Regina had to smile at Brian’s happy expression. Richard was so good with the children. He’d never had a good relationship with his own father, and his mother had been a very quiet, distant woman. He always said he wanted to be different with his own kids, and he kept his word.
After breakfast, everyone helped clear the table, then Brian dashed upstairs to get dressed, and Richard headed down to the basement to gather the painting supplies. Regina was loading the dishwasher when she heard a knock on the back door. Madeline glanced out the window. “It’s Sam Morgan. I see his truck.”
“Oh, he must want your father. Go call Dad, Maddy. I’ll get the door.”
Regina wiped her hands on a towel, then headed for the front door. She was still in her bathrobe, but the big flannel robe covered her from her chin to her toes. It wasn’t an ideal outfit for greeting guests, but it was decent.
“Hello, Sam. Come on in. We all got up late today. We just finished breakfast.”
“I don’t want to bother you,” Sam said, remaining outside. “I was just over at church, and we have all these Christmas trees left over. Jack Sawyer always brings way too many. I wondered if you’d gotten your tree yet?”
“A Christmas tree? No, we haven’t gotten to that yet.” Regina wasn’t even sure they were going to buy a real tree this year. She and Richard hadn’t discussed it, but money was so tight and trees were so expensive, she had been thinking the cost should be put toward something more necessary.
“Well, I have a really nice one right here.” Sam reached beside the door and pulled out a tree. The fresh pine smell was so strong, it instantly filled her senses. It was a large tree, too, full and nicely shaped. Not a bargain tree at all.
“Oh my, that’s beautiful,” she said.
Sam took that as a yes and quickly stepped through the door with the tree. “Great. Where do you want it?”
Before she could answer, Richard appeared. “Hey, Sam . . . What’s going on?”
“Sam has a bunch of Christmas trees he needs to give away—or return to the tree farm. He wants to know if we’d like one.”
Regina could tell by the way Richard’s mouth set in a tight, straight line that he wasn’t pleased by the offer.
“That’s very thoughtful of you, Sam. But I’m sure there’s some other family that really needs it more. We were thinking of getting just a small tree this year, especially since all our ornaments are still in storage in Pennsylvania.”
Sam nodded, as if he totally understood Richard’s reasons for refusing the tree. He understood that Richard felt uncomfortable accepting charity, Regina thought.
She did, too. But what a beautiful tree. She hated to see it go to waste. Still, she didn’t want to contradict her husband.
“Wow, a Christmas tree! Is that ours? Can we decorate it today?” Madeline had dressed and come down the back stairs into the kitchen. Her entire face had lit up at the sight of the tree, and now she was practically dancing around the kitchen.
“It’s not ours, honey. Sam just—”
Before Richard could finish his sentence, Brian came into the room, exclaiming, “A Christmas tree? Cool! I want to put the star on top this year, okay?” He gazed straight up at his father. When Richard didn’t answer right away, Brian tugged on his father’s flannel shirtsleeve. “Can I, Dad? Remember how you lifted me up last year?”
“Yes, Brian. I remember.” Richard let out a long breath. He knew when he was beaten, Regina realized, and finally smiled. “We can do it just like that again,” he promised Brian. Then he looked over at Sam. “I guess you made a sale here, after all. Why don’t you leave it outside for now until we figure out where we should put it.”
Regina felt relieved. Their children’s excitement had melted Richard’s reserve. Maybe he had recalled the promise he and Regina had made to try their best to give the children a good holiday after all they’d been through.
“No problem. I’ll leave it right here by the door. You can keep it outside a few days if you’re not ready. Just stick it in a bucket of water.”
“Good idea. We might do that,” Richard said, following Sam out the door.
“Thank you, Sam,” Regina called as he headed back to his truck.
“That was very thoughtful, Sam. Thank you,” Richard added.
“Don’t mention it. You’re actually doing me a favor, saving me a ride back to Sawyer’s place. Here . . . I’ll throw in a wreath for free.” He reached back into the bed of the truck and set a large, undecorated door wreath near the tree.
