Jingle Bell Blessings (17 page)

“Not quite,” Evan objected.

Chloe wasn't sure where he'd hidden the large box he now extended to her. “Evan?”

“Just an early gift.”

Hands trembling, she slipped off the silver ribbons, then unwrapped the delicate mauve and silver paper. Still shaking, she lifted the lid and set it aside. Chloe was almost afraid to open the pale pink tissue paper that nestled the gift. With everyone looking on, she pushed back the paper. Reverently, she smoothed one hand over the soft material inside. A winter-white cashmere coat, almost too beautiful to wear.

“Let's see it,” Gordon encouraged.

Carefully picking it out of the box, she held it up for everyone to see. A circle of pleased, enchanted faces met hers.

“It's not just for looking,” Evan reminded her, gently taking the coat from her hands, holding it for her to put on.

Chloe slid one arm into a sleeve, turned to get the other. Evan fitted it in place, his hand lingering on her arm. Even
though she tried not to, she glanced up as he stood so very close. His eyes burned with something she'd never before seen in them.

The little group was quiet as they watched and waited, but Chloe still couldn't break her gaze with Evan.

“Do you like it?” Jimmy asked, unable to contain his excitement any longer.

“It's…” Chloe cleared her throat, bogged down in emotion so rich it filled each of her senses, seemed to exude from every pore. “It's beautiful. The most beautiful gift I've ever received.”

Evan remained silent, watching.

Chloe gradually returned to earth, then caught sight of her tight circle. “All of the gifts, I mean.” She touched the scarf. “I've never received such a bounty of thoughtful, generous, lovely gifts. Thank you…everyone.”

 

The live nativity was a highlight of Rosewood's Christmas celebration. A rural community, they had privy to all the animals that must have attended that first holy night.

Shepherds, along with the three wise men, flanked the stable. Mary and Joseph looked to the crêche.

“There's no one in the crib,” Jimmy whispered to Evan.

“Because Jesus was born on Christmas Day,” Evan explained. “This is the night before, when everyone waited for him.”

“Oh.” Jimmy watched the adults portraying Mary and Joseph. “Is that His mommy and daddy?”

“His earthly parents,” Evan replied, knowing Jimmy would learn the full meaning in time.

Jimmy gripped his hand. “Are you my earthly daddy now? Since my first daddy's in heaven?”

Evan felt his love for Jimmy swell. “Yes.”

“Then is Chloe my earthly mommy?”

Evan hoped so. With every fiber of being, he hoped to convince her to stay. He'd seen her shutting down, withdrawing. But he couldn't blow this chance. The Lord had given him a second family, and, in His wisdom, left that last chore to Evan. Kneeling down, he whispered close to Jimmy's ear, “That's what we need to pray for tonight. You understand?”

Jimmy nodded fervently, then whispered back, “I love Chloe.”

His eyes misted, but Evan controlled his voice. “I love her, too.”

Standing back up, his hands remained on Jimmy's shoulders as they joined the crowd in singing “Silent Night.”

One of the deacons, Robert Conway, began to read from the second chapter of Luke. “And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone….”

The familiar words washed over Evan as he silently prayed for just one more glorious event.

H
aving left the lights on, the Mitchell house looked warm and welcoming as they returned from the live nativity. Chloe had attended similar services before, but this one touched her deeply, knowing she had so much to be grateful for.

Following the others, she wondered why Gordon and Evan were walking toward the front while Thelma and Ned disappeared inside the back door. Since Jimmy held tightly to her hand, Chloe let him choose the course.

As usual, the door wasn't locked. Once inside, Chloe glanced down at her warm coat, unable to resist touching the sleeve one more time. While she did, Jimmy unclasped her hand. The room seemed unusually quiet. Lifting her gaze, Chloe stared straight ahead. A wing-backed chair that normally resided in the parlor had been moved to the hall. Gordon and Evan stepped aside in opposite directions, revealing the chair's occupant.

