Jacinda wrapped a sweater-encased arm around Grant’s shoulders and fixed a no-nonsense stare on her oldest son. Services had ended and other parishioners were passing by. “Ridge, this is difficult for all of us. Maybe we should finish our discussion at home where it’s warmer and there’s more privacy.”
“Actually, I would like to finish this discussion right now,” said the officer. “With all due respect, people, we’re dealing with a case of custodial interference here. Willfully taking a minor from the custodial parent is a felony.”
“I had her permission, Officer.”
“Within the confines of the church building,” Caitlyn clarified. “However, Officer, he is my son’s father and I believe he had no intention of physically harming Brody.”
“Then you don’t want to press charges at this time?” he asked in disbelief.
She shook her head. “No. But I can see now that I need to contact my attorney to make an addendum in our custodial agreement that will prevent this from happening again.”
“Agreed,” said the officer and Ridge at the same time. Ridge added darkly, “Don’t ever try something so stupid again.”
Charles speared Grant with a severe look. “We would love for you to have some pictures taken with your son but not for this selfish reason.”
“I’m sorry,” Grant said, a note of panic raising in his voice. He asked Caitlyn, “You’re not gonna make this publicly known, are you?”
Caitlyn hesitated. Grant should know how she felt about paparazzi. However, she was smart enough to recognize an opportune moment when it presented itself. She raised an imperial brow. “Maybe I should. Your fans deserve to know what kind of man they’re supporting.”
Grant tugged on his scarf as if trying to gulp in more air. “Please don’t, Caitlyn. I-I—please. Just—don’t.” Then, to her surprise, he spilled everything—the mess with his disgruntled band members, his overindulgences in expenditures and substance abuse, the women, the parties, and the nose job. He really had fallen far from where his parents had tried to ground him. They’d provided a good foundation but he’d wanted something more widespread, flashier, faster, easier, better. But it wasn’t better and it wouldn’t be easy to dig himself out of this hole. “Once again, I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking clearly.”
“You became desperate,” she guessed.
“Yes.”
His apology was woefully inadequate, but this was Christmas Eve. She’d heard a message of love and grace not thirty minutes ago. She could extend the same type of Christian love toward her ex-husband. “Thank you. And no, I won’t be making anything that transpired today public knowledge.” His face registered disbelief at her cunningness, followed by relief.
“Ha, ha. The joke’s on me. I guess I deserved that.”
She shoved a finger into his chest and added in her sternest voice, “As long you promise to clean up your act.”
His brows knit together. “I’ll try.”
The police officer surprised them all by speaking up. “Either do it or don’t, buddy. We’ll be watching you. Get yourself some help.”
Grant nodded, wisely saying nothing.
Jacinda said in a quiet voice, “Grant, as part of your penitence, I would like you to sing a few Christmas songs this evening before our nativity program begins. Sort of a prelude while people are coming in to the community center. I realized as we were singing just now that I’ve been so busy running around, making sure everything went off without a hitch, it never occurred to ask you to do that. I apologize for the oversight.”
With a slight smile, he answered, “Sure, Mom. I’d be happy to.”
“Good.” She gave a decisive nod. “Let’s go home. We still have much celebrating to do.”
***
Caitlyn shifted the soft blanket over Brody’s shoulders again, thankful he was feeling better but now wishing he would hold still. This promised to be a long evening. At least she was ready. Wearing the long, flowing robe and tunic that Natasha altered for her and a veil that was tied by a thin band around the crown of her head, she looked the part of Mary. She’d tried to put this performance out of her mind. She almost succeeded, she thought ruefully, when Grant dashed back into her life, leaving chaos in his path. And Ridge . . . well, she’d welcomed him as a distraction. A dreamy one at that.
