Nothing Short of a Miracle (14 page)

“What are you doing down there? Why are you laying in the snow?”

Gabriella looked into Constance’s quizzical face and all the wonderful memories of growing up with her own family made her smile.

“Making a snow angel,” she said. “Do you know how to make them?”

Constance shook her head.

“Here, let me show you.”

Gabriella proceeded to move her arms up and down in the snow, and her legs from side to side. When she got up to show Constance the angel image she had made, Chad was right there to give her a hand up so she wouldn’t damage the impression.

“Wow,” Constance stared at the large shape of a Christmas angel. “Can I make one, too?”

“Sure,” Chad said. He lifted her up in the air and placed her on her back in the snow, away from their footprints.

Before long everyone, including the grownups, lay in the snow quietly making snow angels.

“See what you started,” Chad said. He lay in the snow next to her, swinging his arms and legs back and forth in a flapping motion. “I haven’t done this since I was a kid. I forgot how much fun it is playing in the snow. Can’t remember the last time I had a good snowball fight, either.”

“You’ve been grown up for far too long,” Gabriella said. “Nothing like children around to remind you what fun is all about. Especially, at holiday time.”

“Has it been so hard for you, having a baby to take care of on your own?”

“They certainly change your life and can turn it upside down,” Gabriella said with much more sadness than she had intended. “But I don’t want your sympathy, so take that ‘I feel sorry for you’ look off your face.”

Gabriella jumped up and brushed her backside off. “This tree, I think,” she said, pointing to the ten-foot blue spruce in front of her. “It will look great in your parent’s library.”

Amidst much laughter and more snow flying about, trees were cut and placed in the wagons. The sleighs headed down the hillside with much singing and more laughter echoing the hillside. It started to snow. Big, lazy, drifting flakes landed on Gabriella’s nose and eyelashes. She huddled under the blanket and tried not to think about Chad’s kiss. It was impossible. No one had ever kissed her quite the way he did. She couldn’t remember ever responding in such abandon, either. She didn’t want to feel anything for Chad Hempstead, but she did. In a matter of weeks he’d be gone without a backward glance.

****

Everyone congregated at the Hempsteads’ and stayed to help trim the tree. The three men managed to get it set up and steady in the corner of the room away from the fireplace so it wouldn’t dry out from the heat. In the meantime, Chadwick had gone to the attic and retrieved the decorations. Ethel brought in the tree skirt, and along with Helen, they settled in to play with the babies—Devon and Nina. The cousins delighted in helping the grownups dig through the decorations, oohing and aahing over each one they unwrapped before running to the tree to hang it on a bare branch. Amongst the chaos someone started singing Christmas Carols. The room filled with high holiday spirits. Gabriella couldn’t help but be blessed to be surrounded with such love so soon after the loss of her own family. And for Nina to be included as if she belonged.

The miracle of family was overwhelming. If only for a short time, she was going to enjoy every second.

Nina’s sudden burst of crying had everyone turning to see what was wrong. Chad ran to her side. Gabriella couldn’t believe the look of concern written all over his face once again. Before she could circle around the tree to see what was wrong, Chad bent over the bassinet, retrieved the pink pacifier and inserted it in the crying baby’s mouth. He stood for a moment longer as if to make sure she was okay.

“Chad,” his mother called from across the room. “Bring that lovely child over here to me so I can hold her. She might have a bubble needing to come up.”

The expression on Chad’s face changed from concern to panic. Had he never held or picked up a baby before? He looked startled, terrified. She started to go to his rescue when Sheila put her hand on Gabriella’s shoulder.

“Let me. It’s about time he learned how this is done,” Sheila whispered and went to her brother’s side. “Here, hold your arms like this,” she instructed, positioning his arms ready to receive the baby. Sheila picked Nina up and smiled as she placed her in Chad’s waiting arms. “It’s not so bad, is it?”

Chad looked stunned. He didn’t utter a word but carefully walked across the floor with Nina in his arms. He placed the infant in his mother’s lap, expelled the breath he’d been holding in a loud whoosh. The men laughed, taking turns patting him on the shoulder. Gabriella couldn’t help but smile at the look of satisfaction on his face. Anyone would think he’d won first prize in a sporting event.