Tears blurred Chloe's vision. “Mom?”

“Merry Christmas, sweetheart.”

Chloe rushed across the hall, burying her face against her mother's shoulder as she had done as a child. Barbara stroked her daughter's hair, patted Chloe's back.

Raising her head, Chloe shook it in disbelief. “How….”

Barbara smiled gently. “Your friends. Grace's Aunt Ruth flew up to Milwaukee to get me. Then we flew back together and she drove us here.”

Thoughts whirling, Chloe studied her anxiously. “Your oxygen?”

“I used the portable concentrator while we traveled. Grace's husband arranged for a home concentrator that the Mitchells put in a room for me.”

“We have a guest suite downstairs on this floor,” Gordon explained. “Set it up for my mother when she couldn't climb the stairs anymore. Had it renovated so it's got everything she might need.”

Despite her joy, Chloe couldn't shed her anxiety. “And, you're really okay, Mom?”

“I'm better than okay.” Barbara smiled tenderly. “I'm with my family for Christmas.”

Turning to Evan and Gordon, Chloe looked at them for answers. “How did you arrange all this?”

“Well, now,” Gordon began. “First of all, it was all Evan's idea. He's had it planned since…” Gordon scratched his head.

“Better than two weeks, I believe.”

Chloe's gaze settled solely on Evan, her voice low. “Weeks?”

Meeting her gaze, he nodded, his own dark eyes still filled with that unidentified emotion.

“How did you even know how to contact my mother?”

Grace's Aunt Ruth walked toward her from the side of the hall where Thelma and Ned were also standing. “Grace said she had a time coaxing the name of the care facility from you.”

Totally overwhelmed, Chloe couldn't take it in. “Grace?”

“Evan called her to help him arrange everything. She talked to me. Next thing we knew, your mother and I were
having a fine time traveling back to Rosewood. Didn't we, Barbara?”

“Very fine,” Barbara agreed brightly.

“I don't know what to say,” Chloe began, then paused.

“Yes, I do. Earlier, I thought I'd received the most beautiful gift ever.” She looked directly at Evan, mentally urging him to understand. “I was wrong.
This
is the most beautiful gift. And the most special anyone has ever given me.”

While the others talked in low rumbling voices, she watched Evan's eyes. While she still couldn't read his thoughts, she sensed he understood her gratitude. And perhaps even more.

 

After Barbara had changed and climbed into bed, Chloe sat on the edge of the mattress, holding her mother's hand. “You took your nighttime medicine, right?”

“You've triple-checked all my meds and both oxygen machines. I feel wonderful, sweetheart.”

“You look good,” Chloe admitted. “Sorry to fret so, but honestly, Mom, you continue to amaze me.”

Barbara chuckled quietly. “And you don't?”

Surprised, Chloe waited for her to continue.

“Sweetheart, you've made a whole new town full of friends, a new family—”

“Whoa. Friends, yes. And the Mitchells treat me wonderfully. But
you're
my family.”

“Family grows, expands. That's how it's supposed to be.”

Chloe swallowed, unwilling to worry her mother. Jimmy was Evan's now. And Evan… wasn't hers. “I'm so glad you're here. I have so much to tell you.” They had already been talking nonstop for more than an hour after the group scattered and they were left alone. Chloe glanced at the clock on the
nightstand. “But, it's late. You must be tired after the trip and all the excitement. I know I am.”

“You know me too well.”

Kissing her forehead, Chloe then rose. “Evan's sleeping in Jimmy's room tonight on the spare bed. So I'll be in the next room.” The Mitchells still had a bed in the tiny adjoining space where a nurse had once stayed. Anticipating Chloe's intention, Thelma had made up the single bed. She had also brought down pajamas, robe, Chloe's best dress and all her gear from the upstairs bathroom.

“Honey, I don't want to cause more trouble for anyone.”

