The next day passed quickly for Addie, what with all the rush of congratulations and the rearranging of everybody’s Christmas plans and the fact that she felt that her heart now actually had wings.
Nate had caught her up on the decisions that had been made at the dinner between the Goodwins. Maimie and Doc intended to become the boy’s legal guardians. Though they knew they couldn’t take on raising him, they would assume responsibility for his needs and set up a trust fund for him. Meanwhile Nate would continue to care for him, and after they were married and ready for the responsibility, the Goodwins hoped they would take the boy to raise themselves. Though Nate would have to have help, as he intended to go back to school to become a child and family therapist, in Star City, of course.
As for the future Mrs. Nate Browder?
“I can’t believe the Goodwins are putting me in management training,” Addie said as she and Nate and Jesse walked out of the early evening candlelight service at Addie’s church together.
“Hey, somebody has to learn the business to teach Jesse here when it’s his turn to take over.” Nate ruffled the kid’s red hair.
Addie smiled. “Who knows what Goodwin’s will look like then? If there will even still be a Goodwin’s?”
“If there is, fifty years from now I hope they do a promotion where they show typical life for us now.” Nate guided them toward the sidewalk. “Where the dad raises the kid and the mom runs the business.”
“And the baby Jesus is still the most important part of Christmas,” Jesse added.
Addie gave the boy a hug, then looked up toward the brightly lit houses of her mother’s neighborhood. “Mom’s caroling party for people who want to walk together to the midnight service doesn’t start until ten. Tomorrow morning we’re all going to the Goodwins’ for Christmas presents and brunch. But I’m not sure what we should do right now.”
“Let’s go home and just be a family,” Jesse said.
Nate and Addie looked at each other, not sure what to say except, “Jesse, the three of us don’t have a home.”
“Sure we do!” He dug deep into his pocket and pulled free the keys that Doc had given Addie and that Addie had given Jesse to give back to Doc.
Nate laughed. “Do we dare?”
“With Doc’s keys we can turn off the alarms and no one will ever know,” she said, beaming up at the man she loved. “And if they do know, who cares?”
And that was how they came to spend Christmas Eve at Goodwin’s Department Store, with their love and the joy of family and the wonder of the unexpected blessings of Christmas on display for anyone to see.