by Ciara Knight
Vic took his and Rosie’s coats, hats, and mittens from the rack. “You kids remain right here.”
Four little faces looked up with fear in their eyes, their perfect Christmas unraveling like a bad bow.
“Don’t worry. We’ll find him.”
He handed Rosie her hat, coat, and gloves and set off to look, but the snow fell in blankets.
“We’ll need to wait until the snow slows down to look for them,” Officer Walker ordered.
“Come inside, and we can work out a plan,” Vic offered but had to physically usher Rosie in from the cold.
Rosie paced the floor, grasping the wooden flame Davey had given her. “Why didn’t he tell us where he was going? We told him we would protect him.”
Eva tugged on her coat. “Davey said he had to protect Melba from her papa. He locks her up.”
“What?” Rosie slammed her palms down on the table where Mr. Mason sat. “You lock her up?”
“Only when she threatens to run away. What am I supposed to do? She’s too much like her mother.”
Officer Walker looked at the man and shook his head. “No wonder she ran off to hide from you.”
Rosie stopped and faced Officer Walker. “Wait, what did you say?”
“That it was no wonder…”
“No, after that. You said to hide from him.” Rosie’s eyes went wide and she grabbed hold of Vic’s jacket. “Come on. I know where they went.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
The winter storm raged, blasting snow sideways. Ice formed on the edges of the roof line, but Rosie ignored the cold and trudged forward.
“Wait. I’ll go. You stay,” Vic hollered after her, carrying a lantern to guide his way, but she wouldn’t stop. Not until she found Davey and proved to him once and for all that she could be a good mother to him.
“No, I have to do this. Davey’s got her in the tree house. That’s where the kids hide out when things are scary. It’s where Davey used to live when his papa would have an episode. I know where it is. Don’t try to stop me. You need to give up on protecting me from everything. If something is going to happen, it will, and there is nothing you can do to stop it. Just like you couldn’t stop your men in war from dying.”
He snugged her hat down over her ears and took her by the hand. “I’m going with you. I might not be able to protect you, but I can be by your side.”
She took his hand, and they made it to the tree line, but the snow had covered the ground enough that she couldn’t find the path. “Davey!”
There was no answer, so they shuffled past the smaller trees and found a large boulder she remembered from the last time she’d found him out here after Esther had died. He’d sent her away then and probably would again, but this time she wouldn’t leave. She’d stay out in the tree house with him all night if that was what it would take for him to trust her. “Over there.” She pointed, and Vic helped her over a fallen log.
She spotted the large oak ahead. “There. It’s the hideout.”
They rushed ahead, breathless when they’d reached the trunk, but she ignored the fatigue and climbed. Vic gave her a boost, and she managed to climb high enough to pop open the hatch to crawl inside, where she found Davey and Melba shivering in the corner. “I’m here.” Rosie crawled over and grabbed him into her arms. “I was so worried about you.”
“Shouldn’t have run off, but I had to protect Melba.” Davey took Melba by the hand. “Can’t let her papa hurt her like mine did me.”
She didn’t look good. Her eyes were closed, and her skin looked pale.
Vic crawled through the opening, set the lantern on the ground, and crunched in half to fit into the space. He settled by Melba, rubbing her arms and legs. “She’s too cold. We need to get her back.”
“No, her papa will hurt her.”
“Do you trust me, Davey?” Rosie asked.
He blinked at her but then gave a single short nod.
“Then you need to know that I will fight for Melba the same way I fight for you and Reggie, Eva, Betty, and Gina. But right now, if we don’t get her warm, she won’t live to worry about her father.”
He pursed his lips but then pushed to stand. “She can’t walk no more, though. I found her in the snow and dragged her here. I couldn’t leave her. I thought we were going to die.” Davey sniffled. “But I knew you’d find me. I promise never to leave you again, Mama. Never.” Davey’s voice trembled, so she held him tight for a moment while Vic took Melba down to the ground.
