The Christmas Sisters (29 page)

“I wish she had seen them, too,” Nic said, not realizing how soft and wistful her voice would come out.

“She will.” He stopped long enough to command Nic's gaze to meet his.
“In God's time.”

Sure,
now
he preached the virtue of patience and waiting. How she wished he had taken that advice earlier, before he'd offered her a marriage born of obligation and duty, not love and devotion. They had hardly spoken since then. Nic liked it that way. She had too much on her mind to allow the distraction of Sam wanting to use her and Willa as a solution to his own problems to intrude in her thoughts.

But it did intrude. Thoughts of Sam, of his predicament and her own seemed hopelessly intertwined in her mind and heart. She no longer carried any anger toward him, not even for the thoughtless way he had talked about the possibility of them sharing a future.

“Do you think the birds will still be there?” Willa waited at the side of the road for the approaching cars to turn into the church lot.

“Not very likely, honey.” Nic tugged the child's scarf in place.
“Not with all the coming and going today.
Folks are bringing by donations for the food baskets and gathering for the Christmas Sing.”

“But they're around and that's what's nice to remember.” Sam gave her daughter's shoulder a squeeze, and Willa beamed up at him.

The next car stopped. The driver motioned for them to go on across, and Sam started off, his hand guiding Willa gently along.

Nic didn't know what all emotions clashed in her at that
sight
. They came too fast and furious. At once she thought of snatching Sam's hand away or pulling Willa protectively close to her, but that passed almost instantly, and she pushed her misgivings over the growing bond between them aside. Head down, she did a quick half step to catch up to the pair.

Placing her hand on Willa's other shoulder, she smiled up at Sam. “He's right, Willa. You don't have to see them to believe they are back and be happy about it.”

“I hope we do see them, though.”

“I hope so, too, honey. I took them as a sign that good things are coming.” Sam met Nic's gaze. They paused in the parking lot to allow a family in a beat-up truck to maneuver into a tight space. “You know when God is at work in the world or in people's hearts, anything is possible. Wouldn't you say so, Nicolette?”

She had not meant to smile at him, but she couldn't stop herself. When she couldn't hold his gaze any longer, she leaned down to Willa. “What do you say we toss some food out for the
birds
tomorrow morning and see if that entices them to show themselves?”

“Not this food.” Willa had to use both hands and a push up from her knee to hold the big can aloft. “This is for someone who won't have a nice Christmas unless we help.”

“So right, Miss
Angelface
.”
Sam tousled her hair. “Besides, those birds have traveled a long way. I'll bet they didn't even think to bring a can opener, and it's too far now for them to go back and get one.”

“Birds with a can opener!
That's not right.” Willa giggled.

“Really?
I could have sworn I saw a crow around here with a big, old can-o-
matic
tucked under his wing.”

“A crow?
That's not right. You didn't get any of that right. You better ask my mommy to help you get it right next time.” Still laughing, Willa hurried to the large box beside the Christmas tree to put her donation inside.

“I would love to ask your mommy to help me get it right this time. If I ate a little crow of my own and didn't try to rush things, I'm hoping she might just give it a shot. What do you think?” He turned to Nic, his expression sincere.

“I think...” She met his eyes, and whatever she intended to say faded from her thoughts.

The gentle teasing, the practiced preacher, the usual defenses she had come to expect to see in him had disappeared. In the quiet of dusk becoming darkness, as they stood to the side of the old church that had been so much a part of their past and present, she truly saw him as he was. Sam. The man she loved.

Beyond the two of them she was aware of streetlights and Christmas lights coming on one by one, then in bright colorful strings, casting a warm glow about the scene. But it was the light inside Sam's eyes that held her transfixed.

“Nic, I never told you this before, but I didn't meet you at that party because I knew I couldn't give you the kind of life you deserved. I'd already...taken too much from you. I didn't want to take any more. I left because...because I loved you.”

“Sam...I...”

“That's why I hoped to find you again when I came back to

Persuasion.
Why I didn't think Claire's suggestion was all that farfetched or unreasonable.
Because I still love you, Nic.”

“Sam!” She pressed her hand to her chest and could feel her heart pounding beneath her fingers.

“I know I shouldn't say it here, with people around and all,” he rushed on, leaning over the box of groceries between them, his voice hushed. “But I figured if I had to wait until I got you completely alone, it might never happen.”

She raised her hand to cover her mouth. When she blinked, tears pooled on her lashes.

“Or if I waited too long, you might have made your decision about whether or not to stay without having all the information you needed to do the right thing.” He took a deep breath then let it out again. “Believe me,
Nic,
having done that exact thing in this very relationship, I can tell you I never want either of us to make that kind of mistake again.”

“Aren't you two coming inside the church?” Collier whisked past Nic, bumping her shoulder as her suede boots and corduroy skirt swished out her brisk pace.

“In a minute.”
Nic tore her gaze from Sam's long enough to glance over her shoulder. “Wait, Collier, would you take this box of groceries to the donation bin?”

She had scarcely slid her hands beneath the box in Sam's arms when it lifted out of both their grasps.

“I've got it, Aunt Nic,” Scott smiled his all-American boy grin at her and winked. “Just in case you need to have your hands free to do a little...”

“Finish that sentence and die.” Jessica nudged her brother from behind, propelling him in several awkward lunges in the right direction as she followed behind.

