Under the Christmas Star (Crossroads Collection)

by Amanda Tru

  Emma watched her mom’s face pale and then slowly turn the red of a severe sunburn. “He said that?” she hissed.

  Emma sighed. “Yes, Mom, he did, but please don’t be angry with him. If you get mad and tell him off, you may as well do the same thing to every man on the planet. Leo isn’t alone in his feelings or lack thereof. This isn’t the first time a man passed on a relationship with me. I’m not the kind of woman men want, and there’s no use pretending otherwise.”

  Cindy glared at her, her mouth forming a stern line. “Emma Sheldon, you stop that right now. You are not disqualified from romance because of your autism.”

  “I disagree, Mom,” Emma insisted. “My challenges would make a relationship extremely difficult, and no man will want to sign on for that when he has a host of normal ladies to choose from.”

  “That’s not true, Emma!” Cindy insisted, her anger now turning to sorrow as she came and perched on the couch beside her daughter. “I believe that someday God will bring a man who will love and appreciate you as you are, differences and all.”

  Emma looked at her mom, seeing that she was close to tears. Emma hated making her cry. Watching her, she realized all the things her Mom had missed out on because Emma was her daughter.

  “Mom. I’m sorry,” Emma said softly. “I wish I could make a man fall in love with me, but I can’t. I’m sorry that I won’t give you the chance to help plan a daughter’s wedding. I’m sorry I won’t give you grandkids. I’m sorry for cheating you out of all of the experiences you should have enjoyed with a daughter who was normal. I know I’m not what you wanted.”

  Cindy looked directly at Emma and spoke firmly, “Emma you are exactly what I needed. God blessed me beyond measure when he gave you to me. You are exactly who He wanted me to have. I wouldn’t trade you for anyone, and I wouldn’t change a single thing about you, even the autism. You give me such joy just as you are, and I don’t want anyone but you for my daughter. The greatest desire of my heart is not to see you married but to see you happy. Whatever that looks like to you, that’s what I want. All I want is to see you happy.”

  Wetness spilled from Emma’s eyes and rolled down her cheeks. “I don’t know what that looks like either,” Emma confessed brokenly. “I liked Leo, but Leo didn’t like me.”

  “Oh, Emma.” Cindy crooned, gathering her daughter in her arms and comforting her broken heart as only a mother can.

  Emma soundlessly swung her legs off the couch. Her mom was busy in the kitchen. Emma could tell by her cheerful humming that she would be there a while. She was likely baking a variety of Christmas cookies to try to tempt Emma’s nearly nonexistent appetite.

  At Emma’s movement, Orion looked up from his spot on the carpet beside her.

  “Shhh,” Emma said, putting her finger to her mouth. If her mom knew what Emma intended, she would immediately veto the plan, but Emma felt better today. If she could make it to the top of the stairs and her studio, she could get her mind off her troubles and work on Woong’s ornament.

  In the week since Emma was hospitalized, Woong had finished telling his parents’ story and decided that the perfect ornament for his mom was one made from her grandfather’s broken china. Emma loved the idea and told Woong to get permission from his father and then send her the china.

  With the arrival of a box today, Emma knew he had completed his task. Now it was her turn. It would take time to make it perfect, and then she had to calculate shipping time. Hopefully, if she worked on it this weekend, she’d be able to mail it on Monday and have it there before Christmas.

  Her steps slightly unsteady, Emma picked up the box from the table beside the door and carried it upstairs. She had to stop to rest after every fourth step, but she eventually made it. Orion followed worriedly at her side, acting as if ready to spot her landing should she fall. Once there, Emma shut the door, leaving it only an inch ajar so she could hear if her mom called. Then she opened the box and took out broken pieces of china. Even in small shards, it was beautiful, and Emma knew exactly what to do.

  Soon she was gluing small pieces to a sphere base in a mosaic. Her hands grew weary of the delicate work quickly, and a few times she cut herself on the small shards. She kept working anyway, thinking of Woong’s story and praying for the wonderful couple who went through so much and adopted a special boy named Woong.

