Читать книгу Little Christmas Miracles - Barbara Hannay - Страница 10

“ELIZABETH, don’t—I mean, don’t you think you should discuss such a gift with your son before you say anything to Toby?”

“Why?”

“I appreciate your wanting to make Christmas special for Toby but Richard lives here, too. I don’t think you should please Toby at the expense of your son. He loves you and tries to protect you.”

“I guess you’re right.”

Molly was relieved Elizabeth seemed to change her mind. “I’m glad you realize how important your son is in your life.”

“Yes, of course. I’ll discuss the dog with Richard tonight.”

“Elizabeth, have you thought how much a dog could disrupt your household?”

“Louisa?” Elizabeth called. The young woman imme diately appeared from the kitchen.

“Yes, ma’am? Do you need something more?”

“Oh, not for breakfast. It was delightful as usual. No, I need to speak to Albert.”

Louisa returned to the kitchen. Immediately, Albert appeared in the breakfast room. “Yes, ma’am?”

“Albert, do you know how to train a dog?”

“You mean to go outside and not in the house?”

Elizabeth nodded. “Yes.”

“Sure, I can do that.”

“So, if we got Toby a dog for Christmas, you could help us with that problem?”

“Yes, ma’am. Is he going to get a dog?”

“Maybe. Do you like dogs?”

“Yeah,” Albert said, getting so excited he forgot his usual response. “I always had dogs until—I mean, when I started working for you and your husband.”

“You and Delores have your own quarters here, Albert. Couldn’t you have had a dog here?”

“No, ma’am. Your husband told me I couldn’t.”

“Oh, Albert, I’m sorry.”

“It’s all right, ma’am. He was probably right.”

“Well, I’m sure Toby would share his dog with you.”

Molly wasn’t so sure about that.

“It’s not definite, Albert. Elizabeth is going to discuss it with her son,” Molly said. “Please don’t mention it to Toby.”

“No, ma’am, I wouldn’t do that.”

“Of course not, Albert,” Elizabeth agreed. “That’s all I needed. I wanted to be able to tell Richard you could help us.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He hurried back to the kitchen.

“I think this will work out well,” Elizabeth said, smiling.

Molly wanted to warn her again, but she didn’t think she should. Hopefully Richard wouldn’t think this was her idea. If he thought that, he would probably ship her off to Florida before Christmas even got here.

Richard said goodbye to his happy employees. He’d passed out their bonuses at the party they had just before noon. It had been a good year and he believed in sharing the profits.

Wearily he returned to his office and loaded his briefcase so he could work on his cases at home. Clients being sued didn’t care that it was Christmas.

When he got home, his mother and Toby were taking their afternoon naps. Albert had taken Molly to North Park, the shopping mall near their house.

“Do you have anything I could eat for lunch, Delores? All we served at the party were hors d’oeuvres and cakes and cookies. And most of it was gone before I had a chance to nibble.”

“Of course, Richard. You want to eat in the breakfast room?”

“Yes, please. I’ll go wash up and meet you there.”

He often ate a late meal in the breakfast room. It seemed silly to have them serve him in the dining room.

Five minutes later, Delores presented him with a roast beef sandwich with chips and a Diet Coke. Perfect.

As he ate, the silence of the house seemed deafening. Perhaps it was the sharp contrast to the raucous party he’d just left, loud with holiday music and laughter. His employees knew how to kick off their shoes and have a good time, dancing to “All I Want for Christmas” and “Santa Baby” on his secretary’s boom box. She’d even asked him to take a turn on the reception area-turned dance floor, but he’d declined. Somehow when he thought of dancing it wasn’t his secretary but Molly he saw as his partner.

He’d had to literally shake his head to erase that image.

Then and now.

He ripped off a bite of his sandwich, determined to get control of his errant thoughts, when he heard musical laughter coming from the back door. Molly. She’d come into the kitchen with Albert, giggling at some private joke.

Once again the image of her in his arms was being painted by a master right before his mind’s eye. She was dressed in red, a slinky, off-the-shoulder gown with high heels; her glowing hair kissed her shoulders, swaying with the rhythm of the music. As they danced, all the other holiday revelers faded away, till there was only them.

Richard lived the fantasy until the real thing appeared at the door of the breakfast room.

Molly came to an abrupt halt when she saw him sitting there.

