A Family Under the Christmas Tree

by Terri Reed

  Another man helped to take the gifts from the back of the SUV. He looked to be in his late twenties, with ginger-colored, short-cropped hair and freckles on his boyish face. He had on jeans and a Seahawks sweatshirt.

  He noticed Sophie and stopped to hold out his hand. “You must be Sophie,” he said. “I’m Jeff, the youth pastor. Simon Bichon called and said you’d be coming by today with presents for the Christmas gift drive.”

  Obviously, Grandma and Simon had been talking. Sophie envisioned the pair in late-night chats on the phone. The image made her smile. “Hello, Pastor Jeff. Nice to meet you.” She shook his hand. “The secretary said to put the presents in the great room?”

  “I’ll show you the way.” He led them inside to the back of the church.

  David pushed the rolling cart. Troy skipped alongside, and Sophie had to double her steps to keep up. They entered a large carpeted space with folding tables propped against the back wall and chairs stacked high in the corner. A small stage sat at the far end, along with a set of drums and a piano. There were five large bins holding brightly wrapped gifts lined up in the center of the room. Each one was labeled with an age group.

  “This is the youth sanctuary,” Pastor Jeff told them. “On Christmas Eve we’ll hold a Christmas party here for the community’s underprivileged children. Our youth will serve them cookies and punch and hand out presents. We’ll also have a craft station and caroling with our youth band.”

  “It’s really a nice thing you’re doing here,” Sophie told him.

  “Thank you,” Jeff said. “I can’t take credit, though. A group of the older teens in the youth group came up with the idea. They wanted a way to give back and have fun at the same time.”

  Sophie glanced at David. He’d wheeled the cart close to the bins. He and Troy were sorting the presents into the appropriate age containers. His expression was unreadable as he worked, but she knew he’d heard the pastor. What did David think about it all?

  “Did you keep your receipts?” the pastor asked. “You can write off your purchases as a charitable tax deduction.”

  “Oh. I hadn’t thought of that. I’ll have to round them up.”

  “When you have them, drop them at the front desk. Shirley will give you the proper paperwork.”

  “Great. Thank you.”

  “No, thank you.” Pastor Jeff moved to help Troy. “The younger youth group is putting on a Christmas pageant during the evening service. Troy, would you like to be a shepherd? We’re short one.”

  Troy’s face lit up. He whipped around to David. “Can I, Uncle David? Pleasssse?”

  David’s smile was full of love. “Of course. You’d make an awesome shepherd.”

  Troy beamed. “Can Riggs come, too?”

  “Who’s Riggs?” Pastor Jeff asked.

  Sophie shared an amused glance with David. “Riggs is my grandmother’s puppy. He’s a ten-month-old Bernese mountain dog.”

  “He has a set of antlers,” Troy supplied. “He could be my reindeer.”

  “Is Riggs well behaved?” the pastor asked.

  “He is, but he’s also still a puppy,” Sophie cautioned. He couldn’t really be considering Troy’s request, could he? “Big and a bit clumsy.”

  “I don’t think reindeer attended Jesus’ birth,” David said and ruffled Troy’s hair.

  Pastor Jeff grinned. “Though you’re probably right, we’d love to have Riggs join us. I’m sure the puppy would do fine with the goat that one of the other little girls is bringing. We’ll have our own menagerie.”

  “Yes!” Troy danced in a circle.

  Sophie stared at the pastor. “Are you sure?”

  “He’ll be on a leash, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Great.”

  “Is there a practice you’ll need him to attend?”

  The pastor laughed. “The show is pretty self-explanatory. We’ll do a quick run-through just before, but that’s all we’ll really need.”

  “Great. So what time do we need to be here?” David asked with a smile.

  “The Christmas party starts at four and the service starts at six. So as long as you arrive by five, we’ll be good.”

  Troy grabbed David’s hand. “Can we come for the party, too?”

  Sophie bit her lip as she watched dismay march across David’s face.

  She was about to offer to bring Troy in his stead when David said, “We’ll see. Let me think about it.”

  Troy scrunched up his face. “Pleasssse.”

