Christmas in Eternity Springs (36 page)

“So you'll give her the present?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay.” Nicholas nodded decisively. “That's good. I think the present will work. I'm going to believe it.”

Jax slung his arm around his son's shoulder. “Me, too, son. Me, too. We just have to believe.”

The Lancaster males worked late into the night on the next phase of their battle plan. A labor of love, it turned out better than Jax had imagined. As he wrapped it in plain brown paper and tied it with a bow made of twine, he sent up a little prayer that their message would get through the hard head of the woman he loved.

She'd promised not to leave today, but he didn't trust her not to run at first light, so before he went to bed that night, he carried the package over to Baby Bear and leaned it against the door.

In the morning when he looked, the package was gone.

So was she.

 

Chapter Twenty-two

My faith is bigger than my fear.

—JAX

Claire almost didn't pick the package up because she expected it would be something that would tug her heartstrings. However, she didn't have the strength to resist it. People didn't give her presents very often. She didn't have the heart to leave it behind. He'd used duct tape and a cut-up paper grocery sack to wrap it. She found that so endearing.

Yet, she feared if she opened it, whatever was inside might sap the strength she'd gathered to leave. She couldn't afford that. Staying required even more, and her bank of strength was overdrawn.

She compromised by taking the package with her, but placing it in the backseat of her car.

She drove into town and before even the early birds stirred, she slipped into her shop, wrote checks to her two employees, paying them full-time wages for the weeks that she'd committed to employing them, and finally drew a
FOR SALE
sign by hand. She taped the sign to her front window, locked the door, and returned to her car where she tried to tell herself that the wetness in her eyes and on her cheeks was the result of the cold winter air, that's all.

She didn't have a destination in mind when she left Eternity Springs. She had a couple weeks to kill before the Christmas pageant. Then another week until the White House event. She guessed she would go to it. It seemed easier to attend than to beg off. And she would sleep better knowing she hadn't let the White House down.

Where would she go after that?

What would she do with herself after that?

“What do you think, Tinsel? Shall we shoot for something totally different? Somewhere warm? South Beach? The South Pacific?”

Tinsel rested her snout on Claire's leg and went to sleep. Claire drove mindlessly, lost in thought and trying not to think. She didn't consciously make the decision to drive to Silver Eden, but when she found herself at the entrance to the resort shortly after snow began to fall, she was glad to be there.

Luckily they had a room for her and were willing to accommodate Tinsel. After hours in the car, Claire and Tinsel both needed exercise, so they played in the snow for a while before going up to their room. She took a long, hot shower, ordered room service for dinner, then sat cross-legged in the middle of the plush bed, staring at Jax's box.

Why her heart thundered, she couldn't say. Why fresh tears threatened was more obvious. His words echoed through her mind.
I want you. I want a future with you. I am in love with you.

I love you.

It scared her so badly.

She pulled the box toward her and tugged on the bow of twine. She tore off the paper, licked her suddenly dry lips, and slowly removed the lid from the box.

Two handwritten notes lay atop the tissue paper. She picked up Nicholas's carefully printed page and read:

Dear Miss Claire,

I love you.

It's okay to be scared. Remember what Gardenia says. The trick to learning to fly is to wear a helmet.

Thank you for being my friend. Please come home. Daddy and I miss you. We want you to be our family.

Love,

Nicholas

Claire closed her eyes and clutched the letter to her heart. That sweet, courageous, darling boy. If only she could be as brave as he.

The thought fluttered through her mind like an angel's whisper.
Maybe you can.

Claire sucked in a shuddering breath and picked up Jax's note.

Dear Claire,

I love you.

I love you for a million different reasons, but for the moment, allow me to focus on one of those reasons in particular.

The night we met, you changed my life. You taught me to Believe.

Let me return the favor.

When I was growing up, one of my favorite family traditions of the Christmas season was opening the door on the Advent calendar. Using that as a framework, I invite you to …

Believe.

