11

Saturday morning, Nicole pushed aside her mixed emotions. Yesterday had been so busy she’d hardly taken a break. Why people waited until the last minute to do their Christmas shopping was beyond her.

Thanks to Jasmine pulling some strings, Nicole had today off. It was Christmas Eve, but the mall would still be packed. She had somewhere more important to go today.

Her mood brightened as she drove to the mission. She loved giving back to the place that had helped her find her future. She soon found herself surrounded by tables of gifts, helping residents choose the right presents for their children and then wrapping them. The look on the parents’ faces when they realized they could still make Christmas special for their children was priceless.

In the next room, another team was assembling care packages for the residents. In addition to a personal gift, which Nicole suspected was always funded by Cora and Milo, each resident received a care package full of useful items like soap, shampoo, deodorant, and other essentials.

Nicole moved into the other room to see who was working in there. She sucked in a breath. Michael and her dad were working side-by-side, filling bags with items. She backed up, intending to retreat to the gift-wrapping station, but Michael caught sight of her. He said something to Russ and hurried in her direction.

“Nicole, wait,” Michael said. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

Nicole hesitated, not wanting to face more heartbreak, but as a Christian, she should at least be polite. “I guess.”

Michael turned from Nicole to find Cora watching them, a glimmer of a smile on her face. “My office is free,” she said, “if you’d like a quiet spot.”

“Bless you, Cora,” Michael said. He guided Nicole towards the stairs.

“You should know something about me,” Nicole said once they were out of earshot of the others. “I don’t kiss many guys. When I do, it means something. Being ignored afterwards really hurt.”

Michael’s expression was pained. “Please, come sit. I need to tell you something.”

Nicole pulled out a chair and sat across from Michael, her arms folded across her chest.

Michael took a deep breath. “A few years ago, I was involved with a woman named Shana. I was sure I was in love. She was so kind, so attentive. She attended church with me and genuinely seemed to care about my happiness. I decided to propose.”

Nicole shifted in her seat. Why was he telling her this?

“I had the ring in my pocket, and was picking her up for a fancy dinner. I went to her apartment, but she wasn’t quite ready. While I waited in her living room, her phone lit with a text. I read it. I probably shouldn’t have, but it was just there, and I had a moment of weakness.”

“What did it say?” Nicole asked.

“It was from her mom. It said Here’s to the good life. Hope tonight you finally land the catch.” Michael ran his fingers through his hair. “I knew her password, so I opened the rest of the text conversation. There it was, clear as day. Shana was planning to marry me for money. Her mom even asked if there was a pre-nuptial agreement. I had been too blind to consider drafting one.”

Compassion rose in Nicole. “Oh, Michael, I’m sorry. What did you do?”

“I confronted her about it. First, she got mad, saying I invaded her privacy. I had, and I know I was wrong in that regard, but I was devastated. When I started to walk out, she begged me not to go. I looked her straight in the eye and asked her if she loved me. She lowered her head and turned away.”

“That’s terrible,” Nicole said.

“She said she’d proven she could be a good wife, even attending church with me. Why did love matter if I was happy with her?” Michael stood and started pacing. “I told her I would only marry for love. I walked out of her apartment and never saw her again.” Michael turned and faced Nicole. “It’s been years since I was interested in dating. But then I met a young woman with a beautiful smile who captured my heart. She’s caring and compassionate, loves Jesus, and helps those less fortunate. I took her home to meet my family, and they all loved her. I took her on a date where everything went wrong, and she told me she didn’t want to date me because I had money. She couldn’t be more different from Shana. Everything seemed perfect.” Michael broke eye contact. “Then I hear her dad saying basically the same thing to her that Shana’s mom had said to Shana, and it nearly killed me. I couldn’t go through it again.”

Nicole’s eyes grew wide. Understanding dawned, and a glimmer of hope appeared. “I’m sorry for what you went through, but you should’ve talked to me. After everything I told you, for you to believe I was after your money makes me furious.”

Michael returned to the chair across from Nicole. “You’re right. I was a jerk, and I’m sorry. By now, I realize your dad was operating on his own. Funny thing is, he and I have become friends since he started living at the mission.” He reached out for her hand. “Nicole, I’m sorry I misjudged you. Will you please forgive me?”

Nicole gazed into his eyes, and her anger melted away. Michael’s response, while insulting, was understandable considering his past experience. She uncrossed her arms and took his hand. “I forgive you.” The smile on his face was electrifying.

“In that case, will you accompany me to the dinner and chapel service this evening?” Michael rose and extended his arm.

“I’d love to,” Nicole said, wrapping her fingers around his elbow. Warmth traveled down to her toes. They headed downstairs to finish their assignments. As they entered the room together, Nicole found Cora watching them, but she looked away as soon as Nicole caught her eye.

After serving Christmas dinner to all the residents, Cora, Milo, Nicole, Michael, and the other staff and volunteers sat for a quick bite before the chapel service.

“I’m surprised you’re not having dinner with your family tonight,” Nicole said to Michael when they finally took their seats.

“The big family Christmas dinner is tomorrow,” Michael said. “Tonight I wanted to help the residents here. The past six months I’ve talked to many of them. It’s incredible what some of them have been through.” He reached out and stroked her hand. “Including you.”

Nicole shrugged. “It made me who I am today.”

Michael’s gaze bored into hers. “Who you are today is an amazing, beautiful, strong woman whom I never want to disappoint again.”

