The Christmas Wishing Tree: An Eternity Springs Novel

by Emily March

  In a little voice, Reilly said, “But I like Eternity Springs. I don’t want to leave.”

  “We’ve only been here a few months. Not nearly as long as we spent in Nashville or Tallahassee.”

  “I didn’t make friends there. I have a lot of friends here.”

  “I thought you wanted a dad.”

  “I do. I really do. I love Devin. But why do we have to move to Australia? This is the best place in the whole world! I get to be a camel in the Christmas pageant, and Ms. Gabi is going to teach me how to make a glass ornament for our Christmas tree.”

  Jenna’s teeth tugged at her bottom lip. She’d figured he wouldn’t be thrilled about moving, but obviously this wasn’t going to be as easy as she’d hoped. “We won’t move before Christmas, honey. It’ll be sometime after the first of the year.”

  “I don’t want to move to Australia ever! Why can’t Devin move to Eternity Springs and stay here with us?”

  “He can’t do his job here.”

  “Why not? Other dads have jobs here. His dad has a job here. Devin could work with Cam.”

  “It doesn’t work that way, Reilly. Look, I’m sure you’ll love it there. Devin will make sure of it. You’ll make new friends and the three of us will have new adventures. You just need to give him and Australia a chance.”

  “I don’t want to! I want to stay here.” “We’ll come back to visit.”

  “I don’t want to visit. I want to live here! I hate jobs! A dad was supposed to make things easier because of you working all the time. Not make everything worse! I hate Australia! I’ll be scared there. I’m never scared here! Everybody knows me here and they’re not going to break my arm or point a gun at me. You go without me, Mom. You’re not my real mom, anyway. You can unadopt me. I’ll find another mom.”

  Tears streaming down his face, Reilly whirled around and dashed for the back door, failing to wait even long enough for Sinatra to catch up with him.

  Jenna groaned and muttered, “That went well.” Hearing a sound behind her, she turned to see Devin standing in the great room just beyond the kitchen door. By the stricken expression on his face, it was obvious that he’d heard everything.

  Jenna went to him and wrapped her arms around him. “It’s okay. He’ll come around.”

  “Hearing that ripped out my heart.”

  “I know.” She closed her eyes and heard the echo of his hurt little voice saying, “Unadopt me.” Tears flooded her eyes. Here she’d thought he’d healed. Guess she’d gotten ahead of herself.

  “I can’t do that to him, Jenna. He’s been through so much. I can’t put him through more traumas. I won’t be able to live with myself.”

  “We’ll find a way to make it work.”

  “How? I can’t make a living in Eternity Springs. If I tried to work for Dad again, we’d be at loggerheads and it would ruin our relationship. My higher education took place aboard a boat. It’s all I ever wanted. All I know.”

  He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against hers. “I’ve considered it, you know. When I learned about these babies coming and knowing I wouldn’t be part of their lives, I considered my options. Family does matter. It matters a lot. That’s one reason why this new deal matters so much. The deal gives me the financial resources to come home when I want. Let me tell you, three flights since June has made my credit card bill a thing of horror.”

  The timer went off. They stepped apart, and Jenna moved to take the biscuits out of the oven. She tossed the hot pads down onto the counter, closed her eyes, and rubbed her temples. “I suspect what we saw a few minutes ago is simply a case of too much change in too short a time. Reilly probably needs to talk to a counselor too. I wanted to do that last summer, but moving around the way we did didn’t make it feasible.”

  “Moving around the way you did,” Devin repeated. “See, that’s what makes this so bad. I knew he liked it here, but I didn’t realize he’d fallen under the Eternity Springs spell. Dammit, Jenna, I wouldn’t have . . .”

  She folded her arms and faced him. “You wouldn’t have what? Fallen in love with me? Risked your heart on me?”

  “Taken so long to figure it out.”

  “Long? We’ve only known each other four months.” He shook his head. “I fell in love with you long beforeI spotted you on the Hummingbird Lake fishing pier. I knew from our very first phone call, Jenna.”

  “That’s sweet, but silly. You don’t fall in love with a stranger during a phone call.”