But the time was at hand and she would get through this, if only Brody would cooperate. All she had to do was stand here next to the manger and hold him while telling the story of the three wisemen seeking the Christchild after a long and difficult journey. The recording of a woman’s voice singing her favorite Christmas song, “What Child Is This?” would then play and the attendees would move into the smaller conference rooms to look at various nativity collections that had been loaned by the townspeople and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate in the commissary. Easy enough to do. Caitlyn loved the simplicity of Jacinda’s plan.
“Hey there, beautiful.”
Ridge! Caitlyn turned away from the manger at the sound of his voice—and froze. There, garbed in a long tunic and robe much like hers, only in deep blue instead of rose, stood her love. But who was he supposed to be?
“Ridge?” Regretting the hesitant note in her voice, she approached him slowly. “Are you—?”
“Joseph, sweetheart. I’ll be right by your side. Yours and Brody’s.” His warm topaz eyes glowed like sweet honey as they gazed at her lovingly. She rushed forward. He caught her and Brody in his arms.
“Exactly where I want you to be.”
***
“Are you ready?”
Grant paused in strumming his guitar to look up at his mom. She had a slight advantage over him since he was sitting in a comfortable chair on the raised pavilion. A crowd was already starting to form even though the first tour through the nativity scene wasn’t scheduled to begin for another forty-five minutes.
“Sure. What would you like me to play?”
“Any Christmas songs that come to mind will be fine. If you’d like to get the crowd singing something fun, I think that would invite Christmas spirit just as well as anything. Just don’t let them get too out of hand or use up their voices. They need to save them for their caroling experience.”
Grant cleared his throat. “Yeah, about that. Do you really think it will work?”
“I believe so. We’ll be going around in shifts. I have specially designated volunteers to lead each group.”
“Huh. Well, you’re the organizer. I guess I’ll trust you on that.”
“Gee, thanks,” she said wryly. “Your confidence in me is quite a compliment.”
“You know I didn’t mean it that way, Mom.”
To Grant’s surprise, Jacinda leaned in to kiss his cheek. “I know. But it’s nice to know I can still be your mother and reprimand you when you deserve it.” She chuckled. “Sierra and her bunch will be coming through with the first group so they can get the kids to bed early. Why don’t you plan on going through with them?”
“Okay.”
“Thanks, son.” Just like that, she melted into the crowd and Grant began a rousing rendition of “Jingle Bells” followed by “Deck the Halls.” After a few more spirited songs in which the crowd really got into it, he settled into more of the softer, traditional carols. As he gazed out into the audience and saw their faces, some shining against the white lights decorating the pavilion and tree, others with shimmering eyes and joyful smiles, something struck Grant’s chest.
He hadn’t sung any Christmas carols in a very long time. He used to love lifting his voice in praise with others. He used to enjoy singing about angels and heavenly messages that heralded in the news of Christ’s birth. What happened? Nowadays, all he sung about were girls and drinking.
Grant felt lower than the dirt under his feet. How had he gotten to this point that he would steal from his own son? Or exploit him in a way that he’d known Caitlyn would never approve of? Grant had listened with half an ear to Caitlyn’s complaints about her mother pushing her into the
modeling world. He’d been willing to do the same with Brody, with or without Caitlyn’s agreement.
He recalled his mother’s words from earlier today after lunch was served at the house. She’d taken him aside and quietly explained, “Your father and I will do what we can to help you but ultimately, you’re going to have to face the music.”
Yeah. He could already hear the long, sad melody playing in his head.
Shaking off that dreary thought, Grant found the opening chord to “Silent Night” and began singing in his now deeper baritone voice. This was what he loved about singing for others. He’d been given a precious gift but he hadn’t fully appreciated it or taken care of it.
When the last poignant notes of “Silent Night” hung in the air and Grant lowered his guitar to his lap, he smiled warmly. “Merry Christmas, folks. Glad you could all make it out tonight. We hope you have a safe holiday.”
Despite feeling a little embarrassed by the crowd’s applause afterward, Grant still felt pleased with his offering on this special night. But the most endearing fan favorite was his nephew, Max, who called out, “Good job, Uncle Grant. I wish I could sing like that.”
