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The Millers arrived at the Community Caroling Event, later than planned. Intending to honor Kat, the Church of Christ dedicated the front row to the pageant director and her family. Kat’s foot required an entire pew to prop it up. She invited Thad to join the kids in the front as she claimed the back row.
Ms. Jacqui spotted her and sauntered over carrying a large gift bag. Kat straightened readying herself for the impending confrontation. The older lady huffed and plopped down a row ahead of Kat. She handed the gift bag to Kat with reluctance.
“For me?” Kat was stunned.
“Of course, it’s for you. Your name is on the tag, isn’t it?”
Giddy and choosing not to hide it, Kat blushed and beamed. Her palpable joy intimidated her antagonist and softened her. She didn’t allow her face to show her delight as Kat’s unwrapping revealed the quilt. Ms. Jacqui had worked weeks creating just for her.
“Oh, Ms. Jacqui, it’s lovely. Thank you, thank you, and thank you.” Hearing his wife’s exclamation, Thad turned to look back at her, thankful at her happiness. The handmade blanket was red and green in the theme and seasonal in spirit. There were sheep and angels and even a manger hidden in the prints. Kat hugged the gift to her chest before fluffing it open and covering her legs with it. Ms. Jacqui helped her straighten and stretch the quilt over her body and tuck it in around her feet. “This means so much. Thank you.”
The quilter waved a hand at her gratitude. “Oh, poo, we do one for every pageant director. It gives them something to remember their service. Though, I doubt anyone will forget this year.”
Kat shoved aside the part of herself that wanted to jab back. Instead, she hugged the quilt once more and reached out a hand to touch the other woman’s. Stunned, Ms. Jacqui patted Kat’s hand in reply and then retreated from her presence wiping at her cheeks. Kat snuggled into the peace that enveloped her more than her new blanket.
Flora and her family arrived, just as the festivities began. She sent her kids and husband ahead and sat down in front of Kat.
“Have you told him yet?” Kat hinted.
“I’m waiting until Christmas morning. He will be thrilled. I can’t believe I’m so far along, without knowing it. No wonder I’ve been snipping at Eloise. Poor Elli, going through her changes at the same time her mom’s an emotional roller coaster.” Flora glowed with her secret.
For ten years, Flora helped other women become mothers. The last eight of those years carried grief and discouragement for her and her husband. Believing their baby years were over, they contented themselves in the comfort of their three children. A miscarriage for each of their earthly births persuaded them to set aside their dreams.
Amazed and astounded at the goodness of God, Flora rested her arms across her belly, the home of a child almost out of the first trimester. All of her wacky symptoms and misplaced breakdowns made sense considering her condition. By the end of June, a new baby E would grace the Brandes family. Her worries over a sparse Christmas morning fled in the marvel of the moment. God had out given her, again, she mused as the singing began. This baby would be her rainbow baby.
✽✽✽
Lydia, tucked in at home with the baby, played another Christmas classic and savored a peppermint scone. Bea rested calmly in her basket upstairs.
Someone knocked on the Everett’s front door. The shock caused Lydia to splash coffee on the arm of her couch. The harried surrogate rushed to the front door, tripping on her own robe belt.
“Ms. Lana, come on in.” She opened the door and invited the woman inside. Ms. Lana toted an awkward cardboard box and a duffle bag into the room. Lydia offered her coffee and a Christmas pastry and joined her at the kitchen table.
“Thanks,” the woman glanced around the room nervous and hurried. She sipped her coffee with false calmness and stumbled over small talk.
“Now, Ms. Lana, I’m happy to have you here. But I don’t think you made the cold trip from Lewiston for my coffee.”
An anxious laugh escaped as Ms. Lana geared up. “I know you’re looking for Ivy. The police brought my car back, and I’ve been worried about her ever since. I let her borrow the car, while her stepfather was still steamed.”
“I knew I recognized the car. You must have let her borrow it for tutoring sessions.” Ms. Lana nodded.
“I’ve been watching Don’s house, hoping she’ll come up the walk. I haven’t seen her, but I saw the mean creep toss out this stuff.” She motioned to her baggage. “It’s not anything useful, but a couple photos and an old quilt. But I recognized them as Ms. Annie’s.”
“Why did you bring them here?”
“Ivy and Ms. Annie spoke of you, often. I figure you’re probably Ivy’s last safe place.”
Lydia knew it was a compliment, but it jabbed at her conscience. Maybe she had been a safe place for Ivy. Maybe Ivy had been waiting to be noticed. Lydia had failed to see a girl in need and only saw a teenager with a normal attitude.