  “Troy, I said I’d think about it.” David’s voice held an edge to it.

  Troy stuck out a lip. He looked so adorably miffed that Sophie had to suppress a smile. Knowing what she did about David’s past, she wanted to spare him from having to argue with Troy but wasn’t sure how. Instead she asked, “What about a costume?”

  Troy perked up. “I get to wear a costume?”

  She turned to the pastor. “What should he wear?”

  The pastor’s gaze bounced between them, then settled on her. “An old sheet with a rope belt would suffice.”

  “I think we can manage that,” she said, and glanced at David. He watched her with an interest that made her pulse pound. “We should be heading home now.”

  He slowly nodded.

  “Again, thank you for your generosity,” Pastor Jeff said as he shook their hands.

  They left the pastor in the great room. Troy slipped his hand into Sophie’s as they made their way down the hallway behind David. The gesture twisted her stomach into knots. His tiny little hand was warm and trusting within hers. Tender affection swelled within her heart. She had to fight to breathe through the tide of maternal yearning surging from someplace deep within.

  Confused and panicked, she told herself she wasn’t ready for this. For loving Troy and wishing he were hers. What had she been thinking to ever let herself get this close? But she couldn’t bring herself to pull her hand away.

  David held open the door for them to exit the church building. His eyebrows raised as his gaze moved from Troy and Sophie’s joined hands to meet Sophie’s gaze.

  The intensity in his steel gray eyes made her mouth go dry. She didn’t need to read his mind to understand the worry pinching his brows together. He was afraid Troy was becoming too attached to her.

  And she worried she was becoming too attached to both Troy and David.

  Time to shore up her defenses and remember this was only a pleasant interlude. This was not something that would last beyond the holidays. No matter how desolate the knowledge left her feeling.

  CHAPTER

  10

  Wow, little dude. Dressing to impress.” David stopped in the doorway of Troy’s room. They were getting ready to go next door for dinner with the ladies and Louise’s male friend. Troy had taken a bath and then insisted on dressing himself. He wore a pair of chinos, a denim button-down shirt, and brown loafers.

  Troy grinned. “I want to look nice for Sophie.”

  David nearly groaned at the innocent words that cut through him like a two-edged blade. His nephew was falling for Sophie big time. David didn’t blame him. She was beautiful, fun, and sweet. He’d really enjoyed spending time with her today. And when he’d seen Troy and her holding hands, he’d had to fight the urge to take her other hand. He was getting in too deep. They both were. David needed to pull Troy, and himself, back from the edge of the cliff they were on the brink of careening over.

  Troy canted his head. “Aren’t you going to change?”

  David glanced down at the jeans and hoodie he’d put on before they’d gone to the church. He’d planned to go as is, but now he reconsidered. Maybe he should put on something a little less casual.

  He gave his nephew a lopsided smile. “I suppose I will.” He moved into the room and sat on the bed. “But first I need to talk to you about something.” He opened his arms and Troy moved to sit on his knee and wrap his arms around David’s neck.

  “You remember we talked about Sophie leaving
after the holidays, right?” David asked.

  “Yes. She’s going to take pictures. That’s what she does. She’s a photographer.”

  Sophie must have talked to him about her trip as well. Okay. Good. Troy got that she wasn’t staying. “Right. Her job takes her all over the world.” David brushed back Troy’s hair from his forehead. “I want to make sure you don’t get hurt.”

  Troy drew back. “Hurt? I’m real careful. I look both ways before crossing the street. I don’t use knives.” The earnest expression on his little face made David’s heart ache. “They are for grown-ups. I don’t touch the stove either. It could be hot.”

  David pressed his lips together to keep his smile under control. He sought for a serious expression. “All good things to remember.”

  “That’s what Sophie said.”

  David sighed. “She’s a smart lady. But she’s not going to be here much longer. I know you’ll be sad when she’s gone.”

  Troy nodded. “Won’t you, too?”

  Sucking in a sharp breath, David searched his heart for the answer. “Yes. Yes, I will. We’re friends, and it’s always hard when our friends go away.”

