“I would never compare my mother with Mary,” I said quickly.
“Nor I,” Margaret echoed firmly. “Yet a few curious parallels are in play.”
“I don’t know about that, but I do accept what the woman said at Grey Hall. I am the daughter of an unwed woman, and yes, I think it could be said that she was homeless.”
“That may be, Miranda.” Margaret looked at me for the first time. “But you are also the daughter of a fine and noble man who had a well-established home. He would have wanted me to receive you as his own. I suppose I have gained an odd sort of sympathy for Joseph in this small drama we seem to be playing out in my home. Joseph chose to enter into the circumstances, as inconvenient as they were. He adopted the Christ child as his.”
Once again, I wanted to dismantle the parallels Margaret was drawing between Jesus’ family and the Whitcombe family. I didn’t think I should be compared to Christ.
But, for some reason, the combination of Mark’s words to her and the sympathies she felt toward Mary and Joseph’s lives seemed to be the brick and mortar she was using to build a bridge toward me. I was ready to meet her halfway.
Margaret cleared her throat. “You asked a few moments ago if I might extend to you peace. Peace and grace. These are the words my husband had written over the doorpost of this home long ago. He often said those would be the qualities that would mark our family. I regret to say that, with you, I have not remained true to his wish.”
With a deep breath, she said, “Miranda, I offer you peace within these walls. You are welcome in this home, in this village, and in this family. I choose to believe that you are not a burden to the Whitcombe family; you are a blessing.”
I went to Margaret in one swift motion and offered her my open arms. She responded with surprise at my exuberance. Yet she received my hug, and there was no mistaking the intent of her heart or the intent of mine. Together we were marking a new beginning.
“Thank you,” I whispered to her as we drew apart.
“May the Father’s grace and peace remain over us,” she said as a benediction. I knew she meant our heavenly Father. But for me, in that moment, the term also carried with it the blessing of my birth father.
And that was all I had ever longed for.
Chapter Twenty-three
I left Margaret’s quarters a different person. The burden I had carried for the past year of trying to prove myself worthy of acceptance was gone. In its place was a calm assurance. It felt as if the “nativity scene” of my life was now balanced.
I wondered if Margaret had any idea of the immensity of the Christmas gift she had just given me. The week ahead would be one such as I had never experienced. But she had. This was a familiar path for her. Margaret had it within her power to guide me through the deep waters.
For the first time, I believed she would stand beside me through whatever lay ahead.
I was eager to go to the drawing room now, feeling like a different person than the one who had sat at the family meeting in that room the night before.
When I rounded the corner at the end of the long hall and walked into the wide entryway, a rush of cold air filled the open space. The security guard was holding the door as Ian entered with his arm around Andrew. Katharine was right behind them.
I rushed to meet them. Katharine gave me a kiss on my cheek from her chilled lips.
“Look at you!” I said to Andrew. “You’re up and going strong. I’m so glad you’re here!”
Andrew, the jolly ole elf, caught my eye and raised an eyebrow. He had looked at me that same way a year ago when he had “delivered” Ian to me as the last gift on his Father Christmas rounds. Fixing his expectant expression on mine, he said, “I hear there is news to be told.”
“Yes, there is news to be told.” I held out my hand. “Very good news.”
I looked at Ian, and he winked at me. I winked back.
Returning my gaze to Andrew, I saw a rim of silver tears welled in his eyes.
“You said yes to the man, did ya?” Andrew asked, trying to sound gruff.
“I did.”
“And did he go down on his knee?”
“He did.”
“Well done.” Andrew gave Ian a fatherly nod of approval.
“The ring is beautiful, Andrew. I love it. Thank you.” I didn’t know exactly what to say for such an extraordinary gift.
“She would have loved you as much as the rest of us.” Andrew took my hand to his lips and gave the memory-filled ring a tender kiss. Then he looked up at me with an expression of tender affection.
I started to cry.
I hadn’t realized that Margaret had left her apartment and was now part of our gathering in the entryway. Just as I was about to wipe my tears with the back of my hand, I felt a soft hand slip into mine. It was Margaret’s. She was handing me a handkerchief. One of her rosebud handkerchiefs.
I looked her in the eye and smiled my appreciation for the small gift with the enormous significance.
The rest of the Whitcombe family joined us in the entryway. Mark looked at his grandmother, and then he looked at me. I made sure he could see that I was holding a pink rosebud handkerchief — Margaret’s and my flag of truce. Mark lifted his chin the same way his father often did and gave me a slight nod of acknowledgment that he understood what I was communicating.
Julia wiggled up close to Andrew and was waiting for her chance to say her little hello to him.
“I’m glad you’re better now, Uncle Andrew,” she said.
“So am I, dear child. So am I.”
“Did you see our beautiful Christmas tree? You must come see it.” Julia reached for Andrew’s hand and tugged for him to come with her to admire it.
“First, we’ve something important to do.”
“What’s that?” Julia asked.
“Miranda must make good on her promise and kiss the patient man.”
I took two eager steps toward Ian and met his lips, giving him a full kiss. Julia giggled softly.
“What are you doing?” Andrew cried. “I said you were to kiss the patient man. Have you not heard I was in hospital? I’m the patient man here. I meant for you to kiss me!”
Everyone burst out laughing. I made good on my promise. I planted a big kiss on Andrew’s cheek.
“That’s better. Now, tell me, Ellie, have I come to the right place for some Christmas breakfast? I want to know that I didn’t leave the disagreeable porridge of the past few days for nothing.”
