The Christmas Star

by Donna VanLiere

  “I’m going to be a foster mom,” she says. He sets his fork down, listening. “I was really nervous about it but I just kept feeling this nudge. Gloria says that a lot of people ignore the nudge.”

  “You’ve never ignored the nudge for anything. It’s not in your DNA. Wow. A foster mom. Those will be some blessed kids!”

  They order dessert and take their sweet time eating; the restaurant empties with the exception of a few employees sweeping the floor, filling salt and pepper shakers, and clunking around in the kitchen. When the waitress informs them that she needs to cash out for the evening, they laugh, realizing they have single-handedly shut the place down. A wintry cold blast of air hits their faces as Gabe opens the door and they step out onto the sidewalk. “You forgot the stuff for Gloria,” he says, reaching back to reopen the door.

  “You need to know something, Gabe.” She looks at the star on top of the gazebo and smiles, surprised at herself for this. “I told you that I was no longer engaged but I didn’t tell you why.” She looks back at him and his eyes are full of questions. “He was a good guy but when it came time to set the wedding date I couldn’t do it.”

  He waits for her to finish but she doesn’t. “Why?”

  “Because he wasn’t you.” Gabe is silent, not quite believing what he’s hearing. “The truth is, I didn’t come here to pick something up for Gloria. I was driving through town to go home when I saw your truck and I drove around the square three times just trying to drive on past. On the third time around, I said to myself that if there was a space open next to your truck, I would go inside and look for you. But if there wasn’t a space I would drive home.”

  “And there was an open space next to my truck?” he says, craning his neck to see where he parked.

  She shakes her head. “No.” His mouth opens, listening. “I thought, that’s a really stupid way to determine what could possibly happen in your future.”

  The wind picks up, blowing across their faces, but Gabe doesn’t seem to notice. “What are you saying?”

  “I don’t know. All I know is that I don’t know. But I don’t want to turn my back on a friendship or…”

  He leans into her, kissing her once, before pulling back to look at her face. “I’m sorry. I was following a nudge.”

  She puts her hand on his cheek, and steps closer, kissing him, and then pulls away. “Me too.”

  “Remember when Ben came into Betty’s after the Glory’s Place fund-raiser?”

  She sighs. “How could I forget!”

  “He was right. I don’t know how he knew it but he was right. I do love you.” Her face is serious as she listens. “I never thought I’d see you again but I never stopped loving you, Amy.” She turns her head, not sure if she’s ready for this. “You told me the truth and I feel like I need to tell you the truth.” She faces him again. “I never did. I never stopped.” She shakes her head. “Please don’t let that scare you away.”

  “I don’t think it does. Maybe I’ll be scared tomorrow when I remember everything that’s been said, but right now I don’t think I am.”

  He walks her to her car and she unlocks it, looking across the street to the gazebo and the star. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Amy says.

  “Maddie says it’s a sign.”

  She looks at him. “A sign for what?”

  “For us.”

  TWENTY-ONE

  Gloria opens the door for Lauren and Travis, ushering them into her home. “I’m so sorry to bother you and Marshall at night,” Lauren says.

  “Oh my word! You would never be bothering us. Marshall isn’t home from the store anyway. Even if he was, he would love to see both of your faces.” She takes their jackets and hangs them on the hall tree in the entryway.

  “Is Miriam coming?”

  Gloria leads them into the living room, indicating that they should seat themselves on the sofa. “She should be here any minute. I called her as soon as you and I hung up.”

  Lauren sighs. “That gives me a second to tell you what happened before she gets here.” The door opens and Lauren groans, resting her head on the back of the sofa. “Too late.”

  Miriam races into the living room, looking wide-eyed at all of them. “What’s happened? What’s wrong?”

  Gloria puts her hands on the back of Miriam’s shoulders and leads her to a chair. “Sit down, Miriam. And why do you think anything’s wrong? Why is that always your first assumption?”

