Ryan made her laugh with stories from his childhood. She cried when she talked about her mom’s cancer. When she cried, he wrapped his arm around her. “You never have to be sorry for loving someone enough that their loss makes you cry.”
It was midnight when they finally stopped talking. She knew it was the moment of truth. Should she? Could she? It wasn’t that she was completely inexperienced in the physical department, but it had been a long time. The way she felt about Ryan was dangerous. If she slept with him, there would be no going back. She would be in love by morning.
He tipped her chin up for her to look into his eyes. “Let’s take this nice and slow. You tell me when you’re ready. You can take as long as you like. I have a feeling we have the chance for something amazing here, and I don’t want to ruin it by rushing into anything.”
She nodded. This man melted every part of her. He was right. They could take their time. If she was right about them, they had a lifetime to look forward to.
“I want you to stay here with us for the holidays,” he said. “You can stay in the guest room and get to know Morgan and spend time with me. I don’t want you going back to your cold apartment.”
“Are you sure?” She almost cried with happiness. The thought of being here through Christmas filled her with such hope and joy she thought she might burst.
“Yes. If at any point we scare you away, I’ll take you home.”
“I’m not scared,” she said.
“Me neither.”
“Which is weird, right?”
“Definitely weird.”
* * * * *
The next morning, Ryan woke to sunshine. It was late already—almost nine. He knew what he wanted to do for Rena for Christmas. And this time he wasn’t running it by his sister so she could talk him out of it. He grabbed the card from the boutique where he’d bought the coat for his sister. Julia answered right away. “Yes, yes, Mr. Scott, it’s all ready for you.”
“I’d like another one, if you wouldn’t mind,” he said.
“Let me guess. Red, size small?”
“Yes ma’am.”
“Excellent. I’ll have them both ready for you this morning.”
He agreed to swing by later, weather permitting. This was going to be a great Christmas. Now he needed to order a few more things for Morgan and he would be all set. He grabbed his laptop and headed downstairs.
Rena was in the kitchen making coffee. She wore a pair of his boxer shorts and one of his t-shirts and a pair of his fluffy socks. She looked good enough to eat. Tinsel watched Rena’s every move, with her head tilted to one side like she was trying to learn a secret code.
He slid into the breakfast booth. “I’ve got some serious shopping to do.”
She sat next to him and over the next hour, they sipped coffee, ate toast, and ordered a ridiculous amount of presents for Morgan at the local toy store. “You’re a bad influence,” he said. “She’s going to be spoiled rotten.”
Rena chuckled as she grabbed the last piece of toast. “I know what girls like because I was one.”
The weather warmed enough for them to venture out for supplies and to get Rena’s things and pick up Morgan’s ordered gifts. They were in the kitchen when Rosie brought Morgan home. Rena was teaching him how to make her mother’s famous cinnamon rolls.
“Daddy, we’re back.” Morgan’s voice reached them from the front room.
“In the kitchen.”
Footsteps, and then his daughter was in the doorway. She stopped dead in her tracks. “Rena?”
“I’ve come for a visit. I hope that’s all right?” Rena knelt so she was the child’s height.
Morgan’s whole face and body smiled, like Tinsel with her favorite toy. “Yes. That’s great. What’re you guys making?”
Ryan’s attention was averted from the girls when his sister appeared in the doorway. Rosie wore tall black boots and leggings and a long sweater. Her brown hair was cut and styled into a precise bob. Everything was precise about his sister, all the way from her small, straight nose and oval face, to her long, slender physique. Her mind was as sharp as her hair. She scared men for the most part, which was a shame because she was warm and funny.
“Hey, sis.”
She kissed his cheek. “Hello, brother of mine.” Rosie turned just as Rena stood. “I’m Rosie. As in Auntie and Sister. You must be Rena. Morgan’s told me a lot about you.”
The two women shook hands. “Your brother’s told me a lot about you.”
