by Jillian Hart
“You must have stayed up all night.” She set her basket on the table and went to remove her outer garments.
“Not quite.” Gunderson senior checked on the coffeepot. “Cold as it is, I thought you might like a warm-up.”
“Yes, please.” She touched the tiny baby in the cradle with one finger, setting the cradle to rocking. “This is exquisite. I can’t wait to see the looks on the girls’ faces. And on my grandmother’s.”
“How did the tea go?” He set the cup and saucer in front of her. “Cream?”
“No, thank you. Today I need it black.”
“Something is bothering you.” He made a statement, not a question.
“Is it that obvious?” Arley shook her head. “I’m sorry. But yesterday at the tea, they sat around and gossiped and showed off their new gowns. Those women didn’t care about the people who needed help. They just cared who donated the most money. And all of them were wearing enough jewelry to feed a poor family for ten years. Yes, they donate, but can’t they see there are people who are in desperate need all year around? Are poor people only supposed to get hungry at Christmas?”
Lawrence reached across the table and patted her hand. “You have started something special here and perhaps it will encourage others. I know it has me.”
“I have a feeling that the spirit of giving is not something you lack.”
“Sometimes we have to go without to learn how rich we really are.”
Arley sipped her coffee, so aware of every little sound behind her it was all she could do not to turn and address the younger Gunderson. “Well, I hope you’ve kept track of all the hours you’ve worked on this so that I can pay you.”
He shook his head. “Oh, no, my dear, this is a work of love on all our parts. There can be no payment.”
“I can’t thank you enough.” Arley’s eyes filled with tears. “But you’ve not given me a bill for repairing the nutcracker or making the new one, though you may not have had time to make the new one, what with the dollhouse.”
“I have the bill for the repairing. The new one is not finished yet, but it will be by Christmas.”
“You are an amazing man. Grandmother will be so pleased.”
Arley sipped her coffee. “I have one more question before I put these things in place. Would the both of you please join us on Christmas Day for dinner and the afternoon?” She leaned forward. “Please say you will come. And you are coming to the party at the orphanage tomorrow, aren’t you?”
“Wouldn’t miss it. Thank you for the invitations. I would be delighted to come.”
She turned to face the workbench. “And you, Nathan, would you be willing to play your violin for us?”
He stopped moving, but for his shoulders, which rose and fell on a deep sigh. Turning, he leaned his hips against the bench. “I’ll have to see. Thank you for inviting me.”
The pain in his eyes smote her in her midsection. “Are you all right?”
He turned back to the workbench without a word. But later, when they were crating the completed dollhouse, he joined them, but only spoke when asked a direct question and then with as few words as possible.
“I will deliver this in the morning, covered with a canvas,” he said.
“Good. I will prepare a bit of a speech and then we can present it.” Arley clasped her hands under her chin. “This will be so wonderful.”
Halfway home she realized Nathan had not agreed to come for Christmas, even though his grandfather had. She’d have to ask him again at the party.
Early the next afternoon they loaded up the sleigh with all the baked goods for the party. There was no room in the sleigh now, so Arley and Mrs. Hanson walked over to the orphanage. Three of the girls met them at the door. They pulled Arley into the dining room, where a large wooden box covered by a sheet sat on a table.
“Do you know what it is?” they asked her.
She nodded, trying to hold be a grin, but failed. “But I won’t tell so don’t even try. It’s to be a surprise for tonight.”
“Can we ask you questions?”
“If you want, but I won’t give any hints away.” She led them back to the kitchen to help set up. But every time she walked through the dining room, Nettie was standing in front of the box, staring at it as if by sheer force of will she might see through the coverings. Mrs. Hanson set apple cider to heating and added the spices and sugar. Pink punch filled another bowl, and trays of cookies, breads, cakes and candies were ready to carry in, now covered by dish towels.