  Miriam lifts her arm toward a window. “It’s dark outside, Gloria. If this is good news, it would have been shared during the daylight hours. People only show up at your doorstep at night when they have bad news. That’s been scientifically proven.”

  Gloria rolls her eyes and exhales. “That is so illogical that I don’t even know how to respond.” Miriam opens her mouth but Gloria puts a finger in her face. “Just hush until further notice.” She turns to look at Lauren. “Go ahead, babe.”

  “Well … I … picked up my wedding dress just a little while ago.” She stops talking when Miriam jumps to her feet, clapping her hands.

  “Oh! It is good news! Where is it? I’m so excited to see it!” She looks at Travis. “But why is he here? The groom should never see the dress before the wedding day.”

  “He hasn’t seen it,” Lauren says.

  Miriam swipes her hand across her forehead. “Phew! I know that you both are making some unconventional choices for this wedding, but I’m so glad that you’re keeping the mystery and the beauty of the dress a secret until that very special moment.” Lauren looks at Travis and he gives her an awkward smile, raising his shoulders. “What does that mean?” Miriam says, pouncing as soon as she notices the look. “Why did you do that, Travis? Why did you smile like this?” she says, mimicking the look on his face.

  “I … didn’t know my face did that.”

  She points at him. “It did. Your face did do that and you just did it again! Did you see it, Gloria?” Gloria begins to answer, but Miriam is impatient. “Where is the dress? If you picked up the dress a few minutes ago then surely it’s here, right? Or is it in your car? Did they do something wrong to the dress? Because if they did, you don’t have to worry. I will take care of everything.”

  Lauren shakes her head. “No, Miriam. It’s nothing like that. The dress is beautiful. It was even more beautiful when I picked it up than on the day you bought it.”

  “And?” Miriam says, standing in front of her and Travis.

  “And I saw a woman over by the gazebo when I was walking to my car. And she…”

  Miriam motions for her to hurry up already and spit it out. “What? What?”

  “She and her mom and her sister were the ones who bought the star for the gazebo.”

  “Oh, how nice. What does that have to do with our … your dress?”

  “Should we all have something to drink?” Gloria says. “I can make some coffee or I have some cider or—”

  “No one wants anything to drink, Gloria! Do I look parched to you?”

  “No. But you do look kind of crazy.”

  Miriam disregards her and faces Lauren. “Go on.”

  “Well, it turns out that I saw her and her mom on the day that Travis was putting the star on the gazebo. Then I saw them in the dress shop, the first time that I went in to pick it up, and I overheard that they were trying to find a wedding dress.”

  “How very odd that they would be looking for a wedding dress in a dress and formal wear shop!” Miriam says, making Travis smile in that awkward way again.

  “Then I saw them again in Wilson’s looking for a dress and I pieced things together and realized that they couldn’t afford a dress.”

  Gloria’s hand flies to her mouth and Miriam falls into her chair, her hand covering her forehead. “You didn’t,” she says.

  “I couldn’t get her and her mom out of my mind. After I picked up the dress I saw her over at the gazebo, alone. I went over and…”

  “Oh, please say you didn’t talk to her,” Mi
riam says, ashen.

  “I did talk to her.” Miriam lets out a small, guttural noise that makes Gloria reach for a magazine off the coffee table and begin to fan her. “Her name is Mandy and she had planned a Christmas wedding because her dad loved Christmas. In October he had the idea of getting the star for the gazebo, so that everyone in town could enjoy it. Then he was diagnosed with cancer and died only eleven days later. I just couldn’t imagine it.” She looks at Gloria, whose eyes have misted over, and says, “Gloria, you always say to hold things loosely, and as I was standing there talking to her, I realized that I didn’t have a tight grip on that dress. But I do have a tight grip on all of you, and you’re what matters most to me.”

  Gloria lays down the magazine and walks to the sofa, sitting next to Lauren, wrapping her in her arms. “I am so proud of you!” She leans back, putting her hands on Lauren’s. “I just can’t imagine what that one act of kindness is going to do for that woman for the rest of her life. She’ll never forget it. And neither will I.” She hugs Lauren again and then reaches over, patting Travis’s leg. “Quite the woman you have here.”

