Emmie laughed. “That too!”
AN HOUR LATER, they were in full holiday mode lounging on Emmie’s couch, sipping champagne and eating peppermint chocolate truffles that Denise had also brought while trying to decide the best Christmas movie to watch first as part of their planned Christmas movie marathon.
“We have to start with Elf,” Denise said. “I can watch that over and over again. It’s hilarious. It always makes me laugh.”
Emmie shook her head as she held up her champagne glass. “You always want to start with Elf, but Love Actually is better. It makes you laugh and cry, and it gives you hope that there’s someone out there for everyone.”
Denise clinked her champagne glass to Emmie’s. “Yeah, that’s a good one. Jude Law is so hot, and I love Jack Black.”
Emmie laughed. “No, you’re thinking The Holiday, where they switch homes. I’m talking about Love Actually with Hugh Grant.”
“Oh yeah, Hugh Grant. I love him, too.”
Emmie laughed. “Are you picking our movie based on the guys in it?”
“Uh, yeah. Duh?” Denise said. “Aren’t you?”
“You’re impossible,” Emmie said. “Okay, how about we compromise and watch one of the new Christmas movies on Netflix.”
Denise’s eyes lit up. “Let’s watch that one that everyone’s talking about, A Christmas Prince. That prince is hot!”
Emmie, laughing, covered her face with her hands. “I give up.”
“No, seriously, it’s a great one,” Denise said. “It’s about a journalist who goes undercover to get the scoop on a playboy prince. It has everything. It’s funny, and there’s romance. It’s all about finding your Prince Charming and having your own happily ever after. I’m down for that.”
“Not me,” Emmie said. “Not after the last few days I’ve just had. Right now I don’t believe in the fairy tale. What about that new Lifetime movie Every Day Is Christmas, starring Toni Braxton, where she plays the Scrooge?”
“I love that one, but . . .” Denise got out her phone and started searching for new Christmas movies. Seconds later she held her phone up in victory. “I got it!” she said, triumphantly. “There’s a new Hallmark movie called Christmas Camp. It’s supposed to be about a Christmas boot camp a girl is sent to to find her Christmas spirit.”
Emmie laughed. “Perfect, and I know a few people we should send to this camp.”
“Like Grant,” Denise said.
“Exactly.”
Suddenly serious, Denise gave Emmie a sympathetic look. “I really am sorry about how things turned out.”
“Me too,” Emmie said. “You know, the sad thing is, when I talked to Grant about breaking up, I think he was relieved, and if I’m honest, I was, too. We just weren’t meant to be.”
“At least he still donated those Christmas dinners like he promised,” Denise said.
Emmie nodded her head in agreement. “He did. He’s a good guy . . .”
“Just not the right guy for you,” Denise finished for her.
“That’s what people keep telling me,” Emmie said. She got up and went over to her little Christmas tree and picked out a pretty present wrapped with silver foil Christmas paper and a big satin white ribbon. She smiled as she handed it to Denise.
“Merry Christmas,” Emmie said. “Thank you for being such a good friend and always being there for me.”
Denise gave her a hug. “Of course, just like you’re always there for me. We’re a team.” Denise was excited as she admired the bow on her present. “Looks like the Christmas-wrapping queen is in fine form this year.”
Emmie laughed, loving the compliment. “What can I say? I’ve got skills. Go ahead. Open it!”
When Denise opened the present, her face lit up with joy when she discovered a beautiful soft baby pink knit scarf. She wrapped it around her neck and grinned back at Emmie.
“This is amazing. I love it so much. Thank you!”
Emmie’s smile and excitement matched Denise’s. “I’m so glad you like it. Sandy, the woman I told you about up at Christmas Point, made it, and you should see her shop. It’s filled with all of these fabulous things she has handmade herself and put so much time and love into. I knew you would appreciate it.”
Denise snuggled into her scarf. “I do. I really do. Thank you.” She picked up a pretty little red gift bag that was sitting on the table in front of them and handed it to Emmie. “Your turn.”
