Page 8 of A Baxter Family Christmas
Connor laughed. “I prefer summers, but this is pretty. Definitely.” He pulled his coat tighter around him. “So what do you want for Christmas, Maddie West?”
The snow was deep, so they walked slowly to her car. Connor was glad. He wished he had another hour with her, but at least he had this. She was quiet for a long moment. “This Christmas? Not the usual things.” Her eyes found his. “Actually... I’m praying for a miracle.”
He was touched by her honesty. “Really?”
“I know. It sounds cliché. Everyone wants a Christmas miracle.” They reached her car, covered in snow like the others around it.
“Here. I can help.” He used his bare hands to clear a part of the windshield.
“Were we expecting this much snow?” Maddie stepped in next to him and began brushing snow off the driver’s door. As she did, their arms touched a few times.
“I don’t think so.” Connor made another swipe at the snow and as he did, a fistful sprayed Maddie’s face.
“Hey!” She laughed and brushed it off her cheeks. She flicked some of it on him. “Be careful. I might not look like it, but I usually win every snowball fight!”
“Sorry.” Connor chuckled. He eased his cold fingers over her hair, clearing away the snow still there. “I’ll bet you do.”
The moment felt breathless and intimate and fun. Like something from a movie. She turned to him then, the mood suddenly deeper. Her eyes were the most beautiful he’d ever seen. “About my Christmas wish. It’s just... a lot’s happened to me. To my family. I’ve asked for a miracle before, but it hasn’t happened. This year... I guess I want to know God’s still there. You know?”
Connor did know. His family had been through tough times and more than once he had reached a point where he had asked God for a sign. “I get it.” His voice was quiet, their conversation muted by the stillness of the thick blanket of snow. “God doesn’t mind when we ask Him to show Himself. To make Himself real.”
“Yeah.” The corners of her lips lifted a little. “That’s it. Exactly.” She looked off, as if the details filling her heart were too great to share. At least for now. “My sister... she has health struggles.” Her eyes locked on Connor’s again. “I guess I always feel like it’s my fault.”
“I doubt that.” He wanted to hug her, but the timing was wrong. A few seconds passed, and Connor waited. He sensed there was more to this part of her story, but he didn’t want to push. Maybe in time she would trust him enough to go into detail. For now he was grateful she’d opened up to him at all.
“Well, I need to go.” She found her smile again. “Family dinner tonight.” She dabbed once more at her pretty face. “Tomorrow’s callbacks should be fun.”
“Definitely.” Now he hugged her, the sort of hug he’d give his sister. “Have fun with your family.”
“Thanks.” A shyness returned to her smile. “Nice meeting you, Connor.”
“You, too. One of these days we’ll have to have that snowball fight.” He took a step back. “Oh...” He felt his smile fade a bit. “And I’ll pray for your Christmas miracle. It’ll happen, Maddie. I believe that.”
Her smile warmed him to the core of his being. “Thanks. That means a lot.”
Connor watched her start her car. With the deep snow, her tires spun for a few seconds before she got traction and drove away. Then he crossed the lot to his pickup. Never mind that winter was in full force and more snow was forecast in the coming days. As far as Connor was concerned it was blue skies and summertime.
All because of a girl named Maddie West.
CHAPTER THREE
Deep down, Kendra Bryant knew it wasn’t just the busy time of year that kept her husband, Moe, at work making calls late that Monday night. Moe worked at an accounting firm in downtown Lexington, Kentucky, and year-end tax planning took up most of his hours. But lately Moe seemed to find whatever excuse possible to stay away from home.
Away from her.
She sighed as she grabbed a box of ornaments from the basement closet and carried them up the stairs and into the living room. Their first Christmas as a married couple—eight years ago—they’d worked side by side setting up the Christmas tree and hanging the ornaments. Kendra had made hot chocolate and they’d strung popcorn to hang on the branches.
Like something out of a Christmas card.
Kendra pictured life would always be like that. Celebrating the holidays together, making time for traditions. Now she couldn’t remember the last time Moe had helped her put up the artificial tree. He would come home late tonight and barely notice the decorations at all.
What’s the point?She stopped and studied the bare tree.Ornaments and twinkling lights don’t make us a family.
Kendra pulled out her phone and tapped her Pandora app. It was still three days before Thanksgiving, but Kendra liked putting the tree up early. She chose a Christmas station. The familiar beautiful sounds swelled through their small house, and Kendra turned the volume up.
Just enough to lighten her mood.
The first song was “Silent Night.” Only instead of lightening the mood, the song gradually caused her to take a seat in the nearest chair. She and Moe were atheists. At least that’s what they told people. But the truth was they both had doubts. Times when they wondered if they were wrong about God. Maybe He did exist. But neither of them ever pursued the possibility. With the way Christianity was viewed in today’s culture, it was easier to simply not believe. Still, Kendra knew the words to “Silent Night.” The way everyone did.
