A Riverwalk Christmas: Four-in-One Collection

by Elizabeth Goddard, Martha Rogers, Lynette Sowell

  Santos whirled on one foot and stalked off, away from the parking lot. Miguel climbed inside his truck, slammed the door, and locked it. He leaned back against the headrest.

  “Lord, I knew this would happen. Seeing the Hernandez family again, everyone else I hurt—but now seeing Santos …” Miguel closed his eyes. “I know I was as hard up as Santos. I don’t want those things anymore. I don’t. I have You, my refuge, my strength.”

  He turned the ignition and listened to the music fill the cab of the truck. No one could hear him singing along in his slightly off-pitch rendition of “How Great Is Our God.” That didn’t matter.

  He had his faith, his freedom, his business, and maybe even a chance with Gabriela, a chance he’d tossed away years ago and probably didn’t deserve even now. A lot to be thankful for. A man would be insane to run back into slavery again.

  Gabriela’s head swam with the events of the whole evening, from Miguel’s obvious tenderness and care for her, to the words they said in front of everyone, to the sensation of holding Judith’s sweet little bundle in her arms. She’d never felt so exposed in front of so many people before.

  She sat in her car and wiped her eyes. Tommy had ridden with Mama and Pop, and her sister and brood had already cleared out. Time to go. Bone tired. She’d have to peel herself out of bed for work in the morning.

  There was Miguel, standing beside his truck and talking to a guy who looked like he’d crawled out from under a rock. Whatever the conversation was about, Miguel didn’t look too happy.

  What if he’s using again?

  The thought darted through her brain, and she gripped the steering wheel tighter. The little bit of her heart that she’d opened to Miguel stung at the barb. She couldn’t bear to hang on to that idea.

  Part of her wanted to rip a U-turn in the parking lot, shoot back to Miguel, and beg him to tell her what was going on.

  But users could be good liars. Tommy—and Miguel—had taught them all that. Tommy, even now, lived his life openly with accountability. Miguel, now that she’d let him in, well, they hadn’t gotten that far for her to know yet. That pastor from the New Life Center seemed to help him a lot, though.

  Love always believes the best.

  She drove out of the parking lot and headed for home. Mama had promised to make her homemade hot chocolate, and the family joked about them standing around a hot plate in the garage. Everyone would remember the Las Posadas night they’d had hot chocolate in the garage.

  This Christmas wouldn’t be ruined, even though the kitchen was still in a shambles. Hopefully she could keep her heart intact as well.

  Their home glowed with lights, along with several others in the neighborhood. Gabriela parked and followed the laughter to the garage.

  “Nadine! You came over anyway.” She hugged her sister. “I thought you were heading home.”

  “Mama said she didn’t feel up to making hot chocolate, and the kids really wanted to help.”

  Her niece and nephew bounced around the garage. Someone had turned on the radio, and Christmas music echoed off the walls.

  “Have you finished your shopping yet?” Nadine asked.

  “No. I think I’m going to make special gourmet meal gift cards for everyone.” Gabriela sighed. “So act surprised.”

  “Wow, I’ll try to.” Her sister sidled closer. “Speaking of surprises, you and Miguel looked pretty, um, cozy tonight.”

  “We were playing a married couple, you know.”

  “I think he didn’t have to act very hard. He looked at you as if you were the only woman on earth.”

  “That’s a little dramatic.”

  “He’s in love with you. I’m sure of it.”

  “Sometimes love isn’t enough.”

  “Love endures all things; love never fails.” Nadine stirred the chocolate in a saucepan on the hot plate.

  “Sure, quote Scripture at me,” Gabriela laughed. “I do care for him. If I didn’t, all of this wouldn’t hurt. He was a friend for a long time, until—”

  “I know. But he’s a better man now. We’ve all seen it. Even Tommy has.”

  But I’ve refused to. Nadine didn’t need to say the words. Gabriela had been blind, willingly so. And then tonight her eyes were opened.

  “I wonder if he’s ever tempted to go back.”

  “Temptation isn’t a sin,” Nadine said.