Find your faith, Claire. In me, in us, in what we can become. Change directions. Run to us. Run to me.

I love you,

Jax

Claire's hands trembled as she pulled back the tissue paper and revealed the contents of the box. Surprise washed through her. It was a journal like the one she'd given him.

She picked it up, traced the word “Believe” with her fingertip, and noted the worn corners. She flipped through the pages and caught her breath. She recognized the handwriting. Pages and pages of it. Six months' worth of it.

This
was
the journal she'd given Jax. He'd been using it.

And now he had given it to her? Why?

For the answer to her question, she looked at the other item in the package. It was a box made of wood, a rectangle about twelve inches wide and twenty-four inches long. A script
B
had been burned into the wood, its lines broken intermittently by little square doors. Upon each door was a number.

Claire opened the door marked “1” and saw a date beneath it. October 12.

She couldn't recall anything special about the date. What did he want her to … “Oh.”

She picked up the journal, flipped to the entry marked October 12 and began to read Jax's bold handwriting.

“Today, Claire proved once again that she is a force of positive energy and light in my life.”

The entry went on for a page and a half. Claire read it through the blur of tears.

*   *   *

Jax strode into Forever Christmas on Saturday, December 12, with his arms full of boxes. Meeting the gaze of the clerk behind the counter, he said, “I think those angels you've been waiting on came in.”

“Excellent!” Celeste beamed a smile his way. “When Liz arrives for her shift, I'll ask her to call our customers on the wait list.”

Jax carried the boxes to the storeroom and set about unpacking them and marking them into inventory. Luckily, Claire ran a straightforward system, and he'd been able to easily pick up on what needed doing in order to keep the business open. He'd made the decision to do that the morning Claire left town.

It was a case of putting his money where his mouth was, so to speak. He had to have faith in Claire. He had to believe that she would be back to stay. Keeping the shop open expressed that viewpoint loud and clear to the people of Eternity Springs, to Nicholas, and to himself.

When he'd put out a call for help, the response had been gratifying. In addition to Celeste, his temporary workers included members of the Eternity Springs Garden Club, led by none other than Janice Petersen. Miss Christmas was in for quite a surprise when she came home.

Jax was elbow deep in Styrofoam packing peanuts when Nicholas ran into the store calling his name. “The show starts in an hour and a half. Daddy, has anyone seen Miss Claire? Is she back?”

“No, son. We haven't had a Miss Christmas sighting yet.”

“Oh.” Nicholas's two front teeth bit his lower lip. “You're not worried, though. Right? She promised she'd come.”

“She promised and I'm not worried.” Much, anyway.

“What if she goes to Baby Bear before coming to town? What if our surprise gets ruined?”

“She doesn't have the new key yet. And I pulled the window curtains closed. The only way into Baby Bear is down the chimney, and she's Miss Christmas, not Santa Claus.”

Nicholas laughed. “She's way too skinny to be Santa. I can't wait to see her, Dad. I hope she likes everything we've done. I've said so many prayers that our plan works and she says yes to marrying us.”

“That's good, Nicholas. I believe in the power of prayer. And, I believe in Claire. We've got to keep thinking positive.” Jax held out his fist. “We've got this.”

Nicholas fist-bumped his dad and repeated, “We've got this.”

Jax continued to tell himself that as the afternoon waned and the clock ticked toward the start of the Christmas pageant. As usual, it was the hottest ticket in town, and the school auditorium was packed to the rafters.

Rather than sit in the front row with Brian and Linda, who'd come to town for Nicholas's big performance, Jax stood at the base of the stage in the spot that allowed the best view of the entrances.

A chime sounded from the school's loudspeaker, and then the principal asked visitors to take their seats. “Our pageant begins in five minutes.”

Jax's stomach made an uneasy roll. Softly, he whispered, “Where are you, Miss Christmas?”