The crowd chuckled. Grant grinned at the little boy. “Thanks, Max,” he called back. “How about coming up here and singing about Rudolph with me?” His nephew rewarded him with a huge grin as he did just that. The crowd loved it. When they finished, Max scooted off his lap and found his way back to his beaming parents.
As if by magic, his parents appeared at his side. “Thank you, Grant,” Jacinda said. “Now, everyone, if you are scheduled to go on the caroling outing at six o’clock, please line up right here. Andy Kirkwood will lead you on your way. If you are scheduled for a later time, feel free to take a look at the nativity collections inside. You’ll need to use another entrance other than the front as all tours will end up inside the main lobby of the community center. Thank you and have a wonderful evening.”
The crowd dispersed and Jacinda held out her hands. “I’ll take care of your guitar for you. Or if you’d prefer, I can run it home.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“That was wonderful, son, just like I remember you singing when you were young.” Charles clapped him on the shoulder.
“Thanks, Dad. I’d better hurry if I want to catch up with Sierra.” She and Scott were standing with their two kids about twenty feet away.
The crowd seemed to part for him as he joined his sister. “Hey,” Sierra said, gathering him in for a surprising hug. She playfully patted his whiskered face. “That sounded wonderful. A lot different than what I’ve heard from you lately. Maybe you should think about doing a Christmas album.”
Hmm. He’d never considered it. After everything went down, would he still have a band? Or a fan base? “Maybe.”
She gazed up at him in much the same admiring way she had when they were kids. “No hard feelings?”
How could he hold a grudge against his favorite sister? “Nope. It’s all right.”
At least, he hoped it would be.
Chapter Seventeen
The group followed their leader, Andy, down the street to a small house with a chain link fence. It took several minutes for them all to gather around the front door. Knock! Knock! Andy rapped on the door and they waited.
After a few awkward minutes, an older gentleman opened it and stepped outside. “Oh, my!” he exclaimed, sweeping his gaze over the crowd. “You must be the people who’ve been making all that ruckus across the way.”
Meaning the community center? Grant looked at Sierra. She shrugged. O-kay. Maybe the guy was just a real-life Scrooge.
Andy said, “We’re carolers hoping to spread a little Christmas cheer. Would you like us to sing for you?”
“Mm, not tonight,” he said. “My wife is feeling poorly. In fact, I need to get back inside. You’re letting in the cold air. You all take care now. Good night.”
With that, he backed away and closed the door. A disgruntled murmur rumbled through the crowd. “What the heck?” Grant said to Scott as he turned toward the gate.
Scott shifted Jacey’s weight in his arms and answered with a frown, “I don’t know. That was weird.”
“Yeah.”
The next two houses yielded the same results. The would-be recipients turned them down with excuses that they were too busy or not much in the holiday mood. The crowd grew progressively grumpier with each door that was slammed in their faces.
With a bewildered and somewhat sheepish expression on his face, Andy faced the crowd. “What do you think we should do, folks? Shall we try one more house?”
A short debate ensued before one woman said quite loudly, “Let’s try this house over here with the lit-up tree and snowman in the front yard. Surely they would love Christmas songs.”
“Sounds good. We’ll give it one more try.”
But as they trickled into the yard, a loud, incessant barking followed by a virulent “Get ‘em, Spike. You get ‘em outta here!” warned them off the owner’s property. They left as soon as they had entered.
Several members of the crowd were muttering about the injustice of trying to perform a neighborly deed. “This is crazy!” one man said in disgust before pulling his children away.
Sierra turned to Grant. “What do you make of it?”
“I don’t know. Are you sure Mom knew what she was doing?” This could get out of hand quickly.
Andy raised his voice above the crowd. “I think we should go back to the community center now, folks. Obviously, this didn’t turn out like we planned. I’m sorry about that.”
