Christmas in Eternity Springs (37 page)

On the stage, twelve-year-old Holly Montgomery spoke the opening words now made famous in storybook, song, movie, video games, and more. “‘When nighttime falls in the tiny Christmas shop, the angels come out to play.'”

And so began the most magical hour of Claire Branham's life.

*   *   *

Jax had attended dress rehearsal earlier in the day, so rather than watch the play, he seldom took his gaze off Claire. She cried through the whole thing, but he
thought
they were the good kind of tears. He hoped so, anyway.

When the pageant ended and the children on stage took their bows, Jax and Claire rose with the rest of the crowd to give them a standing ovation. Then when the pageant director released the kiddos, they dispersed to find their parents. Nicholas shrugged out of his wings and ran toward Jax and Claire.

“Miss Claire! Miss Claire! You came. Dad and I knew you would. We believed, just like Gardenia and the other angels in your book do. Did you like our play?”

“I loved it,” Claire said. “It was wonderful. You did a fabulous job.”

“My wings kept drooping. But at least they didn't fall off.” Nicholas focused his attention on his father. “Has Miss Claire been to Baby Bear?”

“I don't know.” Jax gave Claire a sidelong look. “I haven't had the chance to ask her.”

When Nicholas turned his questioning gaze her way, Claire shook her head. “No, I was late getting back into town, and I didn't want to miss any of the pageant, so I didn't get out to the valley.”

“Okay. Good. Dad said you are Miss Christmas and not Santa Claus, but I was worried. Let's go home, Miss Claire.” He tugged her hand toward the door. “We have a surprise for you. Dad and I worked really hard on it.”

“I … um…”

Further conversation was interrupted by a swarm of people surrounding them. Nic Callahan told Claire how much she loved her story. Sage Rafferty complimented her on keeping the facts about her fame quiet. Hope Romano thanked Claire for the positive message her book passed along to grade-schoolers, and Janice Petersen patted Claire's hand and said, “Don't you worry about that little meltdown you had at the shop, dear. Jax explained where you were coming from. Perfectly understandable. Why, if I were in your shoes, I'd have totally blown a gasket.”

“I … um…”

Janice continued, “Now that you're back, I want to get my dibs in first. I had such fun working at Forever Christmas. You know, Christmas has been a challenge for me ever since my Harry died and with the children living so far away. Working in your shop has allowed me to find my joy in the holiday once again. If you find that you need a pair of helping hands, I hope you'll consider me. I work very cheap.”

Claire's eyes had gone round with shock. Jax figured he'd best step in before she committed herself to anything involving the shop. “You've been a lifesaver, Janice,” he said. “I'll be sure to put in a good word for you with the boss. But now, if you all will excuse us, Nicholas and I are anxious to get Miss Christmas alone.”

Even as he spoke, Jax began easing Claire toward the side door. He managed to get her into his truck without resistance, and then Nicholas filled all the empty spaces with chatter and questions. “I knew you'd keep your promise. I wasn't really worried. Well, maybe a little worried. Did you like our pageant, Miss Claire? I'll bet you were surprised.”

The boy twisted around in his seat, trying to see out the back window. “Are Mimi and Pops behind us? Think they can find their way to Papa Bear in the dark?”

“Yes, son.”

“Good. They're staying at Papa Bear tonight. It's done but for the punch list.” He let out a giggle and added, “That's not when you hit somebody, don't worry. It's a funny name. It means the last things you do before the project is completely finished.”

When Nicholas finally paused to take a breath, Claire spoke to Jax directly for the first time since her return. “What just happened? Why is everyone being so nice?”

“Honey, why would you expect anything different? This is Christmas in Eternity Springs.”

She fell silent then and stared straight ahead. Nicholas was off and running again, catching Claire up on events in Eternity Springs over the past three weeks. Jax let him ramble. He was busy trying to project a calm and collected attitude, when inside he was a bundle of nerves.

What if his Believe calendar hadn't done the trick? What if she'd missed the point of the kids' pageant production? What if the surprise they had waiting at Baby Bear missed its mark?

