Tidings of Joy

by Shanna Hatfield

  “That is so beautiful,” she said, smiling as the white lights he’d strung twinkled and glowed on the fragrant branches. “Even if we didn’t add a single ornament, it would still be wonderful.” She took a deep breath, closing her eyes to savor the scent. “And it smells incredible, much better than the fake sticks.”

  “Fake sticks?” Drew asked, stepping back to look at the tree. It did look good, especially in front of the big picture window.

  “There are companies that make these little scented sticks you can hang on fake trees so they smell real. They do smell good, but nothing compares to a real tree.” Joy drew in another deep breath. “Nature’s divine wonders can’t be duplicated by man.”

  Amazed by her philosophical comment, he followed her back to the kitchen. Eager to return to decorating the tree, they both ate quickly. By the time Drew had finished his laundry, the tree was decorated and he’d helped Joy set out decorations around the house. She’d even talked him into weaving garlands around the stair banister. She added a big, fluffy red plaid bow to the end of the garland on the newel post and moved back to study it with a happy look on her face.

  “Miss Christmas Joy, I do believe your house is thoroughly festooned,” Drew said as he looked around the entry hall. A red plaid woolen blanket that matched the ribbon on the stairs draped over a small side chair next to a skinny table. The hurricane jars on top of the table held an assortment of red and silver glass balls. A painting with a sleigh scene hung above the table on the wall. “Everything looks great.”

  “Thanks to you,” Joy said, balancing on her good leg as she gave him a one-armed hug. “Honestly, Drew, you brought me Christmas and I can’t even begin to find words to thank you for that.”

  “You’re welcome.” He kissed the top of her head and breathed in the delicious scent of her. “I had fun helping you.”

  “I’m so glad you came over, Drew. The evenings drag by when you aren’t here to liven up things.”

  “Well, if it’s livening you need…” He picked her up and carefully settled her over his shoulder while she laughed and playfully pounded his back in feigned protest.

  Twenty minutes later, she sat in a cocoon of blankets on the back porch while he built a snowman where she could see it outside the family room window. Moonlight cast a silvery-blue glow over the landscape while the lights Drew had strung on the back of her house twinkled.

  Pete kept trotting over and nudging Drew, wanting him to play, so he finally grabbed the donkey’s beach ball and kicked it around while Pete and Bacon chased it. In between kicking the ball for Joy’s pets, he rolled the head for the snowman and set it on the body.

  “Now for the finishing touches,” he said, taking the things Joy insisted they’d need for the snowman from beside her on the step where she watched.

  Joy had made him run upstairs to find a jar of buttons in her grandmother’s sewing things. She’d fished out two big, black buttons from the jar to use for the snowman’s eyes. He draped an old scarf she’d dragged out of a box of winter clothes that had belonged to her grandparents around the snowman’s neck, settled a Santa hat on top, and then twisted in a carrot for the snowman’s nose.

  “What do you think?” he asked as he stepped back and looked at Joy. Moonbeams fell on her like a spotlight, illuminating her flawless skin and reflecting in her gorgeous eyes. His heart slammed inside his chest, picking up tempo as he wished, for the thousandth time, she could be his.

  But he knew Joy saw him only as a friend. Besides, he was sure she’d leave as soon as her six months was up and that meant by the time spring arrived, she’d be long gone.

  However, Joy’s brilliant smile shone brighter than the moon overhead when she looked at him. “I love it, Drew! Thank you for doing this. You have to be sick of being outside after working all day, so it means a lot you’d do this for me.”

  “It was fun,” he said, turning around in time to see Pete eat the snowman’s nose. “Hey, stop that!”

  Joy giggled and handed him a red button she dug from the button jar. “Try this. I don’t think he’ll eat it.”

  Drew placed the button over the hole the carrot created while Pete happily chomped the last bite of the snowman’s nose. When the donkey brayed and smiled at him, Drew scratched the animal on the neck then dropped the Santa hat on his head.