“Come on, we can talk at home and warm up.” She kissed his head and helped him down the tree. His arms were stiff, and his legs shook. They made it to the large rock, but Davey collapsed at her side. Vic doubled back, and she said, “Get Davey. He’s exhausted. I’ve got Melba.”
Vic handed Melba to her, bent and lifted Davey onto his shoulder, and put his arm around her and Melba. Then he nudged her forward.
With each step, her numb legs shook, but they managed to make it to the clearing, where the policeman took Melba and led them to an awaiting Mr. Mason on their back porch.
“My daughter. Is she okay?” He pulled the little one from Officer Walker’s arms.
“I don’t know, but we need to warm her quickly.” Vic urged him forward.
Mr. Mason rushed inside to an awaiting Dr. Anderson, who said, “I can see my life will be anything but boring with you and your children.”
Mr. Mesa and Mrs. Slaughter had also shown up to help, the way they’d tried to help her when Esther had died. This time, she’d accept their offer.
Under the lights, Rosie noticed Melba’s skin was tinged blue and her puffy face looked vacant of life. Davey collapsed as soon as Vic set him down by the fire.
“We need to warm them, quickly. Strip off anything wet and wrap them in blankets.”
Mr. Mason looked to Rosie as if he didn’t know how to undress his own daughter.
Rosie ripped her mittens off and blew on her hands to try to get them working again. “I need you to tend the fire, Mr. Mason. I’ll help with her clothes.” She took off Melba’s coat, hat, and gloves, blowing warm breath onto the girl’s stiff fingers.
Vic did the same to Davey, who moaned at the motion. Vic made quick work of getting Davey’s outer layers off and wrapped him tight in blankets and quilts, holding him on the floor by the fire.
“Can someone make some warm drinks, too?” the doctor called out.
“I will.” Mrs. Slaughter disappeared into the kitchen.
“I’ll help,” Officer Walker offered.
“Is there anything I can do?” Mr. Mesa asked.
“Yes. Please go to our room and get the blanket from our bed,” Vic instructed.
The house was full of movement, but an unsettling quiet still loomed. Dr. Anderson rubbed Melba’s chest, opened her eyes and shined a light, listened to her heart, and checked her pulse. “Help me rub her limbs to get blood flow through them.”
Rosie rubbed and massaged, but Melba still didn’t stir.
“Come on, Melba. You can’t leave me now,” Davey whispered without a second glance at Mr. Mason, who humbly sat nearby with slumped shoulders and open mouth, shivering and tears filling his eyes.
“Talk to her, Mr. Mason,” Dr. Anderson suggested.
“What do I say?”
“Anything she’d want to hear.”
Mr. Mason took her little hand in his. “Dear girl, I’m so sorry. Things will be different if you just open your eyes. I love you, Melba.” He cried but continued. “I treated you how I did because I feared you’d be wild like your mother and end up running away. You’re not your mother. I know that now.” His head dropped to her hand but then shot up. “She moved her finger. I felt it.”
Dr. Anderson checked her eyes again, and she cringed from the light.
“Papa?”
“Yes. I’m here.” His face animated with pure joy like Rosie had never seen before. But when Melba was quiet, he hurried to speak. “I promise things will be different now. Just wak
e up, sweetheart. And I promise you can play with any child you wish.” He eyed Davey as if to reconsider, but when Melba’s eyes opened and her tiny hand cupped his cheek, Rosie knew he’d been changed by the possible loss of his daughter. Not from running away but because he’d pushed her away.
“I think they’ll both make a full recovery, but keep them warm and get them to drink the hot tea. Mr. Mason, I don’t want her taken outside for the rest of this evening.”
Mr. Mason’s mouth fell open, and he looked to Vic, who looked to Rosie.
“You’re welcome to stay tonight and share our Christmas; it will be modest but full of love. All of you are.”
“And family,” Davey added with one of his darling, dimpled smiles the ladies would fall at his feet over someday.
Rosie only hoped they’d still be a family once the social worker returned. She knew they would only have enough for two of the children, but when Davey’s angelic voice filled the room with “Away in the Manger,” she had to believe all would be well.
