by Kathy Macias
“Señora?”
The familiar voice brought her back from her thoughts, and she opened her eyes and looked up. “Padre Ramon. Merry Christmas.”
“Ramon,” he reminded her. “And merry Christmas to you, too, señora.”
She smiled. “Julia.”
He lifted his eyebrows and then smiled and nodded. “Julia. Sí. Thank you.”
After a brief pause, he broke away and moved to the front, turning off the boom box before picking up his guitar and settling onto his stool. He spent a moment tuning up, and then began to strum “Silent Night,” even as a handful of parishioners entered the building.
Julia spotted Ramon’s three children, making their way toward the front. As they passed her, Marina turned and waved, her smile lighting up her face. Julia knew how excited the girl was to have her older brother and sister home for a visit.
Lovely young people, she thought as she watched them all settle into the front row. She’d had a chance to spend a little time getting to know Cristina and Antonio since they arrived a few days earlier, and their time together had been delightful. How she looked forward to Tyler and Brittney getting to know Ramon’s children one day soon!
The thought brought heat to her cheeks. Was she running ahead of God’s plans for her life? Quite possibly, though she knew Marina would like nothing better than for her father and teacher to get together. She’d dropped more than one hint lately, usually in front of Antonio and Cristina. Julia had been embarrassed but noticed that Ramon’s older children seemed to welcome their little sister’s comments.
Her eyes fell on Ramon again, even as he lifted his head and met her gaze. The warmth she felt in the exchange was more than embarrassment or shyness; it was a welcome connection that she sensed could very well develop into much more.
“Merry Christmas, Julia.”
Once again a greeting interrupted her thoughts, and she turned to see Frank and Carolyn slip into the two seats to her left.
“Merry Christmas to you,” she replied. “This is absolutely beautiful! I’m so looking forward to the service tonight.”
Carolyn nodded and patted her hand. “We are too. And we’re so pleased that you decided to stay here for Christmas. I’m sure it wasn’t an easy decision, knowing you could be home with your family.”
Julia smiled. “You’re right. It wasn’t easy. But I knew this was where God wanted me to be, and that’s all that matters. Besides, I really do feel like I’m home, right here, with my family and friends.”
Carolyn’s eyes glistened and she reached out and pulled Julia into a hug. “We feel exactly the same way about you, Julia.”
The room was filling up then, with only a few seats left. Julia had purposely sat in the middle of the row, with two seats on each side of her. Now that Frank and Carolyn had taken the ones to her left, she wondered if she should set her shawl and Bible on the two on her right. She so hoped Itzel and her grandmother would show up, and she wanted to have seats for them if they did.
She glanced back anxiously, knowing it was nearly time for the service to begin. The room was almost completely full, and her heart sank as she noticed that the two she watched for were not among the stragglers.
And then she saw them—peering shyly inside, eyes scanning the room. Without thinking, Julia stood to her feet and waved. Itzel’s face lit up, and she and her grandmother quickly made their way up the aisle to sit beside Julia.
Abuela nodded in greeting but said nothing, while Itzel shyly received the hug Julia offered.
“I’m so glad you came,” Julia whispered. “Merry Christmas.”
Itzel nodded. “It will be a good Christmas. The best.” She dropped her eyes and then lifted them again. Tears mirrored her emotions. “It is the best because you are here with us. I don’t ever want you to leave.”
A sharp pain stabbed Julia’s heart. The girl wanted her to stay forever—to never leave. That was not a promise she could make. But was it a possibility?
She took Itzel’s hand in hers and squeezed it. Just a few weeks earlier she’d been tied to a chair, wondering if she would live or die and wishing for nothing more than to go home to her parents and children. Now, though she knew she wanted to see her family again, she also found her heart leaning toward a new life, right here at La Paz—and not just for a few more months, but indefinitely.
“Feliz Navidad,” Padre Ramon called out, and then he began the first song as the congregation stood. Once again his eyes found hers, and she felt her heart swell.
“Feliz Navidad,” she mouthed back to him. Merry Christmas, Ramon.
There was no way for her to know what lay ahead, but she knew the God who did. And that was the greatest Christmas gift anyone could ever receive.
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