Emmie enthusiastically took out a little bundle of white tissue paper. Denise always got her the most thoughtful gifts. Emmie let out a sigh of delight as she took out a crystal ornament. It was a pair of angel wings that sparkled when they caught the light.
“It’s gorgeous,” Emmie said, admiring it.
Denise smiled and looked pleased with her reaction. “Not that you need to earn your angel wings—you did that a long time ago—but you are an angel to so many people that you help every day, and I wanted you to always remember that.”
Emmie was truly touched. She gave Denise a heartfelt hug. “Thank you. You know this means so much to me.”
Denise nodded. “I know, and I know this Christmas didn’t turn out like you wanted, but you have to keep believing.”
“In Christmas?” Emmie asked.
“And in love,” Denise said, “because at Christmas—anything is possible.”
Emmie looked into Denise’s eyes. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”
Denise picked up Emmie’s champagne glass and handed it to her and then picked up her own and held it up for a toast. “To Christmas traditions . . .”
Emmie clinked her glass to Denise’s. “And what matters most at Christmas, like having good friends like you.”
“And to awesome Christmas movies.”
Emmie laughed. “And to awesome Christmas movies that we better start watching, because we have a big day tomorrow serving up all those dinners.”
Denise snuggled into her scarf some more and settled back on the couch. “I’m ready!”
MUCH LATER THAT night, after their Christmas Eve movie marathon, Emmie was in her bed tossing and turning. Even though she was exhausted, she couldn’t sleep. Her mind kept replaying everything that had happened up at Christmas Point. Finally she picked up the angel wings ornament Denise had given her and held it up to a stream of moonlight coming through her window.
“I’m trying to believe,” she whispered softly. “I really am.”
IT WAS CHRISTMAS morning, and as Emmie headed to work she appreciated the gift of one of those picture-perfect-postcard Seattle winter days where the air was cool and crisp, the sky was a turquoise blue, and you could clearly see Mount Rainier in the distance.
Outside her Alpine Community Center, underneath the big sign that read, Merry Christmas Dinners Today, Emmie saw that a large group of people, young and old, were already lining up to go inside.
Everyone looked happy and hopeful as volunteers went down the line, passing out cups of coffee and hot chocolate while people waited.
Inside the center, the scene was just as festive. Christmas music was playing, and the gym had been turned into a giant dining room, with white and silver snowflakes hanging from the ceiling. The whole place was lit up with white twinkling Christmas lights.
For the families already sitting at tables inside, they looked happy, joyful, and thankful to be there.
Emmie and Denise stood side by side, taking it all in. They were both wearing festive aprons. Emmie’s apron was bright red and decorated with a giant sparkling Christmas tree and the words Merry Christmas across the top. Denise’s apron was green, with an adorable reindeer on the front that had a red fuzzy nose all the little kids loved to play with.
When Emmie put her arm around Denise, she felt so grateful. “We did it,” she said, smiling at Denise.
Denise grinned back at her. “We sure did. We’ve just broken all our other records for the number of families we’re serving dinners to. It’s amazing. Your parents would be so proud of you.”
Emmie gav
e Denise an appreciative look. “Of us. I couldn’t have done all this without you. Thank you.”
Denise smiled back at her. “No, thank you for letting me be a part of something that’s so special, because this matters. This is making a difference.”
“This is what Christmas is all about,” Emmie finished for her.
Denise smiled back at her. “Exactly. I just hope we don’t run out of volunteers.”
“Don’t worry,” Emmie said. “We’ll make it work. We always do. Let’s go see if they need some help in the kitchen.”
Denise frowned. “You know me and my cooking skills.”
“You can wash dishes, right?” Emmie asked.
Denise laughed. “Yes, that I can do. I can wash dishes. Let’s go.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Sam walked into the Transitions Family Shelter, his arms loaded down with Christmas presents. After he’d found out Emmie had left Christmas Point without saying goodbye and was heading back to Seattle to spend Christmas with Grant, he’d tried to continue working on his book, but the words wouldn’t come.