  Lord, please help my ornament bring a little healing to the heart of Woong’s mom. It had to hurt so much to have this china broken as it was. Please let this be a reminder of how you make beauty from ashes, and let this ornament be a symbol of the beauty you have created in Woong’s family.

  As fatigue overtook Emma, she looked at her work and knew it wasn’t enough. The detail work was time-consuming, and she hadn’t made nearly enough progress. She laid her head in her hands on the table, weary from the depth of her being.

  Lord, I can’t do this anymore. After everything that’s happened, I can’t shake the idea that I’m supposed to close Little Star Boutique. It’s just too hard. I’m sorry if I misheard you when opening up this business. Maybe it wasn’t Your will at all. Please help me just to finish this ornament for Woong. Then I’ll quit and await how you want me to help others with their ministry. Just let me finish this.”

  It was a decision she’d thought about before last week, but being run off the road and injured had cemented her conviction. She wasn’t meant to own her own business. It was just too hard. She shouldn’t even be working right now, and yet she was. She couldn’t see God blessing her work, and the circumstances made it even appear the opposite. Something that was God’s will for her life couldn’t be this hard. She must be doing something wrong. Her only solution was to quit.

  “Emma!” her mother’s panicked voice rang from downstairs. “Emma, where are you?”

  “I’m up here, Mom,” Emma called, hoping her weak voice carried far enough.

  With a single bark, Orion punctuated Emma’s call to better announce their location.

  “Emma, what on earth are you doing?” Cindy sputtered a minute later, out of breath from climbing the stairs so rapidly.

  “I’m just doing a little work on the ornament for my friend Woong,” Emma explained.

  “Emma, you are on doctor’s orders to rest. You had a serious injury, and your body needs time to heal.” Cindy’s eyes blazed with both anger and concern.

  Emma sighed. “I’m done for right now anyway. Maybe you can help me either to the couch or to my bed to take a nap.”

  “Chief Jacobs just called,” Cindy said abruptly.

  Emma looked up sharply.

  Cindy’s mouth curved up in excitement as if she had news she couldn’t quite keep from brimming over. “Emma, they’ve made an arrest! Chief Jacobs caught who hurt you!”

  “Are you sure it looks okay?” Emma asked nervously, holding up the ball ornament covered with a detailed china mosaic.

  Emma had explained the task of Woong’s ornament to both Brooke and Kate, asking them to come to her house and offer their opinions on the final product before she sent it on its way. What she hadn’t explained to her friends was that today’s project completion was the final task of her business.

  “Emma, it’s exquisite,” Brooke assured. “But what are all of these other ornaments? I thought you just made one for Woong’s mom.” Brooke picked up a smaller broken China ornament made from a mosaic in the shape of a heart. “There are almost twenty of these smaller ones! Each one is so pretty and different.”

  “Brooke is right,” Kate said, swinging her arms in emphasis. “I don’t know which is my favorite. I can’t believe you were able to make these while so weak from your recovery! But why so many?”

  “There’s one for each of the children Woong’s parents have raised,” Emma explained, worried that her idea sounded foolish when she said it out loud. “Woong sent more china pieces than I needed for one ornament, so I decided to make an ornament for each child his parents call their own. It’s probably a bad idea. Woong was a little
vague on the number since they’ve adopted and helped so many foster children. Do you think twenty is enough? Maybe I shouldn’t have made more than one. I just thought it would be nice to have one to symbolize how Woong’s parents made something beautiful out of their difficulties, each one of those somethings being a child they raised with love. But he only asked for one. Maybe I made a mistake. Should I only send the one? But what if I need to return the rest of the broken china? Oh, I really messed things up, didn’t I?”

  “Emma, send the ornaments. All of them,” Brooke said firmly. Woong and his mother will love them and be touched by your thoughtfulness. It’s a beautiful idea.”

  Kate nodded her agreement. “Why don’t you write a quick letter explaining what you just told us as to why you made more than one.”

  Liking that suggestion, Emma found some paper, and wrote a quick note explaining why she’d made so many ornaments for Woong’s mom. Though she felt it still sounded awkward, Emma resolutely put the paper in an envelope to include in the box. After all, she couldn’t ask Brooke and Kate to wait around while she obsessed over every little word.

