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T he next morning, Sarah woke and got ready for church. Though she wasn’t on great terms with God, she knew her parents would expect her to go. As she suspected, they didn’t seem at all surprised.
But when they got to the front door of the church, she hesitated. It was different from going in for a rehearsal. No longer a theater, the prospect of entering the sanctuary felt intimidating, suffocating. “I’ll be in in just a minute,” she whispered to her mom, then hurried down the steps to the front sidewalk. Okay, I’m just going to walk around for a moment to catch my breath.
She steeled herself. She could do this. Simply walk in. Sit down in their regular pew. Appreciate the nice music.
She yanked her coat tightly around her and marched right back up the steps. She plowed through the door and walked down the aisle as if she owned the place.
Once seated, she searched to see if any of the Jones men were there yet. Only Harry and Gregory’s younger brother, Richard.
A minute later, it sounded as if a herd of horses had entered the back of the church. Little footsteps stomped down the aisle.
“Hi, Miss Sawah,” Chase called out too loudly. He grinned at her, his bright blue eyes shining so much like his dad’s.
She wiggled her fingers at him.
Then a big hand lighted on his shoulder.
She scanned upward. Gregory, of course. Looking so handsome in khaki slacks and a long-sleeved button-down shirt. No coat. No tie. It wouldn’t be Gregory if he dressed up any more than he had. Of course, he looked amazing no matter what he wore.
Hunter stood behind his dad, but she caught him take a quick peek at her. She waved, and he gave a half-hearted wave back. No smile. No sparkling eyes like his brother.
If she was going to help Gregory and the boys, she was going to need access to Hunter and Chase. And she was afraid she would have to enlist Harry’s help to do so.
Since the man blamed her for hurting his son, he was sure not to trust her.
She had to find a way to persuade him to help.
After lunch at his dad’s, Gregory spent the afternoon in his home office working on billing. Or trying to work on billing. His thoughts kept wandering to Sarah, and how beautiful she looked that morning in her soft, blue sweater. And those pearls—the real thing. Necklace and earrings. He assumed they were the same ones she’d gotten for her sweet sixteenth from her parents.
The boys darted in and out, playing, fighting, trying to get his attention. He needed at least another hour of relative peace to finish up.
He made a note on the calendar to follow up on a delinquent account. As he did so, he saw December 25 circled. Alarmed at how soon it was coming up, he did the math and saw he had only twelve days before the big day.
“Man, I need to make a list and get on it.”
First on the list: buy the trampoline. The boys needed a good outlet for all their energy. Once that was done, he would spend a day putting up the outside lights and decorations.
It was going to be tough. There were only so many hours in a day. He’d have to plan carefully. And he needed to start ASAP.
Using the notes he’d jotted, he marked everything on the calendar showing what he needed to do each day to finish all the preparations in time.
He wanted so badly to do all Lindsay had always done to make the holidays so special. He realized now that he’d taken her for granted. Or maybe it was more a case of just not knowing how much work it was to pull off a big Christmas. But his boys deserved it.
Beyond the gifts Lindsay was sending, he wouldn’t have any help from her. She and Bill were flying to Europe to be with Bill’s brother, Drake, this year. He couldn’t blame them for going. Bill didn’t get to see Drake often since he traveled the world for his photography. He hadn’t even made it home for the wedding.
But the timing couldn’t have been worse.
So not only did he have to pull off Christmas, he had to fill Lindsay’s void as well.
His heart raced, and his chest tightened, a feeling that was getting a little too common lately. Stress-related, he was sure. Nothing to worry about. He just needed to get a grip.
Maybe his dad was right. He needed to date a nice woman. Go out. Have some fun.
But if all he could think about was Sarah, he was better off at home. Focusing on his kids. He could do this. He could be father and mother—and Santa—to his kids.
Yes, the big Santa gifts would definitely take their minds off any disappointment over Lindsay.
Christmas and all the trimmings, coming right up.
He’d give anything to see a smile on Hunter’s face again.
Later Sunday afternoon, Sarah decided to go to Harry’s house to speak with him.
As she pulled in the driveway, she heard a screen door slam. Harry had walked out to the front porch.
She couldn’t blame him for his surprise at seeing her at his house for no apparent reason. But he quickly masked the surprise and waved her over.
She parked, climbed out, then walked up the sidewalk. “Hi, Mr. Jones. Could I speak with you for just a minute?”
“I guess. Come in.”
She couldn’t remember ever being inside Gregory’s childhood home. Their dates had all been on the sly since her parents had been so adamant that he was too old and too wild for her. She’d rebelled for a short while, but when he started talking marriage and about her going to college locally, despite her dreams of an out of state private woman’s college, she told him she couldn’t see him anymore.
Harry eyed her cautiously. “So what did you want to discuss?”
“I came to ask a favor.” She was surprisingly nervous, but she rushed on. “This is about Gregory. I’m worried about him and the boys. I’ve seen a few issues with Hunter, and I’m afraid his sons need more of his time if they’re going to get over Lindsay’s leaving.”
A frown was his only response.
She swallowed and decided to plunge in. “I’d like to help him see that time with his children is more important than making extra money for gifts. And I need your help.”
“And you’d like to do this because…?”
“I, uh…I’ve seen parents of one of my students make a similar mistake.”
“You do realize his working overtime has as much to do with him looking out for his employees as it does with him buying nice gifts?”