  “Don’t be betting against the Eternity Springs mojo.”

  “I’m not going to. That’s why I’m sure we will find a way to make this work. Listen, Devin, you and I can be sensitive to Reilly’s needs—we should be—but we should be fair to ourselves too. Families make sacrifices for one another. That’s what families do.”

  “But he’s just a boy, and he’s already been through so much.”

  “I know. And if he was truly in danger like before, that would one thing, but this situation is different. Families all over the country—all over the world—face this same problem every day. Sometimes, kids have to move for their parents’ job. That’s life. Children have to learn that the world doesn’t revolve around them. Otherwise they grow up to be selfish and self-centered and narcissistic, and I want better than that for my son.”

  Devin took Jenna into his arms. “Reilly isn’t selfish, he’s scared.”

  “Yes, but those fears are not based in reality. Not this time. Moving him to Australia will not put him into danger. I wouldn’t do it if it would. But I also won’t let my eight-year-old son dictate my life. I love you. I’m not going to walk away from that. We will give Reilly some time, but he will just have to learn to deal. You asked me to marry you. I’m not letting you take it back. You’re stuck with me, Devin. We will find a way to make this work.”

  He pressed his lips to her forehead. “I’ll make him happy. I’ll make you happy. I swear.”

  “I believe you, Devin. I believe in us, in the family we will form.”

  “Okay. I trust you. I believe in us too. The bad news is . . . that phone call . . . there was a fire at the marina office. This wasn’t a hurricane that sank my boats, but my paperwork is a mess. I have the meeting with the investors next week. I’m going to have to recreate a lot of records. I have to go back.”

  “Oh, Devin, no. When? When do you have to leave?”

  “Right away. I’ve already called the airlines, and connections are gonna be a bear.” He glanced toward the back door. “I want to talk to him, but what can I say in a couple of minutes? I’m afraid I’ll only make things worse. Dammit, Jenna. I don’t know how I went from such great timing yesterday to such sucky timing today. I don’t want to leave here, not like this, but everything I own is tied up . . .”

  She rested her index finger against his lips. “You’ll be back for Christmas, right? After the babies are born?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then go take care of business, Devin. Reilly and I will be waiting here for you when you return.”

  “I wish . . .”

  “I know. Me too.”

  “I’ll call you from the airport. From all of them. I’ll call you every day.” He kissed her once, hard and quick. “Why are we always saying goodbye?”

  He’d just shifted into reverse to back out of Jenna’s drive when she ran out of the house with a paper bag in her hand. He rolled down the window. She shoved the bag at him. “Breakfast. And not goodbye. Never goodbye. I’ll see you at Christmas, Santa. Don’t forget to believe.”

  Twenty-One

  Elsewhere in the country the day after Thanksgiving was known as Black Friday. In Eternity Springs, things were different. Here the day was known as Deck the Halls Friday, and everyone turned out to dress up the town for the holiday season. As always, spirits were high, the cinnamon spiced cider was hot, and by noon, wreathes decorated doorways, garland graced lampposts, and thousands of twinkling white lights set the scene. Citizens pitched in to decorate the tow
n’s official tree in Davenport Park, and once the mayor and honorary Deck the Halls chairwoman Celeste Blessing placed the angel atop the tree, they dispersed to trim their family trees and put up their personal holiday decorations.

  At Angel’s Rest Healing Center and Spa, Celeste and her helpers had been busy little elves. When Reilly and Jenna arrived for their three o’clock appointment, she had the old Victorian mansion that served as the headquarters of the resort glistening and twinkling and glittering in silver and gold. Angels sat on every nook and cranny and post and beam throughout the house.

  “Everything looks beautiful,” Jenna told Celeste as she descended the staircase carrying a large canvas tote.

  “Thank you. I so enjoy decorating for the holidays.” Celeste lifted a down filled white coat from a hall tree near the front door and asked, “Where is Reilly?”

  “He’s outside with Sinatra.”

  “The boy does love his dog, doesn’t he?” she observed, slipping into her coat.

  “Yes.” It was the one thing Jenna could count on where Reilly was concerned these days.

