Little Christmas Miracles

Chapter Three

ALL three adults stared at the little boy.

“What?” Molly asked, not sure she’d heard correctly.

“Oh, no!” Elizabeth said, covering her mouth with her hand.

Richard drew a deep breath. “Toby, I don’t think that would’ve been possible. Puppies can’t live in a closedup box.”

Once again tears formed in Toby’s eyes. “But my mommy promised me a puppy for Christmas!”

Molly automatically put her arm around Toby. “Richard isn’t saying your mommy wasn’t getting you a puppy. He’s just saying it wasn’t wrapped up. She’d probably made arrangements for picking up the puppy on Christmas Eve.”

“So I’ll still get my puppy?”

Molly looked at Richard. She figured he should be the one to answer that question. She couldn’t imagine a dog in their elegant home.

“Uh, no, I don’t think so. We don’t know where she’d purchased a dog.”

Toby slumped back in his chair, devastation on his face.

Molly squeezed his shoulder and said softly, “Finish your dinner like a big boy, Toby.”

He sat up straighter and looked at Molly for approval. She managed a smile for him, hoping he wouldn’t realize how much she sympathized with him. It would only make him weaker.

“I’m sure Santa will bring you some wonderful presents, Toby,” Elizabeth assured him.

Toby managed a smile for his grandmother.

Elizabeth immediately rang the bell. When Louisa entered, she said, “We’re ready for dessert now, Louisa, please.”

Richard looked at his mother in surprise. “We are?”

“Yes, I believe Toby has finished his meal and dessert will make him feel better.” Again she smiled at Toby, ignoring Richard’s half-filled plate.

With a sigh and a regretful look as Louisa collected his plate, Richard said, “Dessert must be good tonight, Toby. We don’t always get any dessert.”

“Me, neither. But I like dessert,” Toby added, again managing a smile for his grandmother.

Molly hid her smile, afraid Richard would guess she was laughing inside about his consternation as his plate was taken from him. But he was being a good sport about it, which earned him marks in her book, in spite of his lack of warmth toward her.

Dessert was chocolate cake with chocolate ice cream—Toby’s favorite. Molly ate some of it, but she didn’t clean her plate like the two males did.

Elizabeth didn’t touch hers, seeming more engrossed in Toby’s enjoyment of the dessert.

After dinner was over, Molly suggested Toby tell his relatives good-night and she’d take him up to bed. Since saying good-night at home had included kisses and hugs for his parents, Toby hugged his grandmother, much to her delight, and kissed her cheek. Then he moved on to Richard and did the same.

To Molly’s relief, both of them appeared grateful for Toby’s nightly ritual. Molly took the boy’s hand and led him up the stairs to his room.

“You did really well tonight, Toby,” Molly told him as he was preparing for his bath. She’d already run the bathwater as soon as they’d reached his room.

He raised his head to stare at her. “What do you mean?”

“Well, you used good table manners, and you behaved very well when you realized you might not get a dog for Christmas.”

“Yeah. I want a puppy so much. But I guess a dog wouldn’t do so well in this big house. He might get lost.”

“Yes, he might. After you have a bath, I’ll read you a story,” Molly said, trying to recall the books she’d packed. “I don’t know which books I packed. Is there one you want me to read?”

“Any of the Berenstain Bear books. They’re a lot of fun. And I can read them myself.”

“Ah. Good. Then I’ll let you read one to me tonight. And I might buy a copy of Charlotte’s Web. Have you ever read that book?”

“No, but my mommy was going to read it to me if Santa brought me it.”

“Okay. Well, tonight, we’ll stick to the Berenstain Bears. Go hop in and take your bath. I’ll go see if your uncle will loan you a T-shirt for the night. We should be able to get one of his over your casts.”

“Do you think he’ll mind?” Toby asked hesitantly.

“Why do you ask that?” She was afraid her attitude toward Richard might have been passed on to Toby without her realizing it.

“He—he scares me a little bit.”

“I think that’s just because you don’t know him well yet. I’ll be right back.” Molly smiled at Toby and left his room. She didn’t know how to avoid speaking to Richard. She wished she did. But she couldn’t make a big deal about it. Otherwise, she might think about him like Toby did. As the enemy.

She ran downstairs, but she didn’t find Richard in the dining room. She went into the kitchen and asked Louisa if she knew where Richard had gone.

“Yes, ma’am,” said the Mexican woman about her own age. “He went upstairs to his room.”

She got directions from Louisa and ran back up the stairs, turning to the right until she reached the bedroom opposite Elizabeth’s. She tapped softly on the door and waited. But she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was like Daniel about to enter the lion’s den.

Richard settled in a comfortable chair in front of his fireplace, warmed by the fire. He had some legal reading to catch up on.