A few moments later, he backed out of the drive and was gone. Richard came back into the house and joined the rest of the family in the kitchen.
“I’ll make the star,” Madeline offered. “I already have an idea how I can do it.”
“That’s a start. But we don’t have anything else to put on it. Maybe we can hang some of those burnt pancakes,” Richard joked. “Did you throw them all away yet, Gina? Maybe we can put some sparkly stuff on them.”
“Oh, Dad, don’t be so silly,” Madeline scolded him.
Gina had to laugh at the idea, though Brian looked as if he was taking his father seriously.
“We’ll get some ornaments at the variety store in town,” Richard assured them. “They don’t have to be fancy. Or we can make some ourselves, right, Maddy?”
“There are some in the basement. I saw a box the other day,” Madeline reported.
“I think I saw a box that said ‘Christmas’ down there, too,” Regina said. “We might find a tree stand at least.”
“Okay, I’ll go down and look,” Richard offered.
“I’ll help you,” Brian offered. “Wait, let me get my flashlight and stuff. I don’t want to get attacked by the giant spiders.”
Richard watched with amusement as his son geared up for the expedition.
Regina hoped they would find a few things to use downstairs. Now that they had the tree, she was as eager as the kids to put it up and decorate. It might really start to feel like Christmas here, she thought.
She suddenly realized how much she’d been dreading the holiday. Now she felt a little better about it, more in the spirit. It wasn’t just the surprise gift of the tree, but something in Richard’s mood and attitude this morning, something softer and sweeter. Was she just imagining that, just hoping it was true? She wasn’t sure but resolved to be nicer to him.
Regina hated to admit it, but sometimes acting distant and treating him coldly felt like a habit, or self-protection. Too many times she had put up a cool, impregnable wall before he could hurt her.
That wasn’t right. They had agreed to treat each other respectfully, at the very least. He was doing that and more. So she should, too, she thought.
Who knows? I might even bake some cookies. Peanut butter to start, Richard’s favorite.
IT TURNED OUT THAT THERE WERE A FEW BOXES OF CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS in the basement. Richard brought them upstairs, setting them on the porch because they were so dusty. Regina wiped them off with a rag, then opened them carefully. She took out wads of crumbling newspaper used for padding and showed Madeline the date. “Look at that, honey. Your father and I hadn’t even met yet when these were wrapped and put away.”
“Let’s see what’s in there.” Brian was impatient, bouncing from foot to foot.
Regina felt around for solid objects and carefully unwrapped the first one she found. It was a glass ornament in the shape of an ice-skater, complete with a bit of fabric glued on for a scarf. “Wow, look at that. Be very, very careful with this, kids. It feels so fragile. We better put it someplace safe.”
“Let me take it, Mom. I’ll bring it inside.”
For a second, Regina wondered if she could trust Madeline with the fragile piece. Madeline was acting more and more mature since they had moved here. She had a lot of responsibility in the afternoons, watching her brother before Regina and Richard got home from work.
“Good idea. Take a dish towel or two and put them down on the table for a
cushion.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be careful. This is fun,” Maddy said as she headed inside. “It’s like a treasure hunt or something.”
It was like a treasure hunt, Regina thought as she set about unwrapping the rest of the ornaments. She gave Brian permission to open another box, where he found other kinds of decorations that were less fragile—a music box, a snow globe with very cloudy liquid inside, and three nutcrackers, all different sizes and wearing different uniforms.
“Look, Mom. Remember that story you read to us last year?” He held up the largest nutcracker for her to see. “He looks just like the one in the book. Can I put him in my room?”
“Sure, why not?” She was pleased that Brian and Madeline were so engaged and happy. She hadn’t seen them this cheerful in a long time.
When the box was empty, Regina brought the last ornament into the kitchen. Madeline had carefully wiped each one off with a damp paper towel, and now they lay gleaming on a patchwork of dish towels.
