Page 137 of The Blessings of Christmas
“But this is different, Daddy. This clinic changes lives.” She had to go to bat for Derek. “The Open Hearth Clinic is where I’ll be on Christmas day.”
His leather chair crinkled as Daddy leaned forward, elbows resting on Derek’s sheets. “No one works on Christmas day. Why would the clinic be open?”
Daddy looked so perplexed that she had to laugh. “They’re going to serve a meal. That’s why. A lot of these folks have no hot dinner, family or friends waiting for them.”
She’d found some Christmas games online, along with holiday movies. Derek was going to hang a sheet on the wall so they could all watch the DVDs he’d project from his laptop.
“If that’s what you want.” He sat back with a sigh. Poor guy. She’d thrown him for a loop.
Getting up, she came around his desk. “You should be glad I’m not costing you so much this year.” Victoria dropped a kiss on his forehead.
“You’ve given me a lot to think about.” Standing, her father walked her to the door.
“Please don’t look so sad.” Looping her arm though his, she squeezed his arm. And for a second she pictured walking down the aisle with Daddy, just like this. She’d be in a white dress and her father, in a tux. But who would wait for her at the end?
“Oh, I’m not.” Jingling the coins in his pocket the way he always did when he was thinking, Daddy smiled. “You’ve grown up, Victoria. My little girl. So this young man is important to you?”
They’d reached the double doors. She turned to face him. “Yes, Daddy. He is.” But she didn’t know how Derek felt. Sure, they got along a lot better now. But was there more? As she hugged her father, his face held a mixture of sadness and something else. She’d like to think that was pride shining in his eyes.
As the walnut-paneled elevator whisked her down to the first floor, it hit her that Daddy had called her Victoria, not Bitsy, as he said good-bye.
The days slowly passed.No presents had appeared under the tree in Victoria’s Pantry, except for the two Victoria had putthere. And yet the last handful of Christmas wishes Victoria brought into the Pantry had disappeared. At least now Maisy was keeping track of the gifts. If packages didn’t show up soon, Victoria would have to shop. Maisy and Darla could help her wrap. Honestly, her fingernails were bitten down. She was so nervous.
They were in a Christmas countdown and Victoria felt so unsettled. Soon her parents would be leaving for the holidays without her. That felt very weird. At Victoria’s insistence, Mama had sent the gowns back to New York. Her silent disapproval was hard to take. Daddy sent her a nice email, thanking her for information on the clinic. He’d sent the Open Hearth Clinic a check. The amount was impressive and she couldn’t wait to see Derek’s response.
Looking at the crazy jumble of ornaments and lights on her Victoria’s Pantry tree, she wondered where she’d failed. If presents didn’t show up soon, there would be little to celebrate, at least for her. The joy of being part of a group effort just wouldn’t be there. She wanted to believe that all of her customers had opened their hearts this Christmas. Getting to know the people who visited the clinic had changed her whole view of the world. The people who came to the Open Hearth Clinic needed others to help them create a happy Christmas.
A week had goneby since Derek gave Victoria the clinic information. He hadn’t heard anything from her father. What did he expect? After all it was Christmas. When he was growing up, his own parents engaged in a continual whirl of parties at this time of year. No doubt the Pomeroys did the same. Victor Pomeroy was probably humoring his little girl by asking forthe clinic’s financials. And part of him almost didn’t want a response. Having Victoria approach her father for money didn’t feel right. No way did he want Victoria to think he’d used her just for her family contacts. Hadn’t women done that with him? How disappointed they’d been when they realized he had no intention of living a life that included nothing more than society balls and fund raising dinners.
Back to the mail. A pile of envelopes was heaped on his desk. Slitting them open, he read through them. Melanie Farburg had Bryson, her four year-old, draw a picture of Dr. D. The stick figure was priceless and he taped it to the wall.
The personal notes made him smile. Their gratitude touched him. The checks? They came from a group of patients who worked hard to just buy food and pay the utility bill. He probably wouldn’t cash any of them. No, he was after big fish in the little pond. Donors like Victor Pomeroy and Pomeroy Enterprises. The man who didn’t believe in Derek’s mission.
Although Victoria had apparently given Phyllis the funds for a Christmas meal here at the clinic, he hadn't heard Victoria say she’d be here. Sure, he’d given her nothing but trouble when she made an honest attempt to help. Still, coming here on Christmas would be the real sign that she was “all in.”
Did he want her to be into the clinic...or into him?
Yesterday, Phyllis had talked to him about the lack of presents under the tree. “What are we going to do?” They were closeted in his office.
“She’ll come through. You explained the process to Victoria, right?”
“Why, of course. But you never know.”
“It’ll be fine.” No way did he want Victoria to be seen as someone who would let them down. She was more than that. Wasn’t she?
After Phyllis went back to work, Derek slit open the last envelope. A check fluttered onto his desk. Snapping it up, he could hardly believe the numbers. But it was the scrawled note that really made his head swim. Victor Pomeroy wanted a meeting after the holidays. Phyllis knocked at the door. “Time for patients, Dr. D.” He slid the check under his blotter. Later, he’d think about this later when his head was clear.
Springing up from his chair, he threw open the door with renewed enthusiasm. “Next!”
Sunday morning Victoriawoke up early. She’d set her phone alarm for six, a first for her. A gray haze dimmed the room. Was it even sunrise? Good grief, she was the girl who’d once slept until noon. But today she had a mission and the pharmacy opened at six.
After a quick shower, she got dressed. Her hands trembled as she pulled on her black jeans and red sweater. What if the article didn’t run? How would she explain this to Dr. D.? She rammed cold toes into her red boots, forgetting to unzip them.Get a grip, girl.It’s just a newspaper article.
But it meant everything to her. This wasn’t just about Derek, although sure, she wanted to come through for him. No, this was about the clinic. The publicity could be a game changer for them.
Grabbing her jacket, she took off, walking straight across the square to the pharmacy. If she drove to Piggly Wiggly, she risked running into Derek, who might be getting off from work. What if the article didn’t appear? What if Daddy’s friend Reginald had been placating her? She broke into a nervous jog. The lights in the square still glowed as she streaked past thereindeer decorations and the crèche. The square felt quiet and hushed, as if it were waiting for Christmas. Victoria was out of breath with a stitch in her side by the time she walked into the pharmacy.
Thank goodness she didn’t recognize the young guy at the register as she grabbed a paper. This was not the day for her usual small talk with Janine. Tucking the fat Sunday paper under her arm, she started back across the square. But she couldn't wait. Sitting down on a bench, she flipped through the main section. Her heart galloped wildly in her chest. The article wasn’t there and she felt crushed.