  A frown pinched Troy’s eyebrows. “But she’s not going away forever. Not like Mommy and Daddy. Sophie will come back, right?”

  The burn of tears welled up in his eyes. Troy was so innocent and loving. “I’m sure she will come to visit.”

  Troy brightened. “She has to. Her grandma lives next door. And when Sophie is here, she can take care of me. I like when she takes care of me.”

  David’s stomach dropped. How did he make Troy understand that he shouldn’t let Sophie into his heart? He decided he’d have to deal with the fallout when it happened. For now, he pulled Troy to his chest. “You’re a great kid, you know that?”

  “You’re a great uncle.” Troy squeezed him tight and then squirmed to be released. “Go change so we can go next door. Wear something nice.”

  “Aye, aye, Captain.”

  “That was a fabulous meal,” Simon Bichon declared.

  “I’m happy to hear you enjoyed it,” Grandma said. “It was a joint effort.”

  Sophie and Grandma shared a pleased look. “But it was your recipe, Grams. I just followed your directions.” She couldn’t help darting a glance in David’s direction. She told herself she wasn’t seeking his approval. Yeah, right. His focus was on his plate, however.

  They sat around Grandma’s dining room table. Christmas music played softly in the background. Grandma had wanted to use her good china. Banded in gold, the bone china dinnerware was festive against the red linen tablecloth. Candlelight flickered from gold-plated votive candles lining the center of the table and created shadow patterns on the sand and russet floral damask wallpaper lining the dining room. The evening had progressed with surprising ease. Riggs had given his approval of Simon with a slobbery kiss before settling on his bed to watch over them.

  Sophie also approved of Simon. He was a very personable and likable gentleman with silver hair and twinkling light blue eyes that softened every time he looked at Grandma. Sophie couldn’t be happier for Grams.

  A tug at her sleeve drew Sophie’s attention to Troy, who’d insisted on sitting beside her. “Yes, sweetie?”

  “Can I have some more enchilas?” he asked. “They’re good.”

  “Enchiladas,” Sophie corrected with a chuckle and met David’s gaze across the table. This time he was looking at her. He nodded with a soft smile. He looked handsome in his blue-and-white-striped button-down shirt, open at the collar, and khaki pants. She dragged her gaze from him to dish out the last piece of sour cream enchilada onto Troy’s plate.

  “I notice you don’t have a Christmas tree,” Simon pointed out. “Do you need help procuring one?”

  “David has offered to accompany us tomorrow to Sleigh Bells tree farm to pick out one,” Grandma said. “He has a truck.”

  “Ah, I see.” Simon glanced at David. “That’s kind of you.”

  “It’s the least I can do in return for all the ladies have done for Troy and me,” David said.

  Sophie bit back the unexpected stab of disappointment his words caused. He still insisted he owed them something for spending time with Troy. It saddened her to think David went through life always feeling the burden to repay every kindness sent his way. Why couldn’t he just be grateful and accept generosity?

  And why did she care?

  For Troy’s sake, she told herself. The boy was so sweet and bighearted. She’d hate to see him lose that by adopting his uncle’s closed-off attitude.

  “Would you mind if I impose and ask if I could join you on your Christmas tree hunt?” Simon asked, his gaze on Grandma.

  She blushed under his intent regard. “Of course we’d love for you to come along.”

  Sophie was getting a kick out of Simon’s obvious affection for Grandma. He was an interesting man. A venture capitalist, he’d told them earlier when David had asked. The two men had a lot in common, as they’d found out as they’d chatted stocks, bonds, and best practices for running a business.

  “Who’s ready for some dessert?” Sophie asked. “We made Grandma’s award-winning persimmon cookies. They go great with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.”

  “Me,” Troy promptly stated.

  “That sounds delicious,” Simon said.

  Sophie stood and gathered her empty plate and the empty casserole dish.

  David rose as well. “Troy, let’s help Sophie clear the table.”

  Troy scrambled from his chair and grabbed his plate and utensils.

  “Thank you,” Sophie said to David when their gazes collided. Her pulse skipped a beat.