You'll keep trying, that's what. You'll keep believing in Claire, believing in yourself, believing in you as a couple. You'll keep trying until you convince her to believe, too.

“Okay, then,” he murmured beneath his breath. She'd taught him to think positive. From here on out, he'd be the most positive-thinking man in Colorado.

They arrived at the turnoff to Three Bears Valley, and when they rounded a curve, light from the full moon reflected off the light of six inches of new-fallen snow and illuminated the three cabins, lights glowing golden and warm and welcoming within. “It's so beautiful,” Claire said.

“It's home,” he said simply.

Despite all his positive thinking, nervousness continued to rumble in Jax's gut as he drove the truck toward Baby Bear. Even Nicholas seemed to feel it, because his chatter had subsided. When Jax shifted the truck into park and twisted the ignition key to kill the engine, a pregnant silence settled over the occupants.

Jax cleared his throat. “Claire, if you'll give us a couple minutes' head start, Nicholas and I need to add a few final touches inside. Okay?”

“Okay.”

Jax glanced over his shoulder. “Nicholas? You have the package?”

“Yep.”

The boy opened the back door of the extended-cab pickup and jumped down into the snow. Immediately, he reached for Claire's door, opened it, and stepped up onto the running board. He held a box the size for a bracelet and wrapped in red foil in his hand. “This is for you, Miss Claire. I love you.”

He threw his arms around her neck and hugged her hard. Then he scrambled down from the truck and darted around toward Baby Bear's back door.

Jax opened his door and followed his son, pausing only long enough to meet Claire's gaze. “Believe, Claire.”

*   *   *

Claire's hands trembled as she tore the paper off the box. She didn't know what to expect from the Lancaster men. She didn't know what to think of anything that had happened tonight.

She drew a deep, bracing breath, then lifted the lid from the gift box. Against a layer of white cotton lay an old-fashioned, ornate gold key. String attached a tag the size of a business card to the loop at the top of the key. The tag read “The Christmas Key.”

“Okay,” she murmured. She glanced up toward Baby Bear. The light visible between the cracks in the window curtains appeared brighter. She had the sense that something spectacular waited inside for her.

If she only dared to believe.

The porch light flashed on and she took that as her signal. Heart pounding, she exited the truck and approached Baby Bear's front door. That's when she spied the new lock on the door.

A simple latch had been added at shoulder height to Claire. The lock that secured it was shaped like a heart. Her lips fluttered up in a little smile when she slipped the Christmas Key into the lock and turned it.
Snick.
The lock released.

She took a deep breath, then opened the door.

To … Valentine's Day.

Jax and Nicholas each held a large, heart-shaped box and stood on either side of a Christmas tree that stretched to the rafters. White lights and red lights trimmed the tree along with ornaments shaped like hearts and garlands made of hearts. Hearts adorned the ribbon that encircled the tree. Hearts, hearts, and more hearts. Hearts were everywhere.

Claire blinked back sudden tears that threatened. She tore her gaze away from the tree and spied other additions they'd made to the room. Three red and white stockings at the chimney. More hearts. Heart-shaped throw pillows on the sofa. A heart-shaped rug in front of the hearth.

Even a plate of heart-shaped sugar cookies on the coffee table.

She cleared her throat and asked, “Am I having a Rip Van Winkle moment? Did I sleep through December and January and it's now February 14?”

“I know the Rip Van Winkle story,” Nicholas said. “That's not it, Miss Claire. You know what this is. You are the one who told me. Remember when I was afraid, and you brought the Twelve Dogs of Christmas to me? You told me Valentine's is your favorite. Then you told me what the key to Christmas is.”

“Love,” she murmured.

Nicholas nodded. “Yep. You don't have to be scared, Miss Claire. You have the key.”

He crossed the room to her and solemnly offered the candy box. “This is for you from me, Miss Claire. I hope you like it. We took the candy out, but don't worry. We saved it. We got the idea from the Angel's Rest fortune cookies.”

Claire opened the box. Inside were dozens of scraps of paper, all marked with Nicholas's carefully printed handwriting. She picked up one and read aloud. “I love that you make pancakes in different shapes.”

A second paper read: “I love that you love dogs as much as I do.”