  “Of course not.” Nadine sure knew how to deflect any of Gabriela’s words. “But I’m afraid for him.”

  “Then pray for him, and be there for him.”

  Gabriela nodded. “I do, and I’ll try to be.”

  Nadine looked toward the kitchen. “Papa’s taking an awful long time.”

  “Where’d he go?”

  “He went to check on Mami.”

  As if bidden by their conversation, Pop entered the garage, Mama following.

  “Girls, I’m bringing Mama to the hospital.”

  Mama leaned in the doorway. “I—I don’t feel very well.”

  Nadine dashed to meet her and touched Mama’s cheek. “You’re burning up.”

  “And I had to leave during the service tonight—I kept getting sick in the bathroom.”

  “Nadine, do you want to go with Pop, or stay here?” Gabriela asked. Mama must be really sick, if she wasn’t arguing against Pop taking her to the ER.

  “Mama, if you were sick, why didn’t you say anything?”

  “I didn’t want to worry anybody. Tonight was special, and we were all together.” Mama shivered.

  Gabriela went to the living room and snatched a folded afghan from the back of Pop’s favorite chair. She hurried back before they loaded into the car. “Here.” She tucked it around Mama’s shoulders.

  “Thank you, m’ija.” Now Mama’s teeth were chattering.

  “I’ll be praying.”

  “Tia Gaby, is Abuela going to be okay?” her little niece, Hayley, asked.

  “Yes, yes she will.”

  “Why don’t you have a Christmas tree up yet?”

  How to explain to a child why the Christmas tree wasn’t up yet. “Your grandparents are pretty busy, with the restaurant and with working on the kitchen.”

  “Can we do something fun for Christmas tonight?”

  Gabriela’s first inclination was to cook something, but the kitchen consisted of a hot plate, a microwave, and a toaster oven. “We can make cookies.”

  “I want to play video games with Uncle Tommy,” said Mark.

  “Sure enough, dude.” Tommy ruffled Mark’s hair. “We’ll let the ladies bake all of us some goodness.” Off they went to the other end of the house.

  Baking always took longer when Gaby’s niece was involved, but soon Gabriela and Hayley had a batch of chocolate-chunk cookie dough that would bake, half a dozen at a time, in the toaster oven.

  Hayley frowned, her light brown hair and tawny skin giving her an exotic look.

  “What’s wrong, m’ija?” Gabriela asked.

  “My friend Brianna is mean. I told her a secret, and she went and told everyone in class, and they laugh at me every day.” Hayley dropped a small mountain of dough onto the cookie sheet.

  “Did she say she was sorry?”

  Hayley nodded. “But it still hurts. Kids still laugh.”

  Even when someone said they were sorry, the hurt still stung. “I know it hurts. Someone hurt me like that, too, once.”

  “My Sunday school teacher says that Jesus wants us to forgive, because God forgives us.”

  “Your teacher is right.” Gabriela tucked the first small tray of cookies into the oven.

  “So I told Brianna I forgive her, but I can’t stop thinking about it.” Hayley stuck her finger in the bowl for a bite of dough.

  “Well, does Brianna act like a friend to you now? Is she still mean?”

  “She’s not mean anymore. She gave me one of her new pencils, her favorite one. And she invited me to sleep over after school gets out for Christmas.”

  “I’ve been told that
one day you wake up, and the hurt is a little bit less.” Gabriela didn’t know how much an eight-year-old would understand. She wasn’t sure how well she understood the way healing and forgiveness worked together, either. “And then another day, it might hurt a little bit less. Not that you ever forget. But when you don’t forgive, it continues to hurt you. It sounds like Brianna really is sorry.”

  “Yeah. Plus she told some of the kids to quit laughing at me.” Hayley smiled. “Tia Gaby, can I lick the spoon when we’re done?”

  Gabriela laughed. “Of course you can.” She might have been trying to help her niece, but repeating what she already knew helped her some, too. Maybe God knew she needed the reminder.

  Nadine didn’t return until five in the morning. “Mama has the flu, and she’s dehydrated, so they admitted her.”