He cleared his throat. “Good afternoon, Molly.” Seeing her laden with packages, he asked, “Did you have a nice shopping trip? Why didn’t Albert let you out at the door so you wouldn’t catch cold?”

Still standing in the doorway, like a deer caught in the headlights, Molly replied, “I told him it wasn’t necessary. After all, I’m not family. I work for you just as he does.”

True, he thought, but Albert didn’t appear in his daydreams.

He kept that remark to himself. Instead he voiced, “He should at least carry your packages for you.”

“I’m fine.” Stepping back, she added, “Now, if you’ll excuse me…”

“No.” He couldn’t let her go. For some reason he wanted her company right now.

What was wrong with him? It wasn’t the spiked egg nog he’d had at the office; there wasn’t enough brandy in that to make him act so out of character. Whatever it was, he had to get himself under control. For Toby’s sake.

Molly, he noticed, looked at him oddly. Covering for himself, he explained, “I prefer not to eat alone. Why don’t you join me? Have a drink, at least.” Not waiting for her assent, he called for Louisa and Albert, who appeared almost instantly. He directed Albert to take Molly’s packages to her room, and Louisa to bring her a Diet Coke.

Molly tried to think of a way out of being in Richard’s company, but she couldn’t come up with anything. Toby was napping, as was Elizabeth. And he was her host…and her boss.

Dutifully she sat down—at the opposite end of the table. Apparently that wasn’t good enough.

“Why so far away? Come sit next to me.” Richard pointed to his left, and Molly reluctantly obliged.

“Your enthusiasm is overwhelming, Molly.”

“I’m sorry, but I was capable of carrying my purchases upstairs.”

“I’m sure you are, but why not relax and enjoy a drink?”

Louisa entered again and set down a plate of warm cookies.

“See? There’s more to enjoy. Thank you, Louisa.”

“Albert should be the one receiving the reward,” Molly said stubbornly.

“He’ll get warm cookies as soon as he gets to the kitchen again.” He looked up as Albert entered the room. “You’d better hurry, Albert. Delores just baked cookies.”

“I’m on my way.” Albert grinned.

“Satisfied?” Richard asked after Albert left.

“Yes, thank you,” Molly said, wishing she weren’t. She knew Albert didn’t have a tough job and that he was well paid. But that didn’t mean he should wait on her.

“What did you buy?”

She stiffened. Richard wanted idle conversation? This was so unlike him. “Just some odds and ends,” she replied.

“Did you enjoy North Park? I thought Toby might like to see it. Their holiday decorations are usually spectacular. Did they lift your spirits?”

“My spirits didn’t need lifting, Richard.”

“Oh, right, I forgot.You’re filled with the Christmas spirit.”

She shoved her chair from the table. “If you’ll—”

He grabbed her hand and stopped her departure. “You haven’t even touched your snack. You don’t want to hurt Delores’s feelings, do you?” Then, as if burned, he pulled his hand back. But her forearm still tingled from his touch.

What was going on here? her head screamed. Surely no nurse had that kind of reaction to her boss’s touch. She almost chuckled when she thought of Dr. Bradford making her pulse race.

But the sixtyish Dr. Bradford didn’t look like Richard Anderson.

Clearing her head, she sat back down. Then, in an effort to save herself, she picked up a cookie, ate it in two bites and drank half her drink. Anything to avoid Richard.

“One cookie won’t satisfy Delores.”

She looked up at him. Was he kidding?

At her skeptical look, he leaned in close and stage-whis-pered, “Should I call her in here and ask her?”

Molly leaned back, extending her arm fully to reach another cookie. “Will two satisfy her?” She took a quick bite.

“Maybe, if you take your time to eat it. But if you jump up and run away, not only will Delores be concerned, but my mother will be also as soon as Delores tells her.”

Molly closed her eyes. When she opened them she said, “I can’t believe you’d really let Delores tattle on me.”

“I don’t know why. Delores has been tattling on me for at least twenty years.” Richard kept smiling.

“Twenty years? Delores has worked here that long?”

“Sure. She had Louisa’s job for the first ten years. Then she took over the kitchen when our other cook left. She’s been in cahoots with my mom all that time. She thinks she helped raise me.”

Against her better judgment Molly smiled. “It probably did take two mothers to raise you.”

“How many mothers did you have?” he asked.

“Just one,” she said succinctly. Her history had already been discussed that day more than she liked.

“Where does your mother live?”