When they were finished, Mr. Hanson took Arley home in the sleigh to change into her party frock. Not only would the surprise be wonderful for the children, she’d get to see Nathan again. She finally had Henny help with her hair because it would not behave.
“We’re all going to the party.” Henny stared at her in the mirror. She leaned close to whisper, “Can’t wait to see her face.”
Arley knew she meant Grandmother. Perhaps tonight some of what she knew must be a story would come out when her grandmother and Mr. Gunderson met again. The thought gave her goose bumps.
An hour or so later, a buzz of excited people met them as they stepped through the front door of the orphanage. Cedar garlanded the stair railings and hung from the simple chandelier overhead. Arley tucked her grandmother’s arm in her own and led the others to the dining room. Garlands festooned the windows and a tree glittered in one corner. But the cloth-covered box had drawn a crowd.
Louise looked at the box, then at her granddaughter. “The surprise?”
“We shall see.” Arley glanced around the room, searching for the Gundersons. Surely they wouldn’t just not show up. But then she caught a glimpse of Mr. Gunderson coming down the steps and hardly recognized him. He wore a black suit with a gray vest, his hair was trimmed and delight lent sparkle to his eyes.
Her eyes widened and she compressed her lips to keep from laughing out loud. Was this really the man who’d been carving and creating the dollhouse? But he was alone. Her shoulders slumped. Nathan was not coming. She knew it as surely as she saw his grandfather standing there.
“Grandmother, there is someone here I would like you to meet.”
“Oh, really? Who?” Louise turned to follow her granddaughter. When she saw Mr. Gunderson, she stopped walking. She caught her breath and straightened, sniffing at the same time. Her jaw tightened, but then…a tear trickled down her cheek.
“Lawrence.”
“Hello, Louise. It’s been a long time.” His eyes never left hers as he held out his hand.
Arley saw her grandmother’s hand tremble as she reached for his.
Right at that moment, Mrs. Teigen clapped for order. “Everyone, please find places to sit so we can begin our program.” Some of the boys guided people to the chairs lined up in front of the box. Others took seats on the benches that usually lined the tables.
Arley led her group to the front row where the girls had been saving the seats. While it took a while for the assemblage to settle down, Louise never let go of Arley’s hand. Mr. Gunderson sat next to her. Curiosity ran rings around Arley’s mind, but she could do nothing at the moment.
Louise leaned close to whisper in Arley’s ear. “How did…?”
Arley shook her head and whispered back, “Later.”
A small group of children sang a medley of songs. Arley wished Nathan had been there with his violin to accompany them. Several recited pieces, and Mrs. Teigen gave out awards for good grades and good behavior. The children handed out cards they had made to thank the people who supported the orphanage. All the girls wore the new hair ribbons Arley had given them.
Soon Arley would present the special gift. She had butterflies on her butterflies. Would her grandmother appreciate the dollhouse? Had she let her own dreams get away with her? She knew the children would be entranced. Please, Lord, help me say just the right things. She glanced around her grandmother and got a smile from Lawrence that made her feel all would be well.
Mrs. Teigen to
ok her place in the front again. “Now I would like to turn the program over to Miss Arley Dexter, who has a special surprise for us all.”
Arley squeezed her grandmother’s hand and, after taking a deep breath, stood and turned to the gathered people. “Good evening and thank you all for coming. Thank you for supporting this orphanage and the children who live here.”
Nettie gazed up at her from the group of girls sitting cross-legged in front of the chairs. Her smile gleamed like sunbeams.
Arley had to pause a moment to get her thoughts in order. “I was trying to think of what to give my grandmother for Christmas this year when a little girl here gave me an idea.” She smiled down at Nettie. “So I went home and thought about it and decided to ask a friend of mine if he would help me make this surprise. Since it was so close to Christmas, I asked others if they would help, too.” She listed the names of her grandmother’s staff. “Would you all and Mr. Lawrence Gunderson please stand?” As they did, she began applauding and so did the others. The collective anticipation in the room was almost palpable. “Our creation is being given to the Willow Creek Orphanage in honor of my grandmother, Mrs. Louise Dexter. Merry Christmas, Grandmother.” She beckoned to Mr. Hanson and Mr. Gunderson to help her. They removed the cloth to reveal the packing crate. Mr. Gunderson unlatched one side and Mr. Hanson the other.
