White Christmas (3 page)

She often asked herself that question, especially since she’d taken her job with Citizens for Political Reform.

Chad was right.

Their small group had set themselves up as the watchdogs for the state’s political front. It was their goal to encourage morality and accountability in all levels of the government, whether through oversight or bills that made a difference. It was a difficult, consuming job and it seemed everywhere Tessa turned, there was bending or twisting of the rules just to get the job done.

Sometimes there was more bending and twisting and re-shaping than Tessa could handle. Sometimes she felt like she was losing herself in all the grey areas, the places where they just needed to get the job done. A lot of the time, that left her feeling overwhelmed and cynical.

When that happened, she’d think of White’s living Nativity scene and the baby Jesus. It was usually a doll placed in the manager, not a real, precious baby. The weather was too cold this time of year for a baby to stay outside. But the doll was wrapped in a blanket and it appeared real. And Mary and Joseph were so sweet, tender, and a little awkward.

The Nativity scene never failed to remind her of fresh beginnings and the promise of great things to come. Just the fact that Mary and Joseph were so naïve and apt to make mistakes gave her hope. Even in their youth, the Lord had used them to do a mighty work.

Tessa took a deep breath and looked up at the dark sky and the twinkling stars.
Please, Lord, don’t let me waver. Don’t let me get lost in the grey areas. Keep me centered on you so that all I do is for You and Your greater glory.

It seemed the stars winked at her and she smiled.

“They’re beautiful aren’t they?”

Tessa turned to see Chad Fletcher standing next to her. She just barely managed to catch the groan before it slipped out of her lips. How could she forget him if he showed up everywhere she turned? She must have been staring at him with a blank look because he gestured up.

“The stars,” he said, “they’re beautiful.

Tessa looked up and nodded. “Yeah.”

Great, Conway. That sounded intelligent and in control. I don’t need to sound intelligent. I’m not trying to impress him. No, but you don’t want him to know how flustered he makes you, either.

“You know I’ve traveled a lot in my tenure as a state assemblyman but I’ve never seen anything like an Arizona sky,” Chad said, interrupting the argument going on inside her head.

The tone of his voice sufficiently silenced the bad angel/good angel argument still ringing in her ears. The pride she heard in his tone surprised her.

“Nothing, huh?” she said, as a smile slipped over her lips.

“Nothing,” he repeated with a nod. “Just look at those stars. They’re so close, like sparkling diamonds in a velvet bed.”

Oh, Lord, help me.
Poetic, too. No one, absolutely no one could be that perfect. He was just too good to be true.

“It’s the higher elevation,” she said. “Thinner air amplifies the stars.” She sounded sufficiently dull and in control.

“That’s true. But even our sunsets and sunrises are something spectacular. We don’t just do pink and a little orange. Our sunsets are burnt orange and flaming skies. Our storms aren’t a few dark clouds and rain. They’re black thunderclouds, monsoons, and zigzag streaks of lightning you can see for a hundred miles. Nope, I’ll have to say. There’s nothing quite like an Arizona sky.”

It would have been easier not to smile if it wasn’t so true. But he was one hundred percent right. Arizona skies were pretty spectacular.

“I like them a lot, too,” she said, trying to stay understated.

He nodded in agreement. “Well, I just came over to thank you for the intervention with our loving elders. I think their little games could have ruined an otherwise great Christmas if you hadn’t.”

“No problem. I think it’s best for us both.”

He nodded again and tucked his hands in his jean jacket pockets. Then he just stood there rather awkwardly. After a while, he gestured towards the Nativity scene. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. You seemed like you were enjoying yourself.”

“The living Nativity scene and the collections inside are something I look forward to when I’m able make it here for Christmas.”

“
When
you can make it? Sounds like you don’t get to White as often as you’d like.”

“I don’t. It’s rare I can get off for a full week. I’m the low man on the totem pole at the office. So usually, I get the vacation leftovers.” She edged towards the building, hoping to make her escape.

“You say there are more Nativity collections inside?” he asked.

“Yep,” Tessa said, trying hard not to sigh out loud. “Displays everywhere. My grandpa’s even got one in there he hand-carved years ago.”