“Andrew, you came to the right place! I was just about to set out the Christmas buffet. Isn’t it wonderful that we’re all together? I couldn’t be more pleased. It’s a gift, isn’t it? A lovely blessing. This is going to be the best Christmas ever.”
Ian reached his strong arm around my shoulders and drew me close. I had the feeling he was never, ever going to let me go. He pressed his lips to my ear and whispered, “Happy Christmas, Miranda, my rose.”
As he heart-meltingly rolled the r’s, I leaned in closer and felt my heart filling with the realization that at last I was fully engaged. Not just engaged to Ian. I was engaged to this family. I was a Whitcombe, and soon enough I would become a MacGregor.
The Father of Christmas had once again brought peace on earth. And I was home at last.
Reading Group Guide
1) In this story, the word engage takes on many different meanings for Miranda; the most obvious is “engaged to be married.” How else is Miranda engaged throughout this story?
2) In the second chapter, Josh says, “I’ve found that truth has a way of rising to the surface. Sometimes you must wait for the truth to float to the top. Other times you must go to it, take it by the hand, and pull it up with all your might.” What do you think he means? Do you agree with his assessment of truth? Look at the discussion between Mark and Miranda on pages 55–58 for more insight. Can you think of a time when truth was revealed in one of these ways in your own life? Briefly describe the experience.
3) Many tim
es in Engaging Father Christmas, life doesn’t go as planned. List some of these moments in the story. How do you see God’s hand working in those moments as the story progresses? Have you ever had moments like this in your life? How was God’s plan revealed as time progressed?
4) What do you think Miranda means when she says, “This is the part of Christmas when we can hear heaven and nature sing” (pg. 94)? Miranda thinks about this song phrase a little earlier in the story (pg. 82). Reread this passage. Have you ever had a moment when God seemed as big as He seems to Miranda? Please share this moment with your reading group.
5) In the passage when Mark, Ian, and Miranda stop to enjoy the moon (pgs. 81–83), what words are used to describe the moon? Why do you think the author chose those words? How is this experience a Christmas gift to Mark, Ian, Miranda, and also to God? How do you make a point at Christmastime to give the gift of your worship to God?
6) Mark and Julia’s tender love toward the children in the hospital makes a difference in many young lives, including their own. What can you do this Christmas to show God’s selfless love to someone in need?
7) Starting on page 99, “Princess Miranda” and “Princess Julia” enjoy breakfast together in bed. This scene reminds Miranda of her early morning Christmas “breakfasts” of chocolates with her mother. Obviously Miranda’s childhood Christmas traditions were very different from Julia’s. What traditions did you celebrate as a child, and what do you do to celebrate now? How have these traditions given you a sense of identity and belonging?
8) Miranda feels connected to the Forgotten Rose Cottage. How has her life compared with the story of the cottage? Read Jeremiah 29:11–12 and discuss how these verses apply.
9) Sir James was a great artist. He excelled at acting, but he was also interested in painting. On page 126 Miranda discovers her father’s unfinished paintings at the Forgotten Rose Cottage. How does Miranda’s evaluation of herself as one of her father’s unfinished paintings apply to our relationship with Father God, the Master Artist?
10) Miranda’s true identity is revealed against her will through circumstances that she has no control over. Even though she and the Whitcombe family wanted to keep the family secret hidden, what good came out of the revelation? What does this tell us about the benefit of unveiling secrets?
11) How does the Christmas story of Jesus’ birth play a role in the healing that occurs between Miranda and Margaret? In what ways did this view of His birth affect you?
12) Miranda is much more capable and willing to express love in Engaging Father Christmas than she was in Finding Father Christmas. What do you think caused this change? How might this apply to your life? Read 1 John 4:7–8.
About the Author
Robin Jones Gunn is the bestselling author of seventy books, representing nearly 4 million copies sold. In 2007 she won the Christy award for excellence in fiction for her novel Sisterchicks in Gondolas and was a Christy award finalist for Wildflowers. A dozen of her novels have appeared at the top of the CBA bestseller list, including her wildly successful Sisterchicks series, the romantic Glenbrooke series and the popular Christy Miller series for teens. Robin’s Women of Faith novel, Gardenias for Breakfast, is a favorite for book clubs. Thousands of teens from around the world have written letters to Robin sharing how God used her popular Christy Miller series, Sierra Jensen series, and Katie Weldon series to bring them to Christ as well as lead them to make life-changing decisions regarding purity. Robin and her husband of thirty-one years live near Portland, OR, where they are members of Imago Dei Community along with other Christian authors including Donald Miller, the author of Blue Like Jazz. She serves on the board of directors for Jerry B. Jenkins’s Christian Writers Guild as well as on the board of directors for Media Associates International. You can learn more about Robin on her Web site at www.robingunn.com.
If you liked
Engaging Father Christmas, you’ll love . . .
FINDING
FATHER
CHRISTMAS
“Gunn . . . dishes up a perfect Christmas story about sacrifice, family, and the true meaning of love.”
—Library Journal
Miranda Carson’s desperate search for her father takes a turn she never expected when she finds herself in London a few days before Christmas with only a few feeble clues to who her father might be. Unexpectedly welcomed into a family that doesn’t recognize her, and whom she’s quickly coming to love, Miranda faces a terrible decision.
Should she reveal her true identity and destroy their idyllic image of her father? Or should she carry the truth home with her to San Francisco and remain alone in this world? Whatever choice she makes during this London Christmas will forever change the future for both her and the family she can’t bear to leave.
Engaging Father Christmas Page 12