  Pete pranced around as if Drew had given him a crown and dubbed him king. The crazy donkey held his nose up in the air and strutted back and forth across the yard before hurrying over to Joy, showing off his new hat.

  “You look cute, Pete. The hat suits, you,” she said, rubbing a hand over his muzzle.

  The donkey bobbed his head in agreement then went back to sniff the snowman. Bacon barked and the two animals engaged in another game of tag before the puppy grew tired and flopped down by Joy, placing his head on her lap.

  “Are you tired, little guy? Time for bed?” Joy asked, petting Bacon. He released a contented sigh and shut his eyes.

  Drew picked him up and set him inside the house then took the old stocking cap Joy held out to him. He placed it at a jaunty angle on the snowman’s head. “That’s better than Santa’s hat, don’t you think?”

  “I do, and Pete will have a great time playing with the hat,” Joy said as Drew carried the button jar and box of old clothes inside then returned for her.

  He lifted her in his arms and inhaled her soft fragrance, wondering what she’d do if he kissed her all the way inside and carried her down the hall to her room.

  Aware his wayward thoughts would do nothing but make it impossible for him to get any sleep, Drew set her down on the family room couch and moved back before he lost the ability to let her go. “I better get home. Tomorrow will be another long day at work.”

  “I’m sorry you have to work so hard out in the cold, Drew.” Joy untangled herself from the blankets she’d been wrapped in and accepted the hand he held out to her as she got to her feet.

  Drew handed her the crutches “It’s all part of the job. You know the creed…” He slapped a hand to his chest, broadened his stance, and took on the appearance of an experienced orator. “‘Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night shall stay these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.’ At least I think that’s how it goes. Basically, it doesn’t matter what the weather is like, the mail gets delivered regardless.”

  “I know, and I think people like you who are dedicated to doing that are unsung heroes.” Joy followed him down the hall to the door where he’d left his clean clothes. “You do far more than deliver the mail, Drew. You take time to listen to those lonely senior citizens who might not have anyone else to talk to in a day besides you. I’ve heard you shovel off sidewalks, and get kittens out of trees, and even check to make sure people on your route are doing okay when they’re sick. That’s not just delivering mail. You deliver hope, and friendship, and love.”

  Emotion lodged in his throat as tears sparkled in Joy’s beautiful eyes. He’d never thought of what he did in those terms before. He genuinely cared about people and wanted to make a difference to them, to help them. That’s why he did the things he did. Not because he wanted people to see him as anything more than their mailman. He swallowed hard to tamp down overwhelming feelings and reached out to her, brushing away the lone tear that trailed down Joy’s rosy cheek. “It’s just what I do, baby. Don’t make me out to be something I’m not.”

  She leaned her crutches against the wall and hopped two steps forward so she could wrap her arms around him. “What you are is an amazing, kind, wonderful man, Drew Miller. One I’m very blessed and honored to know.”

  “I’d say the same about you, Joy. I’m so glad we’re friends.” Tenderly, he bracketed her face with his hands and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. “Thanks again for dinner and letting me do some laundry. At least I won’t have to wear another one of Mom’s special gifts to work tomorrow.”

  A choppy laugh rolled out of Joy as he handed her the crutches. “
If you split your pants again, come over here instead of going for the stapler. Promise?”

  “I promise.” He picked up his laundry, neatly folded into one of Joy’s baskets, and opened the door. “Have a good night, Joy, and sleep tight.”

  “I will, Drew. Thank you, again, for everything,” she waved a hand behind her to encompass her decorated home.

  “You are most welcome.”

  Drew hurried out to his Jeep before he dropped the basket of laundry, hauled Joy into his arms, and forgot about being a responsible man who always did the right thing. Being honorable was the furthest thing from his mind as he gave one last glance to Joy as she stood in the door, backlit by the light in her entry. How could he have fallen so deeply and completely in love with her in such a short time?

  He had no idea how it happened, but the feelings, the ardent longings, coursing through him made it clear he had.