“I’d like to see that. Mind if I join you?”

Tessa nodded and led the way. When he smiled that hundred-watt smile, an errant thought slipped through her guard. It might not be quite so bad, having him around...just for a little while, anyway.

As they entered the door, the fresh scent of pine wafted towards them. Close by stood a large, six feet tall Christmas tree with all the trimmings.

Another choir sang Christmas carols inside the brightly lit hall. Tables sat along the walls and down the center. On each table, Nativity sets of all types and kinds were on display. A large set, almost three feet high, painted with exquisite detail and trimmed in gold, sat near the door. Porcelain sets, wooden ones, even an antique set carved out of bone. Just when the choir started a rousing rendition of ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen’, they found Grandpa Jim’s display.

Each figure was about six inches high, carved out of maple. The tiny crèche cut from the same material, sat on a background of hunter green velvet. The soft patina of the wood seemed to glow beneath the harsh lights and Tessa stared at it, marveling each time she saw it.

“It’s amazing,” Chad said. “Each piece is made with incredible detail. Look at that beautiful baby in the manger.”

“It’s me,” Tessa said in a quiet voice.

“You?” He studied her face. “I don’t understand.”

“Grandpa carved this when I was a baby. He used my face as the model. Mary is my mother’s face and Joseph is my dad. Grandpa always said the set was his best work because of the love he had for his subjects.”

Chad leaned forward to study the baby in the wooden manger. “I don’t know. Maybe if I could see the eyelashes I could see a resemblance.”

“Oh, it’s me all right,” Tessa said, wondering how he’d noticed her eyelashes in such a short time. Many people commented on their darkness and length but she felt awkward hearing it from him. She covered her discomfort with a laugh. “You couldn’t miss that button nose. My brothers and sisters called me Pugs until I was five and grew into it.”

He turned to study her face, tilting his head one way and another, until he finally shook it. “You must have grown really well. I don’t see any sign of a button nose.”

Tessa felt heat in her cheeks and tried to turn the subject back to safer ground. “If you look at the three wise men you’ll see my uncles. And the old shepherd. That’s grandpa. He said there’s no better place for an old rancher like him than out under the stars.”

“He didn’t include your grandmother,” Chad said after a few minutes of studying the separate pieces.

“One of the first carvings he ever did was of my grandmother. She held my uncle, their first born, when he was an infant. It’s beautiful, like a Madonna. Grandpa said he could never top that so he never tried.”

Smiling, Chad said, “Your grandfather’s a true artist. Are there any more like him in the family?”

“Only one. My cousin Jason. He paints and he’s pretty good. The rest of us are like Grandma. She calls us all worker bees, the ones who keep the world going. Accountants, construction workers, teachers.”

“Watchdogs for the capital,” Chad added.

Tessa smiled. “Do-gooders, Grandpa says. Not one of us can just let things ride. We have to be out saving the world.”

“And lucky for the rest of us you are. We need worker bees like you.”

“Grandpa says he’d like Grandma to stay home and work on him.”

Chad nodded. “I can see that. I’d like it if she’d keep her best friend with her. It might make our lives a little less complicated.”

This time Tessa laughed. “But less interesting.”

Chad paused and studied her face for one moment longer than necessary. “You’re right about that. Far less interesting.”

Tessa ducked her head and moved to the next display, but she couldn’t stop the warmth from spreading through her.

“Seriously, I wouldn’t trade my Aunt Nell for anything. I think I’m closer to her than anyone else in my family.”

“Really? But she says she hardly sees you.” Tessa froze, realizing what she’d said. “Sorry, I didn’t mean that like it sounded. She just says you’re so busy.”

“No offense taken. I have been too busy. If it wasn’t for Aunt Nell, I’d never talk to any of my family. We’re all very important people.” Sarcasm lay heavy in his voice. “My parents are both lawyers and my sister’s a nurse and she married a doctor. Everybody’s busy trying to keep up with their own lives.”

“Sounds like a serious case of worker bees, just like us.”