“Trouble?” Chloe swallowed against tears of truth. “You have never been a moment's trouble, Mom. I wouldn't have things any other way. Sleep well.”

“You too, sweetheart.”

She turned the dimmer to low, then eased into the spare single bed. Knowing the Lord had differing paths for everyone, Chloe was grateful to have her mother here. It was going to be difficult enough to leave. It would help having Mom by her side.

Still, Chloe couldn't quash the pain that cratered in her heart as she thought of leaving Evan and Jimmy. Burying her face in her pillow, she muffled the sound. And wept into the night.

 

Christmas morning arrived with a flurry of motion and noise. At midday, the same group of people who had come to Thanksgiving would assemble for dinner, adding to the bustle.

First, as the clear, cloudless day dawned, Gordon gave thanks for His son, the gift of life, and gratitude for all those gathered in the parlor.

“Lovely prayer,” Barbara told Gordon as the quiet amens rounded the room.

“We have been blessed beyond measure,” he replied, glancing at his son and Jimmy on one side, Chloe on the other.

“I see that.”

Chloe hoped her mother didn't see too much. “I just remembered. I mailed all your gifts!”

“And Ruth packed them in my spare suitcase.” Barbara pointed to a portion of the gifts spilling over the needlepoint tree skirt. “Now, they're right here.”

“I still can't believe I didn't catch on.”

Barbara grinned. “That's why they're called surprises, dear.”

Her mother's always optimistic, cheerful attitude was contagious. “Best one I've had.”

Evan knelt down, retrieving packages, reading the names to Jimmy, who passed them around. Soon, everyone was digging into their gifts.

Chloe hoped her simple, inexpensive gifts weren't too shabby. Everyone else had been so generous.

Just then, Thelma held up the lace-trimmed linen handkerchief. “My goodness! This is a beauty. And just what I need. Now, I have a hankie nice enough to carry to church.”

Pleased, Chloe watched tentatively as Ned pulled out his dress gloves.

“Me, too. Gloves, I mean, not a hankie. I can wear these to church.”

“And cover up those leathery hands,” Thelma added, then leaned over to kiss her husband's cheek.

Gordon was equally pleased with his gift.

Jimmy ripped the paper from his present. Chloe hoped he wasn't expecting a toy or video game. But when the bible was revealed, he smiled. Then he rushed over for a huge hug. “Thanks.”

Chloe fought tears, wanting to never let him go. “I'm glad you like it, sweetheart.”

“I can take my present to church, too!” Then he scrambled down, returning to Evan's side.

Evan opened presents from Ned and Thelma, then reached for Chloe's. Holding her breath, she waited for an excruciating few moments while he unwrapped it.

Once out of the box, Evan palmed the paperweight, examining all the edges.

“It's a paperweight,” she explained. “Well, I guess you can see that. It's made out of limestone from your quarry. I guess you can see that, too,” Chloe babbled, unable to stop the growing flow of words. “You probably have everything in the world a person can make from limestone, and out of your own quarry, too. I just thought, since you have an office, and then the study, here, maybe you could use one.” Eventually, the flow reduced to a trickle. “Or not.”

“I don't have another thing in my life like it.” Again his eyes took on that unusual intensity, one she hadn't yet deciphered. His voice deepened. “Thank you.”

Barbara patted Chloe's shoulder.

Evan handed her a small, slim box. “Merry Christmas.”

Baffled, Chloe drew her eyebrows together. “But you already gave me my present.”

“Just open it.”

Trying not to let the shaking of her hands show, she opened the gift. Inside was a string of beads which matched her eyes. Stunned, she lifted the exquisite necklace. “Evan, it's beautiful! But it's too much!”

“Not for you.”

She caressed the smooth, hand-carved jade. “Thank you.”

The bustle continued, the noise level escalating. Yet all Chloe could hear were Evan's words, and wondered what they meant.

 

The dining room table was crowded with people. A second table held more, just as it had on Thanksgiving. But Perry volunteered to move so that Barbara could sit next to Chloe.