“Don’t listen to a word he says,” Rose said. “He always exaggerates the bad parts when he tells stories about me.”
“We’ve been out and about this morning getting everything we need for Christmas dinner,” Ryan said. “Do you have plans tonight or do you want to stay for dinner?”
“I do have plans. Some girlfriends and I are going out. If the weather doesn’t take a turn for the worse. But I’ll see you all tomorrow. I left the presents under the tree. Morgan and I are officially done with our shopping.”
“We shopped until we dropped,” Morgan said.
“So did we,” he said.
“Did you get things for me?” Morgan asked.
“Maybe.” He ruffled her hair.
“I’m out of here. I’ll see you all tomorrow.” Rosie blew them all kisses and was gone as quickly as she’d arrived.
“Morgan, you have to come with me. We have an errand to run.” He turned to Rena. “Will you be okay if I run out really quick? I have something I need to pick up, and Morgan’s the only one allowed to join me.”
“I bet it’s something for you,” Morgan said.
Rena shot him a look. “But I don’t have anything for you.”
“Don’t worry,” Morgan said. “You being here is enough for us.”
* * * * *
That night, Rena perched on the side of Morgan’s bed. The room was almost all pink with ruffles and sparkly lampshades. It was perfect. “What do you usually do before bed?” Rena asked.
“Daddy usually reads me a story,” Morgan said.
“Would you like me to?”
“No, I’d rather talk.”
“What would you like to talk about?” Rena asked.
“Do you like kids?”
“Very much. I used to be one, so I know you’re just the same as a grownup, only smaller. I like all people, no matter their age.”
“Really? It feels the same to be a grownup as a kid?” Morgan’s round eyes looked up at her. This little one melted a heart as fast as her daddy did.
“Pretty much, only you have bigger worries.”
“Like what?”
“Not everyone has the same, but for me, it’s usually about money. Not having enough.” She smiled and brushed a lock of the little girl’s hair from her forehead.
“Daddy has worries,” Morgan said. “He worries about the agency and me.”
“He has a lot of responsibilities. That’s part of being a grownup.”
“My mom died. Did you know that?”
“I did. Your daddy told me about it. My mother died when I was in college.”
“So you have lots of memories of her?” Morgan asked.
“Yes. So many.”
“Tell me one.”
“Let me think of a good one.” Rena played with the fringe on the pink comforter. “She used to read me stories before bed. When I was about your age, she read me James and the Giant Peach. Do you know that story?”
“I’ve seen it in the library. Is it good?”
“Oh, yes. It’s really good, even though it’s scary at some parts.”
“Did she do all the different voices?” Morgan asked. “Daddy does the voices.”
Rena chuckled, remembering. “She did.”
“Maybe you could read it to me sometime?”
“I’d like that very much.”
Morgan’s eyelids flickered, obviously fighting sleep. “Tell me something else.”
Rena lowered her voice, hoping to coax her to
sleep. “At Christmastime, she always made cookies for all the neighbors, and we’d deliver them on Christmas Eve. Almost every neighbor invited us in for a hot drink and a cookie. I’d be so full by the end of our deliveries that I didn’t want to eat any dinner.”
“People invited you in? That’s weird.”
“It was a different type of place than Seattle. Everyone knew their neighbor, and we looked out for one another. There were several older people who lived alone and my mom always invited them over for Christmas dinner. She was filled with the Christmas spirit. I loved that about her.”
“You’re filled with it too.” Morgan’s eyes closed. “I can tell.” The last was murmured as she rolled to her side and tucked her hands under her cheek.
“Goodnight, little one.” Rena pulled the covers up to Morgan’s shoulders.
“Goodnight, Rena. Santa sent just the right one.”
Rena smiled. How sweet she was, dreaming of Santa.
She went downstairs. Ryan had opened a bottle of wine and had his feet propped up on the coffee table. “How did it go?” he asked.
“It went great. That’s a special little girl you have,” she said.
