Wanda E. Brunstetter (10 page)

When he entered the store, he realized Bev was with a customer. He paused inside the door, waiting for her to finish wrapping a doll for an elderly gentleman. As soon as the man left, Dan stepped up to her. “If you have a minute, I’d like to speak with you.”

She tipped her head. “Is something wrong?”

“Not unless you—”

The telephone rang, interrupting him.

“I’d better get that.” Bev moved to the desk and picked up the receiver. “Twice Loved. May I help you?” Her face paled, and Dan felt immediate concern. “Thank you for letting me know. I’ll be right there.”

“What’s wrong?” he asked when she hung up the phone.

Bev turned to face him, her eyes pooling with tears. “That was Amy’s teacher. Amy fell from a swing during recess and has been taken to the hospital.”

B
ev paced the floor of the hospital waiting room, anxious for some word on her daughter’s condition.

“You’re going to wear a hole in the linoleum. Please come sit beside me and try to relax,” Dan said, patting the chair next to him.

She clenched her fingers and continued to walk back and forth in front of the window. “What if her leg’s broken or she has a concussion? What if—”

Dan left his seat and came to stand beside her. “Whatever is wrong, we’ll get through it together.”

We? After the way I spoke to him last night, why is Dan being so nice? And what does he mean when he says “we”?
Bev glanced at him out of the corner of her eye.

“It’s going to be okay,” he said with the voice of assurance. “Amy’s a tough little girl, and she’s got youth on her side.”

Bev nodded slowly. “I know, but—”

“But you’re her mother, and you have a tendency to worry.”

“Yes.”

“I understand, but worry won’t change a thing.” He took Bev’s hand and led her over to the chairs. “Let’s pray, shall we?”

Bev glanced around the room. There was an elderly couple sitting across from them, but they seemed to be engrossed in their magazines. “You want to pray now?”

Dan offered her a reassuring smile. “Absolutely.” In a quiet voice, he prayed, “Heavenly Father, we ask You to be with Amy and calm her if she’s frightened. Give the doctors wisdom in their diagnosis, and help Bev remember to cast her burdens on You, the Great Physician.”

Bev thought of a verse of scripture from the book of Matthew she had read the other evening. “ ‘Take
therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself
.’ ”

Lately, she’d been trying not to worry so much, but staying calm was hard to do when something went wrong. Especially when that “something” concerned her daughter.

A few minutes later, a nurse entered the room and called to Bev. “The tests are done, and you may see your daughter now.”

“Are her injuries serious?” Bev tried to keep her voice calm, but her insides churned like an eggbeater.

“The doctor will give you the details,” the nurse replied, “but Amy’s going to be fine.”

Bev drew in a deep breath.
Thank You, Jesus
. She turned to Dan. “Would you like to come with me?”

He nodded and took her hand.

Dan stood at the foot of Amy’s bed, relief flooding his soul. Her leg wasn’t broken, but her ankle had been badly sprained. She did have a concussion, though it was thought to be mild. The doctor wanted to keep her overnight for observation.

Bev sat in the chair beside Amy, holding her hand and murmuring words of comfort. It was a touching scene, and Dan felt like an intruder.

Maybe I should leave the two of them alone
.

He turned toward the door, but Amy called out to him. “Where ya goin’, Uncle Dan?”

“To the waiting room so you and your mother can talk.”

Amy looked over at Bev. “We want Uncle Dan here, don’t we, Mommy?”

Bev nodded. “If he wants to be.”

Dan rushed to the side of the bed and stood behind Bev’s chair. “Of course I want to be. I want…” What exactly did he want? Was it to marry Bev and help her raise Amy? He rubbed the bridge of his nose. No, it was too soon for that. They’d only known each other a few months.

“Can you come to our place for Christmas dinner, like you did on Thanksgiving?” the child asked.

Dan’s gaze went to Bev, seeking her approval—or at least hoping for a clue as to whether she wanted him there or not.

She smiled. “I’m sorry for the unkind things I said when you stopped by our place with the tree.”

“It’s okay. I understand.”

“No. I was wrong to refuse your help and the offer of gifts, and I hope you’ll accept my apology.”

“Only if you will accept mine for overstepping my boundaries.”

She nodded. “If you have no other plans for Christmas, we’d love to have you join us.”

He shook his head. “I don’t think coming to your place is a good idea.”

Tears welled up in Amy’s eyes, and her lower lip trembled. “Why not? We had fun on Thanksgiving, didn’t we, Uncle Dan?”

Dan felt immediate regret for his poor choice of words.Leaning over the bed,he took the child’s other hand. “I had a wonderful time on Thanksgiving. It was the best day I’ve had in a long time.”