And it was. The next morning, Melba returned home with her father, and Mrs. Slaughter offered to take the kids to her house for a Christmas breakfast, telling Rosie how much she’d enjoy the company.
When everyone left, Rosie went to their room to rest, but she never had the chance. Vic pulled her into his arms and kissed her with such passion, she thought she’d melt. Breathless and wanting, she clung to him. “What was that for?”
“It was for your patience with me. For loving me despite my fear. When you raced out after Davey, I worried I’d lose you both, but then we brought Melba and Davey home, and I realized something. Life was meant to be lived, and we’ve been granted a second chance. I love you, Rosie. I know I haven’t been a perfect husband since I’ve returned, but I want to make it right. I don’t want to be ruled by my fear any longer. I want to be with you in all things.”
She brushed his hair from his forehead. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that we’ll talk to the doctor, and if he says you can get pregnant again, then I’d be happy to try. I know now that no matter what, we can face it together.” He kissed her again the way she’d longed for since the day he’d arrived home. A kiss of love, hope, passion, and faith. A kiss between a husband and wife.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Their toy store bustled with activity. The familiar sting of anxiety zapped Rosie’s insides like a bad wall socket, but she didn’t give it ground to remain. Instead, she tucked Gina’s hair underneath the hat Mrs. Slaughter had knitted for her. The woman had taken an interest in the children since Christmas Eve. To both Vic and Rosie’s astonishment, the entire town had been generous and helpful to the once lost and forgotten children of Sugar Maple.
Tomorrow would be a new year with new beginnings, and they all couldn’t wait for the next step in their lives. If their plan worked.
Davey threw open the door with Melba at his side. “Come on, you’ll be late.” They’d grown close, playing together every day since Christmas. Mr. Mason remained close by with a vigilant eye but didn’t lock her inside away from the other children anymore.
“Mama, we’s gots to go.” Reggie ran for the door and waved for her to join them.
“Wait, you forgot your candle,” she called out after Reggie. He was the forgetful one in the family.
His new shoes Dr. Anderson had sent as a belated Christmas present shined. He ran back in and kissed her cheek. “Thanks, Mom.”
The word warmed her heart more than any flame, but the fear still remained. She’d managed to control it and believed things would work out if they trusted they would, but the letter in Vic’s pocket where he stood in the center of the town square with Eva on his shoulder was a constant reminder that the orphanage could arrive at any moment to take the children.
“Can you believe the town is so full of life?” Mr. Mason asked with a little more enthusiasm than she’d ever heard from him. When he glanced over at the widow Mrs. Slaughter, Rosie saw why.
“Yes, it feels like anything is possible.” She handed him her extra candle, and he accepted it with a smile and then walked over to the front of the soda fountain to join Mrs. Slaughter.
Rosie crossed the street to the town square with Betty and Gina in tow. They all stood together waiting, sipping hot chocolate and speaking with people they hadn’t seen in years or new folks that had moved to their small part of the world. They all waited for the sun to disappear and the night to great them.
“The roads are clear,” Vic mumbled to Rosie and then kissed her on the lips in front of everyone.
Davey palmed his forehead. “Ewww! You have to do that now?”
“Yes, and every minute of every day.” He kissed her again, this time sending the newfound welcomed warmth through her body.
A strange car rolled into town, and the entire square silenced. They knew who it was, and they all prayed that their plan would work. Davey abandoned Melba and took Rosie’s hand. The rest of the children joined him as they expected, but what they didn’t expect was the whistle that came from Mr. Mason.
In a matter of seconds, everyone in the square drew close and formed a protective shield. Ms. Cramer and her bitter expression stepped from the car. She slammed the door and put her purse on her arm before she stopped and looked at the audience in front of her.
It didn’t take her long before she lifted her chin, squared her shoulders, and marched into the heart of the crowd. “I need to collect the children now. No need to make a scene.”
“Then leave.” Mr. Mason crossed his arms and stepped forward.