No one even breathed as they waited.
Slowly the front of the crate was lowered. “Oooh,” the girls in front gasped.
The gasp of delight made Arley’s eyes leak.
The men withdrew the dollhouse and the sounds of wonder spread through the entire audience. Several of the older boys removed the crate completely and the men set the dollhouse on the table. One of the girls started to clap and within moments everyone was clapping. Arley looked at her grandmother. She had tears streaming down her face and wasn’t even trying to wipe them away. Arley nodded to the two men and they turned the table around so that everyone could see inside the house. The applause increased. Nettie leaped to her feet and threw herself into Arley’s arms.
Looking up, she beamed. “You made the story come true, you did.”
Arley hugged her, then addressed the entire assemblage. “Thank you all for coming. Now, while the girls explore their treasure, refreshments will be served on the other side of the room. I just want to remind you of the box by the tree where you are welcome to drop your donations. The children will have presents to open on Christmas morning, thanks to your generosity.”
As the guests rose, Arley knelt in front of her grandmother. “This is what took all of our time.”
Louise cupped Arley’s face in her hands. “What a perfect present! When I was a little girl, I wanted a dollhouse but there was no money for such foolishness. I know you wanted one at one time, too, and now we all have one. Thank you.” She leaned close to whisper, “I would have loved to help make this.”
“Sorry, but I wanted so badly to surprise you.”
“You did. You did indeed.”
When her grandmother stood, Lawrence was right by her side. Together they joined the gaggle of girls admiring each room and each piece of furnishing.
If only Nathan were here, Arley thought as she accepted the congratulations from the guests. What had kept him away?
Chapter Thirteen
Christmas Day
How was it possible to be so happy and so sad at the same time?
Arley pondered that question as she dressed on Christmas morning. She was happy for her grandmother, whom she’d even caught singing in the sewing room! Since Lawrence Gunderson had strolled back into her life, she’d invited him for supper twice and seconded Arley’s invitation for Christmas Day. He’d accompanied them to the Christmas Eve service the night before and, much as she suspected, had a thrilling singing voice.
Arley had spent part of the past two days practicing at the piano so she wouldn’t make a fool of herself when guests came and singing carols was part of the entertainment. Her fingers remembered the notes better than she’d thought they would, and she’d enjoyed filling the house with music.
If only…And that was where the sad part came in. If only Nathan had not turned his back on Willow Creek and gone to St. Paul instead. Thoughts of why he’d left had ravaged her sleep. Why did he not give her a message? Why would Mr. Gunderson not tell her why his grandson had left? He said only that it was a family matter. Yet when she’d asked if he was coming back, he said he didn’t know, but that he hoped so.
Was hope enough to get her through a day that should be one of the most joyful of the year?
But possibly she’d only imagined the thrill when she’d touched his hand. He had led such a different life from hers, perhaps he…
She was tired, discouraged and sad. She’d even awakened crying during the night. During the day she kept an iron clamp on her feelings so that no tears dared chase others down her cheeks.
She jerked the snood off her hair. Not even her hair would behave. Attacking her flying tresses with the hairbrush, she glared at her face in the mirror. “You will be happy today if it kills you! Do you understand me?”
“Please, miss…”
Arley looked up to see Henny standing nervously in the doorway. She laid the hairbrush on the dressing table. “I’m sorry, Henny. What is it?”
“C-can I help you with your hair?”
“I would be delighted if you would.”
“Why didn’t you call me?”