  This past month with Reilly had been a challenge, to say the least. The first week after Devin returned to Australia, Reilly would hardly talk to her. The second, he spoke with her, but pretended their conversation about Devin had never happened. She’d gotten him in to see a counselor in Gunnison that week, but she knew better than to expect too much too soon on that front. Trust in counseling relationships took time to build. During the last two weeks, she’d begun to hope that they’d made some progress. Her son hadn’t bolted from the room every time she’d brought up the subject of their future.

  Devin had called daily. They’d decided to keep news of their engagement to themselves until he returned at Christmas. His family had been curious about his unexpected brief trip home, but when he’d asked them for patience, they’d given it to him. With their due dates fast approaching, the Timberlakes and the Murphys both had babies uppermost on their minds.

  “I’m so glad you invited me to join you this afternoon, Jenna,” Celeste said. ”It warms my heart to know that you and Reilly have chosen to adopt my family’s Christmas wishing tree tradition.”

  “It’s a lovely tradition. I’m grateful and honored that you shared it with us.”

  When they stepped out onto the front porch of Cavanaugh House, the sound of Reilly’s unbridled laughter reached Jenna’s ears. She watched her son and his dog play together in the snow and a sense of peace washed through her. Everything would turn out okay. She knew that. After all, hadn’t that been her wishing tree wish?

  Jenna picked up the backpack she’d left on the porch swing upon arriving at Angel’s Rest and slipped her arms through the straps.

  “The sun has come out,” Celeste observed as they started down the front steps. “Isn’t this lovely? We had just enough snow to freshen everything up. I do love sparkle and glisten.”

  Celeste had a treat in her pocket for Sinatra, and the puppy wiggled and yipped with delight upon seeing the biscuit. As they hiked toward the forest, she chatted with Reilly about school as Sinatra raced in mad circles around them. Then as they entered the hushed cathedral of the forest, even the pup quieted and fell into step at Reilly’s feet.

  They’d hiked for about ten minutes when Celeste abruptly stopped. “I think we’ve found it. That looks like a perfect Christmas wishing tree.”

  In front of them stood a majestic blue spruce about twelve feet tall. Frosted with snow, heavy with pinecones, and with a beautiful shape.

  “It’s close to last year’s tree,” Reilly said. “It’s right over there. See it? I can see it.” He pointed toward a spot some twenty feet away where an angel remained standing at the top of the tree. “They can be wishing tree friends.”

  “I like the sound of that. So, let’s get to work, shall we?” Celeste set down her tote and began pulling out an amazing number of trimmings for the size of her bag. For the next ten minutes she, Jenna, and Reilly draped garland and hung ornaments upon its branches. When the tote bag was finally empty, Celeste used a folding extension tool to place a simple straw angel atop the tree.

  “There. We’re all done but for the final touch.” She reached into her coat pocket, and as she withdrew one last ornament a small gold velvet bag fell into the snow.

  “You dropped something,” Reilly said, diving for it.

  Celeste hung an intricate woodcarving of a snowflake on her tree, then smiled down at Reilly as she accepted the bag. “Thank you, Reilly. I would have hated to lose this.” Then with quiet ceremony, Celeste hung the snowflake on a branch.

  The trio stepped back and observed the tree. Following a few moments of reflection, Jenna observed, “It’s simple and lovely.”

  “Yes, isn’t it?”

  “I like your tree, Ms. Celeste,” Reilly said. “Whose are we doing next, Mom? Yours or mine?”

  “You pick.”

  “Let’s do yours. We’ll save the best for last.”

  “Okay. But I want you to help me pick out the perfect tree.”

  “I can do that.”

  “We’ll follow you.”

  The path the boy led them along took them past Celeste’s wishing tree from last year. Jenna was surprised to discover that the tree’s decorations appeared unharmed by a year’s worth of wind and rain and snow and squirrels. She spied only one bit of damage.

  Reilly saw it too. “Oh no. The angel you hung last year has a broken wing.”

  “No problem,” Celeste said in a chipper tone. “I have a few more wrinkles and creases this year, myself. But she’s hanging in there, isn’t she?”

