Page 157 of The Blessings of Christmas
Josie’s eyes kept sliding to Dr. Darling’s door. Malcolm has been so short of breath when they were jogging. Was that what they were talking about? Finally Phyllis was called away and Josie drifted outside into the sunlight. What was Malcolm doing in there all this time? One of the men got up and offered her his rocking chair. She had to admit it felt good to get off her feet. Before too long Malcolm appeared. After saying good-bye to the group gathered on the porch, Malcolm pulled the jeep up and helped her inside.
On the way back to Sweetwater Creek, he didn't mention his meeting with Derek. Although she was curious, Josie said nothing. She wondered all the way back to town, while the conversation focused on the Christmas stories showcased at the front of the library. How would their idea be received by the staff? And which books would be best for the children? They were both eager to get on with their project.
All the way back to town, Josie still had questions. And they had nothing to do with the children's Christmas books.
CHAPTER 8
When they reached Sweetwater Creek, Malcolm dropped Josie at her place.
“See you Monday?” she said, struggling to get out.
He jumped out of the jeep. “Wait a minute. Let me help you.” Leaving the door of the jeep open, Malcolm dashed around the front. Sometimes Josie could be so independent that he wanted to strangle her. Did she think that he wouldn't notice her eyes flagging as they drove back to Sweetwater Creek? He walked her up to her front door and helped with her keys. Of course all the way to the door, she insisted that she didn't need help. At the last minute, he decided not to tell her that he intended to spend Sunday at the library. He was still catching up on some things in the system.
“Okay, see you next week.” Josie looked so forlorn as she shut the door. He hated to leave her standing there. Oh, she put up a good act as an independent woman doing her own thing. But sometimes he wondered. What was the deal with all those boxes stacked all over her living room? Sliding back into the jeep, he put it into gear. Of course she would never ask him for help.
When she’d taken that tumble earlier in the day, Malcolm had been worried. Josie being Josie, she wouldn’t go to the urgent care center. Stubborn as all get out. And she should have spent the day with her feet up, not washing dishes at the clinic. Still, he had to admire her spirit. She was a woman who could do just about anything she put her mind to. That was admirable.
It wasn't until he pulled into the parking place behind Victoria’s Pantry and his apartment, that he noticed the construction paper ornaments tucked next to the passenger seat. Josie must have forgotten them. He wasn't surprised. Their conversation on the way back had been disjointed and part of that was his fault. His head was filled with his brief time with Derek Darling. The doctor had tried to be encouraging.
Malcolm had no plans for the evening. As he sat there in the parking lot, he noticed that the back door to Victoria's Pantry was ajar. Maybe he’d go in and hang the ornaments on the tree himself. Save Josie some time.
As he drew closer, he could hear women's voices. One was definitely Victoria. She had a Valley Girl cadence to her voice that made him smile. The other voice was probably one of the women who worked for her. “I'm so excited,” Victoria was saying. “I can't wait to tell Derek.”
“How do you feel?” the other woman asked. Clearly they were discussing something that was exciting and probably personal. Hesitating in the open doorway, Malcolm almost turned around and left. But he had a handful of those ornaments with kids’ Christmas wishes. He stepped forward.
“So tired,” he heard Victoria say. “And sick to my stomach.”
What was this about? He hoped his landlord didn't have some kind of virus. And then it hit him. Or maybe she was pregnant. “Hello?” He gave a tentative knock on the wall.
“Who's there?” Victoria called out, exiting the kitchen area.
“Didn't mean to startle you.” He felt guilty, as if he had been eavesdropping on some high-level conversation.
“No problem.” Avoiding his eyes, Victoria smoothed her hair, although it looked fine to him. Like most of the women he knew, including Darcy, she wore her hair long and straight. For himself? He kind of liked Josie’s bouncy curls. Of course the curls were a lot like her personality. Victoria's eyes fell on his handful of cards from Open Hearth. “What have you got there? Are those what I think they are?”
“A bunch of ornaments from the tree at the clinic. Josie wanted to put them on your tree out front. But she left them in my jeep.”
“Right, the Christmas Wishes.” She tilted her head. “Oh, so you went over there together?”
“Yeah, I wanted to see what it was all about.” He’d been very impressed with the clinic. Maybe he'd have some extra time to spend over there. “It's quite a place and it definitely seems to be well received.”
“My husband is really something. Very dedicated.” Her face flushed with pride, and he wished that Derek could see this moment.
“If you don't mind, I'll just put these on the tree and get out of your hair.” He waved to Darla and continued down the hallway.
“Can I help?” Victoria tagged along behind him. “I like to see what people want. We try to match their needs with our customers. They’ll be so excited. Everyone's been waiting for these wishes. They want to start their shopping.”
The shop was now closed, and the only lights came from a small tree in the window. The tree twinkled with tiny holiday lights as it rotated on a stand. Victoria flipped the overhead lights back on and Malcolm handed her some of the ornaments.
Victoria got busy reading them. “Let's see, a Barbie house. Boy, some lucky girl's going to be happy about this.” She fastened the Christmas Wish onto the tree.
“Little boy’s slacks, size ten,” Malcolm read. Remembering his own childhood, he wasn't sure about this request. Clothes had never thrilled him, not when he’d asked for rollerblades or a baseball mitt. But he hung up the ornament. “Frankly, I'm not sure this kid is going to be happy with his mother's request for him.”
Turning, Victoria chuckled as if she agreed. “I'll make a note. Whoever takes that will have to pair the pants with something that's more fun, like night vision goggles or a detective tool kit.”
“That's a relief.” He grabbed another one of the ornaments from the pile. “Getting clothes at Christmas always disappointed me and it was hard not to show it. My Aunt Louise always bought me clothes. Stuff I never would wear. My mother insisted that I keep my disappointment to myself. She was an amazing aunt.” Maybe people never appreciated their older relatives until they were gone. He’d give anything to have Aunt Louise in his life today. For one thing, she’d always kept an eye on Malcolm’s mother. As sisters, the two had been close.
Together they hung up the ornaments that held sports equipment, dolls and games, along with plenty of tech gifts. “Oh here's a good one. A baby stroller,” Victoria read.