“Nice work,” Regina praised her. “Where’s Dad? Is he still downstairs?”
“I think he went up to start painting Brian’s room,” Maddy reported. “He just passed by with some painting stuff a few minutes ago.”
“Oh.” Regina was surprised, and not surprised. She had been hoping that Richard would take part in decorating the tree, the way they all used to do it together, not leave it to her and the kids. But she had also wondered if he would bow out.
Brian came in carrying his new nutcracker. “The last box had some strings of lights and a stand for the Christmas tree. I think we need some tools,” he added in a manly voice. “I’m going up to show Dad my nutcracker and tell him.”
“Okay. Ask him to come down to put the tree in the stand, will you?” Regina called after her son. If Brian asked him, Richard would do it right away. It was hard for him to refuse his kids any little favor like that.
Brian soon came downstairs with his father, who was wiping his hands on a rag.
“Sorry to interrupt the painting, but we need some help,” Regina said.
“You’re going to decorate the tree with us, aren’t you, Dad? Look what we found in those boxes,” Madeline said, showing her father the rows of ornaments on the table.
“Wow, those are old ones. I remember Christmas ornaments like this from when I was a kid.” Richard picked up one shaped like a polar bear and turned it around in his hands to study it. “Let’s see what shape the tree stand is in. We might have to buy a new one. I wouldn’t even go near the lights. We’d better toss those out.”
“Good idea,” Regina said, relieved to see her husband was going to take part.
A short time later, the tree was secure in the old stand, set in a corner of the living room, to the left of the fireplace. Regina had found an old red blanket to put underneath, and it looked very pretty, she thought, even bare of any decorations.
Not all the ornaments she found were usable. Some were chipped or broken. Most of them had hooks on top, and she was able to salvage a few more hooks from the discards, so that they didn’t have to worry about that niggling detail.
They each took turns picking ornaments to hang. Richard went first and picked a helicopter and a sailboat. Madeline chose a ballerina and an ice-skater. Regina chose Santa Claus and an angel, and Brian chose an elf, a leaping reindeer, and a candy cane. There were many plain, round ornaments, and some icicle shapes, too, which filled out the branches nicely. Regina and Madeline worked on those while Richard made a fire. As for lights, it would be no trouble to buy a pack or two in town and add them later.
By the time the tree was done, it was time for lunch. Regina made some sandwiches and cocoa and brought it all into the living room, where they had a living room picnic, enjoying the fire and admiring their Christmas tree.
“I found a box with trains inside. Did you see that, Dad?” Brian asked.
“Really?” Richard looked interested. “You mean those old toy trains with tracks?”
“Yeah, they had tracks. And little trees and crossing bars and all that stuff,” Brian explained through a mouthful of sandwich.
“Don’t talk while you’re chewing, honey,” Regina reminded him.
Brian didn’t seem to hear her. “Can we put them together and make the trains drive around?”
“If the transformer is still good and we can get the trains to run,” Richard said. “But that stuff is probably pretty old, Brian. I used to have a set like that when I was your age. Setting it up every year was my favorite part of Christmas. I played with those trains for hours.”
The news of the train set had definitely brightened her husband’s mood, Regina observed. She hoped the set would work. If it didn’t, she resolved to find one secondhand and have Santa leave it for Brian and Richard.
Richard squinted at the Christmas tree. “We can lay the track under the tree,” he suggested.
Brian suddenly looked worried. “What about all the presents? Won’t the trains get in the way?”
Regina laughed. “There will be room for presents, don’t worry.”
Richard glanced at her, and she hoped the mention of gift buying wouldn’t spoil the mood. They were having such a good day together.
“What do you want for Christmas this year, Brian?” Richard asked. He didn’t seem annoyed or even nervous, Regina thought, just interested in his son’s answer.
Brian quickly named the top three items on his wish list: a basketball hoop and ball, a certain kind of transforming robot toy, and a handheld video game.