“They are such good kids.”
Petie
patted Sam on the arm.

“Well, you gave them a good foundation,” he said, placing his hand on hers.

“That is exactly what I am counting on, Reverend.” She
slid
her hand from under his then touched his cheek.
“A solid foundation.
Faith, family, and life built on the things that matter.”

“I have a feeling you're not just talking about your kids now.”

She smiled and pushed Nic's hair back as she walked by. “Y'all don't stay out here too long now. You know how people talk.”

Without so much as looking, Nic nailed her sister with a long backward swing of her purse and landed a swat on
Petie's
behind. “Too bad she had on that long coat,” Nic complained loud enough for her sister to hear.

Petie's
laughter answered from somewhere near the church steps.

“She's in a much better frame of mind.” Sam folded his arms. His leather jacket bunched up to show his thin black sweater beneath.

“She sent Parker an e-mail. I'm not sure what all she put in it, but when she checked last night, the account said he'd opened it.” She watched as the last of the crowd worked their way inside. “She's been almost endurable since then.”

“I like her, even when she's being insufferable. I like Park, too. I hope they work it out.” He stepped closer. “They aren't the only ones I hope can work out their differences.”

“Sam, this is...”

“Yes?” He inched close and put his hands on her shoulders.

She wet her lips and tipped her head up.

The opening chords of “Joy to the World” reverberated through the nearby windows.

She stepped away and shook her head. “This is such incredibly bad timing.”

He laughed. “Well, I wasn't planning on starting something up right here on the church grounds, but I did sort of hope you'd acknowledge what I said to you before we go inside.”

She nodded. “I understand about that night. We've both come so far since then. I think it's what we've become, not what we were that could—
could
—give us the basis, the foundation, like
Petie
said, for something solid.”

He waited a moment, then seeming to sense she would say no more, he smiled, leaned in, and kissed her forehead. “Okay then. Let's get inside.”

“Good idea.” She hurried to keep pace with his stride. Just as they reached the top of the stairs she held back a moment, let him step forward, and to his back, with the strains of her favorite Christmas hymn in the air, she whispered, “I love you, too, Sam.”

Tw
enty-One

Nic loved him, his church was nearly full tonight, and they were singing all the best songs of the season. He had hope of family, hope of healing the congregation he served, and hope of life everlasting. What more could a man want? Heart full, he sang the last verse of “O Come All Ye Faithful.”

He glanced at Nic over the top of Willa's head, the three of them sitting in the front row, just like a real family. Someday—soon, he hoped—that dream would become reality. Sam doubted that anything could ruin this one special evening for him.

“Thank you. Thank you everybody for coming tonight.”
Mrs. Stern, who had spearheaded this year's food drive and thereby won the “honor” of hosting the annual Christmas Sing, stepped down from the platform where she'd been directing the group in song.
“And special thanks to Mrs.
Shirleetha
Shively for her flawless performance at the organ tonight.”

Shirleetha
, looking quite surprised for the acknowledgment but pleased as punch for it all the same, rose halfway from the bench and gave an awkward but endearing curtsy.

Sam led the applause to show his appreciation for one of the few people who had stood beside him in building this church from day one.

Others joined in quickly save a few sour faces here and there who sat, arms crossed and eyes locked forward. Probably old school, Sam thought. The kind that believed applause belonged in places where individuals seek personal glory and require recognition, not in God's house.

“It does my heart good to see so many familiar faces in our dear little church tonight.” Mrs. Stern continued to clap softly as she spoke even though Mrs. Shively had taken her seat again and the rest of the group had quieted. “I do hope this turnout is a foretaste of the many joyous—and well-attended—services we will all share in the future.”

A spattering of applause broke out in enthusiastic reception to her sentiment.

Mrs. Stern smiled as brightly as her narrow, lean face allowed.

The room grew quiet.

Someone coughed.

Willa wriggled around in the pew and onto her knees to stare at the rows of people behind them, as if to say, “What is the matter with you people?”

Nic scooted in close to her child and, just loud enough for Sam and Willa to hear, whispered, “Turn round and sit right, young lady. Don't make me give you a pew pinch right here in front of God and everybody.”

“Well, now, this is not a night for regular services nor do we have anything planned strictly speaking, but it does seem appropriate that Reverend Moss get up and say a word or two and dismiss us with a prayer and benediction.” Mrs. Stern held her hand out toward Sam.

He stood.

One or two people started to applaud then stopped short, for which he was grateful. Much as he longed for support and respect here, his true role was to serve not to be revered.

He would offer only a short, sincere prayer tonight. A thanksgiving for all who had come that would lay the foundation to rebuild this church. Tonight, he understood, giving a nod of thanks to Mrs. Stern as she took her place at the front of the sanctuary, would lay the groundwork for whatever he hoped to accomplish in Persuasion, Alabama.

“First I would like to reiterate Mrs. Stern's welcome to everyone who turned out tonight and who brought food to share with those less fortunate. Having been a child whose sole means of Christmas often came from the benevolence baskets provided by this very church, I can tell you all how much it means to those who would otherwise do without. Thank you again.”

A murmur went through the crowd.

“It's good to see so many folks here tonight, and I hope each of you will join us this Christmas Eve for our candlelight service. We'd love to have you then and at regular Sunday services. If there is one thing I want to emphasize, it's that each of you has a place here at All Souls Community Church.”