The ladies continued to chat for a long hour. They speculated on Ivy’s whereabouts and the involvement of Martin Levere. Lydia sent Ms. Lana on her way with an open-hearted invitation to come to visit again. They were at the door when the baby monitor crackled. “Oh,” Lana winked. “So, Ivy has been around?”
✽✽✽
Preacher Steven prayed over the community and then invited Sam up to the podium to give his speech. To Kat’s surprise and jubilation, Sam remembered all his lines. He stood tall and gave great care to each word in the text. He emoted and made eye contact. All her fretting had been over nothing. Her son was trying to impress his mother and his friends with his wit, but when needed, took his role to heart.
She was so proud of him and so softened by the praises of the surrounding crowd, she couldn’t imagine how she ever allowed herself to grow so grumpy over celebrating Christmas. She felt a latecomer slide into the pew before she spotted them. Intent on Sam, her attention did not allow for additional input.
When she gazed at the guest, she nearly flew off the pew sideways. Ivy Hooper sat, shivering, two yards away from Kat. She wore a jersey hoodie, not adept at keeping out the December chill, ratty jeans, and boots. Her once electric blue locks were now a dingy greenish-gray. Her skin was pale, save for the dark circles under her eyes and the fading bruise on her left cheek. Her lips trembled, and she released a weak whimper. Kat swung her leg off the pew and scooted closer to the teen. Ivy jumped, skittish and solemn.
“You look cold.” Understating, Kat took the excuse to fling her new quilt around the girl’s shoulders.
“Thanks.” Ivy managed, still shivering.
“No problem.” Kat waited for the girl to warm, watching her in her peripherals. Ivy was not slipping out the door without Kat trailing after her. As her shaking slowed, Ivy searched the room distraught with concern. “Are you looking for someone?”
“Sort of.” Ivy shrugged. “I was hoping someone would be here. I don’t see them.”
Braving a closer scoot, Kat slid down the pew and landed shoulder to shoulder with the lost girl. “Lydia?”
Ivy’s eyes scanned the probing thirty-something. “Is she here?”
Kat shook her head, and the teen removed the borrowed blanket. “She stayed home with the baby.”
✽✽✽
Ms. Lana returned indoors at Lydia’s eager prompting. She helped herself to another cup of coffee while Lydia retrieved the awakening Bea. She watched while her hostess heated a bottle.
“Is she hers?” Ms. Lana peeked over at the tiny face yawning and stretching before latching on to the bottle nipple.
“Whose?”
“Ivy’s, of course. That girl may have hidden her condition from everyone else, but no one can hide from me. I have a sixth sense for pregnant mamas. I figure she was due about two weeks ago.” Lana stroked a tiny hand and cooed at the baby. “Why she up and told Don I’ll never understand.”
Livid, Lydia snapped, “Don knew and said nothing?”
“Oh, he said plenty. Just not to us. This baby is the whole reason he kicked Ivy out. Terrible thing to do but not the worst he’s capable of.”
Lydia’s head swirled with new thoughts. All this time, her pupil was hiding her pregnancy. Lydia hadn’t noticed. She’d been too wrapped up in her own loneliness and couldn’t see anyone else’s. She asked the Lord to forgive her ignorance and apathy as she kissed Bea’s sweet head. The Father granted Lydia nine months of chances to rescue Ivy and her child. Nine months, to see someone else’s pain other than her own and she had failed. God protected the baby, despite Lydia’s stubborn ignorance. She prayed to Him, begging for Ivy’s safety.
“Nine months,” Lydia repeated out loud. “Around the time, Ms. Annie passed?”
Ms. Lana nodded, following Lydia’s thoughts. “Yep, that was when Ivy moved in with that jerk from the mall. Only lasted two weeks, but things like this only take one night.”
✽✽✽
Ivy turned to Kat, chancing eye contact. “Baby,” she croaked.
Flora turned to check on Kat in time to catch Ivy’s eye. Flora waved, at the girl, a little too excited to greet the acquaintance. Ivy returned the wave, letting the quilt fall to her waist. Kat noticed Flora’s eyes widen, and her smile stretch across her face. She followed her gaze and noticed the small circles on the front of Ivy’s hoodie.
“Yes,” Kat chimed filled with wonder, “your baby.” Ivy startled. Her mind argued with itself. Her body decided running away was out of the question. She was spent, sore, starving, and close to frozen. “Lydia has your baby. She’s safe and warm and beautiful.”
The artifice that allowed Ivy to survive the last month alone collapsed in a clamor of crying. Kat tugged the girl’s head to her shoulder, while Flora rounded the pew and held her from the other side. The encircled embrace lasted until Ivy could breathe without blubbering.
“You ready to go see your little girl,” Flora asked. She texted Kevin and escorted both Ivy and Kat to her truck.