“I should at least be able to control my own hair, don’t you think?” Since she couldn’t seem to control this other thing that had her trapped in its clutches. She didn’t know what to call it other than disappointed. Caring would have to do. The feeling started out with meeting a grumpy man and ended with the grumpy man leaving. Without a word. Oh, but the beauty and the glory of the time in between. Listening to him play, watching him work so painstakingly on the violin and the dollhouse. Hearing his voice, that rich baritone that closely resembled his grandfather’s. If only there had been time for the growing friendship to blossom into something more.
Henny quickly twisted and wrapped and pinned, then laid her hands on Arley’s shoulders. “There you go, Miss Arley. You look lovely today.”
With dark circles under her eyes and no joy in them? How could Henny say that? “Thank you. You are a wonder when it comes to fixing hair.”
“Breakfast is ready whenever you come downstairs.”
“Is Grandmother already down?”
“Yes, but she said there was no hurry.”
“My grandmother said that?” Arley’s eyebrows tickled the bangs she’d snipped two days earlier. She smiled into the mirror, reflecting Henny’s delighted gaze.
Henny nodded. “Your grandmother.”
The two of them headed downstairs to the one meal a year that everyone in the house ate together, a tradition Arley insisted on two years earlier, the first time she had really stood up to her grandmother as an adult. She walked into the dining room to discover a guest there, Lawrence Gunderson, not dressed as nattily as he had been at the party, but still in fine wool slacks, a long-sleeved shirt and a sweater. Surely there was more to this man than she had presumed.
“Good morning.” At least his voice was still the same. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas to you.” Her voice wasn’t wobbling, was it? But when she looked at her grandmother, all she saw were smiles.
“Lawrence, if you would sit there.” Louise motioned to her right and then Arley to her left. The rest of the staff filled in the chairs and Mrs. Hanson brought in platters of ham, potatoes and scrambled eggs to join the lefse and Julekake, sliced so the candied bits of fruit showed, applesauce pinked with cinnamon candies, and muffins. When Mrs. Hanson took her place, they all bowed for the Norwegian grace that was kept special for the holidays. When finished, they passed the platters around, conversation picking up as if they were all old friends, instead of family and the helpers.
Lawrence commented on the nutcracker
collection, winking at Arley when Louise was looking the other way. He’d brought the new one with him the day before when he came to take her grandmother for a sleigh ride. So there was another package under the tree with her name on it.
When they’d finished eating and were enjoying coffee refills, Louise tapped her glass with her knife. When the room grew quiet, she sat slightly forward. “I know you all have a horde of questions, so I will tell you all at once. Lawrence and I grew up near here and went to the same school. We knew we were in love, but when my father decided I was of marrying age, he insisted that I marry Mr. Dexter, and when Lawrence learned that, he disappeared. I did as my father ordered and Mr. Dexter and I had many happy and prosperous years together and one son. When Arlayna came to live with me after the train wreck that killed our son and her mother, we reared her as our own. When Dexter died, I continued with his business interests, and as you all know, we have fared very well. Until Lawrence walked into the orphanage two days ago, I did not know if he would ever speak to me again. While I’d heard he had moved back here, I was afraid to contact him. All those years.” She shook her head. “But he helped you all in the creation of that magnificent dollhouse, and I will be ever grateful that he has come back into my life. Thank you, Arlayna, for the part you played in this…this comedy of errors?” She smiled at Arley, who shrugged. It wasn’t a tragedy, that was for sure. “And thank you all for your work on the dollhouse and giving it in my name. There was even a small plaque with my name on it on the side of the house. I am indeed honored and privileged to have all of you working for and with me.” She raised her coffee cup. “Merry Christmas to us all.” She pushed back her chair. “And now let us open our presents.”
She led the way into the parlor where the tree stood in front of the window, candles ready to be lit. When everyone was seated, she motioned Arley to hand around the gifts.
Arley handed the package to her grandmother first. “From me.”
“But you…” Louise took the package and shook it gently. “Long, narrow. Is this what I’m thinking it might be?”