A Merry Little Christmas (22 page)

Her cheek, oh-so-soft against his, and the rose scent of her hair was a wonderful overload on his senses. Charlie moved her a little closer to him, feeling mighty glad that he wouldn’t have to live the song’s lament and be without Franny for Christmas. “A moment ago, you asked me if you’d interfered with my life. You have. You’ve interfered with my life in the most wonderful and profound way.”

“Oh? I have?”

“Yes. You’ve made me fall in love with you.”

Even though Franny rode back to the farm in Charlie’s Rolls, it felt more like hovering on a bank of clouds—the poufy, blissful kind that would never think of turning into a rainstorm. On the dance floor, when Charlie whispered his endearment, she had thought he’d said something else—maybe “dove” or “above.” Surely not “love.” But when she had him repeat the words to make certain there was no misunderstanding, she burst into tears. Charlie gave her his handkerchief, and in spite of her sobs she was certain it would be remembered as one of the most romantic moments of her life.

When Charlie helped Franny out of his car she got a little drifty, gazing into his dark brown eyes. How many sighs could a girl endure before she passed out from hyperventilation? But she’d have to come down from her dreamy state soon, since they had a load of not-sodreamy chores to do before supper.

As they walked toward the house together, Franny glanced toward the lane. A car drove up the road at an alarming speed. “I wonder who that is.” She shielded her eyes against the sun.

“Do you know the car?”

“I don’t think so.”

They waited for a moment until the car pulled up into the yard and slowed to a stop in front of them.

The vehicle, on closer inspection, looked to be an ancient green Chevy station wagon, and it looked like it had been through a mud bath, which made the driver barely visible through the windshield. Franny walked toward the car as a woman got out. “Noma, is that really you? I can’t believe it. What a wonderful surprise.”

Noma chuckled as she pressed her palm to her forehead. “I’m mighty relieved that you’re so glad to see me.”

“Well, of course I am.” Franny pulled the woman into a hug, and they stayed that way for a moment or two, rocking back and forth. Franny could feel the woman’s bones through her thin coat, and it made her heart ache for the older woman. “I was afraid I would never see you again. I’m so glad God thought otherwise.” When Franny released Noma she turned to Charlie. “You remember Noma from the diner.”

“I’m glad you came,” Charlie said. “By the way, how did you find us out here? There aren’t any road signs.”

“Well, I stopped and asked some people in town. They told me the way.” Noma glanced away for a moment.

Franny touched her arm. “Did they treat you well in town?”

“Well, when they saw me, they got a little absentminded about how to greet a woman, but other than that, they was just fine.” Noma looked at Charlie and then back at Franny but said no more.

“What is it?” Franny asked.

“I guess I do need to tell you something.” Noma licked her lips. “But I’ve just arrived, and I hate to burden you with my story. It’s not pleasant to hear.”

“You can tell us anything,” Franny said. “I promise it’s all right.”

“Whatever you have to say, Noma, it’s safe with us.” Charlie walked toward her car. “Maybe we could get you settled and then you could tell us about it.”

“Yes, that’s a good idea.” Franny looked at him with a grateful smile. “And we could sit in the kitchen with some apple cider.”

Noma hesitated, looking worried, and then seemed to yield to the idea. “Thank you for your kindness.”

“You’re welcome, but we haven’t done too much yet.” She grinned, which made Noma smile.

Arm in arm, like old friends, they walked toward the house while Charlie brought in her one small bag. Perhaps he sensed that Noma needed the listening ear of a woman, because he disappeared outside.

When the two of them had gotten settled with mugs of hot cider, Franny said, “Now, please, tell me, what’s on your mind?”

Noma took a sip of the cider. “After I left the diner, well, I got fired from one of my cleaning jobs.”

“Oh no. What happened?”

Noma gathered her hands into a knot. “Well, the lady who let me go, Miss Alice, she got it into her head…as awful as it sounds…that I was after her man. Her husband was almost old enough to be my daddy, so I don’t know how she could get a thing like that stuck in her head. But facts don’t matter much to Miss Alice once she gets going. Mm–mm–mm.”

“How could she accuse you of such a terrible thing?”

“Well, those words came pretty easy to her. Rolled right off her tongue.”

“But where was her proof?”

Noma sighed. “Miss Alice’s husband don’t stay at home much, and when he does come home, he’s usually tipsy. And yesterday he came home drunker than a saloon skunk. I tell you, it was a sight to see him staggering and stumbling about, knocking things over. Expensive vases and knickknacks and such. Anyway, I was upstairs dusting, not making any noise. Miss Alice doesn’t approve of me singing or humming while I work, so I was quiet. But I was also keeping an eye on her husband, just to make sure no harm came to him. Then I saw him teetering at the top of them stairs. He was about to fall down a long flight of steps. He woulda surely broken his neck. Just before he fell I grabbed his arm, just to steady him. That’s all I did.”