But his mind was filled with the evening he’d just spent downstairs. There was no question that Toby’s arrival had changed the dynamics of the household. He was rethinking his plan of turning the little boy over to his nurse and continuing on with his life. After all, he had just about completed his reworking of his father’s law firm. Instead of personal injury cases, he had changed the focus to corporate law.

He thought he’d finally be able to return to the pleasant life he’d always led. For the past eighteen months, he’d dealt with the law firm and with his mother. While he and his father had not agreed in many things, he had truly mourned his death. And feared he’d soon lose his mother. Tonight, as she’d focused all her attention on Toby, she appeared to have grown younger before Richard’s very eyes.

He wondered if Molly had come to that same conclusion. He’d noticed how closely she’d watched his mother. It would be nice to be able to talk to her about his mother. After all, she was a nurse.

He shouldn’t be thinking about Molly as a friend. He was paying her salary. That would be like asking Delores for advice. Of course, he’d done that. After all, Delores had been with them for more than twenty years. And Molly didn’t look anything like the plump, dark-haired Delores, either. He immediately shut that thought away.

But thoughts of Molly persisted in spite of his efforts to concentrate on other things. Her hair had glinted in the light from the chandelier in the dining room, sparking more red tonight than he’d noticed before. Concern had filled her green eyes when Toby had made his statement about the puppy he was expecting. Richard had been tempted to laugh until he’d seen Molly’s reaction.

With a sigh, he tried again to put away all thoughts of Molly. As beautiful as she was, she had no place in his life. Unfortunately, for the last eighteen months no woman had had a place in his life, except his mother.

Prior to his father’s death, he’d enjoyed a nice social life. However, with his father’s death had come the opportunity to change the law firm’s focus, which demanded most of his time. His mother had demanded the rest of it.

That was the problem, he realized. He was thinking of Molly because he missed…he missed having a woman in his life.

Just as he managed to focus on his reading, he heard a knock. With a frown, he rose and went to the door. Delores or Albert must have a problem. Normally they didn’t disturb him after he’d gone upstairs.

Swinging open the door, he discovered his caller to be the woman he’d had on his mind. He could only think of one reason she would be there, and it wasn’t one he was willing to cooperate with. At least not here.

“Molly?” he said, frowning at her.

“I’m sorry to disturb you, Richard, but I have a favor to ask.”

“I don’t think I’ll be willing to grant that favor, Molly. It would be rather improper with my mother across the hall.”

Her green eyes widened in shock as she took in his meaning, which made him realize he’d made a mistake.

“What do you want?” he asked, hoping she’d forget what he’d implied.

“I wanted to borrow a T-shirt from you for Toby. I’ll buy him a couple tomorrow, but his shirts are too small to fit comfortably over his casts.”

Her stiffened demeanor told him she hadn’t forgiven him for the beginning of their conversation.

“Yes, of course, I’ll get one for you,” he said, leaving the door open. As he crossed the room to open a drawer, he tried to figure out how to apologize for his initial words without admitting what he’d actually thought. Or how his pulse had raced.

When he got back to the door, a white T-shirt in his hand, he said, “I’m sorry I, uh, reacted in the, uh, wrong way.” He thought he sounded like a teenager speaking to a teacher.

“I can assure you I won’t bother you in the evenings again, Richard.”

Her words were cool, distant, and told him his apology hadn’t gotten him very far.

“I’m glad to be of assistance, Molly.”

She took the T-shirt from him and walked away with a muttered thanks. He watched her until she entered Toby’s bedroom.

Damn, he’d messed up big time. He’d have to make it up to Molly tomorrow.

But how?

Molly and Toby came to breakfast after Richard had left for work. Elizabeth came down just a couple of minutes after them and they all enjoyed breakfast in a small room off the kitchen. It was a cozy room to eat in, and both Molly and Toby were more relaxed.

“Mrs. Anderson, can—”

“Please, dear, you must call me Elizabeth.”

“Oh, thank you, Elizabeth. I wanted to ask if Albert could take me and Toby to a store to buy coats this morning, and maybe to a Christmas store to buy some ornaments for the tree?”

“Of course he can, and I’ll go with you. Richard gave me strict instructions to pay for all your purchases today.”

“Oh, surely not all of them. I’ll pay for my own coat and anything else I buy for myself.”

“He was quite clear in his instructions.”

“Well, we’ll see. Not having bought a coat before, I’m not sure what they cost.”

“Are you thinking about a fur coat?” Elizabeth asked.

Molly stared at her. “Fur? Oh, no, not at all!”

“But a fur coat will last longer than a cloth coat. I’ve had a mink coat my husband bought me thirty years ago, and it still looks good even now.”