“I was surprised she asked you to tuck her in. That’s kind of our thing.”
“I was flattered, to say the least.”
She joined him on the couch. He put his arm around her, and she snuggled into his chest. “I’d like to come to your room tonight.”
He shifted slightly. She looked up at him. “Seven, you sure?”
“So sure. As long as I don’t fall asleep and Morgan finds me in there.”
“She won’t need to know.”
“Are you sure?” she asked.
“So sure.”
He rose from the couch and scooped her into his arms. “Let’s make some Christmas magic, Seven.”
She laughed. “So cheesy.”
“You know you love it.”
“I do,” she said.
His kisses stifled any other comments as he carried her up the stairs to his room and shut and locked the door.
Part Four
Ryan woke before his daughter or Rena on Christmas morning. He crept out of bed at 5:00 a.m., careful not to wake Rena, and down the stairs. As he passed Morgan’s room, he poked his head in to make sure she was still sleeping. If he was to keep the Santa guise up for another year, she couldn’t see him setting up the Barbie house. Tinsel raised her head from where it had been resting on Morgan’s legs and cocked his head to the side. Ryan motioned with a flick of his wrist for the dog to follow.
Tinsel jumped from the bed and joined him in the hallway. Ryan closed the bedroom door behind him and walked down the stairs, with the click of Tinsel’s claws on the hardwood floor right behind him. In the living room, he turned on the Christmas tree lights and flipped on the fireplace. He stood for a moment by the fire and breathed in the scent of the tree. Darn if that tree didn’t look pretty good, considering. The girls had decorated every empty space on the poor, scrawny thing.
He lit candles and made coffee, then grabbed Morgan’s stocking and an extra one he’d bought for Rena, and went into his office. Between sips of coffee, he stuffed them with the last-minute gifts he’d ordered from Amazon. He was still trying to get his mind around the past three days. All that had occurred was enough to make anyone’s head swim.
He snuck the Barbie Townhouse into the living room and set it under the tree. He’d just arranged the new Barbie and Ken dolls on the pink couch in front of the plastic fireplace, when he noticed an envelope on the tree, addressed to Morgan. Rena must have slipped it on there when he wasn’t looking. He glanced up the stairs. Still quiet. He shrugged away his guilt. He had to know what she’d said to his little girl.
The front of the card was a picture of a country church covered in snow. A family of three stood on the steps holding hands. The little girl wore a red jacket and hat. Snowflakes nestled in the woman’s long, dark hair. The man had his arm around both the little girl and the woman. His heart lurched. If he didn’t know better, he’d think it was the three of them.
He opened the card. The handwriting was wobbly, like that of an older person.
Dear Morgan,
Thank you for your video. You made a great case for you father. However, Jesus and I had plans for your dad long before we received your plea. Because of this, we decided to let you in on a secret. We trust you will not share it with other children. Like us, we’re sure you want the magic of Christmas to be in every child’s heart.
The Santa they tell you about is real, but the one you visit at the mall and that you believe brings toys is not exactly accurate. Instead, I work directly with the man upstairs to deliver the big wishes, like the one you had. The toys are given to you by your parents—in this case, your dad. So, don’t be surprised that you received the gift of both Rena and the Barbie Townhome. In addition to the children who aren’t lucky enough to have a family who loves them, as you do, at Christmas we also concentrate on adults, especially the lonely hearts looking for love and hope. You will learn as you grow older that timing is indeed everything. Your dad wasn’t ready to love with his whole heart until recently. Rena, also, had lessons to learn before she was ready. Happily, God has a plan for all of us. So, keep talking to us. We’re listening.
I have another secret. Your suspicion is correct. Jesus and I are one and the same. We are love and love is us. Love remains after death, disappointment, even cruelty. Love resides in the human heart, always at the ready to combat hate. Love is stronger than hate and fear.
Even for hearts that have been tarnished or dormant for a time, love can be coaxed back to vibrant life, if we only believe.
