed one of Gabriella’s silken curls behind the girl’s shoulder and was rewarded with a tender smile.

  “It’s wonderful to know this grand old house is back in Micah’s hands, too,” Anabelle remarked. “So many memories. And now you and he will be making new ones.”

  Nodding as she poured their tea, Eliza met Ana’s green eyes. “Are you as happy as you look, Anabelle?”

  “I’ve never been more so,” she answered honestly. “My Ned’s a wonderful man, kind, thoughtful, and he is quite gifted musically. We’re often invited to churches to perform on the organ and violin.” She paused. “And I needn’t ask if you and Micah are happy. I can see that for myself. I knew all along you’d be marvelous together.”

  “All the same, I know it took a lot of love for you to give him up,” Eliza said. “I will always be grateful to you for that.”

  “I won’t pretend it was easy, but I’ve not regretted it. The Lord had someone else in mind for me, my soul mate.”