Molly smiled. “But I’m going back to Florida. I wouldn’t have any use for a fur coat. Nor could I afford it. I thought we’d go to Target and find reasonably priced coats.”

“I usually go to Neiman’s for clothes.”

“I don’t think Neiman’s would have what we need, Elizabeth, but you don’t have to accompany us. We’ll be fine.”

“Oh, but I want to go with you. It’ll be fun. Richard left you a note to explain everything. I put it in the pocket of my robe so I wouldn’t forget it. Here it is.”

Molly unfolded the note. In it, Richard assured her, as his mother had done, that they would pay for whatever she wanted. He also cautioned her not to let his mother get too tired.

She could definitely follow that caution, but Molly didn’t think she could let him pay for all her purchases if they were for her. She’d find a way around that order.

“Well, if you’re going with us, plan on leaving at ten. Isn’t that when the stores open?”

“I believe so,” Elizabeth said. “That gives us almost an hour to get ready.”

Molly smiled in agreement, though she didn’t think an hour would be necessary for either Toby or herself.

When they met downstairs at the assigned time, Elizabeth was dressed in a chic wool suit that shouted designer. Molly was in slacks with a cotton sweater. They were the warmest clothes she owned. Toby was in jeans and a knit shirt that would fit over his casts.

“Albert promised to have the car warmed up so you two wouldn’t freeze to death before we can get you coats.”

“I’ll have to thank him,” Molly said, turning to the garage.

Elizabeth redirected her out the front door. “Albert has pulled the car around.”

As Elizabeth had said, the car was warm and they barely felt the north wind that chilled the air. All three of them sat in the back seat while Albert drove the car.

When they reached Target, Albert let them out at the front door and promised to wait in the parking lot for them.

“This makes shopping easy, doesn’t it?” Molly commented.

“Yes, it does. Albert is a dear.” Elizabeth took Toby’s hand. “You must hold my hand, Toby, so we won’t get lost.”

“Yes, Grandma. I won’t let you get lost.”

Molly wasn’t sure who was protecting whom, but that was okay with her. They went to the children’s department first and found a ski-jacket for Toby. They bought it a little large to fit over his casts. Elizabeth added some sweaters and long sleeve polo shirts to the pile, too. Then they went to the men’s department to buy him some large T-shirts. Molly explained to Elizabeth about them borrowing one of Richard’s the night before.

“Then we should get at least four T-shirts,” Elizabeth said. She put that many in their basket. When they reached the women’s department, Elizabeth thought Molly should buy a good wool coat that would last for many years. Molly didn’t remind her that she would be returning to Florida in a month.

Since the wool coat was navy and would go with almost anything, Molly was pleased with it. She added a couple of sweaters to the basket for her, too.

“Now, shall we look at the Christmas tree ornaments?” she asked.

“Oh, not here. There’s a lovely Christmas store that I’ve been to before. They have all kinds of specialty ornaments. Let’s go there,” Elizabeth insisted.

Molly agreed. She managed to convince Elizabeth that she should pay for her purchases.

Albert sped them away to the store Elizabeth had chosen. Inside, everything shimmered and glowed as the ornaments were displayed beautifully. Toby was thrilled, especially when his grandmother told him he should pick all the ornaments. He raced around the store, not wanting to miss anything. But he made very thoughtful choices.

“He reminds me so much of Susan,” Elizabeth said softly as she watched him make his selections.

“He is a terrific little boy, but you mustn’t spoil him too much,” Molly warned. “Susan taught him beautiful manners, and we wouldn’t want her teaching to go to waste.”

“You’re quite right, dear, but as long as you’re here with him, I’m sure you will keep him in line,” Elizabeth said with a big smile.

Molly thought about reminding Elizabeth that she would be going back to her life in Florida after Christmas, but she didn’t bother. Richard would make sure his mother knew that.

They returned home at noon, just in time for a wonderful lunch that Delores had prepared. Then Molly suggested everyone lie down for an hour or two so they’d be rested for the Christmas tree hunt that evening.

While Elizabeth and Toby took their naps, Molly removed the tags from their purchases, including the ornaments, which she carried down to the garden room. They’d bought a tree skirt and some colored lights, too. Toby had also chosen an angel to go on the top of the tree.

He had assured Elizabeth it looked just like the angel that had topped his tree in Florida. Though it was expensive, Elizabeth had declared it the perfect choice for the top of Toby’s tree at their house, too.

Molly had enjoyed their shopping as much as the other two. Because she had no family, she usually only decorated a tiny tree that sat on her dining table. She was excited just looking at all the ornaments they’d bought. A big tree, with presents under it, filled her with an anticipation that she hadn’t experienced since she was a small child with her parents.

Her parents had died in a car accident, much as Toby’s had, but she’d had no relatives to take her in. She’d spent the rest of her childhood in foster homes. None of them had celebrated Christmas as she’d remembered it with her parents.

