Barbara Hannay - Little Christmas Miracles

“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.”

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.

Molly knew then and there the only way she’d survive this assignment was to avoid the man altogether. That conviction lasted until she got to the car and saw Elizabeth had left the front seat for her—next to Richard.

Elizabeth must have seen her disgruntled expression, because she said, “I’m going to ride back here with Toby so we can discuss the tree he wants to buy.”

Richard slanted at look at Molly. “Join me, won’t you, Molly?” he said, sarcasm in his voice.

Okay, so he’d seen her reluctance. It didn’t matter. She wasn’t here for him. “Thanks,” she muttered and circled the vehicle to climb in the front passenger seat.

Molly stared straight ahead. After last night, and again just now with Richard, she intended to keep her distance from this man.

“What kind of tree do you want us to buy?” Richard asked his mother.

“One that pleases Toby,” she said.

“Do you have any preferences, Molly?” Richard asked.

“Not in regard to trees,” she muttered, hoping that would be the end of any conversation.

“Do you always decorate a tree in Florida?” he persisted.

“A small one.” She didn’t want to talk to him about her life. It had nothing to do with him. He’d probably think her simple life was pitiful, but she’d created a happy life for herself. It hadn’t been easy.

“Why?”

That got her attention. She turned to stare at the handsome man. What was wrong with him? “Because I enjoy Christmas, of course. Don’t you?”

“Not particularly.”

“Is your middle name Scrooge?”

His lips twitched at the corners. “No, not exactly.”

“Well, I hope you’ll make an effort for Toby.”

“I won’t need to. My mother seems to have the bit in her teeth. She’ll probably hire someone to play Santa since she wants this Christmas to be special for him.”

“Good for her.”

“What do you want Santa to bring you for Christmas?”

The man was crazy. He didn’t enjoy Christmas and yet he asked about Santa? Molly shrugged. “Nothing.”

“Aha! So you’re not a fan of Christmas, either!”

Molly scowled at him. “I love Christmas! But that doesn’t mean I believe in Santa Claus,” she added in a lower voice.

“Then why do you love Christmas if you don’t expect to get something special?”

Molly shifted in her seat to look at him squarely. “Christmas isn’t about getting something. It’s about giving. That’s the true meaning of Christmas!”

Or couldn’t someone as handsome, rich and successful as Richard Anderson understand that?

Richard drove silently the rest of the way to the Christmas tree lot. The nurse had put him in his place.

Maybe he deserved it. He’d lost his enthusiasm for Christmas the last few years. Or maybe his enthusiasm for life. He wasn’t certain.

But he sure didn’t want to get into a spitting match with Molly. She seemed well-armed and he didn’t like to lose.

He pulled to a stop beside the tree lot. “We’re here. Mom, be sure you’re wrapped up warmly. We’re having a cold December this year. Toby, do you have your coat on?”

“Yeah,” he called over his shoulder as he grabbed Eliz-abeth’s hand and off they went toward the trees.

Left alone with Molly, he didn’t know what to say. “I guess we should go find a tree,” he ventured.

Molly nodded and set off after her charge.

“This one looks nice,” he heard her say as he walked toward the trio weaving among the evergreens.

“Oh, no, it’s much too short,” Elizabeth said. “We need a bigger tree because our ceilings are high.” She pointed to a tall one. “What about this one, Toby?”

“It’s kind of skinny, isn’t it, Grandma?”

“Absolutely right. Let’s go look at that one over there.” The two hurried eagerly in the direction Elizabeth had pointed. But Molly stayed behind, he noticed. He also noticed her shiver.

“Are you cold?” Richard asked, stepping closer to her.

She backed up. “No. I’m just adjusting to the change in the weather.”

Richard nodded. He said nothing for another few minutes, just standing there amongst the trees. Finally he turned again to Molly. “Don’t you want to go see the other trees?”

“Whatever they choose will be fine.”

More silence. Then, after another few minutes, when Elizabeth and Toby were still darting around the lot, where each tree was staked to the ground like a mini forest, Richard was getting irritated.

“Mom, you and Toby need to choose one. It’s too cold to remain out much longer.”

He shot a look at Molly, expecting to find disapproval on her face, but she didn’t look perturbed by his demand.

“Are you frozen, Molly?”

“N-no, I’m f-fine.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you were cold?” he asked in irritation. Grabbing her arm, he headed back to the SUV.

“What are you doing?” she demanded, resisting.

“I’m going to warm you up.”

The look of horror on her face brought some interesting thoughts to Richard, but he hastily shut them out. “I’m going to start the engine and turn on the heater,” he explained with a grin.

“O-Oh.”

Once he got her in the front seat, he circled the vehicle and got in to start the engine. “Give me your hands,” he said.