  Chapter Eleven

  The high-pitched squeal of Mr. Davis’ old snowmobile rattled the windows as he rode it up to Joy’s fence. She glanced out her office window as he hopped off, opened her gate, and climbed back on. Her eyes widened as Mr. Davis rode the machine right up to her front steps.

  “What in the world is he up to?” Joy mused aloud as she rose from her desk where she’d been working on writing product reviews and grabbed her crutches. She hurried to the door and opened it just as Mr. Davis reached out to ring the bell.

  “Good afternoon, sir. What brings you to my house today?” Joy asked, moving back so he could enter.

  The old man removed his goggles and stamped snow from his feet before he stepped inside and glanced around, taking in her decorations. “Looks right nice in here, Miss Cooke. I like what you’ve done with the place.”

  “I have Drew to thank for that,” Joy said, unable to begin to list all the reasons she had to be grateful to Drew. “He hauled in the decorations and put most of them up for me.”

  Mr. Davis turned to her with a knowing smile. “He’s just about the finest young man I think I’ve had the pleasure of knowing. In fact, he’s the reason I came over here.”

  “He is?” Joy asked, closing the door to block out the frigid air seeping inside.

  “Right at this moment, he’s over at my Vernetta’s house, putting in a new step.”

  Joy frowned. “I thought he was working today.”

  Mr. Davis bobbed his head up and down. “He did work today, but the snowstorm yesterday delayed mail all over the region. Because of that, he didn’t have much to deliver today and finished early. Instead of going home to rest or doing something for himself, he called his friends. Those four boys are going up and down my street, hanging lights for those who can’t do their own, shoveling sidewalks, and such.”

  Joy smiled as her heart felt like it might burst with love for Drew. He truly was a great man with a giving heart. One she fell deeper and deeper in love with each day. “That sounds like something he would do.”

  “Well, I didn’t want you to miss out on the fun, so I thought if I came to get you, you could bundle up real good and sit on the porch with me and Vernetta to watch the boys work.”

  “Oh, that’s so thoughtful of you, Mr. Davis, but I don’t think I should ride on the back of your snowmobile.”

  He gave her a look like he thought she’d taken leave of her senses. “I know that much, honey. That’s why I brought the toboggan.”

  Joy opened the front door and looked out, noticing the long toboggan tied to the back of the snowmobile.

  “I promise I’ll go slow. You should be just fine to ride down this street and up the next one. It really isn’t all that far.” Mr. Davis offered her an imploring grin.

  She envisioned him as a young man, full of charm and charisma. “I bet you sweet-talked the girls into doing your bidding in your younger days.”

  He chortled with glee and slapped his leg with his thick gloves. “What makes you think I ever stopped?”

  She laughed and motioned down the hall. “Why don’t you come to the kitchen and sit down while I pull on my coat and boots?”

  “I don’t want to traipse snow down your hall, honey. If it melts, you might slip on it with your crutches. It won’t take but a minute for you to get ready. I’ll wait right here. And make sure you bring a blanket or two to wrap around that leg of yours.”

  Excited at the prospect of seeing something other than the inside walls of her house and inspired by the added incentive of spending time around Drew, Joy hustled to the laundry room where she’d left her coat and boots by the back door. Quickly pulling them on, she wound a scarf around her neck, tugged on a berry red stocking cap and gloves, then grabbed two older blankets from a shelf and tucked them under one arm. It made it a little challenging to walk with her crutches, but she returned to the entry where Mr. Davis waited in less than five minutes.

  He took the blankets from her and carried them out to the toboggan then returned and gave her a hand as she slowly made her way down the front steps. When Drew had delivered her mail that morning, he’d stopped long enough to spread ice melt on the steps and shovel her walk. She was glad he had, although at the time she’d told him it wasn’t necessary.

  Honestly, she had no idea what she would have done without him since she’d injured her knee. Drew had saved her life, but he’d also done so much more. Because of him, his mother and her friends had driven Joy to her doctor’s appointments, brought her groceries, and even spent one afternoon showing her how to crochet. Joy felt truly welcomed as part of the Faraday community — all because of Drew.

