Page 127 of The Blessings of Christmas
“Sure. Just remember.” Picking up the sponge, Phyllis pointed it at her. “Be sure you bring pretty presents back.”
“You can count on me.” How good it felt to say that.
Not until she got into her car and place them carefully on the seat did she begin to wonder if she could pull that off.
CHAPTER 9
As Victoria hung the Christmas wishes on the tree in Victoria’s Pantry, warmth flooded through her. Her customers had brought in their ornaments when she asked them. They would probably approach these gifts with the same generosity.
Behind her in the busy shop, things got quiet as she hung up one red tree after another. “What have you got there?” Miss Charlotte finally asked when Victoria stepped back to take in the full effect.
“Aren’t they sweet? Christmas wishes for the children of the people served by the Open Hearth Clinic.”
Maisy had come closer. “A toaster oven,” she read.
“The adults are allowed to have wishes too.”
“Makes sense, but what exactly is this clinic?” Miss Charlotte asked.
So of course Victoria had to go into an explanation. Her enthusiasm may have told the whole story, especially when she came to Big Mac and Friskie. The clinic had carved a special place in her heart...and so had Dr. D. Sure, the man could be stubborn, but she had to admire a guy who would care aboutothers as much as he did. He did so much more than just talk about their needs. Derek Darling was a man of action.
As Maisy returned to the counter to fill an order for spritz cookies, she smiled. “Why, Victoria, I think you’re getting a soft heart for those folks.”
“I think you’re right.” Backing away, she studied the tree, now hung with the Christmas wishes.
“You’re spending an awful lot of time over there.”
“Are you handling everything here with Darla? Do you need me?” She didn’t want to ignore her own business. After all, this was their first Christmas.
Thank goodness Maisy shook her head.
“You’re so efficient.” How Victoria wished she’d had Maisy’s common sense and confidence when she was her age.
Just then Emily burst through the door, a bag dangling from one arm and her cheeks flushed from the chilly wind outside. She made her way through the tables to the tree.
“What have you got there?” Victoria asked, joining Emily at the Christmas tree.
Reaching inside the plastic shopping bag, Emily whipped out three colorful ornaments. “I loved these when I was a little girl. Mama said I should hang them on your tree. She’s downsizing her tree this year.”
“You don’t say?” Victoria was flabbergasted. Downsizing Christmas? Now that was a novel idea.
While Emily fooled with the tree, adding a reindeer and two elves, Miss Charlotte drew closer. Maybe her mother had a point about Miss Charlotte’s lilac perfume.
“We talked about your tree at Sunday dinner,” Miss Charlotte whispered. “Afterwards, your uncle and I had a nice talk about, well, Christmas things and such.”
Hmm. She needed details. Taking her hand, Victoria led her to the only empty table in the place. She really had to work on that outside seating.
“You don’t say,” Victoria murmured as they huddled together. Oh, she hoped Uncle Vinny would not get his heart broken. “What did Uncle Vinny say?”
“He was not a happy man.” When Miss Charlotte shook her head, Victoria’s heart clutched. “But I explained why I felt this way.”
“You said you wanted your freedom?” Victoria tried to imagine Uncle Vinny’s reaction to that. How had Miss Charlotte become so modern?
“Oh, my. No, no. This is not about freedom.” Whipping out a hankie edged in lace, Miss Charlotte fanned herself.
“Well then, how did you put it?” Victoria had to know. She wondered if her parents were aware of this conversation.
“I just said that for now, I was very content with our relationship the way it was, dear. That’s all.”