Now, though she was alone, she tried to make Christmas special for those around her. She’d already purchased Secret Santa presents for the patients in the hospital. Since she’d left early with Toby, she’d left the gifts with another nurse to pass out for Christmas.

She usually did a lot of baking, taking goodies to her friends at the hospital and neighbors in her apartment building. She would miss baking. Unless she could convince Toby to make Christmas cookies with her.

She smiled. She wasn’t sure Delores would let them invade her kitchen.

When Toby woke up, Molly kept him busy by playing a game with him. She had a deck of cards with her and together they played more hands of Battle and Go Fish than she could count.

At five o’clock, Louisa knocked on Toby’s door. Richard had called to tell them he would be there in half an hour to go find a Christmas tree. Could they please be ready?

“Yes, of course, Louisa. Have you told Mrs. Anderson?”

“Yes, ma’am. She said she would be ready, too.”

Molly put the deck of cards away, reminding herself to buy some games the next time she had a chance. Toby was a smart little boy. She didn’t want him getting bored. According to Elizabeth, he wouldn’t be going to school until after the New Year, since most of the schools in town had ended their semester this week.

Toby could hardly contain his excitement. Molly took the child down early to wait in the garden room and discuss where they thought the tree should be placed.

When Toby finally decided on the corner of the room, she reminded him that Elizabeth and Richard might decide otherwise.

“Yeah, but I think Grandma will agree with me.”

“You think so, do you?” Molly asked him with a grin.

“She’s nice, isn’t she?” he asked, smiling back.

“Yes, she is. You’re a lucky little boy.”

Toby’s blue eyes clouded over. “I’m not lucky ’cause my mommy and daddy died.”

Molly hugged him. “I know, sweetie, but the same thing happened to me, and I didn’t have a grandma to take me in.”

Her revelation caught Toby’s attention. “Your mommy and daddy died, too?”

“Yes, when I was seven.”

He immediately hugged Molly. “I’m sorry.”

“Thank you, Toby, but it was a long time ago. I told you so you could appreciate your grandmother and uncle taking you in. That makes you a lucky boy.”

“Did you have to live alone?”

Molly laughed. “No. I might’ve been better off if I had, but I was put in a foster home.”

“What’s that?”

With a sigh, Molly said, “It’s a family who gets paid to take care of you. Usually they have too many people in the house and they don’t have time to make you feel special. Like your grandma.” Or even loved. In the two foster homes she’d lived in, they had assigned chores, but they hadn’t shown appreciation or love for what she did. She’d almost felt faceless.

“That must’ve made you sad,” Toby said solemnly.

“Yes, it did. But I—” She was interrupted by the sound of a car pulling into the driveway.

Toby rushed out of the room, calling over his shoulder, “I bet that’s Richard!”

Molly sighed and followed him more slowly. The last thing she wanted to show was enthusiasm for Richard’s arrival.

Elizabeth was coming down the stairs as Molly reached the hallway.

“Is that Richard?” she asked.

“I believe so. Toby went to see. He’s very excited about the tree.”

“I am, too, for the first time in years.” She reached the hall and took on a wistful look. “You know, we gave up decorating a real tree after the children went to college. It just didn’t seem worth the effort without a child to enjoy it.”

Molly smiled. “But you do have a Christmas tree in the living room. It’s quite beautiful.”

“Yes, but it’s not the same. Now with Toby, I feel like I’ve been given a second chance at life. It’s invigorating.” She returned the smile and grabbed Molly’s hand. “Let’s go see if it was Richard.”

The two ladies went to the side entrance and found Toby telling Richard about all their purchases that day.

“You must’ve shopped all day!”

“Not quite,” Elizabeth said as she and Molly arrived in the doorway.

Richard stared at his mother. “You sound like you went with them. Are you too tired to go out now?”

“Absolutely not!”

Richard frowned as Toby and Elizabeth went out to get in his car. “I thought I warned you not to let Mom overdo it,” he said harshly, blocking Molly as she started to go past him.

How dare he accuse her of not doing her job! She’d done as he’d requested—even if it hadn’t been part of her employment arrangements. They stood mere inches apart, so close Molly could feel the cold emanating from his overcoat. But she didn’t back up. She raised her chin and looked him square in the eyes. “Did she sound exhausted to you?”

Richard held her gaze a few seconds, as if measuring her resolve. Then, finally, in one swift motion he turned and went out the door. “I’ll hold you responsible if she has a breakdown.”

Chapter Four

MOLLY pressed her lips together. She knew she had done all she could to protect Elizabeth. The lady was talking more and taking more interest in her grandson. If Richard thought that was going to damage his mother, well, he was dead wrong.