His eyes lost their twinkle. “No, not like you. Nothing like your family. They’re all here, celebrating Christmas together. My family can’t find the time for each other no matter what the season.”

Tessa didn’t know what to say to that, so she kept quiet. But in spite of her efforts, it would be a long time before she forgot the sadness in his voice.

3

Bright golden sunlight poured through the open window of Nell’s kitchen nook, lighting the newspaper Chad held in his hand. He’d just finished his fourth homemade cinnamon roll and the yeasty, sweet smell, over-laid with coffee, filled the air. The quiet peace was punctuated by Nell’s occasional harrumph as she read the opinion section of the paper.

Chad smiled as she murmured under her breath. He’d probably developed his taste for politics right here in Nell’s kitchen, listening to her review the world’s conduct and judging it accordingly. He shifted his paper and went back to his reading.

“There’s a good article in here interviewing your town manager,” he said.

“Really? What does he say?”

“Basically, the economic times have not impacted White as badly as some areas.”

“Well, I expect old-fashioned, good financial principles and sound management had something to do with it.”

“I’d agree with you on that. He also says White and the surrounding areas have some of the last large tracts of land for development in the state. What makes those tracts of land so valuable is the presence of water.”

“I imagine those developers will pay a pretty penny for that when the market picks up.”

“Exactly,” said Chad. “So the manager thinks this is the time for the town to decide how and where they want to grow. He’s a pretty sharp manager to handle your growth this way. When the real estate market picks up, you’ll be poised and ready.”

“I knew he was a good choice for town manager.”

The phone rang.

“I’ll get it,” Nell said. “I’ve had just about as much of this nonsense as I can handle this morning.” She folded and threw her section of the paper to the table.

Chad decided to make an appointment with the town manager and pay him a visit while here in town.

A few moments later, Nell came into the room and the expression on her face gave Chad pause. He folded his paper.

“Bad news?”

She nodded. “Sophie says they’re going to have to sell their ranch.”

“Sell the ranch? It’s been in their family for generations.”

“Since his heart attack, Jim just can’t take care of things. He’s hired a local fella to help, but they barely make ends meet, now. They can’t afford to keep paying him. Sophie and Jim were hoping that one of their sons or grandsons would consider taking over the ranch for him.”

“And?”

“They had a family meeting last night and the answer is no.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. It’s going to be tough to sell the property in this down market.”

“Sophie says they had an offer last year, before the heart attack, and they said no. Jim’s going to call them later today and see if they’re still interested.”

As Chad watched, Nell eased into her chair. She looked every bit as old as her seventy years.

Reaching across the table, he grasped her hand. “I’m very sorry, Aunt Nell.”

She patted his hand and looked out the window. “You have to be strong to be old,” she said with a squeeze. “Sometimes it’s just too hard. You lose so much. Your friends and loved ones. Your health. Your independence. I guess the good Lord made it that way so a body would be ready to leave this world and go to Him.” She turned her gaze back to Chad and the smile returned to her eyes. “I’m ready, Chad, truly I am. I’ve had a good life, a wonderful life and I’m not afraid. The only thing still holding me back is you.”

“Me?”

“I worry about you. You’re a fine man. You deserve someone who’ll love you and care for you as much as I do. I don’t want to go until I’ve seen you settled.”

“If that’s the only thing keeping you here, then I’ll just have to make sure it doesn’t happen. I’m not ready to lose you.”

This time the smile made it all the way to her eyes. “The Lord’s in charge, Chad. He’ll call me in His time. But just in case He’s impatient, you’d better hurry up and settle down.”

Chad shook his head, his humor gone. “I tried, Nell, and you saw what a disaster it turned out to be.” As hard as he tried to stop it, bitterness crept into his tone. He heard it and he was sure Nell heard it, too.

She patted his hand again. “I’m not asking you to force the situation, Chad. I’m just asking you not to close the door when it’s opened…and not to be mad at me if I give you a little shove in the right direction.”

Her tone made him chuckle. “So that’s what this is about. I can’t hold a grudge, especially against you. You don’t have to worry about me, but Tessa…she’s a different story. She’s a force to be reckoned with.”