In an attempt to get his inspiration back, he’d even gone ice skating and helped Betty at the bakery, but nothing seemed to help. No matter what he did, it just didn’t feel right without Emmie there. He knew it was time to face the facts. He’d laid all his cards out on the table and told her how he felt, and she’d left and gone back to Grant. She couldn’t have sent a clearer message to him. He wasn’t surprised, but it still hurt.
He didn’t blame her for how miserable he felt. He blamed himself. He’d known she’d had a boyfriend and was off-limits, but his heart had completely ignored all the roadblocks and had raced full speed ahead, causing him to fall head over heels for someone he couldn’t have.
Now he was worried that if he didn’t start writing again soon, he was going to lose the only thing he had left, his career. So he’d packed up his bags and had headed back into the city. He’d hoped a change of scenery, where everything didn’t remind him of Emmie, would help him get back to his book. Even though he still had no clue what he was going to do about the ending.
Being at the shelter now made him feel better. Even if he was struggling personally, he could try to do whatever he could to help bring some Christmas joy to other people.
Of course, it helped that Lynn had been so happy to hear from him when he’d called and asked if it was okay that he stopped by on Christmas Day.
As he stood now looking at the Christmas tree he’d brought them just a few days ago, he was impressed by all the handmade decorations. There were strings of popcorn for garland and green and red paper chains. There were wooden stars made out of Popsicle sticks and white cutout snowflakes. Just looking at the tree, you knew that it had been decorated with a lot of love and care. It symbolized so perfectly what Christmas should be all about, and he thought it was one of the most beautifully decorated Christmas trees he’d ever seen.
“You’ve been busy since I was last here,” Sam said as he stood next to Lynn, admiring the tree. “This looks fantastic.”
Lynn smiled back at him. “Thank you. We have been busy. Or I should say the kids have been busy. They have been having such a great time making all the ornaments. It’s really special, the healing power of a Christmas tree, how it can bring everyone together.”
Sam nodded. “It really is.” He held up a couple of big Christmas bags loaded down with gifts. “I brought a few things from Christmas Point where I was for the scavenger hunt. I thought maybe you could give them to the little girl I met, Bella, and her mom?”
Lynn touched her heart. “That was so thoughtful of you. Thank you, but they’re right over there. I’m sure they’d love to see you.” Lynn pointed over to a crafts table in the corner where Bella was sitting with her mom, making another ornament for the Christmas tree.
As Sam was headed over to them, little Bella saw him coming and a smile lit up her face. She jumped up from the table and ran to him.
“You’re back! Are you here to check on the tree? My mommy and I have been giving it water every day, just like you said to,” Bella said proudly.
Sam smiled and kneeled down so he could look little Bella in the eyes. “You did an amazing job. I can see how happy and healthy the tree is.”
Bella nodded, excited, and held up a silver paper snowflake. “And I’ve been making ornaments to show the tree how much we love it.”
Her words touched his heart. He smiled back at her. “I think that’s wonderful, and I’m sure the tree knows how much it’s loved.” Sam handed Bella one of the Christmas presents he was carrying. It was wrapped with Christmas tree wrapping paper and had a big red velvet bow.
Bella’s eyes grew huge. “For me?”
Sam nodded. “For you.”
Bella, overjoyed, ripped the paper off in a second. When she saw a white box, she tossed off the lid and squealed with joy when she saw what was inside. She pulled out a pretty pink scarf and held it up in awe. “Mommy! Mommy! Look! It’s pink, my favorite color.”
Sam laughed, enjoying every minute of Bella’s excitement. “There’s more,” he told her.
Bella looked like she couldn’t believe it and then jumped up and down when she saw a matching pink knit hat and mittens. She ran over to show everything to her mom.
When Bella’s mom looked back at Sam, she looked so grateful and touched. “Thank you so much,” Bella’s mom said before leaning down to her daughter. “Bella, did you say thank you?”
Bella ran back to Sam. “Thank you. It’s so pretty.” She grinned as she wrapped the scarf around her neck and put on the hat, which was a little big and almost covered her eyes.
