Page 46 of A Baxter Family Christmas
“And tonight... your uncle Luke and aunt Reagan’s story about being stuck in the snow?”
“Yes, another one.” She softened her voice again. “And you should’ve seen my cousin Amy meeting Kendra Bryant, the woman who has her mother’s heart.”
“What?” Connor looked amazed. “That’s definitely another story.”
“Yes. And another miracle.”
Connor met her eyes again and it felt like the two of them were the only ones in the house. “And this, Maddie... seeing you here.” His eyes shone again, as if there was more he wanted to say. Words that would have to wait for the right time.
Maddie was so happy she could barely breathe. Watching Connor walk through the door, she knew the two of them having this time together was another gift from God. Because not only did it clear up things with Connor. It had allowed her heart to be free and light and whole again.
For the first time since she was five.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
It was a Christmas Eve John would remember for the rest of his life. And now it was time for Kendra and Moe to leave. John and Elaine walked them to the foyer, the conversation easy as they made their way. Already Dayne and Katy and Kari and Ryan had taken their children home. Ashley had put Janessa and Amy to bed, and the others were wrapping things up.
When they reached the front door, Kendra turned to John. “Tonight meant more to me than you’ll ever know.” She linked arms with Moe. “The two of us... we talked about it a few minutes ago. We’re going to church tomorrow with Moe’s sister.”
Moe nodded. “I can’t say I believe in God. Not yet, anyway. But I can take this step.” He looked at Kendra. “We can take it together.”
And in that moment, Christmas came over John in a way he had never quite felt before. “That’s amazing.” He smiled at the couple. “First steps. I like that.”
Elaine put her arm around John’s waist. “There’s no time like Christmas to examine your beliefs. It’s one of the main reasons John reached out to you. So we could share our faith.”
“Not just our faith. But Erin’s faith. Her family’s faith.” John smiled at Elaine and then at Kendra. He paused for a long while. “But I also knew I wanted to be in the same room again with Erin’s beating heart. She was my little girl. The last time I hugged her, I didn’t know... I’d never have another chance to hold her again.
“It’ll be a journey. Just remember that. Believing God truly is just the first step.” John put his hand on Moe’s shoulder. “We’re here for you. If you want to meet again.”
“Good to know. Oh... and also... we talked about something else.” Moe smiled at Kendra.
“Yes.” Kendra turned to John. “After tonight... we’d like to have a baby. Being around all your grandkids, Moe and I were both thinking about that.”
It was another victory, another reason John was sure this was how they were supposed to celebrate Christmas Eve after all. He still couldn’t believe that even Luke and Ashley and their families had joined them tonight. But he was grateful.
He and Elaine hugged Kendra and Moe again, wishing them a merry Christmas, and thanking them for coming. This had indeed been the right decision. For Kendra, for Amy, for the whole family. And as Kendra and Moe drove away, John smiled. Because after tonight they would no longer be strangers.
But family.
They had joined the others for Pictionary, and now everyone was finding coats and saying their goodbyes. Connor didn’t want to leave Maddie yet, but he had a feeling they’d see each other often in the next few days.
He pulled her aside as their families were making their way to the front door. “This has been the most... amazing Christmas Eve.” He stood with her in the doorway to the living room, where they’d spent so much time talking earlier. “I mean... it was basically a reunion.”
“Right.” She laughed. Her eyes looked years lighter than they had before their talk. “Last time we were together here, we probably played hide-and-seek in the garden out back.”
“Yes.” He nodded, his tone teasing. “I think I remember that. I was four and you were three.”
“It’s possible.”
“True.” He took a step closer to her. “After tonight, anything’s possible.” Connor wasn’t sure how things might go from here. But if he had it his way, Maddie would be his girlfriend before Valentine’s Day. It was a possibility he would talk about with his parents, and hers.
An idea he would pray about.
Suddenly something overhead caught his eye. He looked up, and sure enough. Mistletoe hung from the doorframe. Everyone else was out front, and Maddie only had a minute before she had to leave.
She followed his gaze and her cheeks grew a pretty shade of pink. “Mistletoe.”
“Yep.” Connor took hold of both her hands. He shrugged. “It’s sort of a tradition.”