  “Are you ready to pack them up?” Kate asked. “Brooke is the packing expert. She can help make sure they won’t get broken. Then I will take the box to the post office and get it mailed before they close.”

  Emma nodded, nervously tapping her fingers together.

  Since Emma was still weak, Kate had offered to mail the package when ready so Emma wouldn’t need to leave the house. Brooke and Emma set to work nestling each ornament in enough cushioning to survive a major earthquake while Kate supervised the entire operation with exaggerated arm movements.

  So distracting were Kate’s gestures that Emma finally pinned her with a look. “Why are you doing that?”

  “Doing what?” Kate questioned innocently.

  “Waving your arms like you’re trying to take flight.”

  Brooke laughed. “Just give up and tell her, Kate. I got here before you, and Emma still hasn’t noticed.”

  “Noticed what?” Emma asked, looking from one to the other.

  “Well, it might be a little difficult to take flight considering the extra weight on my finger.” Kate held her left hand out for Emma’s inspection.

  Emma blinked. “You got a new ring?” she asked slowly. Then her face lit up. “A new ring! Kate, does that mean you’re engaged?”“

  Kate nodded, her eyes dancing joyously. “Yes! Dallas wanted to ask me at Christmas, but then he decided he couldn’t wait! We’re planning on a summer wedding!”

  “Oh, Kate! I’m so happy for you!” Emma said, now waving her own arms excitedly. “Since you’re marrying Brooke’s brother, that means you two will be sisters!” Emma paused. “Wait. Brooke did you say I hadn’t noticed… Brooke, you’re wearing a ring, too!”

  Brooke nodded with a grin. “Dylan proposed this weekend. We are also planning a summer wedding.” Shooting an impish look Kate’s direction, Brooke continued, “Let me be the first to ask you to be a bridesmaid, Emma!”

  “Really?” Emma asked, dumbfounded. “You want me as a bridesmaid?”

  “No fair! I was going to ask her!” Kate protested.

  “I’m not sure,” Emma hesitated. “I’ve never been a bridesmaid before. I don’t know how to do it.”

  Both Brooke and Kate laughed.

  Kate quickly assured, “Don’t worry, Emma! If Brooke and I can figure out how to be brides, I’m sure we can help you figure out how to be a bridesmaid. By the time you’ve done it twice, you’re sure to be an expert!”

  “Now if we can just get my sister London to come from California and do all the actual wedding work for us, then we’ll be all set!” Brooke said brightly.

  “Are you just asking me to be a bridesmaid because you feel sorry for me?” Emma asked abruptly.

  Brooke’s blue eyes and Kate’s brown eyes both grew round in surprise.

  “Of course not!” Kate sputtered. “Emma, you’re our friend. We like you for you and want you to share our special days with us.”

  Emma still wasn’t sure, looking from one to the other. “Aren’t you worried I might embarrass you? Kate, you know what I was like at the Christmas party.”

  Kate replied seriously, “Emma, if anyone thinks less of you because of how you react in social situations, then they are the ones who are not welcome at my wedding. They are the problem, not you. You are welcome and are free to be you. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  “Emma, I feel the same way,” Brooke said quietly. Reaching out, she touched Emma’s sleeve gently. “Emma, who has made you feel like they were only your friend because they felt sorry for you?”

  Emma looked down. How did Brooke know?

  “Emma, was it Leo?” Brooke persisted gently.

  Emma nodded. “He said something once that made me believe his feelings only extended as far as he felt sorry for me.”

  Kate grunted in anger and threw her hands up. “The jerk!” she growled. “And I don’t mind calling him that to his face! Leo Jacobs wouldn’t know a good thing if it slapped him upside the head!”

  Emma shook her head, terrified that Kate would attempt to say something to Leo on her behalf. “No, Kate! I’m the one who was slapped upside the head! Remember when my car was stolen?”

  Brooke and Emma busted up laughing, immediately relieving the tension. While Emma didn’t laugh outright, she did smile, realizing she had inadvertently made a joke.

