The Saturday before Christmas turned out to be sunny but cold. Snow held on stubbornly in some spots while brown grass showed itself in others. Christmas was everywhere. Homeowners proclaimed the holiday with lighted decorations and the cheery bell of the Salvation Army kettle attendant sounded above the traffic. It was turning out to be a season of firsts for Mary. Her first real home, her first time to prepare an entire Christmas meal, and her first Christmas tree. She was running to catch up to all the adjustments.
She felt like a beaten wrestler as she stepped back from the Christmas tree to check its alignment. Robin had picked a tall, slender tree from the few left at the Boy Scouts’ lot, but Mary had never considered how difficult it would be to position it in the holder. On her first few tries, the tree had tilted precariously first to the right and then to the left. Just as she was about to declare the tree the winner, she heard a familiar voice outside her front door.
“MaryMaryMary!”
She opened the door to see Robin’s face smiling up at her.
“I came to help you decorate. Did you get the lights? Did you put up the tree? Did you wait for me?”
How could anyone not be infected with the girl’s Christmas spirit? “Yes, yes, and yes,” Mary answered with a laugh.
Robin ran into the living room and stopped in front of her tree. “It’s so big,” she said, bouncing on her toes. “I’ve never had such a big tree.”
Will leaned against the door frame and crossed his arms in front of his chest. “That tree is big enough for Goliath.”
“Let’s put the lights on,” Robin said, still bouncing like a kitten on caffeine.
“I’ll get the lights and you get the decorations,” Mary said.
“Okay,” Robin called as she bounded up the stairs.
Will sauntered into the room and wrapped his arms around Mary. “Are you sure you’re up to this?”
“Sure I am. I always helped the younger kids decorate the tree at Good Shepherd.”
Will pulled a pine needle from Mary’s hair and gave her a quizzical look.
“Don’t ask,” she said.
Will smiled. “Are you growing pine cones too?”
Mary nudged him playfully with her shoulder. “Is Grant with you?”
“No. School’s out for the holidays, but he’s still working on that computer project. All he talks about is Neil Jorgensen. Apparently, your friend fixed a lot of Grant’s problems.”
“Glad to hear it. What are you going to do while Robin and I decorate?”
“Keep working on the outside repairs.”
“Want to stay for lunch? I have the most beautiful kitchen in the state, but I haven’t used it yet.”
Will traced her jawline with the tip of his finger. “I want to stay as long as you’ll let me. When I’m with you, I feel like everything’s okay. Whatever I worried about during the day simply disappears.”
How good it felt to rest in the safety of his arms. She laid her head on his chest and let out a long, slow breath. What would it be like to have someone with whom she could share her life? She’d believed a solitary life was all she’d ever have. Could Will and his children be the answer to her prayers?
Two surprisingly strong arms pushed against Mary’s legs, prying her away from Will. Robin glared up at her like a very cross schoolteacher.
“We have to decorate the tree,” Robin said through clenched teeth. “Christmas is three days away.”
Mary glanced at Will. “Want to help?”
“Not this time. I’m going to take advantage of the good weather while it holds. Daisy and I will be outside if you need us.” He gave Robin’s hair a quick caress, winked at Mary, and walked toward the back door.
Robin pulled on Mary’s sweater. “Lights?” she asked in an exasperated tone.
“Yes, ma’am,” Mary answered with a laugh. “Coming right up.”
* * *
Silver Bells was playing as Mary walked through the store with Mr. Alden on Christmas Eve. “Five hours until we lock the doors,” he said with a big smile. “Our numbers are fantastic this year, and that’s without the after-Christmas sales.”
Mary was counting the minutes. December had been an eventful month and she still had to prepare for her holiday guests.
“I don’t know about this year’s decorations,” Mr. Alden said. “They don’t really evoke the Christmas spirit, do they?”