  “What if she’d disappeared? What if a bear knocked her out of the tree and stomped on her? Would your wish be ruined?”

  “Oh, Reilly.” Celeste gave him a quick hug. “Don’t forget that she’s only a symbol, just as the wishing tree itself is symbolic. Don’t forget that what matters is what was in my heart when I hung her on that branch.”

  The boy continued to look at the broken angel for a long moment. “What is in your heart matters most of all. I remember.” Glancing up at his mother, he said, “I remember there’s a pretty tree next to the wishing tree I chose last year. You might like it.”

  “Why don’t you show me?”

  “It’s this way. I remember.” Reilly headed off through the forest with Sinatra, as always, at his heels.

  “How does he know where we are?” Jenna wondered aloud. “We’ve wandered a lot of different woods in the past year.”

  Celeste slipped her arm through Jenna’s. “It’s amazing what our young ones recall when it comes to everything Christmas.”

  That much was true. A few minutes later, he stopped in front of a Douglas fir just a little bit taller than Jenna. “What do you think, Mom? Do you like it?”

  “It’s perfect.” Jenna slipped off her backpack and started unloading decorations. Yesterday after sharing a Thanksgiving meal up at Heartache Falls with the Timberlakes and Murphys, she and her son had passed a pleasant hour creating their wishing tree ornament. Reilly had made a snowman from pinecones and twigs.

  Jenna would have loved to know what the snowman symbolized for her son, but she remembered the rules. Ms. Celeste said it works better if you keep you wishes in your heart.

  Personally, Jenna was wearing her wishes on her sleeve these days. She’d carved a whole, healthy wooden heart from a piece of firewood she’d filched from the Murphy’s woodpile, decorated it with sparkling gravel gathered from the banks of Angel Creek, and tied a leather band around it that roughly—very roughly—symbolized eyeglasses.

  Reilly had looked at the ornament and then at her with an expression that said, Really, Mom? but he didn’t comment. He knew the rules too.

  With her tree trimmed, Jenna carefully unwrapped her heart from its protective tissue paper. She hung it on the tree, and then looked at Celeste. “Because I choose to live my vision, not my circumstance.”

  Celeste’s answering smile wa
rmed Jenna from the inside out. “And for that, I have a little something for you to carry with you wherever you go. It’s a bit easier to carry around than a snow globe.”

  Jenna opened the bag and removed a delicate angel’s wing pendant on a chain. She knew what this was. She’d seen her friends wearing it. Her eyes flooded with sudden tears. “It’s the Angel’s Rest blazon.”

  “That it is. Awarded to those who have accepted love’s healing grace.”

  “It’s beautiful, Celeste. Thank you. But . . .” Something else remained in the small gold bag. Jenna looked again. “Two more?”

  “Live in your vision, not your circumstance.” Celeste looped her arm through Jenna’s and spoke to Reilly. “I think it’s time to decorate your Christmas wishing tree now, don’t you?”

  “Sure! I have one all picked out. It’s right this way.” Jenna scooped up the backpack and followed her son through the woods to a spot along the forest’s edge. “What do you think, Mom?

  He’d stopped in front of what could best be described as a Charlie Brown Christmas tree. Its trunk was bent but unbroken, and the branches sparse. It grew from the midst of a rocky section of land that offered little soil for roots. Despite the less than ideal circumstances, the tree survived.

  Just like Reilly survived. Survived, ready to thrive. Tears flooded Jenna’s eyes. Her voice sounded a little shaky as she said, “I think it’s the perfect tree.”

  “You couldn’t have found a better choice!” Celeste agreed.

  Reilly took off his own backpack, and as he began to pull out the decorations he’d assembled, Celeste snapped her fingers. “Oh, posh. Do you know what I did? I left my mittens back at my wishing tree. Reilly do you mind getting started without me while I run back to get them?”

  “That’s okay.”

  Jenna looked down at the abundance of trimmings he’d set out. She couldn’t for the life of her imagine how they’d all fit on that little tree. “Where do you want me to start, hot rod?”