  Kate’s laughter finally abated. “I don’t know what to tell you, Emma. I won’t say anything to Leo for your sake, even though I’d like to be the one to attempt slapping him upside the head, even if just a little bit.”

  Kate sighed, continuing sadly. “I wish Leo was different. He doesn’t let anyone in. I’ve known him for years and about all I can tell you is that he’s good at his job.”

  Seeming to sense that Emma didn’t really want to talk about Leo, Brooke volunteered a slight change of subject. “Speaking of Leo’s job, has he told you any more about the arrest that was made concerning your case?”

  “No,” Emma reported matter-of-factly. “My dad spoke with him over the weekend, but Leo said he couldn’t yet release any details since the investigation was ongoing. Dad thinks there is likely more than one person involved, and the police are working to make sure they apprehend everyone in the theft ring.

  “The arrest was in connection with the car theft and assault?” Kate questioned, seeming to momentarily slip back to her days as a police officer. “What about forcing you off the road?”

  “I don’t know. I’m really not even sure about it being the car theft. All that we know is that an arrest was made.”

  Emma checked the address on the box for a third time and carefully ran her finger along the seam of the tape. While they’d talked, Brooke had helped her pack the ornaments and seal the box. Emma then carefully attached the printed label listing Little Star Boutique as the sender.

  She was just about to check the address a fourth time when Kate came up behind her and lifted the box into her arms.

  “I need to get this mailed before 5:00 and still make my meeting for work,” Kate explained. “We have a well-known antiques dealer coming to look at a few of our pieces.”

  Emma nodded in understanding but still gazed at the box with a little longing and trepidation. Those ornaments were pieces of herself. All of that hard work and all of her prayers were wrapped tightly in that box and now dependent on others to get them safely to the Christmas tree where they belonged.

  Lord, help them to arrive to Woong safely!

  “I need to get back to the shop as well,” Brooke said. “Tylie may need a little help with the last few orders. Oh, I almost forgot. Emma, here is your check for the ornaments you have sold at the shop so far this month.”

  Brooke placed a check in Emma’s hand. She looked at it and immediately felt her anxiety spike.

  “Brooke, this check isn’t right,” she said quickly, reaching her hand out to g
ive it back.

  “What’s wrong with it?” Brooke said, accepting the check and looking at it as if she expected it to be covered in goo.

  “It’s way too much money,” Emma explained, sure there was a mistake. “I think you gave me the wrong check.”

  Brooke shook her head, her face dimpling out in a relieved smile. “Emma, this is correct. This is the money you earned. It’s yours.”

  Emma still shook her head. “It can’t be. It’s too much.”

  Brooke extended the check back, insisting she take it. “Emma, I told you your ornaments were selling well. That’s why you’ve had to come in and restock so much. I even picked more up from you earlier this week. Both tourists and Crossroads residents love your ornaments. Some come in frequently just to see what new ones we have. There’s no special treatment here, Emma. That’s just the money you, yourself, earned, and I’m sure there will be more by the end of the month.”

  Emma stared at the numbers on the check. Kate and Brooke left, and Emma still stared at the numbers on the check.

  Emma found the couch and sank down, feeling almost numb. Woong’s ornament was completed, and she’d just received her severance pay for her business, making it the perfect final curtain call for the Little Star boutique.

  Emma pulled open the door to find Brooke holding a large bouquet of red roses and white lilies.

  “Merry Christmas Eve!” Brooke greeted brightly. “These are for you!”

  “For me?” Emma repeated, shocked. She didn’t recall ever having received flowers before.

  Brooke carefully handed her the bouquet. “The card is on the plastic fork thing on top.”

  “Can’t you stay awhile?” Emma asked, really wanting Brooke to come in and help her with the flowers.

  Emma’s brother and his family were visiting for Christmas, and they and her parents had gone to a restaurant for lunch. Emma wasn’t feeling up to a restaurant and had elected to stay home. However, now she needed help. What was she supposed to do with the flowers? Was there anything needed to keep them alive?