Page 174 of The Blessings of Christmas
“Oh I do. I do,” she finally choked out. “Malcolm, I love you. I always have.”
“Josie. Sweetheart.” Suddenly they were kissing, and nothing had ever felt so right. Granted, he hadn't counted on the whole crowd erupting with applause. “Oh my,” his mother said dabbing at her eyes. “I'm so glad I came.”
“Me too.” What had he told Bryn so long ago?Take a chance.Tonight had been his moment to take a chance. Maybe life was built on risks taken. If he hadn't asked the question, he might never have heard the answer. Applause broke out and people cheered.
“Is that peppermint I’m tasting?” He licked his lips.
Josie nodded. “It's my holiday lipstick flavor. Emily told me about it.”
But what was this? As the group settled down, a thin, high wail pierced the night air. Everyone turned toward the nativity scene, which Mary and Joseph had temporarily vacated during all the drama. Now the couple was staring down into the manger where a tiny baby was crying.
“I thought you told me that this happened on Christmas Day,” Malcolm said, riveted by the scene only a few feet away.
“It does. The poor thing.” Looking dazed, Josie crept closer to the manger and he followed.
A woman who looked very official had stepped up. She glanced around. “Whose baby is this?”
Silence fell as the townspeople waited for the mother to step up to claim her crying baby. The effect had been beautiful, but enough was enough.
By that time, Josie had the baby in her arms. While she rocked and cooed to the poor little thing as if she'd been doing this all her life, the baby magically stopped crying.
Derek Darling had entered the scene, scanning the crowd. “If this isn't anyone's baby,” he said, “then I think a trip to the hospital is in order. I'll have the infant checked out.”
“Oh, for heaven sakes. Who would do such a thing?” Bryn fussed.
“Who indeed.” Emily was equally concerned, her eyes glued to Josie.
Victoria had joined their group. “This is really strange. Derek mentioned earlier today that someone had left a note in the Safe Haven box at the urgent care center. You know, the one where mothers can deposit a baby they cannot raise, with no questions asked.”
“What did the note say?” Malcolm asked, unable to look away from Josie holding the infant.
Victoria shrugged. “It said,Look in the manger tonight. Derek thought it was some kind of prank.”
Reluctantly, Josie surrendered the baby to Derek. With many a backward glance, she rejoined the group.
“It will be all right,” Malcolm told her, not knowing exactly what he was saying or promising. But this was the night when he knew that everything was finally right with the world.
“My goodness,” Malcolm's mother said as they walked to the table holding cups of hot chocolate and cookies. “You people really know how to have an exciting Christmas.”
CHAPTER 17
CHRISTMAS DAY
“What was that all about last night?” Josie's mother asked from the backseat. With her trunk stuffed full of gifts from Victoria’s Pantry, Josie and her parents were on their way to the Open Hearth clinic for the Christmas Day celebration.
“Well, it sure was different.” Josie had hardly been able to sleep last night. Malcolm's announcement had been more than a surprise. Her head spun just thinking about it. When they’d said good night, he’d whispered that they could talk more today.
“And you do this every year?” her dad said, sitting in the seat next to her. “You should've mentioned that caroling before. We would have come up from Sarasota earlier.”
Josie smiled as they drove along. Her father would focus on the caroling, not the romance and baby drama that had filled the air. But not her mother.
“And that sweet little baby,” Mom piped up from the back. “Where did that baby come from?”
Josie had an idea in her head but she wasn't going to voice it. At this point it was just speculation. “Good question. The manger is usually filled each Christmas morning. The women from the church take care of that. Families come to visit thatnativity scene throughout the day on Christmas. Of course the baby is exchanged every hour or so and the mother stays nearby. They're probably doing that today.”
“Oh, was there a mother there?” her mother asked.
“I don't think so.” Josie was glad that they were almost to the clinic. Obviously the details had been lost on her parents. They probably were still wondering why Malcolm had declared his love for her as part of the caroling session. “I thought the doctor took that baby away to a hospital,” Mom said, still trying to figure everything out.