  He smiled and stacked Grandma and Simon’s empty plates on his and followed her out of the room.

  In the kitchen, Sophie began dishing out ice cream onto small plates and added three warm, round persimmon cookies to each. David rinsed the dirty dishes and placed them in the dishwasher.

  She handed a plate to Troy. “Can you give this to Grandma?”

  The boy nodded solemnly and carefully carried the plate into the dining room.

  “You’re so good with him,” David commented.

  That was the second time he’d made the observation. Sophie was pleased he thought so. “He’s really a great kid, you know.”

  “He’s so much like my brother.” David shut the dishwasher door and leaned against the counter. “Daniel loved to help people. He loved and lived with enthusiasm and without fear.”

  “You admired him,” she said softly.

  “I did. He was a much better person than I am.”

  She moved toward him and placed her hand on his forearm. “Don’t sell yourself short. You’re a good man, David. You have a lot of love to give and Troy needs that.”

  He covered her hand with his. “What do you need?”

  She slipped her hand from beneath his but didn’t move away. “Me?”

  She gave a nervous laugh. Was he asking her if she needed love? How did she respond to that? “I’m good.” She cringed at the squeak in her voice.

  “Here.” She shoved two plates with the dessert from the counter into his hands, then grabbed the other two plates and hightailed it out of the kitchen with David’s soft chuckle chasing her.

  David lifted a sleeping Troy from the couch in Louise’s living room. It was time for them to go home and let the ladies get their beauty sleep. Not that either Louise or Sophie had a problem in that department. Okay, maybe he was a bit biased. He’d come to care for the Griffith women.

  The evening had turned out very well. David approved of Simon. The man was intelligent and genuine and his devotion to Louise was unmistakable. And there was no denying the affection in Louise’s gaze when she looked at Simon.

  It stirred envy within David. He wanted that. He wanted to be devoted to a woman and have that devotion returned. But there wasn’t room for a woman in his life. With his work and Troy, how could he make room for more? His gaze strayed
from Troy in his arms to Sophie, who was tucking Troy’s coat around the sleeping child.

  David wanted Sophie. The thought rocked him back a step. But it would never work between them. They were two speeding trains headed in opposite directions.

  Her eyebrows rose in concern. “Everything okay?”

  He regained his balance. “Yes. We’ll see you in the morning.” He strode toward the front door. She hurried ahead of him to open the door.

  He paused in the doorway. “Thank you for dinner. This was a really nice evening.”

  The hall light spilled over her hair. The strands looked soft and silky. He was glad he had his arms full or he might have reached out to slide his fingers through her pretty hair. And draw her closer to place a kiss on her lips.

  “You’re welcome, David.” She went on tiptoe and leaned in.

  His breath stalled. For a moment he thought she was going to kiss his cheek, but then she kissed Troy’s forehead. A ribbon of jealousy wound through him and he mentally chastised himself for the ridiculous emotion. How could he be jealous of his nephew? Just because Troy received the affection David craved was no reason for the awful feeling making his stomach roil.

  “Good night.” Sophie stepped back. “We’ll see you in the morning.”

  “In the morning,” he repeated.

  He couldn’t wait for the sun to rise so he could see Sophie again. How crazy was that?

  Saturday morning dawned bright, with a winter sun that glistened on the dew left from the past few days of rain. A nice break but the sun in the Pacific Northwest was a fickle thing. Clouds could roll in without warning and rain was always expected.

  Excitement fluttered through Sophie as she dressed in layers for the trip to the tree farm. She found Grandma in the kitchen, pouring coffee. She was getting around better on the crutches the past day or so.

  Sophie never ceased to be amazed by her grandmother’s strength and energy. Sophie couldn’t say she was glad Grandma had pulled the ruse of needing help as a disguise for her matchmaking, but she could honestly say she was thankful for this time with her grandma. Today Grandma was dressed in a pair of slimming black waterproof pants and a pretty light blue sweater that matched the color of her eyes. Her silver hair had been brushed to a nice sheen. She looked younger than her age and Sophie hoped that she’d age as well.