*   *   *

Claire skulked in the science lab among the taxidermy collection of small animals native to the Colorado Rockies, muttering to the glassy-eyed beaver. “I don't think I'll be this nervous when I meet the president.”

The beaver offered neither comfort nor advice.

She had arrived in Eternity Springs half an hour earlier, having timed her departure from Silver Eden carefully. Her plan was to slip into the back of the auditorium just as the curtain rose. With any luck, she could watch the pageant and escape at its finish without having to speak to a soul.

“There you are, Claire,” came a cheery voice from the door at the back of the room. “I've been watching for you, but I almost didn't recognize you in that puff coat, knit cap, and sunglasses. It's a good thing I recognized your walk. Come along, now. Nicholas said you promised to sit in the front row, so I've saved you a seat beside me.”

Claire dropped her chin onto her chest. She should have anticipated Celeste.

“Chop-chop, dear.” Celeste snapped her fingers.

Claire surrendered, cast her friend the beaver a rueful look, and joined Celeste. At least there wouldn't be time for more than a few seconds of chitchat before the lights went down.

They entered at the auditorium's side door and Celeste led Claire toward one of three empty seats in the first row, center. As the lights began to dim, Celeste rose from her seat and walked up onto the stage as someone took the seat beside Claire. Jax leaned over and gave her a quick kiss on the mouth. “Merry Christmas, Claire.”

A floodlight illuminated Celeste, who sparkled in a floor-length gown of cream-colored silk trimmed in dazzling gold. When the applause died, she smiled widely and said, “Good evening, everyone. Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas,” the audience responded.

“I know we are all excited to see tonight's show, but before we get started, I have a special presentation to make. Nicholas Lancaster, would you join me, please?”

The audience applauded. Jax sat up a little straighter as Nicholas walked out onto the stage. Claire's heart melted at the sight of the boy dressed in jeans, a white shirt, a black bow tie, and wearing the feathered angel wings Claire had helped him make. “What's this?” she asked. “And where are his glasses?”

“He got contacts last week. I don't know what Celeste is up to.”

Celeste's voice rang out over the auditorium like church bells. “Dear friends. As you know, we live in a special place that has a unique energy. Eternity Springs is where broken hearts come to heal. Because I believe that such accomplishments should be recognized, a few years ago I commissioned the design of the official Angel's Rest blazon that I award to those who have found love's healing grace. Tonight, I want to award our young angel here a pair of wings that are a little easier to wear than the feathers he has on right now.”

Laughter rose from the audience. Celeste motioned Nicholas to come closer, and she slipped a silver necklace and angel wing pendant over his head. “Nicholas, you are an inspiration to us all.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Blessing.”

The crowd erupted in cheers. Jax and Claire and everyone else rose to give Nicholas a standing ovation. The boy shot Jax a bashful grin, but when he noticed Claire standing beside his father, a smile as bright as the spotlight burst across his face.

When the cheering finally died down, Celeste motioned the boy backstage. “I don't know about you all, but I'm ready to see the show.”

Gracefully, she seemed to float off the stage and return to her seat. Jax met her, kissed her cheek, and said, “Thank you, Celeste. I know Nicholas will treasure his wings forever.”

The houselights dimmed once again and the crowd quieted. A trumpet fanfare sounded out and the curtain slowly rose. Once the set was revealed, the smile that had graced Claire's face since Celeste's presentation froze. Her mouth went dry.

Nicholas stood to one side of the stage at a microphone. He thumped it with his finger, then said, “Welcome to the sixteenth annual Eternity Springs Christmas pageant. I am the master of ceremonies, Nicholas Lancaster. This year, in honor of our very own beloved Miss Christmas, we present to you our production of
The Christmas Angel Waiting Room
. Ladies and gentlemen, we hope you are ready to Believe. Please welcome our narrator tonight, the one and only … Gardenia!”

Claire clapped her hands over her mouth. “Not Starlina,” she murmured.

“Of course not,” Jax responded. “This is Christmas in Eternity Springs. We don't do the commercial version here.”