  “Oh, Mami.” Gabriela sat up straight on the love seat. “Where’s Pop?” Hayley and Mark snored, sleeping feet to feet on the long couch across from her.

  “He’s staying with her. They’re keeping her until the afternoon. I already called Tia Celi, and she was already planning to open for Pop for Sunday lunch.”

  “Good, good.” Gabriela gestured to the pair of kids sleeping on the couch. “They were angels. We made some cookies you can take home.”

  “Thanks.” Nadine gave her a hug. “I’m so tired.”

  “Will you be okay?”

  “Yes. I’ll put the kids to bed, then sleep for a while, then go get Mama and Papa at the hospital.”

  “I’ll let Tommy know when he wakes up. I think he and Mark wore each other out on the video games.”

  She helped load her sister’s children into the van then went back inside. Her own eyelids drooped a little.

  Gabriela paused in the kitchen. The new cabinets were hung, a dark maple. On Monday the granite countertops and island were being installed, and the electrician was coming Tuesday to install the pot lights that would run the perimeter of the kitchen. Nine days later, the kitchen would be done. After the kitchen, what then about Miguel?

  She’d entered new territory, she knew. She could quote Scripture about forgiveness and say that she’d forgiven him long ago. Maybe the hurt at last had started to heal. She inhaled the aroma of the wood. Building something new. That’s what they were doing, in more ways than one.

  Chapter 7

  Morning one of Gabriela’s exile at home. Exile, because Pop insisted on her remaining at home while Mama recovered from her flu. Better Gaby than Pop: she could imagine Pop going stir-crazy at the house, thinking about the restaurant.

  She addressed Christmas cards on behalf of the family after having a quick breakfast then popped the envelopes in the mailbox. Mama only wanted some toast and a banana, plus a cup of hot tea.

  Miguel was the only one working in the kitchen so far. He was actually waiting on the electrician, and the slab of granite leaned against the wall where their table usually stood. His workers were due to arrive to help him install the countertop.

  She hadn’t talked to him much since the night of Las Posadas, its memory still fresh in her mind every day. Something had happened that night, and she wasn’t exactly sure what. But the vulnerability still made her very aware of how she’d inadvertently exposed herself that night. If not in so many words, the fact that she’d put herself in a position to trust Miguel. Something she’d promised herself she wouldn’t be quick to do. Not again.

  Mama lay in bed, apologizing for being so weak. “And taking you away from what you love. You don’t need to be here.”

  “Pop insists, and it’s no trouble, because I love you, Mama. How many times did you take care of me and Tommy and Nadine when we were sick?” She held Mama’s breakfast tray with an empty plate and empty teacup. “Don’t worry. You rest and get better, okay?”

  “Sí, m’ija.” Mama gave her a salute. “I will.”

  Gabriela closed the bedroom door. Although her parents’ master suite was at the opposite end of the house from the kitchen, she didn’t want any construction noises to drift back to the room. Hopefully Mama would get some healing rest.

  Miguel was measuring the countertop when she entered the kitchen. He smiled when he saw her.

  “Hey, Miguel. You’ll have help with that counter, I assume?”

  “Sure will. The crew should be here any minute.” Music echoed off the kitchen walls and new cabinets. Miguel reached for the volume on the radio. “Sorry. I don’t want the music to keep your mom awake if she’s trying to sleep.”

  “I think it’s pretty quiet back there, but thanks.”

  “Oh.” Miguel put the tape measure on the counter. “Come see what I installed in the pantry. Your mama’s gonna love this.”

  He motioned toward the pantry, and Gabriela followed. “What did you do?”

  They entered the small space. Big enough to hold more than one person, yet definitely way too tight for both of them. The door started closing shut behind her.

  “Don’t let the—” The latch clicked as the door slammed.

  “—door shut.” Miguel sighed.

  “Why is that a problem?” Gabriela reached for the handle. It wouldn’t budge. “Oh no.”

  “That’s why.” His voice sounded tired in the dark. “Here.” He flipped a switch, and an overhead light came on.