“You did fine, Son.” Helen smiled up at him.

Chad looked at Gabriella. Her heart stopped. His look was one of emotional bonding, of wonder, admiration, and understanding. A look lasting no longer than a moment, but full of meaning, warmth. Gabriella’s knees weakened.

Tree-trimming continued. Garland, tinsel, ornaments, and bells were strewn everywhere as decorations continued to be lifted reverently from their boxes and placed just as caringly on the tree. Several times Gabriella caught Chad watching her, and twice he put his hands on her shoulders to move her out of his way so he could hang an ornament on one of the higher branches. Each time he touched her, an electric current shot down her arms clear to her fingertips. Twice, she almost dropped a glass ornament.

An hour later the tree was trimmed, looking professionally decorated. Ethel gave Devon to his mother, then wheeled the tea trolley in, laden with an assortment of homemade cookies and confections. There was hot cocoa for the children.

Gabriella’s spirits soared. What a perfect day.

****

Gabriella had hoped to be excluded from the evening’s social later that night, but Helen would hear none of it.

“It’s not as if I’m family, Helen. You’ve been too gracious already. You and Ethel have been fabulous with Nina, too. I’m very grateful.”

“We love having you here, my dear. Now, why don’t you have a rest while Nina is sleeping, and we’ll see you this evening.”

Truth be told, Gabriella couldn’t be more at home and feel part of the Hempstead household. The two women had taken to Nina just as if she were one of their own granddaughters. They were regular mother hens. And she was starting to wish she could stay here forever. And that would never do.

Nina had just closed her eyes and was sleeping soundly when Ethel knocked on her door and stuck her head inside the room. “You have a call. A Mindy Crandall. Says she’s a friend of yours.”

“Yes. She’s my roommate.”

“I brought the kitchen phone up for you to use. Just take it back down when you’re finished.”

Gabriella took the phone over to the bed and settled against the pillows. She hadn’t talked to Mindy since Wednesday night. She’d been surprised to learn her friend had postponed going home for break. She hoped nothing was wrong.

The two exchanged the usual greetings before Mindy got down to business.

“I got a call from your brother-in-law’s lawyer. He’s been trying to locate you. Something about a trust fund for Nina. He wants you to call him this afternoon. Said he’d be in all evening.”

“But it’s Saturday.”

“What can I say? The guy must not have a life. I hope it’s good news. By the way, how’s it going with Mr. Mustang?”

“Like Dennis said, he’s not so bad once you get to know him.”

“Am I hearing a bit of interest in him in the tone of your voice?”

“No.” Gabriella effectively squelched the topic of Chad by telling her about the family excitement over the tree. No way was she ready to tell Mindy about the kiss.

“I thought you’d be on your way home by now. What’s going on?”

“Nothing much. Trish finished her labs and exams. She didn’t leave until yesterday. Said to say bye, and hope you’re doing okay. She misses Nina.”

“You have a safe trip home. Have a great holiday with the family. I’ll see you when you get back after the break.”

“Gabby?”

“Yeah?”

“Be happy.”

****

After calling the lawyer back, Gabriella hung up the phone in pleased dismay. Tom had set up a trust fund for Nina when she was born. The lawyer had only recently worked through the details and had been trying to contact her. To Gabriella’s astonishment, the money was being made available immediately under the guardianship of none other than Gabriella, herself. All she had to do was sign on the dotted lines. To expedite matters, the lawyer was going to send the paperwork to her via overnight mail.

Gabriella’s financial worries in regards to the care of Nina were over. With a trust fund and eventually the life insurance, now all she had to do was obtain legal custody. She could withdraw the Leave-of-Absence forms and finish her degree, as planned.

More lighthearted than she’d been in a long time, Gabriella did a dance around the room, sent up a silent prayer of thanks, and took the phone back downstairs.

****

Gabriella entered the library that evening, a smile on her face, her spirits high, ready to enjoy the evening without a worry on her mind, and froze. Charles Denton, on the arm of Jennifer Newell was a shock she could have lived without. Once she got over the initial bombshell, her first thought was she and Nina had had a narrow escape.

