Page 175 of The Blessings of Christmas
“He did. And we’ll probably find out more about that today. Dr. Darling should be with the group today because it's his clinic.”
“I'm starving,” her dad grumbled. “I sure hope they have food at this place.”
“Oh, you have no idea.” She pulled up in front of Open Hearth. Clients who filled the rocking chairs on the front porch raised their mugs of Christmas coffee and waved hello. When she popped open her trunk, some of the men rushed to help her bring the gifts inside. Dad helped Mom from the car and inside they went.
Her father's frown immediately disappeared when he sniffed the air. “Sure smells good in here.”
The long serving table was heavy with stainless steel serving trays of French toast and scrambled eggs. Rashers of bacon sat alongside mounds of sausages. Broiled tomato halves were heaped with bubbling cheese. Chocolate croissants sat alongside cinnamon rolls and pecan sticky buns.
Her father's eyes lit up and he glanced around. “Where are the plates?”
Malcolm was beside her in a second. When he kissed her on the forehead, it seemed so natural. She beamed up at him.Certainly this was a dream. He pointed to the plates stacked at the end of the table. “Right there, sir,” he told her father.
Josie wasn't at all surprised that her dad was more interested in the food than in getting to know Malcolm better. But her mother raised her brows before hustling after her dad. “Sir?” her mother echoed. “Such a gentleman.”
“Emily and Bryn are saving a place for us toward the back.” Malcolm pointed.
Looking over, Josie saw his mother sitting with her friends. Obviously, Aurelia was fitting right in. Josie tugged on his sleeve. “Last night was quite a surprise.”
He smiled down at her. “I know. My mother can't stop talking about it.”
Josie glanced back at the table where Aurelia was peering over the heads of the others. “Right now your mother is looking at us.”
“Is she? Does it matter?” Malcolm drew her closer.
Feeling a little dizzy, Josie pointed to the tree. “Let's go check out the gifts. I want to make sure everything made it over here.” Phyllis and Victoria were busy arranging the wrapped packages and gift bags.
“Good morning,” Phyllis greeted them with a cheery smile.
Looking a little green around the gills, Victoria gave them a little wave and went back to checking each gift off on her clipboard.
“Hey, are you feeling all right?” Josie asked Victoria.
“Not really.” She clutched her clipboard tighter.
Not wanting to catch anything, Josie backed away. “Do you think you're contagious?
“Ha. Absolutely not.” Here she jabbed the clipboard at Josie and dashed toward the ladies room. Her long green and black plaid skirt fluttered around Victoria's ankles as she ran.
From what Josie could see, the tables closest to the tree were filled with families who had small children, including Ana and her brood. “You all stay just where you are,” Josie heard Ana tell her children before she slipped away from the table and came closer.
“I have something for you,” she said, reaching into a pocket and bringing out an envelope.
“How lovely. A Christmas card?” Josie felt so happy about the relationships forged at the clinic. The children's Christmas story hour had helped bring that about.
Taking the card from Ana, she turned to Malcolm. “Look, the card is for both of us.”
“Thank you, Ana,” Malcolm said as Josie slit open the envelope.
“Oh, it’s not from me,” Ana said.
“Dear Malcolm and Josie,” Josie began to read out loud so Malcolm could hear. “You are so kind to everyone. Now I am asking for a big favor. Please take my baby Luz and raise her as if she were your own. I know she will have a happy life with you. A life I cannot give her. XXOO Liliana”
“Oh, my goodness.” She looked over at Ana who simply nodded. Josie could hardly breathe. “Did you know about this?”
“Yes, yes. She asked me to write this for her. She was a quiet one, that Liliana. But she had a sad past and is now on her way to relatives up north. You will make her very happy if you are able to do as she asked. Luz means light.”
“Luz. How beautiful.” Thinking back to the tiny infant she’d held in her arms, Josie didn't have any words. It had been so hard to give the baby to Derek. Josie had felt such a connection to that helpless infant. If only this could be true. She felt Malcolm’s arm encircle her shoulder.