A third: “I love how you make my daddy smile again.”

“Oh, Nicholas. I don't know what to say. This is wonderful. Just wonderful. You put a lot of work into this.”

“There's a hundred of them. I was kinda running out of things to say at the end, so some of them aren't real good.”

Claire dropped down onto her knees and wrapped the boy in her embrace. “I will treasure every single one of them. Thank you so much. This is one of the most special gifts I've ever received.”

“I love you, Miss Claire. Please say yes to Daddy.”

Claire lifted her gaze to Jax. He smiled tenderly, and said, “Nicholas, I heard your grandparents drive up a few minutes ago. I imagine by now they have the video they took of the pageant loaded up and ready to watch on the TV.”

“Cool. Okay. I gotta go, Miss Claire. I'll see you in the morning. Right?”

“Right.” She could give him no other answer.

Seconds later, the door slammed behind him and Claire and Jax were alone. Still on her knees, she went to rise and accepted the hand he offered to help her.

He didn't let go. “So did you read my journal?”

“I read the days you marked with your calendar.”

“One each day?”

“Yes. The Advent calendar was a tradition in my family, too. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed it.”

“What else did you learn from my gift?”

“I learned…” Her voice trailed off when he raised her hand to his mouth and kissed it.

“I missed you, Claire. Have you forgiven me yet?”

She closed her eyes. “For what?”

“For being an ass. For being stupid. For being prideful.”

“Have you forgiven me for being rich?”

“Again, let me be clear. That was totally stupid of me.” He cupped her cheek in the palm of his hand. “Thank God you are such a forgiving, understanding woman.”

Her lips quirked. “I don't know that I understand anything, Jax. I wasn't truthful with my friends and the people of Eternity Springs. I expected to come back to scorn and ridicule. Instead, Janice Petersen has been playing salesclerk and wants a job?”

“You should hire her. The woman is a selling fool.”

“Why did you do that, Jax? Why did you keep the store open?”

“Because one warm summer night, a redheaded water sprite challenged me to believe, and it changed my life. You see, I believe in the magic of Eternity Springs, in the goodness of its people, and the capacity of their hearts. I believe in the power of positive thinking.”

He set down the candy box he held and grabbed her free hand. His stare never left her face as he brought both her hands up to his mouth and kissed them. Sincerity and something else, something warm and wonderful, gleamed in his eyes as he said, “Most of all, Miss Christmas, I believe in you. I believe in us. I believe in the family that we can create with Nicholas and, God willing, a brother or sister or two for him. I believe that you love me as much as I love you.”

“I do love you. I'm just afraid.”

“I know, baby. We are all afraid. You need to forget all the reasons why it won't work, and believe in the one reason why it will. Love. I love you. You can trust me. You can believe in me. Believe in me, Claire.”

Yearning filled her. She wanted to say yes. She wanted to believe. It was so close. He was here. He loved her.

Yet her lips couldn't form the word her heart was screaming.

Jax sighed. “Okay, then. Guess I'll have to bring on the big guns.”

He released her hands and picked up the heart-shaped candy box. His look chastising, he handed it to her.

“More fortunes?” she asked.

“Open it.”

She lifted the lid. Nestled inside among Valentine's-red tissue paper was Gardenia. Claire lifted her gently from the box. Tears stung her eyes. “You fixed her wing.”

“Believing fixed her wing, Miss Christmas. Here's the problem. You neglected to turn the page. There's an epilogue.”

“There is?”

“Absolutely. In the epilogue, Gardenia meets a new, woefully tarnished angel with a broken heart and his little boy who had not one but two broken wings. Gardenia befriends them. She challenges them to believe. As so often happens in nature, the boy learns quicker than his dad and, lo and behold, the boy's broken wings are made whole again. He learns to fly.”

“Lo and behold,” Claire repeated, not lifting her gaze from the angel.

“But the tarnished old guy isn't so dull that he completely blows the lesson. It's close, but he pulls it out. Gardenia has taught him that the way to mend a broken heart is to give it again. Once that tarnished angel's heart is mended, he's ready to fly again. There's just one problem.”