Molly stiffened. Then she said, “Seattle.”

“And you didn’t plan on going home for Christmas?”

“No, I didn’t have the money for a plane ticket. Besides, it wouldn’t be worth the trip for just one day.” Molly hoped he wouldn’t mention her lies to either Toby or Elizabeth. But she refused to pour out her history to this man. The truth made her sound pitiful, and she didn’t want Richard’s pity. She’d experienced that response many times in the past. Then she’d had to work hard to be treated normally.

“Oh, really? That doesn’t sound like a woman filled with the Christmas spirit.”

“I’m sorry to disappoint you.”

“Feel free to call your mother, if you want. I won’t charge you for the call.”

“Thank you. That’s very generous of you.”

He studied her. “But you don’t intend to take me up on the offer?”

“I’ll call her on Christmas Day on my cell phone.”

“I didn’t realize you had a cell phone.”

“I didn’t know I had to tell you if I did,” she said, her shoulders stiffening.

“No, it’s not necessary. I’m glad to know you keep in touch with your family.” Then he lifted the plate of cookies and offered her another one.

“Thank you,” she said, taking her third cookie and eating it slowly, as if she were really enjoying it.

“You’re welcome.” Finally he sat back, giving Molly room to breathe. “What have you planned for Toby for Christmas?”

“I was hoping Delores would let us make Christmas cookies. We could decorate them and even hang some on the tree if Toby wants.”

“He might prefer to eat all of them.”

“I try to limit his sugar intake. Children tend to get hyper if they have too much sugar.”

Richard grinned. “Then I approve of that idea. What else?”

“I had already thought of taking him to the mall.”

“Good. Anything else?”

She wasn’t going to mention her other idea. He wouldn’t understand it. “No, that’s all.”

“Okay. Well, I’m sure Mom will appreciate your help. She’s determined to make this a special Christmas for Toby.”

“More than you’ll ever know,” Molly muttered, thinking about Elizabeth’s idea of a dog.

“What did you say?” Richard asked, leaning forward, this time so close she could smell the subtle after-shave that clung to his neck.

“Nothing,” Molly said quickly. She had to get out of here. “I’ve had three cookies, Richard, so I’ll go upstairs now, if there’s nothing else.”

“Fine. I won’t hold you. Feel free to leave.”

She took him at his word.

After she left, Richard sat there for another few minutes, enjoying another cookie and thinking about her. He had to admit that was about the most enjoyable lunch he’d had in a long time. Then he picked up the two glasses and the plate of remaining cookies and carried them to the kitchen to kiss Delores’s cheek and thank her for the quick lunch.

“Did the pretty nurse enjoy the cookies, too?” the darkhaired woman asked.

“She did, but she worries about her weight.”

“For no reason.”

Right, Richard thought. Her body was perfect, rounded where it should be, with a slim waist and high breasts.

Delores continued, “And she’s very pretty.”

“Yes, she is.” In the right light her red highlights glowed, lighting up her creamy, flawless skin.And those green eyes…

“And kind to,” Delores added.

She certainly was, not only to Toby but to his mother. With an easy—He pulled up short. Wait a minute. He knew what was going on here…

“Delores,” he said in a warning tone. “Don’t be putting any ideas in my mother’s head. I don’t want her pressuring me to marry the nurse.”

“You are prejudiced against nurses?”

“Of course not. But I’ve got about all on my plate that I can handle right now.”

“Richard, you work too hard. You need to relax and enjoy life more.”

He kissed her cheek again. “Right. As long as I make enough to pay your salary, I guess.”

“Oh, you!” Delores exclaimed, slapping his arm and laughing.

Richard laughed too and then escaped the kitchen.

He knew his social life the past year and a half had left a lot to be desired. Now that things had settled down at the firm, he’d start rectifying that, right after the holidays. He’d find himself a nice woman, pretty and kind. A woman like Molly.

But the last thing he needed was his mother and Delores playing matchmaker.

Richard was in his home office working before dinner when the door opened and his mother came in.

“Do you have time for a little chat, Richard?”

“Of course, Mom. Are you having any problems?”

“No, of course not. Everything is lovely.”

“Good, glad to hear it.”

“But the subject of the dog did come up.”

“How?”

“I told Toby that I thought we should get him a suit for Christmas. Needless to say, like most little boys, Toby was polite but not enthusiastic. I told him he would get other presents, too. He immediately guessed it was a puppy.”