  “Okay, honey, now ease on down into the toboggan and we’ll pad that leg of yours,” Mr. Davis said, helping Joy sit on the plastic sled. He tucked her crutches beneath her good leg then used the blankets to cushion her brace-covered leg. After her last visit to the doctor, he’d assured her she was healing right on schedule and Joy happily went back to wearing jeans with the brace on the outside instead of beneath a pair of baggy sweats.

  Joy wanted to ask Mr. Davis if he was sure she’d be safe. But at the moment, the lure of the adventure called too loudly for her to heed the warning bells clanging in her head. It was pure lunacy to climb on a piece of plastic tied to an old snowmobile driven by a nearly century-old World War II veteran.

  “Ready?” Mr. Davis called as he spryly mounted the snowmobile, settled the goggles back on his face, and started the machine with a deafening roar.

  Joy nodded and threaded her gloved fingers around the handles of the toboggan while sending up a quick prayer they’d make it to the old gent’s house without an incident. She’d probably lost her mind to agree to something so crazy, but Mr. Davis was so excited about it, she couldn’t tell him no even if she wanted to.

  To his credit, Mr. Davis did drive slowly and carefully, frequently glancing back to make sure she was doing fine. In fact, as plumes of exhaust from the machine billowed around her, she wished he’d drive faster to get her out of the smell.

  It didn’t take long, though, for him to reach the end of her street, pull onto a main street, then turn down his. Joy grinned at the sight of so many of the residents, mostly elderly folks, bundled up as they stood outside and watched Drew and his friends work. She waved at Drake as he hung lights from a house near the front of the street. Seth shoveled the sidewalk of a house where two widowed sisters lived while Rhett helped Drew replace Vernetta Harris’ step.

  Mr. Davis stopped in front of the house, turned off the ignition and stood up, yelling, “I bring tidings of Joy!”

  People around them laughed and waved. Drew glanced up then did a double take. He dropped the hammer in his hand and strode over, a look of stunned surprise on his face.

  “Are you nuts?” he asked with a broad grin as he lifted Joy from the toboggan. “This crazy old coot might have killed you on that thing.” His voice held a teasing tone as he carried her up Mr. Davis’ driveway to his broad porch. The old man scurried after them with Joy’s crutches in his hand.

  “Maybe, but it was fun
,” Joy said as he set her down in one of the Adirondack chairs close to a portable heater someone had plugged in. Drew scooted a small table over for her to prop her leg on as Mrs. Harris came out of Mr. Davis’ house wearing a vintage holiday apron and holding a snowflake-patterned dish towel in her hands.

  “Oh, good, you’re back,” she said, kissing Mr. Davis on the cheek. “The hot chocolate is ready. Tell everyone to come over and send one of the boys in to carry it out.”

  Drew bent down until his lips grazed Joy’s ear. The warmth from his breath made goose bumps break out on her skin. “If she brings out the mincemeat, scream for help and I’ll come running, baby,” he whispered before he turned and went inside to carry out a commercial-sized coffeemaker full of hot chocolate.

  Her insides liquefied and her limbs turned languid when Drew called her baby. He’d only done it a few times, but each instance made her think there was the slightest chance he might like her more than just as a friend. The sound of that one little word, spoken in his deep voice, had a greater effect on her than all the combined efforts of her past boyfriends.

  Joy felt like a princess as Drew, his friends, and Mr. Davis’ neighbors gathered around on the porch, laughing and drinking hot chocolate and eating treats provided by the women in the neighborhood.

  Drew looked over at her and waggled his eyebrows as he bit into a gingerbread cookie, making her heart pound in her chest.

  “How’s your grandpa doing, Seth?” Mr. Davis asked as he helped himself to another cookie.

  “He’s getting better. I’ll be glad when he’s well and things return to normal.” Seth sighed, as though the weight of the world balanced on his broad shoulders. He looked at Drew. “It was nice to get away this afternoon. Thanks for asking me to come help.”

  “I’m glad you could make it,” Drew said, taking a long drink from his cup of hot chocolate.