She cringed at his triumphant smile. What was he doing here? And with Jennifer Newell? Glancing around the room, hoping her anxiety didn’t show, Gabriella didn’t want anyone to discover her connection with Charles. But when her eyes met Chad’s, a split second was all it took for Charles to put two and two together and come up with his own sordid and wrong conclusions.

Charles, Jennifer still on his arm, made his way to her side.

“Hello, Ella. Looks like you landed on your feet.”

Gabriella bristled at his familiar use of her name—liking instead the shortened version of Gabby that Chad used. Ella was more formal and uncomfortable, especially coming from Charles’ lips.

“Ella? The two of you know each other?” Chad asked.

Gabriella was taken aback at how fast Chad had made it to her side. His closeness was somehow comforting.

“Yes. This is Charles Denton, an acquaintance of mine from university. Charles this is Chad Hempstead.”

Gabriella’s hands shook, her voice wobbled. She wanted to kick herself for her outward discomfort. God only knew what Charles was thinking, especially after his comment. Had Chad heard it?

“And we’ve already met,” Jennifer quipped, and stepped forward, not to be ignored.

No one paid her any attention.

“What brings you here, Denton?” Chad questioned.

“Jen invited me. That a problem, Hempstead?”

The two squared off. Gabriella’s head swiveled from one to the other. Chad looked at Gabriella. Gabriella wished she was anywhere else but standing between these two men. Unable to escape the uncomfortable situation without being overly rude, she focused instead on the winter twilight streaming in through the window—the full moon making its evening journey across the starry sky. She found herself comparing Chad to Charles and discovered there really was no comparison. Charles just didn’t measure up. What had she ever seen in him? Although Chad had been cautious around his nieces and nephews, he had genuinely enjoyed their company all day. She found Chad to be thoughtful of others, caring of his parents, fun to be around, and patient with children. Including Nina.

Not to mention his kisses were way more enjoyable than Charles’ had ever been. How had she considered Charles’ chaste kisses a sign of love and a happily-ever-after? Chad might have been suspicious, but now that she understood why, she didn’t blame him for acting cautious and concerned when he’d discovered her in his parents’ home. He was only trying to protect his family—and his heart. For some reason this revelation warmed her soul from her heart clear down to her toes. Chad was more of a family man than he cared to admit. She couldn’t wait to tell him her financial woes were a thing of the past. See where their relationship might lead.

“Hello, Jennifer. Who’s your friend,” Sheila asked.

Sheila, Jodi and their husbands had arrived, breaking the spell between the two men, and her contemplations. She really had to get control of her emotions. Flight was upper most in her mind. Jennifer preened her hair, pasted a sickening smile on her face and proceeding to take front and center.

“My friend is none other than Charles Denton—
The
Boston Dentons,” she gushed. “Our families have known each other forever. We go way back, don’t we, Denny?”

Gabriella gulped. Denny? Really?

Charles didn’t bat an eye at the familiarity of Jennifer calling him what was most likely a childhood name. In fact, he ignored her and instead extended his hand to Sean and Jim in greeting. Gabriella noticed that he hadn’t done the same for Chad. But then, Chad hadn’t offered his hand either.

Gabriella wished that the baby monitor would go off so she could escape this dreadful and most awkward situation.

As the evening progressed, however, Gabriella found herself watching Charles from the corner of her eyes. What was he really doing at the Hempsteads? Was it simply a coincidence? Or was it Jennifer’s plan to make Chad jealous? It didn’t matter—she didn’t trust either of them.

Sheila and Jodi put two and two together and kept her occupied in conversation like two mother hens. At one point, they managed to drift off to greet other family friends. Gabriella stood just inside the hallway alcove admiring the holiday scene. The women sat next to the hearth with the fire crackling behind them, and the men stood in varying poses around their women folk, drinks in hand. The Christmas tree filled one whole corner of the room, the lights sparkling off the shiny ornaments, while soft holiday music played in the background. Able to finally relax for the first time since entering the library, she took a deep breath. Everyone was socializing. No one would miss her. It was the perfect time to slip away.