A Wish for Christmas (25 page)

He watched to see her reaction. She seemed undecided—until Kate ran over and wrapped her arms around Christine’s long legs. “Please don’t go. We
need
you,” she said, in her dramatic little girl way.

That did it, of course. Christine was persuaded, and David didn’t know if that made him feel happy or distressed.

His father had not been exaggerating about the million Christmas balls. At least it seemed like that many to David. But he did get up to hang his fair share, without any more tipping into the tree—or surprise hugs from Christine.

Finally, when it seemed every bough and space between was filled with ornaments and lights, the Sawyers decided it was time for Kate to do her special job. Jack lifted the little girl up, and she carefully placed the papier-mâché angel on top.

“Well done,” Jack said, kissing Katie’s cheek. But before her feet had even touched the ground, he turned to Julie. “I’m starved. What’s for dinner?”

Julie laughed. “Chili and cornbread. It’s all ready. Come help me set the table.”

“I’ll put some of this stuff away,” Christine offered. She stood up and began putting the smaller boxes inside the larger ones. “Want to help me, Kate?”

“In a sec. I just want to get some cornbread,” Katie said. Then she ran out of the room, following her mother.

David was suddenly alone with Christine and the big mess. “I’ll help you.” He got up and started gathering the empties, holding the walker with one hand for balance. The PT had really helped him a lot, he noticed. He had not been able to support himself like that a few weeks ago.

“The tree came out really nice. Your family has some terrific ornaments,” Christine said.

“Yeah, we do have a few unique ones. That’s my dad’s thing, you know.” David rolled his eyes but was still smiling.

“Now all it needs is a big pile of presents underneath.”

“Yeah, it does. I haven’t bought much yet, only a few gifts over the Internet,” David admitted.

“Neither have I. I always put my shopping off for the last minute then run around like a nut.”

“Me, too,” David said. “I just hate the mall. It’s such a scene.” Though this year, it was a bit more than procrastination and mall-itis that had kept him from shopping.

“Yeah, it is. I can take about half an hour there before I get a huge headache.” Christine placed a stack of small boxes in a big carton and closed the lid. She moved so gracefully, David thought, it was a pleasure just to watch her.

“I try to get most of my gifts up in Newburyport. The shops are interesting, and the prices aren’t any more than the big stores. Sometimes I even find real bargains.” She suddenly looked over at him. “I was going to go shopping there on Friday. Want me to pick up a few things for you?”

David didn’t know what do say. It was sweet of her to offer, thoughtful and considerate. Still, he didn’t want her to think he was incapable of getting out and picking up a few Christmas gifts. He wasn’t that disabled, was he?

“Thanks. But I can go out sometime and shop. Newburyport is a good idea though. I didn’t even think of it.”

“It’s pretty up there this time of year. They go all-out decorating the town and the shop windows.” Christine was crouched near another carton, closing its lid. “Want to come with me Friday? I could pick you up after your therapy,” she offered.

David felt shocked by the question. He had turned away to close another box and was glad he wasn’t facing her. His mouth suddenly got dry and he swallowed hard.

“That would be great. If it isn’t any trouble for you,” he quickly added.

“No trouble. It will be fun. And I need someone to share the misery.”

Christine continued to talk about her shopping list, what she planned to buy for her folks and sisters and brothers.

David nodded, but he wasn’t listening all that closely, his thoughts suddenly whirling.

They had a date now, he realized. Not a real date, he corrected himself. She was just helping him out, like any friend would do. A friendly outing, you could call it.

He would have to bring some good clothes to change into after therapy. He usually left in his very sweaty sweats, not even bothering to take a shower there. He would have to tell Gena they needed to quit early. He didn’t want Christine waiting for him, and he didn’t want to be too tired to walk around with her afterward. And he definitely needed a haircut.

Julie called them in to dinner, and David was thankful for the interruption. He had a lot to think about.

CHAPTER TEN

D
AVID FELT JUMPY AND DISTRACTED DURING HIS THERAPY session on Friday, anticipating his date with Christine. His nerves gave him a boost of energy but also made him lose his focus.

“What’s up today, pal?” George asked him. “You’re, like, out there.”

“Nothing’s up,” David replied with a shrug.

“You got a haircut,” George said.

“Yeah, so?”

George patted David’s head in a chummy way. “I just noticed, is all. You’re still ugly. But it’s some improvement.”

“Thanks.” David tried to sound peeved, but couldn’t help smiling. He pushed himself to finish the last of the hand-weight reps, then dropped the weights at the side of the mat. “I need to quit early today. I already told Gena,” he said, struggling to get up off the floor.

George stuck out his hand and David quickly levered himself up, putting most of his weight on his good leg.

Then he grabbed his new cane and headed for the locker room to shower and dress. George trotted after him, carrying the walker. “Hey, David, forget something?”

David paused to glance over his shoulder. “Oh, right. Guess I’ll need that sooner or later. Can you put it out in the waiting area for me?”

“Will do, pal. Don’t trash it yet. But you’re looking good with the cane, David. Keep the faith.”

David smiled at him. “I will. Thanks.”

He had come very close to managing with the cane last week, but was “Not quite ready for prime time,” as Gena told him. Today, he’d insisted on making the switch, and she gave him no argument.

From the moment Christine had invited him to go shopping, David decided he had to make it with the cane. No matter what. He didn’t care how much his hip hurt or how difficult it was to keep his balance. This was a “must win” game, and he was going for it.

