“He does all kinds of cool tricks, Dad. Watch.”
While Mickey and Gabe were engaged in programming the robot, Jake and Holly stepped into the kitchen.
“She couldn’t have known Mickey was Gabe’s father.” Jake’s face was clouded with doubt. “Could she?”
Holly didn’t have an answer.
Jake continued, still frowning. “I tried to reach her, but the phone number she listed with HR wasn’t in service.”
“Then ask her when you see her again,” Holly said. Jake had mentioned that, as seasonal help, Emily Miracle would be working until after inventory had been completed in January.
“I won’t be able to,” Jake told her. “When I went to HR for her personal information, I discovered that she’d handed in her notice. Christmas Eve was her last day.”
“But…” Holly wanted to argue. Surely Mrs. Miracle would’ve said something at dinner the night before. Things didn’t quite add up… And yet, this wonderful woman had done so much to brighten their Christmas.
Before she could comment, the doorbell rang again. Holly chuckled, not even daring to guess who it might be this time. Her apartment was turning into Grand Central Station. If she had to guess, the last person to cross her mind would’ve been…
“Lindy!” Her employer’s name shot out of Holly’s mouth the second she opened the door.
Lindy Lee smiled hesitantly. “I hope I’m not intruding.”
“You came, you came.” Gabe bounded up from the floor and raced to Lindy Lee’s side, taking her hand.
Lindy gave Holly an apologetic look. “Gabe invited me and since I, uh, didn’t have any commitments, I thought I’d stop by for a few minutes and wish you all a Merry Christmas.” She glanced about the room. “I see you already have a houseful.”
“I’m Gabe’s father,” Mickey said, stepping forward. “Holly’s brother.” He set his hands on Gabe’s shoulders.
“She’s the lady I wrote you about,” Gabe said, twisting around and looking up at his father. “Isn’t she pretty?”
“Yes, she is…” Mickey seemed unable to take his eyes off Lindy Lee.
Holly wouldn’t have believed it possible, but Lindy actually blushed.
“Thank you,” the designer murmured.
“Make yourself at home,” Holly said. “I was just about to serve some eggnog. Would you like a glass?”
“Are you sure it won’t be any bother?”
“She’s sure,” Gabe said, dragging Lindy Lee toward the couch. “Here, sit next to my dad.” He patted an empty space on the sofa. “Dad, you sit here.”
Mickey smiled at Lindy Lee. “I guess we’ve got our orders.”
“Yes, sir,” Lindy joked, winking at Gabe.
“You know what she said to me, Dad?”
“What?”
“I said,” Lindy Lee supplied, “that I need a little boy in my life. A little boy just like Gabe.”
Holly wondered if she’d heard correctly. This woman who looked identical to her employer sounded nothing like the Lindy Lee she knew. Gone was the dictatorial, demanding tyrant who ran her fashion-design business with military precision. She’d either been taken over by aliens or Lindy Lee had a gentle side that she kept hidden and revealed only on rare occasions. Like Christmas…
An hour later, during a private moment in the kitchen, Jake gave Holly a gift-a cameo that had once belonged to his mother. He said J.R. had given it to him for this very purpose the night before. Holly was thrilled, honored, humbled. She held her breath as he put the cameo on its gold chain around her neck. Holly didn’t have anything for him, but Jake said all he wanted was a kiss, and she was happy to comply.
Two hours after that, the small group gathered around the table laden with Christmas fare, including several bottles of exceptional wine brought by Jake and his father. Gabe sat between Mickey and Lindy Lee and chatted nonstop, while J.R. and Jake sat with Holly between them. They took turns saying grace, then took turns again, passing serving dishes to one another.
Amid the clinking of silverware on china and the animated conversation and laughter, Gabe’s voice suddenly rose.
“Mrs. Miracle was right,” he declared after his first bite of turkey. “This is the best Christmas ever.”
Emily Merkle reached for her suitcase and started down the long road. Her job in New York was finished, and it had gone even better than she’d expected. Holly and Jake were falling in love. J.R. had more interest in anticipating the future than reliving the pain of the past. Mickey had met Lindy Lee, and Gabe had settled in nicely with his aunt Holly.
Emily hadn’t walked far when she was joined by two others, a beautiful woman and a ten-year-old girl. Kaitlyn skipped gracefully at her mother’s side, holding Helene’s hand.
“All is well,” Emily told the other woman. “J.R. and Jake will celebrate Christmas from now on. It was a big leap for J.R., but once the grandchildren arrive, he will lavish them with love.”
“Jake will marry Holly?” she asked.
Emily nodded. “They’ll have many years together.”
“You chose well for my son.”
Emily nodded in agreement. Jake and Holly were a good match and they’d bring out the best in each other.
The other woman smiled contentedly. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“It was my pleasure,” Emily told her.
And it truly was.
Debbie Macomber
