Page 90 of The Blessings of Christmas
There was a line for the first floor powder room so she dashed upstairs. Her father was just turning off the light in the second floor bathroom when she arrived.
“Well, here’s the new mother.” Her dad settled back on his heels, looking pretty pleased.
“And here’s the new grandfather. You doing okay?”
“I’m doing great. You married into a terrific family, you know that? Bill is making me feel right at home. Even showed me his collections of fishing lures and Evenrude motors in the basement. I told him all about my Lionel train collection. Told him he’d have to come down and see it sometime.”
“Looks like you’ve joined his inner bundling circle, Dad. Congratulations.” Amanda gave her dad a hug and inhaled his Old Spice when she rested her cheek on the fuzzy red V-neck she’d given him for Christmas. “Thanks, Dad. For everything.”
“For what? You’re the one who made me a grandfather.” He patted her back.
“Yes, but we couldn’t have done this without your support. You know that.”
“Listen, this is what it’s all about, Amanda.” Her father spread his arms so wide he nearly knocked over the Christmas elf on the hall table. “Family. What else could your mother and I wish for? Sure, Florida’s a great place, but I can tell you, we’ll be coming up to see this baby.”
“You’ll always have a place in our spare room,” she assured him.
“That’s real nice to hear, little girl.”
She beamed. Doesn’t every woman want to know that for her dad, she’ll always be his little girl?
“And listen, while we’re talking about all this, tell Connor not to worry about returning any help we offer. You can’t take it with you and who else do we have?”
“Oh, Daddy.” She hugged him again.
With a quiet smile, he headed for the stairs, and she slipped into the bathroom. As Amanda stared at her pale face in the mirror, it hit her. Would they even have a spare bedroom in eight months or so? She had to make a quick trip to a drugstore. Disbelief and excitement made her downright dizzy and she grabbed the cool edge of the sink.
When she got back downstairs, the buffet line had formed. Taking the baby from Connor, she urged him to fill a plate. “Could you just fix something small for me? Maybe plain turkey to nibble?”
“Your stomach has me worried.”
“Maybe we can stop at the drugstore on the way home?”
“That bad, huh? I want you to see a doctor if this doesn’t stop.”
“Oh, I will.” So hard to squelch her grin.
Dinner ran long. Eventually the mincemeat and pumpkin pies pushed them all into a food coma. Some had to work the next day so families reluctantly began packing up. On the way home, Connor pulled into an all-night drugstore. The parking lot was almost empty. Her parents waited in their own car, exhaust curling into the darkness. Connor had insisted they follow, not wanting them to get lost.
Cold night air nipped her cheeks as Amanda rushed inside. Two clerks chatted over their registers. Her footsteps echoed in the empty aisles. Took some searching but she found what she needed and bought three.
“Merry Christmas.” The words bubbled to her lips when she was checking out.
Slipping her purchase into a bag, the clerk smiled at her. “Well, Merry Christmas to you too.”
Amanda didn’t miss the knowing grin the girl gave her friend at the next register.
When they reached the house, her parents quickly said good night. “Best Christmas ever, Amanda,” her dad whispered.
“I don’t know when I’ve had a more exciting holiday, do you, Bill?” Still perky as all get out, her mother followed her dad up the stairs. “Now don’t forget to turn off all the lights, you two. See you in the morning. I just might make pancakes.” The bedroom door closed behind her chatter.
“I’ll be right back,” Amanda told Connor, handing him the baby, who was squirming. He’d been so good. “I want to heat a bottle for Sean.”
Sean.Just saying his name lifted her steps on the way to the kitchen. She stopped in the powder room on the way.
When she returned to the living room, she handed Connor the bottle. “Have you ever seen my parents so crazy about anything?”
“Wish they’d been that thrilled when I came alone.”