Sam laughed as he looked at Bella’s mom. “I guess she’ll have to grow into that one.”
Bella had already run over to Lynn to show off her new presents.
Sam held out another present to Bella’s mom. “Merry Christmas.”
Bella’s mom looked overwhelmed as she took the gift. “I don’t know what to say.”
Sam smiled back at her. “I hope you like it.”
Unlike her daughter, Bella’s mom took her time unwrapping the gift, being careful not to rip the paper. When she finally opened the box, she found a gorgeous knit scarf, hat, and mittens set, just like Bella’s, only hers was ruby red. Tears filled her eyes as she held her present to her heart.
“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice full of emotion. She looked over at Bella, who was modeling her scarf, hat, and mittens for Lynn. “Thank you for making our holiday so special. We will never forget this Christmas.”
Bella ran back over to Sam. “Thank you!” She saw her mom’s scarf and got even more excited. “Mommy, put on your scarf, too.”
When Bella’s mom wrapped the scarf around her neck, Bella clapped her hands in approval. “You look so pretty.”
Bella’s mom blushed as she leaned down and adjusted Bella’s scarf so it was snug around her neck. “And you look like a princess, baby girl.” Bella’s mom glanced up at Sam with a look of genuine gratitude in her eyes. “Thank you again. This means so much to us.”
Now it was Sam’s turn to be overcome with emotion, and he had to fight back his own tears. He cleared his throat. “You’re very welcome. I’ll be sure to tell Sandy, the woman who made them, that you like them.”
“I love them!” Bella exclaimed. As she twirled around, modeling her scarf, the hat slipped and covered her eyes, but that didn’t stop her from twirling.
Everyone laughed.
Bella’s mom gently stopped her and took Bella’s hand. “Okay, time to go get ready for Christmas dinner.”
“Can I wear the scarf?” Bella asked.
“Of course you can,” Bella’s mom answered. She looked up at Sam and Lynn. “Thank you both again for everything. Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas,” Sam and Lynn said at the same time.
After Bella and her mom walked off, Sam gave his last present to Lynn.
She looked surprised. �
��For me? That’s not necessary.”
Sam laughed. “I think it is. You do so much here for everyone else to make sure they have a special Christmas, so this is just my small way of saying thank you for all you do.”
Lynn admired her beautifully wrapped gift. “It’s almost too pretty to open.”
“Well, I can promise you, if you like the wrapping, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll like what’s inside even better.”
When Lynn opened the box, Sam wasn’t disappointed by her reaction. Her whole face lit up as she reverently took out a beautiful red knit blanket and hugged it.
“This is beautiful. Did it come from the same place in Christmas Point?”
Sam nodded. “It sure did. Sandy said it was perfect for cold winter nights.”
“Thank you so much,” Lynn said. “This is so thoughtful of you.”
“Now,” Sam said, “I know you have a busy day today. I’ll get out of your way.”
Lynn walked him to the door. “Thank you again so much for stopping by. You really made Christmas special for Bella and her mom and for me.”
Sam smiled back at her. “I should be the one thanking you for helping all these families.”
“Merry Christmas,” Lynn said as Sam walked out the door.
Sam smiled and waved back at her. “Merry Christmas.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Emmie’s Christmas dinner at the community center was in full swing, with volunteers making the rounds, delivering meals, talking with families, and clearing up empty plates.
“Here I come,” Emmie said cheerfully as she balanced three full plates of food and made her way over to two young children sitting with their mom. The children were watching her every move with wide eyes. When Emmie gave each of them a plate, the smallest child, a little boy about four years old, grinned up at her. “Thank you,” the little boy said.
Emmie smiled back at him. “You are very welcome, and I like that sweater you’re wearing.”
The little boy, excited, pulled at his sweater. It had an adorable snowman on the front. “Santa brought it for me.”
“Well, Santa has very good taste,” said Emmie, grinning back at him and smiling at his mom. “Is there anything else I can get you?”
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