Songs of Christmas (40 page)

Lillian felt so happy she wanted to do a cartwheel.

She stood up and tapped her cane on the floor. Then she turned to Estrella and bowed her head. “Thank you. From the bottom of my heart.”

* * *

WHEN LILLIAN ARRIVED HOME, SHE FOUND EZRA IN THE KITCHEN
eating a sandwich and reading the newspaper. He barely glanced up at her. “Oh, there you are. I didn’t know when you’d be back, so I made myself lunch.”

“That’s all right. I’ll fix myself something later. I’m not very hungry right now. How was your physical therapy?”

Ezra shrugged and turned a page of the paper. “Not much to report. The usual drill. Some exercises and whatnot . . . How was the doctor?”

“The doctor is fine,” she quipped. “But he thinks I have a little virus or something. I’m going upstairs to lie down awhile. My adventure seems to have tired me out.” She meant that part sincerely.

Ezra glanced at her again and nodded. He didn’t suspect anything was amiss, she realized. Which was just as well. She had considered confessing all when she came in but now was glad that she had held back. It would be very hard for her to admit how she had sought out Estrella and apologized. No, she had done her part and was too tired for any more soul-baring today.

Cloistered in her room, Lillian made some phone calls to complete her plans. Her daughter Jessica was only too happy to offer the assistance of Sam and their sons to help the family move. Sam would take all their belongings in his truck, and the family would come back in a taxi. Jessica said she would call Estrella to iron out the details.

Nothing left to do after that but wait. Lillian decided to take a nap. She had not been sleeping well lately and had chalked it up to any number of reasons, mostly the holidays upsetting her routine and digestion. But it was the situation with the Salazars; she knew that now.

She put her head down on the pillow and closed her eyes and, for the first time in weeks, fell into a deep, sweet sleep, imagining the look on Ezra’s face when his “star” arrived.

* * *

“LILLIAN, ARE YOU ALL RIGHT UP THERE?” EZRA WAS CALLING ON THE
monitor, waking her up. The room was dark. She had no idea how long she had been sleeping and picked up her clock in a panic.

Four o’clock already? They would be here soon. She had to go downstairs. “I’m fine, Ezra. I’ll be right down,” she told him through the monitor. While she partly despised the contraption, it did come in handy. She flicked on the lamp and went to her dressing table, tidying up her hair and putting her cardigan back on. A dash of lipstick would not hurt either, she decided.

Then she headed to the stairs, where she found Ezra waiting for her in the foyer. He stared up the staircase at her as she carefully made her way down. “Are you sick? Do you have a fever?” he asked.

More puzzled than concerned, she thought. But it was something.

“I must have been overtired. I’m much better now,” she promised, hardly able to hide a note of mirth in her voice.

He stared at her, looking even more puzzled, and was about to say something, she thought, when a knock sounded on the door.

He looked at the door. “Are you expecting anyone?”

She shrugged. “It could be Emily, I suppose. But she usually uses her key . . . You could answer it and find out who’s there,” she suggested.

“Yes, I suppose I could,” he replied tartly.

The knock sounded again, and his expression turned impatient. “I’m coming. Hold your horses.” He moved quickly to the door and pulled it open.

Lillian remained at the bottom of the stairs, her breath catching in her throat. She could not see Ezra’s face, but the set of his shoulders and the way he stepped back telegraphed his complete astonishment.

“Dr. Ezra,
hola
!” Estrella stood in the doorway, a child on each side and Bonita peering over her shoulder.

“Estrella . . .
hola
.” Ezra’s voice quickly faded. He looked back at Lillian. “Look who’s here,” he said weakly.

“Yes, I know, Ezra. Let our guests inside, will you please? It’s quite rude to keep them standing out there. Come in, come in . . .” Lillian walked forward, trying to welcome them. “Did Sam get all your things?”

Estrella nodded. “Yes. He and his boys took care of everything for us. They will be here soon.”

“Sam took your things . . . back here?” Ezra stared at Estrella and then at Lillian.

She knew the jig was up. She had to explain to him, but it was so hard to do. Though she should get some credit for this.

“Dr. Ezra, Mrs. Elliot has been kind enough to invite us back. To stay with you until we can move into our new apartment.”

“Mrs. Elliot invited you? Oh . . . I see.” He looked over at Lillian. “So those long naps, you were making phone calls?”

“Not all the time. I did need some extra sleep.” Lillian shrugged.

Bonita and the children had come in, and she was helping them take their coats off. They had knapsacks and two small suitcases, and Jorge had his soccer ball. Lillian practically winced at the sight, but restrained herself.

As if reading her mind, Estrella said, “Mama, please bring the children upstairs. They can start their homework. Mr. Morgan will be here soon, and we’ll unpack.”

“Thank you, Estrella. Good idea,” Lillian agreed.

“Well, I’m delighted to see you all, no question,” Ezra said to Estrella. “But I’d still like to understand how this all came about.”

Lillian felt it was her place to answer. “Emily helped me find them. I visited this morning and . . . we talked things over.”

“You apologized, you mean?” Ezra said, catching her eye.

“In a manner of speaking, I suppose I did,” she finally admitted. “Estrella was . . . very gracious,” she added, glancing at the younger woman. Lillian folded her arms over her chest. If he thought he was going to get any more mealymouthed admissions from her, he was mistaken.

They heard another knock, and Lillian saw Sam’s truck parked in front of the house. “Here’s Sam with your things,” she announced, opening the door and glad of the chance to change the subject.

“Well, hello, everyone.” Sam was cheerful, as ever. “Shall we bring this all upstairs?”

“That’s right. Please wipe your feet,” Lillian added to Sam and her two grandsons, who traipsed in carrying boxes and big black plastic bags.

“I will go up and help them,” Estrella said. She smiled at Lillian and then Ezra. “Then I will help you with dinner, Mrs. Elliot.”

“Oh, you take your time. We can manage.” Ezra smiled back, practically beaming. When he looked back at Lillian, they were alone in the foyer. He took a deep breath and shook his head. “Lillian . . . my head is spinning. I don’t know what to say.”

Lillian shrugged. “What is there to say? They’ve come back. You should be happy.”

“I am happy. But you tricked me.”

“I know. But it seemed necessary. I didn’t want you to be disappointed if they wouldn’t return.”

“I see. But why did you do it? For me? Because I was angry with you?”

Lillian considered his question. “I thought that was why I was doing it. At first. But when I saw her, I knew that wasn’t the entire reason. And the place they were living . . . all four of them in a dreadful little motel room. Well, I am not perfect, Ezra, God knows, but I do know when I take a misstep. This one was . . . well, a doozy, as they say. I suppose I needed to do the right thing. Or, at least, to know I tried.”

Ezra listened, his head bowed a bit. He slowly nodded, then reached for her hand. Lillian was so moved by the small gesture, she felt as if she might cry. “You did well, Lily.” He had not called her that for weeks now, she realized. “I must say, I’m proud of you. You’ve reminded me why I love you.”

Lillian lifted her chin, her vision blurred by sudden tears.

“I will admit, that’s what I hoped you would say.” She squeezed his hand a moment. “And now I don’t believe we need to speak of this dismal chapter anymore,” she added quickly. “Let’s carry on, as we do. Another year together, God willing.”

Ezra agreed with a nod of his head and a familiar light in his eyes. All things considered, that was enough for her.