Page 12 of A Baxter Family Christmas
Now if only God had a plan for my sister, Hayley. Maddie had kept those thoughts to herself. They’d talked another half hour, but she didn’t tell him the two things that might scare him off. The fact that she could never have a boyfriend. And the truth about Hayley, about why she had health issues.
She had wanted to hear more from Connor, but their coffees were gone and they both had places to be. “Someday you’ll have to tell me about the funny moments, how things were in the beginning.”
“I’d like that.” Connor had walked her to her car again, and this time his hug had lasted a little longer. “I head back to Liberty on Sunday. After Thanksgiving.” Their eyes had met and held. “I’d love to see you again before I go.”
Panic had gripped Maddie. She hadn’t meant to give Connor the wrong impression.This coffee, it was wrong,she’d told herself. She’d have to be more careful in the future. She had struggled with her response. “Uh, well... That weekend’s pretty busy.”
“Okay.” Connor had looked confused. “Maybe we can just wait till then. In case you have time.”
He’d asked for her number and again she had hesitated. Caught off guard, she had ultimately given it to him. But the truth was Maddie could never actually date him. She wouldn’t let herself—that was a promise she’d made years ago. If Hayley couldn’t do something, she couldn’t either.
But even so her time with Connor had been breathtaking. She’d thought about him constantly ever since, replaying their time together, the way he looked at her. The way he made her feel.
He’d texted her at least once each day. Something that equally troubled and thrilled Maddie. No matter how much she liked Connor Flanigan, she would not date him. Not unless God opened that possibility for Hayley someday. Maddie hadn’t dated or been to dances. She always found a reason. Too busy or not interested in high school events.
But the truth was something she didn’t tell anyone. Not even her parents.
The fact that she alone had ruined Hayley’s life. Her sister would be perfectly healthy if it wasn’t for her.
Besides, if she was ever honest about what she’d done, how she was to blame for Hayley’s accident, no guy would ever want her. Especially not someone as wonderful as Connor Flanigan.
Maddie was halfway through the silver when Jessie arrived. She hurried to Maddie and took hold of both her hands. “Tell me about this Connor! What’s he like?”
“Shhh.” Maddie looked around. “I don’t want Cole to hear.” She glanced at her other cousin, sharpening the carving knife across the kitchen. “He’ll tell everyone.”
“True.” Jessie lowered her voice. “Cole means well. You know that.”
“He does.” Maddie kept her voice low. “But Connor and I are just friends. That’s all it’ll end up being, I’m sure. So no need to tell anyone.”
“I get it.” Jessie grabbed a spoon and began polishing. “Just friends?” Her look said she doubted the idea.
“Yes.” Maddie allowed a smile. “But you should’ve seen him, Jess. He’s so cute.”
“Yeah. That’s what I thought.” She laughed.
Maddie loved how the Baxter cousins were all best friends. She was the oldest, and then Jessie, who was sixteen. Next came Cole and Hayley—both fifteen—and Tommy, who was two years younger. The older cousins loved being together and for the most part they knew everything about each other. Same with the younger group—but they were too little to do more than run around and play together.
Jessie dropped her voice even more. “So tell me about him.”
“He’s just a friend.” Maddie smiled, careful to guard her heart. “But he’s the greatest guy, Jess. He is so kind. And he’s a freshman at Liberty University.”
“Wow.” Jessie’s eyes lit up. “And he loves Jesus?”
“He does. And he’s funny.”
Just then, Hayley walked into the room again. She crossed the kitchen to the spot where Maddie and Jessie were working. “Can I help?”
“Yes, of course.” Maddie found a soft rag and dipped it in the polish. “Just choose a fork or a spoon and rub the cloth over it till it shines.”
“Like the top of the Chrysler Building!” Hayley grinned. She was always quoting lines from the musicalAnnie. It was her favorite show.
“Yes.” Maddie gave her sister a side hug. No one loved Hayley more than she did. But the reminder of her sister’s limitations stalled the conversation with Jessie. Hayley tried to polish a spoon, and for the most part she got the job done. But Maddie and Jessie each cleaned several in the same time.
That night, long after Maddie and Hayley and their parents had returned to their estate home in Clear Creek, Maddie thought about Connor and how she wasn’t sure she could ever tell him the real story about Hayley. Her mom seemed to notice her quietness.
“You sure you’re okay, honey?” Her mother had stopped by Maddie’s room as she was getting ready to climb into bed.
“I’m fine.” She remembered to smile. “Mom, did you ever pray for a Christmas miracle?”