Remember this when you’re older and evil seems stronger than your beautiful heart.
You are a good girl, Morgan. We’re proud of you and look forward to hearing from you on a regular basis. Videos are not necessary. Both Jesus and I can hear your prayers, silent or spoken.
May the true meaning of Christmas be with you always.
Yours,
Santa
Ryan sank into the easy chair. His eyesight blurred with tears and his heart thumped like a drum in his chest. Santa? Was it possible? Was John Smith actually Kris Kringle? Had he dropped out of the sky to unite him with Rena? Or was this all some strange dream? He placed the card back in its envelope and put it on the tree branch and wiped his eyes.
Footsteps came from up above. They sounded too heavy to be Morgan’s. Rena was awake. A shrill of happiness shot through him.
She stopped at the last stair and gave him a shy smile. “I’m still here.”
“I’m glad.” He held out his arms. “Come here.”
In a second, she was in his arms. “I heard you get up, but I stayed in bed, worrying.”
“About what?”
“That you’d regret that you’d asked me to stay. That I’ll ruin Morgan’s Christmas morning. Lots of things.” Without makeup, she looked young and innocent, a reflection of her inner heart. She’d entrusted her body and her heart to him. He would protect both.
He stroked her cheek where the pillowcase had left an indentation. “Not one bit. I want you here, Seven. Today and every day.”
“This is like a dream,” she said.
“A wonderful dream.” He brushed her dark hair from her face and kissed her.
Morgan’s voice calling from upstairs drew them apart. “Daddy, can I come down now?”
“Yes, come on down.”
Morgan ran down the stairs. Her face lit up when she saw Rena standing there and ran toward her, throwing her arms around Rena’s legs. “I knew it was you from the moment I saw you. I knew Santa wouldn’t let me down.”
Rena met his gaze over Morgan’s head. He would have to explain later.
“Santa was here,” he said. “Look.” He pointed to the Barbie Townhome.
Morgan screamed in delight then looked back at Rena, as if she couldn’t believe both had arrived. “Read the note on the
tree, there,” he said.
Morgan opened the envelope. She took in a deep breath. “It’s from Santa,” she whispered. For a moment, she was quiet, reading. He slipped his hand into Rena’s.
When she was done, Morgan’s folded the letter carefully and placed it back in the envelope, looking dazed. “I knew it,” she whispered. “Daddy, did you read it?”
“I did.”
“Are you mad?”
“No, I’m glad.”
She grinned. God, she was cute without her front teeth. His little girl. His special little girl.
“Let’s open some presents,” he said. “Morgan, you’re in charge of delivering them to us. We’re going to sit here and have coffee.”
He went to the kitchen to make coffee. When he returned to the living room, the girls were huddled together on the couch, whispering. They drew apart when they saw him watching.
He had a feeling this might start happening a lot. Thank you, Santa.
“Rena’s gift from me first,” he said.
“What? No, you didn’t,” she said.
“Yes, I did.”
“It’s a big one too.” Morgan lugged it over to where Rena waited on the couch.
Rena tore the paper off, seeming as excited as a kid. She lifted the lid from the box and let out a shriek. “No, it’s too much. I can’t believe it.” She held the red wood coat up to her face. “It’s so perfect.”
Morgan jumped up and down like a pogo stick was under her feet. “I went with him when he picked it up.”
Rena, eyes shining, turned to him. “But it’s so expensive.”
“It’s okay. I can afford it,” he said.
“Well, I know, but still…”
He put his hand up to stop her. “It’s Christmas. It’s better to give than receive.”
Morgan plopped another gift on Rena’s lap. “Open this one.”
“Two?”
“Two,” he said.
Rena opened the package. This time she was totally silent when she saw that is was a newer version of the Nikon she’d had to sell. Finally, she spoke as tears spilled from her eyes. “Ryan. I can’t accept this. It’s not right.”
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