  “What’s wrong with the handle?”

  “The latch gets stuck. Either that, or there’s a problem with the handle tumblers. I have it propped open. One of the little details I was going to worry about after the electricity was finished.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me. Why didn’t you say something?”

  “I did.”

  “If we holler for Mama, I doubt she’ll hear us, especially with the music. And Tommy’s at the college, seeing an advisor today.” She looked at him. “We can call someone to come to the house.”

  “Um, my cell phone is on the counter. What about yours?” Miguel looked sheepish.

  “It’s in my purse,” she admitted.

  “So, we’re stuck until the crew gets here.”

  “I guess so.” She bit her lip. “You might as well show me what you were talking about.”

  “See?” Miguel faced a trio of shelves. “I made stackable racks, so she can see everything instead of having to move stuff around to see what’s behind the stuff up front.”

  “Mama will love that.”

  “I only made a few of these. If she wants, I can put in a few more.” He sat down on the floor. “Might as well sit and wait.”

  Gabriela did the same. “You’re right.” His cologne smelled good, and his hair looked just a touch damp and unruly. She glanced at the door. “Are the hinges on the outside or the inside?”

  “Outside.”

  “That figures. Do you have a screwdriver in here? We could always take the door handle off and pop the latch.”

  Miguel shook his head. “Good idea, but no.”

  “Well, I tried.” She couldn’t help but smile at him. Butterflies turned into hummingbirds in her stomach.

  “Someone will be here in a while.” Miguel studied her, and she tried not to squirm. “So why are you trying so hard to get away from me?”

  “I’m not.”

  “Ha. Right.” His face darkened. “You know, the other night something happened with you and me. I could tell. And I know you could, too.”

  She wouldn’t answer him, because she knew he was right.

  “But it still comes down to Tommy. I can’t say I’m sorry enough. I can’t undo anything. If I could, I would.”

  “I know that.” She fought to get the words out. “Tommy’s turned around. And so are you. And I’m glad about that …”

  “But?” His gaze bored into her.

  “I should have stopped Tommy that night. I should have told him to stay home.” Gabriela gritted her teeth. “But I was so angry and tired of trying to talk him into staying, into trying to help us stay a family without him running off, losing jobs, quitting jobs, spending all his money on drugs
, breaking my parents’ hearts.”

  “None of that is your fault.”

  “But he lied to us so many times. He was so convincing. So …”

  “So?”

  “So how do I know, how do any of us know he’s not, and you’re not, going back there again?” The words tasted bitter to her.

  “You can’t know. Because no matter how many times I tell you I won’t go back to the old ways, that doesn’t prove anything.”

  “Miguel … I know you can’t. I …”

  She moved toward him, and he closed the space between them. Then she was in his arms, and his lips were on hers. She held him tightly, allowing one hand to touch his face and the other that unruly hair. Tears burned her cheeks, tears she refused to let anyone ever see.

  “Te amo,” she whispered after the kiss ended.

  “Te amo,” came his deep reply. “Trust that, and trust God, my sweet Gaby.”

  “I’m afraid.”

  “I know you believe in me, and your family does, too.” He held her at arm’s length and looked into her eyes. “Don’t blame yourself about Tommy. He always knew right from wrong. Sure, he looked up to me. But that night, running from the police, God showed mercy on us both. By letting Tommy live after he fell off that roof. By letting me hit rock bottom. That changes a man, and a man’s got to decide if he’s going to make the break once and for all. And I have.”

  “The other night, after Las Posadas? Who was that man at your truck? The scruffy guy?”

  “Santos. He was trying to sell, and I told him I wasn’t buying. He said he needed money, but when I offered to buy him something to eat, he said that wasn’t what he wanted.”

  “Do you think he’ll come around again?”

  “I dunno. If he does, I’ll give him the same answer.”

  “Good.” Then she smiled at him. “I wanted to stop the other night when I saw him, and ask you then.”

  “Well, I’m glad you did now.” He pulled her close again, and she leaned on him. “I sure hope someone gets here soon.”