“Then why won’t you come for Christmas?” This question came from Bev, whose vivid blue eyes were full of questions.

He smiled. “Because I’d like to have you and Amy over to my house for Christmas dinner.”

Bev’s mouth dropped open. “You’re planning to cook the meal?”

He shrugged. “Sure, why not?”

Amy giggled. “Can ya make pumpkin pies?”

Dan grinned then winked at Bev. “Actually, I was hoping you might furnish the pies, but I can roast the turkey and fix the rest of the dinner.”

Bev’s expression was dubious at first, but she gave him a nod. “It’s a deal.”

Dan had been rushing around for hours, checking on the bird he’d put in the oven early that morning, peeling and cutting the potatoes and carrots he planned to boil later on and placing presents under the tree. He wanted everything to be perfect for Bev and Amy. Though they might not realize it, they had brought joy into his life, and they deserved to have a special Christmas.

Satisfied that everything was finally ready, Dan put the potatoes in a kettle of cold water, grabbed his coat and gloves, and headed out the door. It was time to pick up his dinner guests.

A short time later, he stood in front of Bev’s door, glad she hadn’t refused his offer of a ride. It would have been difficult for her and Amy to catch the bus, what with the child’s ankle still slightly swollen, not to mention the weather, which had recently deepened the snow on the ground.

When Bev opened the door and smiled at Dan, it nearly took his breath away. She wore a lilac-colored gown with a wide neckline and a skirt that dropped just below her knees. And this time she had on a pair of hose. “You’re beautiful,” he murmured.

“Thanks. You look pretty handsome yourself.”

He glanced at his navy-blue slacks and matching blazer. Nothing out of the ordinary, but if she thought he looked handsome, that was all right by him.

Bev opened the door wider. “Come in and I’ll get our coats and gifts.” Dan stepped into the living room and spotted Amy sitting on the sofa, dressed in a frilly pink dress that matched her flushed cheeks.

“Hey, cutie. Ready to go?”

She nodded and grinned up at him. “I can’t wait to give you my present, Uncle Dan.”

He leaned over and scooped the child into his arms. “And I can’t wait to receive it.”

“That was a delicious meal,” Bev said, amazed at how well Dan could cook. She was also surprised at the change that had come over him since Amy’s accident. He’d driven Bev to the hospital and stayed with her until they knew Amy was okay. He had taken her home, back to the hospital the next day, and given them a ride to their apartment when Amy was released. Now, as they sat in Dan’s living room inside his cozy brick home on the north end of town, Bev could honestly say she felt joy celebrating this Christmas.

“I’m glad you enjoyed dinner and equally glad I didn’t burn anything.” Dan nodded at Amy, who sat on the floor in front of the crackling fire he’d built earlier. “How about it, little one? Are you ready to open your presents?”

Amy scooted closer to the Christmas tree. “Yes!”

“Okay then. Who wants the first gift?”

“Me! Me!”

Dan chuckled and handed Amy a box. “I believe this one’s from your mother.”

Amy looked at Bev, and she nodded. “Go ahead and open it.”

The child quickly tore off the wrapping, and when she lifted the lid and removed a delicate bisque doll, she squealed with delight. “She’s beautiful, Mommy! Thank you!”

“You’re welcome, sweetheart.”

Amy smiled at Dan. “Can I give Mommy her present from me now?”

“Sure.” Dan pointed to a small package wrapped in red paper. “It’s that one.”

Amy handed the gift to her mother and leaned against Dan’s knee as Bev opened it. “This is wonderful!” Bev exclaimed, as she held up a framed picture of Amy sitting on the patchwork quilt Dan’s late wife had made. “How did you do this without me knowing?”

“When you were busy with customers, I took Amy into my photography studio and snapped her picture,” Dan answered. “We bought the frame the day I took her Christmas shopping.”

Bev kissed Amy’s cheek and was tempted to do the same to Dan, but she caught herself in time. “Thank you both. I appreciate the picture and will find the right place to hang it when we go home.”

“Here’s my gift to you, Amy.” Dan placed a large box in front of the child and helped her undo the flaps. Inside was a quilt—the same quilt that used to hang in Twice Loved and he’d used as a background for Amy’s portrait.

Amy lifted the colorful covering and buried her face in it. “I love it, Uncle Dan. Thank you.”

“It’s a precious gift, Dan,” Bev said, “but don’t you think you should give the quilt to a family member?”

Dan took Bev’s hand. “That’s what I have in mind, all right.”

Bev’s heartbeat picked up speed. What exactly was he saying?

Dan reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a flat green velvet box. He handed it to Bev with a smile.

She lifted the lid and gasped at the lovely gold locket inside. “It’s beautiful. Thank you, Dan.”