“Well, no. I didn’t know that. But either way, the outcome is the same. Hunter misses his dad. He’s sad. Withdrawn.”
Harry rubbed his chin. “Have you talked to Gregory about this?”
She recalled the awkward conversation and the not-so-satisfying result. “Yes. But he ended up angry with me.”
He studied her. “I’m still trying to figure out your motive, here.”
“I guess it’s the teacher in me. I see a problem with a child, and I try to fix it.”
“You know, as long as Gregory thinks you’re trying to fix him, he’s not going to cooperate.”
She had a feeling he wouldn’t cooperate simply because she was Sarah Radcliffe. “I just want to present opportunities for him to spend time with his boys. That’s all he needs. The rest will happen on its own.”
Harry nodded. “Makes sense.” He continued to nod as if assimilating all she’d said. “Okay. I’ll help. As long as you don’t hurt my son.”
“No. Of course not.” She wouldn’t let herself get involved enough for either of them to get hurt.
“Well, what did you have in mind?”
“I was hoping I could pick the boys up at school and day care tomorrow to take them to buy a Christmas tree.”
“How will that involve Gregory?”
“We’ll need him to bring the truck to haul it home. And then he’ll have to help put it up. And decorate it.” Just telling of her plan made a grin twitch at her lips.
One side of Harry’s mouth lifted into a crooked smile. “Leave the details to me.”
The next afternoon, Sarah arrived at the Jolly Time Day Care Center after picking up Hunter from kindergarten. Hunter remained silent as they drove to pick up Chase, but he hadn’t complained.
“Come on, let’s go get your brother.” She held out her hand to him, trying to act as if she wasn’t anxious. After all, she hardly knew these children. And they didn’t really know her.
“What are we going to do?” Hunter asked, ignoring her outstretched hand.
“That’s a surprise. I’ll tell you once we get Chase.”
“Hi, Miss Sawah,” Chase called as soon as they walked in.
“Hi, Chase. I’m here to pick you up today.”
She was relieved to see the day care center was bright, cheery and clean. The children seemed happy and well cared for.
“I’ll get my book bag.” He ran to his cubby while she provided her driver’s license to the worker and signed Chase out.
“So why didn’t Granddad pick us up today?” Hunter asked.
“Well, I asked him if I could take you shopping for a Christmas tree.” She clapped her hands together, hoping they’d get excited.
Chase didn’t disappoint. He hopped up and down, clapping his hands as well. But then he noticed his brother’s lack of reaction.
Hunter stood stock-still. “I thought Dad would take us.”
She hadn’t expected Hunter’s reaction. Had assumed he’d be thrilled. “Well, would you mind if I take you? I thought we’d pick it out, then call your dad to help us take it home and decorate it.”
He shrugged. “He won’t come.”
“Why don’t you let me worry about that part, okay?”
He shrugged again. “Okay.”
She buckled them in the car seats provided by Harry and drove to the tree farm outside of town. She’d always bought trees shipped in from North Carolina, but this was a cut-your-own tree place, her excuse to get Gregory involved. She’d call him to ask him to come help. How could he resist?
“There’s one!” Chase yelled as soon as they walked up.
“That’s tiny,” Hunter said.
“Let’s keep looking and see if we can find one you’ll both like.”
They tromped through row after row of Leyland cypresses and Virginia pines. The boys couldn’t agree on a tree at all. Hunter liked the tall fat ones. Chase liked the short, scrawny ones. As the light started to fade, she looked at her watch. Time to call Gregory.
“Gregory Jones,” he answered, sending her pulse into overdrive.
“Hi, Gregory. This is Sarah.”
After a two-second pause, he said, “What’s up?” He sounded wary.
“Well, I have your boys with me, and—”
“What? Why do you have my boys with you?”
Her pulse continued to race. Only this time it wasn’t due to the familiar sound of his voice. Now she feared she’d made a mistake. “I asked your dad if I could bring them to get a Christmas tree. But they can’t seem to make up their minds. And now I’ve realized it won’t fit in my car trunk, so—”
“Hold up a second. I’m still trying to figure out how you got my kids out of school.”
“Your dad gave permission for me to pick them up. I showed my driver’s license.”
“And took them tree shopping.”
“Yes.”
He sighed. “So now they’ve picked out a tree?”
“Well…no. Not exactly. They can’t seem to agree. Hunter likes tall and fat. Chase like short and skinny. So, what do you say you come with your truck, help pick one out, and then haul it home?” She smiled, because she was doing a great job of sounding cheerful. Maybe he would get in the spirit.
“But I have an appointment in…forty-five minutes and need to make a quick shopping trip on the way. Just get them to strap it to the top of your car.”
Chase started jumping up and down, excited that his dad might be coming. Hunter fidgeted as he tried to listen to the phone call. Of course, they hadn’t heard Gregory’s response.
Hunter tugged her arm down to move the cell phone closer. “Hey, Dad!” he yelled.
“Hey, Dad!” Chase echoed.
She put the phone back to her ear. “The boys really want you to come help pick it out. I know it would mean a lot to them.”
He sighed—an angry sigh. “I had set aside a day this week to go get the tree. It’s on my calendar.”
Her heart pounded. What if she’d gone too far? What if he wouldn’t come? “We’re here already. Come on over and help. It’ll be fun.”
“Pleeease,” Hunter yelled. And of course, Chase echoed. She almost said the same, but instead prepared to watch her plan crash and burn.
“Okay. But make them pick one before I get there. I won’t have time to shop.”
