11

Noah gazed at the faces around his dinner table. He’d never had so much company at this house. Between his family and Lucy’s, there were nine people, including little Carol Marie. Granted, half of his guests were sleep-deprived, but it was still a wonderful celebration of Christ’s birth. He allowed his mind to imagine many years of this family blending together for Christmases to come. If Lucy was serious about staying. Oh, how he hoped she would. She sat at the far side of the table, Carol Marie in her arms. She was beautiful, cradling the baby. It was easy to imagine her as a young mother.

“What do you think of your first Arizona Christmas?” Betsy asked Lucy.

Noah leaned closer, eager to hear Lucy’s reply.

“Well, it’s certainly been different,” Lucy said. “But God has taught me a thing or two this year.” Carol started to fuss, and Lucy handed her back to Ava. “I thought I knew what was necessary to make Christmas special. First and foremost, it was about having my family around me. But I also needed a perfectly decorated tree, a Christmas cantata, a full home cooked meal of all my mother’s recipes, and a traditional Christmas Eve service full of all my favorite carols. And snow was a bonus. That’s what I thought I needed for Christmas.”

“What do you think you need now?” Betsy asked.

“Well, thanks to a certain kitten, I learned it doesn’t matter how a tree is decorated. It can still be beautiful, even without ornaments on the bottom. And thanks to all of you, I learned sometimes people don’t need to be related by blood to make a family. I also learned other people’s recipes, while different, can be equally delicious. I learned I can go to a church of a completely different style than what I’m used to and God can still speak to me. And while I didn’t get to hear my favorite Christmas carols this year, this little Carol has made everything special. God taught me to focus on Him. The baby in the manger is the only thing that matters at Christmas.”

“That’s beautiful,” Betsy said. “It sounds as though God was able to take all these changes and use them for good in your life.”

“Well, I, for one, am grateful for you coming out here,” Isabel said. “I don’t know how I would’ve managed without you. And I’m not sure how I’ll manage after you’re gone.”

“You’ll get stronger and more independent every day,” Ava said.

“Yes, but I found a relationship with my sister. We’re closer today than we’ve ever been.”

“I agree,” Lucy said. “And that’s why I’m hoping you’ll consider letting me stay.”

Isabel’s eyes lit up. “Would you really consider it?”

Lucy grinned. “If you’ll let me.”

“Woo hoo! My sister’s here to stay!”

Noah couldn’t contain the joy bubbling within him. Lucy was staying! He couldn’t think of a nicer Christmas present. “I’m glad your first Arizona Christmas was meaningful. I’m even more glad this won’t be your last. I’m sorry you didn’t get all to experience all the things you normally do for Christmas, but I think I can help you out with one of them. I have a present for you.”

Lucy’s forehead crinkled. “Oh, you didn’t need to. I didn’t get anything for you.”

“This isn’t something you can get from the store. I’ll show you after dinner.”

~*~

When everyone had eaten their fill, Lucy brought her container of cookies to the table. “I only had a chance to make one kind, but I baked cookies.” She laid the container in front of Davy. His eyes grew wide.

“You made me grandma cookies!” Davy reached in to the container and grabbed two. He turned to Lucy. “Thanks for being my extra grandma.”

Lucy’s eyes filled.

Betsy laughed. “Looks as though you got two new grandchildren this week.”

“Thank you for a wonderful Christmas dinner,” Ava said, “but we need to get home.”

“Yes, my parents arrived last evening and are waiting for us in our empty house. We’re anxious to bring Carol Marie home, but it was nice to celebrate with you before heading back,” Henry added.

Lucy kissed them all goodbye. “I’ll visit soon. It will be nice to be close again.”

“Audrey won’t believe it when you tell her.”

“I may save that conversation for another day. When I go back to Pennsylvania to pack up and sell the house, I’ll visit with her and her family. And now that Roscoe has a friend, I’ll be able to get on a plane once in a while.”

“Sounds good, Mom. Merry Christmas.”

A few moments later, the sweet sounds of violin music filled the small house. The beauty of the notes touched Lucy’s soul, and she moved back out into the living room to investigate. There stood Noah, his violin beneath his chin, playing the most amazing rendition of Silent Night she’d ever heard. She sank into the nearest chair and watched, mesmerized, as Noah played through all her favorite Christmas carols. Tears came to her eyes at the beauty of his playing. When he finally put down his bow, Lucy couldn’t help but applaud. “That was absolutely wonderful. Thank you.”

After the concert, Betsy and her family left to spend the evening with David’s family.

Isabel went back home to rest, leaving only Noah and Lucy together.

“I’m ready to show you your present,” Noah said. “If you’re not too tired.”

“Goodness, no. I slept enough yesterday. It’s been such a wonderful Christmas. I thought your music was my present. I can’t imagine anything else making this day better.”

Noah’s eyes twinkled. “I might know of something. But it’s a bit of a road trip. We’d be gone for a few hours.”

“I’ll check on Isabel. If she’s comfortable being alone with the animals, I’m game.”

“Great. Go check in with her and I’ll get a few things ready. Meet me back at my car in twenty minutes.”

Lucy hurried back to Isabel’s house, nervous yet excited. What was Noah planning? She stepped inside and Isabel turned toward her, surprise written on her face.

“I thought you and Noah would spend some time alone. What are you doing back over here already?”

Lucy grinned. “I came to ask you if you would be OK here for a few hours. Noah has somewhere he wants to take me.”

“If it means you two will finally admit your feelings toward one another, then absolutely. He’s a good man, Lucinda. I’m happy for you two, especially since he probably had something to do with you wanting to move here. Go, enjoy. I won’t wait up.”

Lucy grabbed a jacket and her purse. She met Noah in the driveway with a big smile.

“Where are we headed?”

“Ahh, that’s a surprise, my dear. It’s the last part of your Christmas present. But we’ll be driving for about two hours. I hope that won’t be a problem.”

“Not at all. Isabel assured me she’d be fine. She’s glad I’ll be staying.”

“So am I.”

As they swapped life stories, the drive flew by. Lucy was so focused on Noah that she barely glanced out of the window. When she did, she gasped. “Oh!”

Noah grinned. “We’re almost there.” He drove a few miles further and parked at the top of a mountain. He popped the trunk and exited the car. Lucy followed after him, shivering, but grateful for the cold. Noah handed her a coat and slipped one on himself. They stepped out away from the car.

Lucy gazed all around in wonder as the snow fluttered down around her. As far as the eye could see, snow blanketed the world in white. Noah stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around her. They stood for several moments in silence, the snow muffling all sounds.

“Merry Christmas, Lucy,” Noah murmured in her ear.

“I can’t believe you gave me a white Christmas. How is this even possible?”

“We’re up in the mountains. It’s a completely different climate here.”

“It’s simply breathtaking.” Lucy brushed a tear from her cheek and turned to face Noah. “I told everyone earlier today my Christmas was complete because I realized what was most important. It’s not about all these extra things. Jesus didn’t need a palace. He was born amongst the animals. All I need at Christmas is to focus on the gift God gave us in His Son. But you brought these special blessings to me anyway. You’re a good man, Noah Charles.”

“And you’re a wonderful woman, Lucinda Esther, who is most certainly not ninety.”

Lucy laughed. “No, but if you stick around long enough, I will be.”

Noah bent down and touched her lips to his. “I can’t think of anything I’d rather do.”