Mary glanced at the nearest mermaid mannequin. Was she imagining it or did that particular sea creature look exhausted? “I agree with you. We should ask the employees if any of the customers have made comments.”
“Good idea, but next year remind me I’d like to do something more traditional.”
She wouldn’t forget. Maybe she could even include a manger scene and remind people why they were celebrating Christmas in the first place.
By the time she made it back to her office, she had five voice mail messages waiting. When she heard Will’s voice, her heart soared. If she didn’t calm down soon she’d have to visit her doctor. She returned his call first.
“I got your message,” she said when he answered. “What’s on your mind?”
“Christmas Eve services. Would you like to go with us?”
Mary wouldn’t have to sit alone this year while the families around her practically glowed with happiness. “That would be wonderful.”
“Great. We’ll pick you up at seven thirty.”
“Wait,” she hurried to say before he ended the call, “I have an invitation for you too.”
“I’ll say yes to anything you ask.”
Mary couldn’t stop smiling. “I’m not used to having so much power.”
“I trust you with it.”
Mary didn’t know how to reply. Her heart was warm with hope and tremulous with fear of disappointment. “I just wanted to say you’re all welcome to join me for lunch tomorrow. If you don’t have other plans.”
“I was hoping you’d ask. Robin has been pestering me all week about allowing her to spend Christmas day with you.”
“Good. I can’t wait to see what color she paints your nails for Christmas.”
He laughed loudly. “I’m looking forward to seeing you tonight.”
“I’ll be ready.”
* * *
The night was clear and cold as Will drove Mary home after Christmas Eve services. Although Robin had pleaded with her father for permission to go with him, Will had left the girl with her brother.
The silence between Will and Mary felt easy. She’d never been one to fill the air with empty chatter, and her full heart needed this quiet time to recover from the flood of emotions she was experiencing. Was a family part of God’s plan for her life? Robin clearly liked her, and, if she and Will went no further than friendship, perhaps Robin could still be in her life.
After stopping in Mary’s driveway, Will sprinted around the truck to open her door. He offered his hand to help her out, then threaded his fingers through hers as they walked to her door.
“Thank you for inviting me tonight,” Mary said. “It was so lovely. Especially the candlelight at the end. Seeing the light reflected in the children’s eyes was magical.” She unlocked the door, stepped inside, and flipped on the light.
“What time do you want us tomorrow?” Will asked.
“Is one o’clock all right?”
“Perfect. We’ll visit my parents and then head this way.”
“Does Robin open gifts in the morning?”
“At the crack of dawn.”
Mary chuckled and tucked her hair behind her ear. “Okay, then…I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“I have something to show you before I go.” He reached into his jacket pocket and withdrew a twig of green leaves. “Mistletoe,” Will said, holding the sprig above her head.
Mary squinted up at the greenery. “I’m pretty sure that’s juniper.”
Will stepped closer and narrowed his eyes. “Could you just pretend it’s mistletoe? For me?”
“Oh,” Mary said. “Mistletoe.”
“And if I catch a pretty girl under the mistletoe,” Will said with a grin, “I get to kiss her.”
Mary lips ached to feel Will’s kiss. She inched closer, and Will used his free arm to pull her against him. She lifted her mouth to his and closed her eyes.
Will’s lips were soft and warm against hers, no more than a hint of passion, a whispered promise. “What do you think, Mary?” Will whispered.
Mary’s lips tingled as his breath touched them. She wanted another kiss, something she’d never wanted from other men.
“Mary?”
Why was he talking instead of kissing her again? Perhaps she needed to act. Placing her hands on either side of his face, she pulled his mouth down to hers. Will emitted a sound that was part surprise and part pleasure.
“The next time you want to kiss me,” Mary said when they broke apart, “you won’t need a juniper twig.”
“I’ll remember that when I see you tomorrow,” he said.
When he closed the door behind him, Mary ran up the stairs to her room. Children were too excited to sleep on Christmas Eve. A feeling Mary shared.