Noma shook her head. “That’s all I did. But it’s not what Miss Alice claims. She says I was encouraging him to…well, I will not fill the air with her words. They’re lewd, and they’re a lie before the Almighty.”

“But what did her husband say? Did he take up for you at all?”

Noma cupped her fingers around the mug as if trying to take in its warmth. “Miss Alice’s husband, he said nothing in my defense. He just went on to bed to sleep off the whiskey.”

“That is so malicious.” Franny’s eyes stung with mist. “But you still have your other cleaning jobs, right?”

“I still had enough work, but all the other ladies are friends with Miss Alice, you see, and when she told them…well, they believed her. And so, that was the end of me.”

“They all fired you without even letting you defend yourself?” Franny moved her mug away, but she really wanted to throw it against the wall.

Noma nodded. “I begged them not to let me go. I said I’d clean their houses for half the money. I thought they’d have mercy on me since Christmas was coming and all. But they said if I showed up for work again, they’d call the police.”

“Surely there’s something we can do about this.”
God, why does life have to be riddled with so many injustices?

Noma touched one of the little printed flowers on the sleeve of her dress. “It was enough that you were here to listen to my story. To be believed and understood…well, that means more to me than money.”

“I know what you mean. To be believed is meaningful and necessary. But I’d still like to do something. They should be forced to do what is right.” Franny tugged on her apron until the well-worn fabric tore. “It’s so hateful, what they did.”

“Justice is always gratifying. Yes. But it would be hard to stay in a place where you know you’re not wanted. Folks like to feel welcome.”

“Oh, I agree. I do.” Piece by piece Franny put a workable plan together in her mind. “I know a place you would be very welcome: here on this farm.” She knew it was no longer her farm, and yet she knew Charlie’s mind well enough to know that he would want Noma to stay until she could get a job.

Noma looked at Franny, her eyes watering. “Your charity, your generosity, is appreciated, but I can’t accept it. I could only consider staying under one condition, which is what I came to ask you both. I thought since you had a farm to run, maybe you needed someone to cook and clean for you. And maybe help with the chores. I don’t need much money, only a little food and a place to rest my head. I could be happy just to be around folks who make me feel like I’m human.”

“Actually,” Charlie said as he opened the screen door, “that sounds doable.” He held up his hand. “I promise I just heard the last part. I know you’re in some kind of need, but whatever it is, I think we’re in need of you more.” He sat down at the table. “Franny and I would like to hire you with full pay. It’s the only way we’d agree to your idea.”

Franny gave him a rosy smile.

“I’m going to be buying a small business in town,” Charlie said, “and we’re going to need some extra help with the workload out here.”

“Yes, that could work very well.” Franny clapped her hands together.

They both looked at Noma, who seemed surprised at what Charlie had said. Then she smiled up at the heavens and nodded at them both. “Thank you.” Her eyes shone with tears. “Such good news today.”

“I’m glad.” Charlie stuffed his hands into the pockets of his overalls, looking quite happy. “Glad it’s all settled, then.”

“And I have a nice place for you to sleep,” Franny said. “I’m in the back bedroom, and Charlie sleeps in a little apartment above the tool-shed. So you may have my parents’ old bedroom.”

Noma drooped a bit. “I’m sorry to start out so contrary, but I don’t feel it’s right, taking your parents’ room. Do you have another place for me? I don’t need much.”

“Well, there is a small bedroom in the attic, but it’s not really fixed up very well, and—”

“That would do me just fine.”

“All right.” Franny reached out to Noma and squeezed her hand. “But the minute you change your mind, you’re welcome to the other room.”

“Thanks be to God. He’s given me a place to work.” Noma rose, picking up the mugs from the table.

“And a place to call home,” Franny finished. “But what about your house? Who will watch over it?”

“That wasn’t my home to keep,” Noma said. “I just rented it from my sister, so now she’s going back to live there. And it was her furniture too. All I own is in that bag. And in my pockets.” Noma pulled out the tiny wooden manger scene from her coat pocket and set it on the table. “Over the years, I’ve found that what God sees fit to give me is always plenty.”

Franny had never traveled through life as humbly as Noma had. She wondered what Noma’s life had been like—finding blessing in simplicity and giving in the midst of shortage. And how must Charlie view Noma’s life—was her poverty impossible to imagine from his affluent upbringing?

Henry whimpered from the porch and then barked, stealing Franny from her thoughts. “Henry carries on like that when he hears somebody pulling up in the yard.”

Charlie got up from the table and went out through the screen door.

Franny and Noma followed him onto the porch.

“What in the world…?” Charlie said.

“Who is it?” Franny asked. “Do you recognize the car?” Whoever it was, the person drove a very expensive vehicle.

“It’s my father. He’s come to check up on me.”

Franny’s mouth went dry as face powder.

Charlie didn’t want to wait for his father to come to the door, so he grabbed his coat and headed out to meet him. Franny and Noma followed close behind.

Charlie went around the driver’s side of his father’s Bentley and opened the door for him. “Father?”