  “I know,” he says.

  Miriam clears her throat and the three of them slowly look her way.

  “Travis and I have already talked about it on the way over here, Miriam, and it might take some time, but we will pay you back for the dress. Every penny!”

  Miriam makes a high-pitched noise that reaches the ceiling. “You will do no such thing. The dress was my gift to you, meaning that you were the owner of the dress, and could do with it whatever you wanted.”

  Lauren stands and moves to Miriam, who rises to give her a hug. “I love you so much, Miriam.”

  Miriam’s eyes fill at the words and she clears her throat. “I know you do.” She dabs at her eyes before anyone can see, and pats Lauren on the back. “With or without a dress, you’ll still be the most beautiful bride that Grandon has ever seen.” She and Gloria walk them to the door and Gloria sighs as she closes it behind them.

  “That was quite the brave face you showed, Miriam,” she says, leading her into the kitchen, where she uncovers a chocolate pie. She opens a cabinet and pulls down two plates, putting a slice of pie on each, before putting a kettle of water on to boil for tea.

  Miriam sits at the kitchen table and puts her head down on it. “She gave it away. That beautiful, expensive dress. Gone.”

  Gloria sets the piece of chocolate pie in front of her. “But somehow, when she wrapped her arms around you and told you that she loves you, you forgot all about the money.”

  Miriam twists up her face in attempt to hold back the tears and looks up at the ceiling. “Shut up, Gloria.”

  Gloria takes a bite of her pie. “And as much as you’d like to resist the idea, I think that if you were placed in the exact same circumstances, you would do the same thing.”

  Miriam uses her fork to attack the pie. “You are old and delusional.” She reaches across the table and squeezes her friend’s hand. They both howl as they eat what Miriam describes as the best chocolate pie she’s ever put into her mouth.

  TWENTY-TWO

  Gloria takes Lauren’s coat, hanging it on the hall tree, and then walks to the stairs of her home. “I’ve been thinking for the last couple of days,” she says, leading her to the second floor. “When my first husband died, I was going through his things and found something from our wedding day. I thought I should get rid of it, because no one in my family wanted to use it, but for some reason I held on to it.”

  She walks into the bedroom at the end of the upstairs hall and opens the closet, pulling out something on a hanger, covered with a long garment bag. She removes the bag and holds up an ivory fifties-style straight skirt, which looks to reach mid-calf, with an ivory brocade jacket, dotted with pearls. “I wore this for my wedding.” She looks at Lauren, smiling. “As you can see, I was thinner then.” She examines the skirt and jacket. “I know it doesn’t look like much, but if you think that you could use it, you’re welcome to wear it for your wedding.” She sees the look on Lauren’s face and says, “I know, it looks old and—”

  “No!” Lauren says, stepping closer to touch the fabric. “It’s beautiful! I can’t believe you’d let me wear this.”

  Gloria hands it to her. “Would you like to try it on?” Lauren nods and Gloria steps out of the room into Marshall’s study, where she uses her finger to wipe dust from the lamp base, computer screen, and edge of the desk. She straightens books on the shelves, and turns pictures to just the right angle.

  “Okay, Gloria,” Lauren says a few minutes later, opening the door.

  Gloria stands in the doorway and her face loses its expression. She shakes her head, entering. “I knew it was beautiful but after all this time I never imagined it would look like this.” She reaches out to touch the jacket. “It looks like it was made for you.” Her eyes mist over, taking in the jacket and skirt. “So many years ago,” she says, examining the fabric. “My word! The threads in this have held up much better than I have!” Lauren laughs and Gloria shakes off the tears. “Such memories! I was just a child myself.” She looks at her. “And so in love. Much like you.” A tear rolls down her cheek and she wipes it away.

  “Gloria, I can’t wear this.”