When he walked out into the waiting area, he saw Christine sitting nearby, reading a thick textbook. She wore a red turtleneck sweater under her shearling coat, and her hair was loose, a silky curtain falling across her shoulder. She looked so pretty, he felt his breath catch in his throat.

If I knew she was sitting out here waiting for me every day, I could run in a marathon by now,
he thought
.

She looked up at him and smiled. He saw her surprise at the cane and felt proud and pleased inside. But he tried to act cool, as if this advance was no big deal.

“No walker today?” she asked.

“I’m done with that contraption. I need to take it home though. For a souvenir,” he said. He saw it propped next to the reception desk. “Do you mind taking it with us? It’s not heavy.”

“No, not at all.”

Christine slung her book bag over her shoulder and picked up the walker and they made their way out of the building.

It was a clear, cold day, and it felt good to get out of the hospital’s antiseptic-smelling rooms and hallways.

While David waited for Christine to unlock her car and toss the walker in the backseat, he noticed Gena leaving the building. She had a ski jacket on over her uniform and carried a leather briefcase. He realized she was also leaving for the day.

He was surprised when she walked toward him and even more surprised to see that, for once, she was smiling. “Well, you look nice,” she said. “Going somewhere tonight?”

“Just some Christmas shopping.”

Christine had come around to his side of the car and looked at Gena with interest. David felt obliged to introduce them.

“This is my physical therapist, Gena Reyes. I’ve told you about her, remember? Gena, this is my friend, Christine Tate.”

Christine extended her hand. “Nice to meet you, Gena.”

“Nice to meet you,” Gena replied, eyeing Christine curiously. “This is the first day we’re letting him loose with that cane. Don’t let him tip over, okay?”

“I won’t,” Christine promised. She turned to David with a small smile. “Was that a joke?”

“I guess. Coming from her, it might be. She doesn’t have a great sense of humor.” He pulled the door open and got in, then lifted his bad leg and slipped the cane in beside him.

Christine sat behind the wheel and started the car. “I didn’t picture her like that,” she said.

“Like what?” he asked, surprised that she would try to picture his therapist at all.

“So young. And pretty.”

“I never really noticed.” He glanced at Christine and knew she could tell he was lying, a little. Was she jealous of Gena? That would be . . . encouraging.

Their conversation flowed easily during the ride to Newburyport, and it seemed they were there in no time at all.

Christine looked for a parking space on the shop-lined streets but finally had to drive down to a large lot near the harbor. It was at the bottom of a long hill, which they would have to walk up in order to get back to the stores. David dreaded the idea. As she pulled into a space, she must have read his thoughts.

“Is this a bad spot for you, David? I can go back up and look again,” she offered.

“No, it’s fine,” he lied. “We don’t want to waste the whole afternoon looking for parking.” He also didn’t want to complain or admit he wasn’t able to walk up a little hill.

They got out of the car. He stared up the hill and took a breath. It looked like Mount Everest to him, and he wondered why he had ever agreed to go out with her like this. He would end up asking to go back to the car in five minutes and be totally mortified.

He glanced over at Christine to see if she had sensed his hesitation and anxiety, but she was oblivious. For someone who had moaned and groaned about shopping, Christine seemed pretty into it once she caught a whiff of the stores. As he slowly crawled along, she practically ran ahead to check out the first windows. He hurried to keep up, afraid he would fall with the cane.

Was he holding her back? Was she going to be annoyed with him? When he finally caught up with her, peering into the window of a trendy boutique, she didn’t seem to notice his delay.

“The clothes in here are great. I think I can find something for my sister, Leah, like that embroidered blouse. Let’s go in, okay?”

“Okay,” David agreed. How could he argue? She seemed lit up with excitement, even if she claimed to despise shopping. Maybe she just enjoyed giving presents to people, which was very much her personality. Either way, he liked to see her so happy. He knew he could follow her around all afternoon.

As they steadily made their way up the street, Christine seemed more aware of his slow pace but never commented on it. Instead, she held his arm, in a comfortable, affectionate way, though he knew she was secretly helping to move him along and steady his steps. He loved being close to her; he didn’t mind this kind of physical therapy at all.

They both managed to find lots of good gifts, and David crossed most of the names off his list.

From time to time they stopped just to gaze at the elaborate window displays. Christine had been right when she said the village went all-out for the holidays. Every antique street lamp held a pine wreath and red bow. Every shop window and doorway was carefully decorated with lights, fake snow, pine boughs, elaborate ribbons, and carefully wrapped packages.

Sometimes she pointed out items that had caught her eye, a special brand of perfume, a big wide scarf that had fringe on the edges, a set of thin, shiny bracelets. David secretly tucked away the information. He wanted to buy her a gift, he realized, something special. He didn’t care if it wasn’t the right thing to do. He just wanted her to know that he cared.

They were both carrying several shopping bags, filled with presents, when David spotted a café. He was getting tired, and walking with the cane hurt more than he had expected. He hoped he was hiding his discomfort from Christine, but he did need to sit down for a few minutes.

Christine was ready for a time-out, too, and they were soon seated at a small table in the café, looking out on the avenue. They ordered cappuccinos and shared a brownie.

“Thanks for helping me pick out those earrings for Julie,” David said. “I hope she likes them.”

“I can’t see how she wouldn’t. They’re really beautiful . . . and expensive.”

He shrugged. “I wanted to get everyone something nice, that they would really like. I have the money, and they’ve been putting up with a lot from me, lately.”

“That’s sweet, David. But your family loves you. I think they all understand that it’s hard for you right now.”