More muttering met Grant’s ears as they plodded back to the community center. At last, they were out of the cold. He, along with the others, had been looking forward to entering a warm, inviting building after spreading their Christmas cheer. Instead, their discouraged and bedraggled group was met by Jacinda, who listened to their complaints and commiserated over their ill treatment before leading them over to the shepherds’ display. She then played an audio recording of the second chapter of Luke. As Grant listened to the once-familiar words, he could almost envision those lonely shepherds standing out there in the field, possibly hungry, probably cold, and wondering at the meaning of the new star. In the dimmed room, an angelic form suddenly lit up and Grant took heart when he heard the words, “Fear not; for behold, I bring you tidings of great joy.”
As Grant listened to the entire passage, the angel’s admonition to the shepherds warmed his entire body. He didn’t need to fear what would happen to him. In that moment, he knew the Lord would take care of him. Grant had been looking for physical relief from his worries. But no one could save him from his stupidity now. Only the Lord could help him find his way out. Why had it taken him so long to figure this out? It wouldn’t be easy to make up for his mistakes, but the Lord would be with him every step of the way.
When the shepherds’ portion of the tour concluded, Jacinda guided the group along to a stable showing a manger filled with hay. Three people depicting Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus waited until they were settled before emerging into a greater lit area. Mary began speaking. Grant was startled to realize the woman was actually Caitlyn and that she was holding Brody.
“Good evening. Did you enjoy your caroling?”
A disgruntled murmur swept through the crowd. One little girl said tearfully, “We didn’t get to sing. Everyone told us to go away.”
Caitlyn nodded sadly. “We, too, were turned away just before this sweet babe entered the world. Joseph and I searched for a place where we could stay but were told there was no room for us in the inn. Finally, a kind man offered his stable. Joseph and I agreed to use it.” Caitlyn sent a loving smile to—Ridge? Of course. That was the reason Grant hadn’t seen him yet tonight.
This evening kept getting more interesting by the minute.
Caitlyn continued, “Joseph and I stayed in Bethlehem for several months after Jesus was born. Joseph was warned in a dream that it was too dangerous to take the ba
be back home because of wicked King Herod. Do you know what he wanted to do?”
Several older children raised their hands. Caitlyn called on one of them to answer and a discussion followed regarding the wisemen who approached the king in search of the Christchild. King Herod was alarmed by the news of the new king’s birth and wanted to kill all the boys in the kingdom that were two years old or younger.”
Grant’s breath hitched at the thought of little Brody suffering such a fate. Before now, he’d never given much thought to the Christmas story, but suddenly this year, the various elements meant more. Tonight, he was seeing things through a new set of eyes.
“We stayed until an angel appeared to Joseph and told him it was safe for us to travel, that the wicked king, Herod, was dead. So Joseph and I were given the great responsibility to raise God’s Son to adulthood, to love Him and teach Him until the time that He began His ministry. This wasn’t easy for either of us because Jesus was smart, much smarter than either Joseph or I. But we did as God asked and were blessed for many years.
“Tonight, though, let us remember His sacred birth. I remember the great sense of wonder I felt when my baby, who was God’s Son, was first placed in my arms.” A moment later, a voice began singing a carol that Grant had grown up singing in his home. Though it was not Caitlyn’s voice, the song still mesmerized him and the other members of the group. When the last strains faded away, a hush remained.
“So you see, you were turned away tonight, but Jesus will never turn you away. In fact, He issues an invitation to all to come unto Him. We will never be turned away from His love.” With those final words, Caitlyn backed up and Ridge’s arm came around her and Brody. They turned and walked out of the spotlight toward the backdrop of the stable.
Jacinda stepped into view. “Thank you all for coming tonight. We hope you’ve had a memorable evening and wish you all a Merry Christmas. Please enjoy a few refreshments in the commissary and be sure to check out the wonderful nativity collections loaned to this display by several members of our community.”
Caitlyn's Christmas Wish Page 10