  “I’m not crying because you’re going to wear it.” She pats her face. “I’m crying because that’s what old people do when they see a couple setting off on a journey of marriage together. When I look at this dress, it reminds me of how young and naïve I was. When I put this on that day, I thought that everything would come up roses from that day forward. Walt being out of work, the death of our parents, a runaway child being gone for years, sickness, standing at Walt’s grave. None of it entered my mind that day. But I’d go through all of it again with Walt.” She smiles, looking at her. “That’s why old people cry at weddings. We know the road that’s up ahead and what it takes to travel it, and are so happy that you have someone to travel it with. It’s quite the ride!” She puts her hands on Lauren’s shoulders. “What a beautiful bride you’re going to be.” Lauren leans into her, hugging her. “We can have Heddy take a look at it and bring this waist in a little bit and she can reinforce these little pearls so they won’t fall off, and it looks like something will need to be done to the sleeves, then I can take it to Jenny at the dry cleaners for some TLC.”

  Lauren’s eyes are wide with questions. “Did you tell Miriam about this?”

  Gloria shakes her head. “No. As soon as Marshall left for the store, I called you.”

  “What will she think?”

  “She’ll think it’s old and worn out and make some crack that likens its age to me. Then I’ll make some cracks about the highfalutin words she uses and, in the end, she’ll say that she loves it, and that you are beautiful in it.”

  “Are you going to tell her today or should I?”

  Gloria cocks her head, looking at her. “Oh, let’s just watch her stress over finding another dress for a couple of days. Watching Miriam squirm at Christmas is really one of the great joys of the season for me.” Lauren laughs out loud as she and Gloria look in the mirror together.

  * * *

  Gabe and Maddie each work on creating a Christmas card at Beside Me that will be given to local police or firefighters. Penny, from Grandon Craftworks, is leading the group in how to make an origami Christmas tree for the front of each card.

  Gabe works at folding a tiny piece of paper and groans, looking at it. “My fingers are too big for this. Something is going to have to change pretty radically in order for this to look like a tree.”

  Maddie giggles, looking over at it. “It looks like a doghouse.”

  He turns the card sideways, tilting his head. “You’re right! I could write something like, ‘Have a doggone good Christmas.’”

  She shakes her head, giggling. “That’s awful.”

  He studies it. “I can’t give this to anyone, let alone a police officer. He might arrest me because it’s so bad.” He think
s. “It’s so bad it’s criminal.”

  “Just start over and give that one to me.”

  He hands it to her. “Here you go. Have a doggone good Christmas.”

  She rolls her eyes, setting it aside. “Mr. G.?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Will you keep doing this with me?”

  He looks at her. “You mean, being part of Beside Me?” She nods. “Absolutely!”

  She looks down at her work. “I’m so glad you can. You’re one of my favorite people.”

  His heart aches inside him a little as he reaches for more paper to begin his tree again. “What do you want for Christmas?”

  “I’m still thinking about that.”

  “Still thinking about it? You told that bully kid that you wanted a ring.”

  “Not anymore.”

  “Because of what he said?”

  She shrugs. “Just don’t want one anymore.”

  He glances at her without turning his head. “When I was a kid I knew what I wanted for Christmas months ahead of time.”

  She shrugs. “Kids change.”

  “Okay. Well, what are you doing for Christmas?”

  “Me and Linda will be at her house. What will you do?”

  “Hmm. I don’t know.” He leans over, whispering. “Between us, I was kind of hoping that maybe Amy would want to spend it with me.”

  She slams down the card she’s working on and looks at him. “Do you mean that you and Amy are…” She doesn’t know how to say it.

  He smiles. “Maybe. I sure hope so.”

  She jumps up from her seat and hugs him. “From the first time I saw her I wanted you to marry her!”

  He opens his mouth in surprise, pushing her away to look at her. “Whoa, whoa, whoa! Who said anything about marriage?”

  She crosses her arms, smiling. “I just did. I told you right from the beginning that I found the perfect woman for you. Remember?”