Chapter 12

Later back at home, Christian stretched out on his sofa, catching the end of a basketball game. For the past two days, he had enjoyed the company of a beautiful woman, but he was exhausted, so he could only imagine how Joy felt. Yet he didn’t want the day to end with her.

Honestly, he hadn’t expected Joy to invite him to be around the children so soon because of their vulnerability for attention. But she opened the door and Christian crossed over and he didn’t plan to walk out.

Although their attraction was mutual, Christian doubted Joy was going to act on it. That would be a first. Women threw themselves at him and his brothers all the time. That made Joy even more special.

Closing his eyes, Christian began to pray. “Lord Jesus, bless this extraordinary woman. She’s not a charity case to me. God, please allow me to make a difference in her heart about Your love and concern for her. And while You’re sprinkling good will to all men, please remember me with a special gift this year in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

***

The following morning, bright sun rays danced outside Joy’s bedroom window, nudging her to wake up. Hugging her pillow, Joy rolled over in her bed, smiling. Evidently, she had no night visitors, which helped her get a good night’s sleep.

Her house was still quiet. Since it was Saturday, maybe she could sneak in twenty more minutes before she had to get up and prepare breakfast. She had the most intoxicating dream anyway. Christian had a starring role where she was free to date him without a care in the world.

Stretching, Joy closed her eyes again. She couldn’t return to that dream. Reality was she was a single parent and in serious financial trouble. Taking one day at a time, Joy got up and prayed for strength and patience for another day.

She made up her bed, showered quickly and dressed more like a bum than when Christian saw her the previous morning. Scrutinizing her reflection in the mirror, she wished she had curled or wrapped her hair before bed. The sight was a messy wild look that would see a flat iron soon.

Peeping in on the girls, she found they were all knocked out. When she checked on Shane, Joy was surprised to find him awake and playing quietly in his bed with a toy truck. By the time she got him cleaned and dressed, Bethani had walked in, rubbing her eyes. She gave Joy a morning hug before leaving to get the other girls up.

Within an hour, Joy’s home was in full swing while she prepared pancakes in the kitchen, cartoons playing on the flat screen, and Joy snacking on bacon when the doorbell rang. Flipping the pancakes, Joy lowered the temperature so she could go to the door. She opened it to see Christian holding an armload of garland. Did the man ever not look his best?

“I brought the hallmark of Christmas to your house. There’s no need to leave home.” He grinned and sniffed as she closed the door behind him. “Am I interrupting breakfast?”

Joy jumped. “Whoa.” She raced back to the kitchen as everyone else ran to see Christian.

She quickly stacked and buttered the pancakes before returning to her living room. “So what are you doing with all that stuff?”

“Mr. Andersen says we’re going to build Jesus a house to be born in.” Bethani explained.

“Oh…well, before you start, you might want to eat. Christian, there’s plenty for you.”

He closed the distance between them. “Thank you, but I didn’t come to eat. The truth is I didn’t get enough of seeing you yesterday. My excuse is bringing Christmas to you instead of dragging you and the children around. I hope you don’t mind me taking the liberty to show up at your door unannounced.”

Joy could see herself having a hard time getting upset with this man. “Your timing is terrible.” She fanned her hand from the top of her hair to her house slippers.

Leaning closer, he whispered, “You can’t hide beauty.”

His husky baritone, the appreciative gaze and his genuine compliment made her want to kiss him, but this wasn’t a dream, so it was hands off of a man she hadn’t known a month.

“Go ahead and eat. I’ll just get started, if you don’t mind.”

“I don’t.” She had the children wash their hands and then ushered them into the kitchen.

The children seemed to wolf down their food, despite Joy’s instructions to take their time. She didn’t blame them for wanting to get back to Christian. She enjoyed being with him, too. Once she cleaned up after breakfast, Joy strolled in the living room with two mugs of hot chocolate. “Here.” She handed one to Christian. Sipping on hers, Joy sat on the sofa and watched Christian construct some contraption in the corner of the room where the Christmas tree would normally stand.

Christian patiently instructed the children how to place the garland and fake palm trees to build a hut. Next, he took a crate. “Okay, does anyone have a pillow for baby Jesus to sleep on?”

“I do.” Jada waved her tiny hand in the air. She turned at look at Joy. “Can I, Mommy?”

“I know you’re not talking about your favorite pillow that you have to have at night?” Joy chuckled. Her daughter would never give that up.

“Of such is the kingdom of heaven,” Christian mumbled without looking at her.

“It’s…it’s for Baby Jesus,” Jada said with eyes wide with excitement.

“Sure.” Joy didn’t believe for one moment her daughter was serious as Jada scrambled up the stairs on her own. She returned within minutes, sliding down the stairs on her belly. She raced to Christian—to Joy’s surprise—with her Dora the Explorer pillow.

Christian told Jada to carefully lay it in the wooden crate. “I can’t believe she is willing to give her favorite thing up,” Joy said in awe, amused.

“Children have an unshakeable faith in God.” He lifted his mug of hot chocolate for a toast.

Joy reluctantly clinked his mug. “Yeah, but that’s before life’s storms rock the boat.”

“But Jesus can calm the raging sea.”

Shane pulled a temper tantrum, wanting to pull Jada’s pillow out. Christian intervened before she did.

He lifted Shane off the floor and waited for him to calm down. “You go get something to give to Baby Jesus.” The boy nodded.

“Come on, let’s go find a toy.” Bethani took her brother and kissed his cheek. Holding Shane’s hand, she helped him up the stairs.

While Christian waited, he returned to Joy’s side. He folded his arms and just looked at her. “Joy to the World.” Christian sang the first chord, which exhibited his musical ability. “How about joining me for service tomorrow?”

Now the man was asking too much, and she was about to dim the light in his gorgeous brown eyes. “Sunday is a day of rest, and I need it before the start of another work week. I can’t keep that promise.”

His eyes seemed to glow brighter and he added a smile. “Then don’t promise me, just try.”

“You’re not giving up on me, are you?” Joy held her breath. She couldn’t take any rejection at this point in her life.

“Nope, not in this lifetime,” Christian said and went back to work.

Relieved and happy, Joy stretched out on the sofa and decided to take a short nap since the children were occupied. She felt Christian was trustworthy, but to keep him honest, she kept one eye open. Child molestation was real and it wasn’t going to happen on her watch.