Although Evan would have liked to sit beside Jimmy, he remained in his usual chair at the opposite end where he could view everyone. Barbara was even nicer than he'd hoped. He could see the resemblance, physical and personality-wise with Chloe. True to her word, Barbara hadn't breathed a word of his surprise. Chloe's expression had been worth every phone call, every niggling detail.

Now, though, Chloe's expression was no longer happy. Eating little, she alternately clasped her mother's and Jimmy's hands. Evan knew he hadn't voiced his feelings for her yet, but surely she sensed how he felt. Did she need a sign?

A sign as clear as the one he had received? A glint on Jimmy's handlebars on a sunless day shrouded in dark gray clouds? An explosion that could have taken them all?

Or just the words he had locked in his heart? Even there they stumbled. How could he possibly pour everything he felt into mere words?

“Great dinner as always,” the elderly man on his right said, his hand shaky as he held on to his water glass.

“Thanks, Elmer. Glad you're enjoying it. How 'bout you, Clem? Getting enough to eat?”

“And then some, Evan.” Clem lifted his fork in approval, his hand not shaking quite as much. But then he was two years younger than Elmer. Both were past ninety.

Evan could picture himself growing that old with Chloe at his side. But first, he acknowledged silently, he had to say the words.

 

After dinner ended, guests lingered for a while, then gradually dispersed to their own homes. This was usually Chloe's
favorite time of day. The five of them had retreated to the parlor. Thelma threatened to lock the kitchen door if any of them, other than Ned, tried to help her clean the kitchen and wash dishes.

The fire burned at just the right level, warming the room, the flames dimly lighting rather than jumping. The short stack of logs in the oversize fireplace spit occasionally, then retreated to a comforting crackle. And Barbara was within a hand's reach. Jimmy sat at her feet, playing a new video game Gordon had given him. The tree, still redolent of its fresh pine boughs, twinkled in the early evening.

Mom and Gordon were getting on well, enjoying each other as contemporaries. It occurred to Chloe that having people one's own age to talk with was important. Her mother was in her late fifties. Most of the people in her care facility were much older. Did she miss having friends her own age close by? She would have to check into that once they were back.

The pain jabbed again as it had each time Chloe thought of returning to Milwaukee. The city had always been her home. Now she felt like she was being shipped to the far edges of the planet.

Jimmy jumped up. “I'm gonna go get the picture of me in the play and show it to your mommy.”

“She'll like that.” Chloe watched him scamper out of the room, his energy apparently boundless.

“I hate to put an end to a wonderful day, but I think I'll go to bed,” Barbara said. “Jimmy can bring the picture to my room.”

“I'll help—”

Barbara waved away the offer. “I can get there on my own. Stay, enjoy yourself.” Clutching her small, light oxygen carrier, she left.

Worried, Chloe watched.

“She's only one room away,” Gordon reminded her gently.

“But she's got the right idea. I'm done in myself. Good night, young people.”

Achingly aware that only she and Evan remained in the parlor, Chloe drew herself up, trying to disappear in the depths of the chair.

Evan rose and grabbed a poker, stirring the deteriorating fire. “Your mother's a fine woman.”

“You won't get an argument out of me.”

Replacing the poker, he turned. “Is that a promise?”

Chloe stared at him, the only sound between them the lingering, last gasp crackling of the fire.

“How come your suitcase is packed?” Jimmy demanded, running to a stop in front of her. “What?”

“I saw it!” His lips wobbled. “On your bed. Like you're going somewhere.”

“Jimmy, Evan's going to be your guardian. You have a wonderful home here with him.”

“But why are
you
going?”

Evan walked close. “Yeah. I'd like to know that myself.”

She gaped at him. “What?”

“I said I want to know why you're leaving.”

Chloe gestured haplessly at Jimmy, silently imploring Evan to help her. But he didn't.