“Did Molly encourage him?”

“Not at all. In fact she deterred him. Even when I told her I wanted to get Toby a dog, she suggested I talk it over with you first.”

“She wants to make me the bad guy, I guess.”

“No. She just said you should have some say in the matter since you live here, too.”

“I could move out if you want me to, Mom. I only moved back home so you wouldn’t be alone after Dad died.”

Elizabeth shook her head. “I love having you here, and with Toby living with us, I need you to be here. He needs a male presence in his life.”

“Okay. So did you agree to talk to me about a dog?”

“Not at first. After all, it is my house.”

“It is.”

“But she said you loved me and tried to take care of me. She didn’t think I should lose you just to please Toby.”

“How kind of her.”

“She was right, Richard. I was getting carried away,” his mother said. “But I still want Toby to have his dog. So I wanted to talk it over with you.”

“Okay. What do you want to say?”

“Albert loves dogs and he says he could help us train the dog so it wouldn’t make a mess in the house.”

“Good for Albert.”

“He said your father wouldn’t let him have a dog.”

“I can believe that. He was a very controlling man as we both know.”

“So if he can help us, why can’t Toby have a dog?”

“I never said he couldn’t, Mom.”

“Oh, Richard, you are such a good son!”

“You might change your mind if the dog relieves himself on one of your pricey oriental rugs.”

Elizabeth laughed. “A rug is replaceable. And it will make Toby so happy.”

“What kind of dog do you want to get him?”

“I don’t know. Do you have an idea?”

“One of the attorneys at the office has a dog that just had a litter of puppies about three weeks ago. I think they’re chocolate Labs. They’re good with children.”

“Perfect. Can you call him and get him to sell us one?”

“Sell? I’m his boss!”

“I know, but—”

Richard laughed. “I’m just teasing you, Mom. I’ll give him a call right away. Do you want him to keep the puppy until Christmas Eve?”

“Absolutely. I want it to be a surprise for Toby. Can you go get it after he goes to bed?”

“Of course, Mom. Did you ever consider getting me a puppy?” Richard thought of how much he’d wanted one when he was little.

“Yes. I pleaded with your father, but…he didn’t like animals in the house. He didn’t even want one in the yard. I’m sorry, son.” She looked genuinely contrite.

“It’s okay, Mom. I grew up just fine without a dog.” He reached out for her hand. “I’m just glad we can give Toby one.”

“I can’t wait to tell Molly that you agree.”

“I’m sure it will surprise her.”

“Son, you’re too hard on her.”

“Not all that hard. By the way, I know the doctor told us she had no family in Florida, but did you know she has a mother in Seattle?”

“Oh, no, dear, you’re wrong about that. Her parents died in a car crash when she was seven. She told Toby that. And she was raised in a foster home.”

Richard frowned. “Maybe she told him that so he’d feel better.”

“No, he told me this morning and I sympathized with her. She didn’t say anything.”

“She couldn’t in front of Toby. That would’ve ruined her bonding with him.”

“I’m sure you’re wrong. Molly wouldn’t lie about something like that.”

Richard just shook his head. His mother had never believed bad things about him, either. Unfortunately sometimes he’d lied to her. And he’d always felt so guilt-ridden that he had to admit it afterwards. Maybe Molly would do the same.

“Molly, can I go outside for a little while?” Toby asked after he woke up.

“No, it’s too cold outside. You don’t want to be sick for Christmas, do you?”

“I guess not.”

“Besides, I need you to do something.” When Toby looked at her, a question in his eyes, she explained, “Think of something you can give to Richard and your grandmother for Christmas.”

“But I don’t have any money,” Toby reminded her.

“I have some allocated for presents.”

“What’s allocated?”

“It means I have some money for you for presents.”

He seemed to perk up then. “Really? That would be fun.”

“Yes, we can go buy them and wrap them up. Then you can put them under the Christmas tree.”

“I’d like that. But what can I buy them?”

“Nothing expensive, but maybe some monogrammed handkerchiefs for Richard and scented soap for your grandmother.”

“Those aren’t very exciting.” After a few seconds of silence, during which he gave the subject some thought, his eyes suddenly lit up with excitement. “I bought Daddy a big flashlight. Mommy said he needed it and—” Reality hit him and suddenly those same eyes filled with tears. “I—I forgot he and Mommy aren’t ever coming back. Are they?”