“What about you, Maddy?” Richard asked.
Madeline grinned at her brother. “Maybe Brian will let me practice jump shots on his hoop.”
“Maybe,” Brian said, not looking happy about the idea.
“You must want something for yourself,” Regina pressed.
Madeline shrugged. “Just some clothes, jeans and stuff. You know, Mom.” Regina sensed that she knew her parents were having hard times financially and was trying to be considerate.
“How about a pair of Snugs? I thought you wanted those, too,” Regina said, mentioning the brand of trendy boots all the girls were wearing.
Madeline shrugged again. “The stores have boots that look just like them but cost half as much. You can get me a pair of the no-name kind, Mom. I don’t care. Kids who need to wear all this stuff with special labels, they really need to get a life. My new friends at this school aren’t into that.”
Regina was pleasantly surprised to hear that. Madeline’s friends at her old school definitely were into Snugs and all kinds of status fashions.
“Listen, kids,” Richard said. “We know it’s been hard for you to move up here and leave all your friends in Stover, and your school and all that. You’ve both been really good about it. We’re very proud of you. We love you both a lot and we want you to have a good Christmas.”
“In our new house,” Brian said proudly.
“Yes, in our new house,” Richard agreed. “I think it’s coming along, too,” he said, glancing around. “If we can get more of the painting done, it will make a big difference. Maybe I’ll have it done by Christmas. I’m going to try.”
“That would be good, Dad,” Madeline said. “But even if you don’t, I hope we have a good Christmas, no matter what, adults included. Can I be excused?” she said abruptly.
“Sure, I guess we’re done,” Regina replied.
Madeline got up and took her dirty plate into the kitchen. She had been moody lately. Her days of being a cuddly little girl were clearly over. Regina sensed she knew something was going on between her parents, but she hadn’t asked any questions yet.
Brian was still a happy camper. “I’m done, too,” he announced. “Want to see the trains, Dad?”
“Sure, let’s see what’s out there.” Richard wiped his hands on a paper napkin and stood up.
“What about painting my room?” Regina heard Brian ask as he followed his father out the front door. “Don’t you have to do that first?
”
“Oh, I’ll get it done. Maybe I can do that another day. Let’s find out if this stuff works.”
Regina was glad to hear that the trains would come first. Richard needed time off to relax and do something that was actually fun. She knew that if there was any way at all for that old train set to chug along a track again, Richard would get it going.
Was it possible to repair the damage in her marriage like that train set? To get it up and running again? Regina hoped so. But right now, she had no idea if that was what Richard wanted, too.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
ISABEL WAS SURPRISED TO SEE MAX STANDING IN THE DOORWAY of her office on Wednesday morning. It was a little past nine o’clock, and she had just walked in. “Good morning,” she greeted him.
“Hey, Reverend.” He walked in and sat in the chair in front of her desk, setting down his skateboard and hungrily eyeing the muffin she’d bought at the Beanery, a café just across the village green.
“Would you like some of this? It’s much too big for me. It’s banana-bran crunch, I think.” She held it out to him so he could get a better look.
“Okay, if you really don’t want it. It smells sort of good.”
“Lots of cinnamon,” she agreed. She cut it in half and handed him half on a napkin. “Shouldn’t you be in school today?” she added, trying for a casual tone.
“Finals week. We don’t have classes. I don’t have any tests until tomorrow, and my dad said it was better if I came over here for a while than if I hung out with my friends. Which was my original plan. He’s going to pick me up at lunchtime. He knew I wouldn’t stay inside studying all day.”
“What kind of test do you have tomorrow?”
“Just trig. I’m okay with math. It’s, like, a family thing. My dad’s got the math gene, just like his father, and I have it, too. My dad’s a supernerd mathematician at a college.”
“I’m impressed,” she said honestly. “I’m not good at math at all.”
“No big deal. It’s just what I do,” Max said with a shrug. “There are, like, nine kinds of intelligence, not just one kind, like they used to think.”
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