Tears pricked Nicole’s eyes, but the sound of chairs scraping and folks getting to their feet told her it was time to start the chapel service. They cleared their plates and made their way into the next room, where Milo already stood at the front with his guitar, Cora at his side behind a microphone.

Nicole followed Michael into the hall where he took a seat beside her dad. Milo invited them to stand, and they sang Christmas carols to the sound of Milo’s guitar melodies and Cora’s powerful alto. When the songs ended, Milo began his Christmas message. Nicole focused on the man who had been more like a father to her than her own father. She sneaked a peek at Russ. Maybe that would change.

Milo opened his Bible and read from Luke 2. The familiar words of the Christmas story spoke to Nicole’s heart, but Milo stopped at verse seven.

“There was no room at the inn. Have you ever thought about that before? Sure, we’ve all seen the sweet nativity sets with Baby Jesus and his halo cuddled in a cozy manger. In reality, there was no place for Him to go. He was born in a feeding trough in a noisy, smelly room full of animals. Why would God allow it?” Milo paused and gazed around the room.

“From the first moment of His life, Jesus experienced poverty and rejection. He was an outcast. Many of us are here tonight because we have nowhere else to go. How many nights have you been on the streets believing God didn’t care? I’m telling you, He does care. He understands what you’re going through. He could’ve been born in a palace, but instead, there was no room for Him in the inn. Many of us have places we are no longer welcome, but you’re all welcome with Jesus, and you’re all welcome here.”

Applause rang out around the room. “Preach it, Brother Milo!” a man shouted from the side of the room.

“You need to remember, though, my brothers and sisters,” Milo continued, “while you are always welcome here and loved desperately by the Lord, He never promises life will be easy. You’ve all experienced difficult lives, and following Him doesn’t take away all the hardships. Just as Jesus didn’t have an easy life, He doesn’t promise one to us. What He does promise is that He’ll be with us through it all. And knowing that, my friends, is the best feeling ever.

“So please, my dear friends, make room for Him. Make room in your life for the One the world didn’t make room for. The One who was despised and rejected throughout His life, even to death. Make room for Him in your life, and He will make room for you. He tells us in John 14: 1-3 ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so you also may be where I am.’

“Jesus is preparing a room for you in heaven! He’s promising if you follow Him, once you leave this life, you’ll never be homeless again.”

The crowd once again applauded. Milo took a sip of water, and invited forward those who had not yet surrendered their hearts to Christ. Men and women moved to the front and Milo prayed with them.

When all returned to their seats, the lights were dimmed, and candles were passed and lit. Each person held their candle as they sang Silent Night. Nicole gazed around the room and saw what Jesus saw. Not a bunch of homeless people, but God’s children. They were no longer drug addicts or gambling addicts or alcoholics. They were precious children of God, so special to Him that He’d allowed His Son to be born into a world that had no place for Him.

As the song came to a close, Michael wrapped his fingers around Nicole’s. They sang one last chorus hand-in-hand. Truly, Christmas had come.

The lights came back on, and they blew out the candles. Nicole wiped away a stray tear, and gazing around the room, found she wasn’t the only one to do so. Michael turned to her and Russ.

“I’d love for both of you to join me at my parents’ house tomorrow for Christmas dinner.”

Russ glanced at Nicole. “Would you like to?”

Nicole beamed at Michael. A true family Christmas dinner? It was a dream come true. “Thank you, Michael. Are you sure your mother won’t mind?”

“Mind? She’ll be thrilled. She always makes far too much food anyway. You’d be doing Dad a favor so he doesn’t have to eat the same leftovers for a week.”

Nicole laughed and, as an unexpected burst of emotion took hold of her, she threw her arms around Michael. “Thank you.”

Michael turned toward her and his gaze locked on hers. Time stopped for a moment, and then Russ cleared his throat.

“Guess I’ll be getting back to the dorm. I’ll see you both tomorrow.”

Nicole’s cheeks warmed, and she released her arms from around Michael. “Good night, Dad. I’ll be by to pick you up in the morning.”

Andre approached, and Michael was soon engaged in a conversation with him about his new apartment. Nicole made her way over to Cora.

“Cora,” Nicole said, her voice thick with concern.

“Now what on earth could possibly be troubling you, child?” Cora asked. “It’s Christmas, you just sat through one of Milo’s best sermons, you have a new relationship with your daddy, and from what I can see, you and our dear friend Mr. Cavanaugh finally got yourselves straightened out.”

“He asked Dad and me to his parent’s house for Christmas dinner,” Nicole said.

“And why is that a problem?” Cora asked.

“Because I don’t have gifts for anyone!”

Cora laughed. “Well, if that’s all it is, come with me.”

Nicole followed Cora across the darkened room where they’d previously been wrapping gifts. Cora unlocked the door and led Nicole into the thrift shop attached to the mission.

“Cora, this is a sweet idea, but I don’t want to buy them second-hand gifts,” Nicole said.

“Hush, now, and listen. We brought the extra donations in here after the residents chose the gifts for their family members. Everything in these boxes is new. I’m sure you’ll find something suitable.”

Sure enough, after several minutes of rummaging through the boxes and some creative brainstorming, Nicole was sure she had the perfect gifts for everyone in Michael’s family, including Michael. She threw her arms around Cora. “Thank you so much. You’re a lifesaver.”

Cora returned Nicole’s hug with a firm squeeze. “I’m glad you and Michael are seeing eye-to-eye again.”

Nicole’s cheeks warmed again as thoughts of him staring into her eyes filled her mind. “Me too, Cora. Me too.”