“No, honey, they’re not,” Molly said, reaching out and holding him in her arms. Comfort like this was all she could give Toby, though she ached to take away his pain. Still, she knew it helped to talk about the deceased; that was what everyone had told her. And they were right. Talking about them somehow kept them alive, at least in one’s memory. “What did you get your mommy?” she asked him.

“Some perfume,” Toby whispered. “I couldn’t really afford it,” he said, pausing to swallow the tears, “but Daddy said he’d help me ’cause Mommy really, really wanted it.”

“I’m sure she would’ve loved it, baby.”

“I—I know.” He lay quietly in her arms, the excitement of Christmas lost in his memories of his life in Florida. “Molly, did they die because I wasn’t a good enough boy?” he asked anxiously.

Molly hugged him more tightly against her. “Absolutely not. You’re a very good boy. It was because someone in another car didn’t drive safely. And God gave you your uncle and grandma to make up for losing your parents.”

Toby sniffled but said nothing. Molly, her head resting on his soft hair, said, “Did you hear me, Toby? It’s important that you know that. It wasn’t your fault.”

“Okay,” he said with a sigh, turning his face into her sweater.

“You’re not putting tears on my sweater, are you, Toby?” she asked, trying to put a teasing note in her voice.

“I’m sorry,” he said, swiftly moving away from her.

“Oh, sweetheart, I was just teasing. I have other sweaters. I was hoping to make you laugh a little.” She stroked his head and wiped away some tears with her fingers.

“I’ve been trying to be happy for Grandma. She likes it when I smile for her.”

“I know she does, and that’s very brave of you. But when it’s just the two of us, you can cry if you want to. I’ll understand.”

“Thank you,” he said softly and resumed his place against her. “I like the new ornaments we bought, but I wish I had the ornaments from our tree. Mommy helped me pick them out. There was one that had all three of us in a picture frame. And one of me when I was a baby. It was my first Christmas, but I can’t remember it.”

“I bet you were cute!” Molly said with a chuckle.

“Did you have an ornament like that?”

Molly squeezed him a little tighter. “Yes, I think I did, but—but it gets hard to remember.”

“I don’t ever want to forget Mommy and Daddy!”

“I don’t think you ever will, sweetie. You’re a little older than I was and you have that great picture of the three of you.”

“Yeah. Daddy threatened to tickle me if I didn’t smile at the camera. I wanted to go see Santa instead of having a picture taken. But now I’m glad I did.”

“Me, too,” Molly said and kissed him on top of his head. “Well, now I need to finish wrapping things so I can put everything away. And if you didn’t like my ideas for presents, you can think of something else to get Uncle Richard and your grandma.”

“Yeah, I need to think.” He left her arms and wandered back into his room.

A few minutes later he ran back in. “We can get Richard a football!”

“Hmm, a football. He told you he likes to play football?”

“No, but I’m sure he would.”

“And with whom would he play football?”

“I’ll play with him!” Toby said in an excited voice.

“I see. You see, Toby, the art of gift giving is to get the person something he or she wants. Not something you want.”

“Oh.”

“Want to try again?”

“Yeah,” he said, sounding discouraged.

Molly began wrapping the presents she bought that day for Elizabeth, Richard and Toby. They were inexpensive gifts, in hopes that they would enjoy them without feeling the necessity to reciprocate.

Toby wandered back in. “What are you doing?”

“I’m wrapping presents.”

“Are any of them for me?”

“Maybe one or two,” she told him with a big smile.

“Can I shake them?”

She handed him a box she’d already wrapped. He shook it diligently.

“It doesn’t make any noise!” he complained.

“I never said it did,” Molly said, grinning.

“Do I have any others?”

“Yes, but they aren’t wrapped yet.”

“Can I take them downstairs to put under the tree when you get finished?”

“No, sweetie. I’ll take them down the night before Christmas. If I take them down early, Richard and Elizabeth might think I’m hoping they’ll get me something. That’s not why I bought the presents.”

“Oh. Will they think that if I buy them something?”

“You’re supposed to buy them presents. They’re your family now.”

Toby nodded as he digested the information. Then he looked her straight in the eye as he said, “You know what, Molly? I wish you were my family, too.”

Molly had to look away, afraid he’d see the tears glisten in her eyes. When she looked up, Toby was gone.

She never got the chance to tell him she wished so, too.