“I’m sure I can make room for him somewhere in my little house, but he has the larger dining room and kitchen, so we’ll be cooking there.”
“I guess things are progressing nicely,” Howard said.
“There’s a gathering in the town at Jack’s Bar and it spills out around the tree. I hear there’s food, drink, carol singing and in general a town party. I’m told it usually starts around six when the sun goes down and the tree lights up. Can you get here early enough for that?”
“I wouldn’t miss it.”
The week leading up to Christmas was consumed with volunteer duties. Mallory decided she was ready to go back to school and that freed Kaylee to shop and help with the food baskets. Every evening she read with Mallory and it thrilled her. Since all her books were back in Newport, she downloaded the first book in the Harry Potter series and if Mallory enjoyed it, she’d buy her the set. But for now, having this sweet little girl tucked up next to her, the two of them taking turns reading every other page, was sheer bliss.
Kaylee could see that when children suffered a loss like this, they could be resilient, at least in the moment. Mallory could be easily distracted by the puppies or other children, laughing and playing one moment and then a bit later, morose and feeling a little lonely. Kaylee was there for her when her spirits were down.
Every day was packed with activity. Every evening Kaylee was busy getting dinner ready or spending time with Mallory. Most nights the dogs joined them for at least a little while until one the puppies made a mess. Kaylee found that Lady curled up beside her, leaning against her, as if Lady had chosen Kaylee as her everything.
Not only had she gone over to the coast to do a little shopping, but Landry had run a few errands for her as well so that Santa would not miss this house. There were gifts wrapped and hidden at Landry’s house, ready to be put under the tree.
In the dark of night when Kaylee and Landry held each other, they whispered about the turn of events. “I never would have seen this coming,” Landry said. “I’m glad you decided to bring Mallory home.”
“How could I not?” she asked. “I know exactly how she must be feeling.”
“And for you, this whole idea of ignoring Christmas seems to have changed focus,” he said. “You’re the kindest person I know. I fall more deeply in love with you every day.”
But she thought he was the kindest, most giving person in the world. “I don’t know how long we can have this gift. A foster home might be found for her.”
“Unless we tell Mel to ask them to stop looking,” he said. “I could live like this. Actually, this is how I always thought my life would be.”
She couldn’t help but think, she never imagined her life like this. She thought she would grow old with her books, her mother, her friends. But this new routine seemed to suit her as well. “There’s still Newport,” she reminded him.
“This is not a tragedy,” he said. “We each have a house and there’s plenty of room in both. We each have a little money set aside, thanks to our parents. All we need is a plan and a little patience.”
Kaylee’s editor called and raved about both of the manuscripts she’d submitted. “The suspense is right on target and I have a long list of things I love about it, and the women’s fiction is a wonderful bonus! I want to buy it, but first we should talk about whether you want to make a change in genres or add a genre to your booklist. For someone who didn’t feel confident about writing women’s fiction, you nailed it.” They talked for an hour then decided to shelve the rest of their conversation about how to proceed until after the first of the year.
Landry helped get a spaghetti casserole ready to put in the oven to eat on Christmas eve, after they’d been to town. In the afternoon, Howard arrived and was greeted by yipping puppies and barking dogs. And his laughing daughter hugged him. “Dad,” she said, giving him a kiss on the cheek, “I want you to meet Mallory and Lady and Lady’s kids, and I believe you know everyone else.”
Howard just stood stock-still and let the tears well up in his eyes. She knew it was because she’d finally called him Dad rather than Howie. He hugged her fiercely for a long moment and then, wiping his eyes, he said, “Well, what’ve we got here.”
Landry crouched to the floor and said, “A puddle, for one thing.” He pulled a thick wad of paper towels from his pocket. “Merry Christmas, sir,” he said. “I think it’s time for the children to go to bed. Can I have a hand, Mallory?”
“You bet,” she said, scooping up two puppies.
“We’ll go into town and join the party, then come home for dinner. Dad, let’s get your bags into Landry’s house and then we can all go in one car. We’ll eat at Landry’s.”
“Sounds good,” he said. “Are we ready to go?”
“Just about,” she said. “Once Landry gets the dogs settled.”
“Will they be all right with no one home?” he asked.
“They’ll be in the kennel. Lady is an excellent mother.”
He just shook his head. “This is such a wonderful surprise, seeing you around dogs and children.”
“It’s all been a whirlwind,” she said. “Would you like something to eat before we go? I have cookies. Home-baked.”
“You made cookies?”
“Yes, I did. But, fortunately for you, these were made by someone else.”
The street through Virgin River was crowded with cars and trucks, and there were people milling around the tree, on the porch at Jack’s, in front of the church, everywhere.
“Good God, look at that tree!” Howard said. “How’d they ever get it into town and