She directed her attention to Officer Walker. “Sir, I’m with the Tennessee Children’s Home Society, and I’m here to collect the two younger children to place them with a good family.”
“As you can see, they have a good family.”
Vic released Rosie’s hand and nudged his way through the crowd. “We love all of our children, and as you can see, we can provide for them. Maybe we can’t afford to without the help of our community, but as you can see, they are the children’s extended family who also care.”
Ms. Cramer adjusted the purse higher on her arm and pursed her lips. “Then you have the money to adopt all the children besides the small amount you sent?”
“We have two hundred more dollars we were able to make in the last week.” Vic pulled the money from his pocket and handed it to her.
Rosie held her breath. Sweat formed on the back of her neck, despite the cold temperatures.
“I am a reasonable woman. I’ll accept this for the other, older child. You can send installments as you manage. The younger ones, as I explained before, are more desirable for adoption. I’ll have them placed in a home within the week.”
Melba pushed between Vic and Rosie and set a basket in front of Ms. Cramer. “Us kids collected money we want to give to adoption.”
Mr. Mason stepped forward and took her little girl in his arms. “You were saving for a new doll.”
“I don’t care. I want all of Davey’s family to stay.”
Mr. Mason tweaked her nose and then reached into his pocket and placed a twenty-dollar bill in the basket at Ms. Cramer’s feet.
Rosie gasped. Vic clasped the man’s shoulder and said in a strangled tone, “Thank you. I’m indebted to you.”
“No sir, it’s me who is indebted to you. I have my Melba because of your Davey.”
Mrs. Slaughter stepped up and dropped money in the basket, followed by Dr. Anderson, Miss Alberts, and Ms. Hetland. It took several minutes for the line of residents to contribute to the adoption fund.
Ms. Cramer snorted. “This still won’t be enough.”
Officer Walker strutted to the basket and set a five-dollar bill inside. “I’d advise you take the blood money and leave before I arrest you. From what I understand, your Ms. Tann is under investigation for kidnapping and selling children. Mr. and Mrs. Bessler will be going through another adoption agency. It’s already arranged. I saw to it personally.”
“You can’t do that. We have connections.”
“In Memphis, yes. Not here. You can try to fight for them.” Officer Walker took a step in her direction. “I’d advise you not to, though. Your private adoption agency already has a lucrative baby business. I’m sure Ms. Tann would not appreciate you bringing bad publicity to the organization.”
Rosie squeezed Vic’s bicep, as if to hold on to Officer Walker’s words in hopes they were real but didn’t want to dare ask in front of the woman. Her heart beat like the Little Drummer Boy played for the baby in the manger.
The woman’s eyes went wide and then narrowed before she took a step back. Rosie couldn’t follow all the expressions that went through the woman’s face—shock, awareness, anger, fear. That one Rosie knew well. Ms. Cramer snatched the basket and backed away. “Fine. If you wish to use another agency, I won’t stop you. Good day.” She absconded, her thick heels beat and slid, and her body reminded Rosie of a slinky bouncing down stairs.
When the car door shut, the crowd erupted with hugs and cheers. Rosie slid into Vic’s arms and hugged him with the kids all around them.
Officer Walker patted Davey on the head. “Glad that worked.”
“What? It isn’t true?” Rosie asked, her breath caught somewhere between happiness and shock.
“It’s true, but from what I understand, the Tennessee Children’s Home Society has social workers, judges, and police all on their payroll. I gambled on the fact they want to keep their operation going without drawing too much attention. I’d suggest you contact this adoption agency here.” He handed them a piece of paper with a phone number. “Start the process, and don’t worry. They won’t charge you outrageous fees to take in the children. I’ve taken the liberty of speaking with them, and they expect your call next week.”
“Thank you. Thank you so much.” Rosie was so excited she forgot herself and threw her arms around Officer Walker.
He blushed, tipped his hat, and stepped aside for Mr. Mason.
The grocery store owner said, “Congratulations to you both. By the way, the item you were looking for… I have some in now.”