The Best Christmas Ever

“So, do you still work as your fiancé’s secretary?”

“So, do you still take people’s business away from them?” she retorted, and was immediately contrite at the look of pain that flashed in Justin’s eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.” She placed her hands on her hips, her exasperation evident in every inch of her stiff body. “Why must you be so provoking, Justin? I came here to apologize, to put the past in the past. We’re family. Mickie is the only blood relative I have left. I want to get to know her. I thought you might be able to forgive me for that reason alone.”

It had taken two years. She’d had to hit rock bottom and turn to God before realizing how much she’d wronged this man. But once she had acknowledged what a grievous blow she’d dealt Justin by taking him to court for custody of Mickie, she’d hoped to correct it. Her only mistake was in listening to Bill and deciding to apply for the job as housekeeper.

Of course, now that she saw how Justin still felt about her, she couldn’t tell him about what she’d found out from the doctor. Or how that had led to André breaking off their engagement. Nor how that had led to the sweet note in her mailbox the following week saying that Watson and Watson had to cut back staff and she, unfortunately, was the one who had to go.

André hadn’t even had the guts to fire her in person. That still hurt. But she knew God had a reason for all that happened. She knew now that if she trusted Him, He would turn everything out for the good. It was His way even when she couldn’t see it herself.

Justin sighed again. “You’re right. I’m sorry, too.”

“I really do want to try to get along.”

Justin ran a hand through his hair.

“For Amy’s sake,” she said, then added more desperately, “for Mickie’s sake.”

That swayed him. “You’re right. Despite how angry I am at you, Mickie needs to know you. Other kids at kindergarten have been asking about her family. The kids at school all have aunts and uncles.”

She heard the silent and a mother.

“I think she’d really like to meet a relative. But if you hurt her or say anything—”

“I won’t,” Sarah cut in. Since her devastating news and resulting breakup with André she’d had a lot of time to think and pray.

She wanted to know Mickie. She’d allowed two years to pass since the court battle, and hadn’t seen Mickie since. It was time to forget the past and go forward. And she wanted to do that with the only family she had left.

“Look, I have an important meeting I’ll be late for if I don’t get ready. I’ll go up and change. I’ll tell Mickie you’re here.”

“Will she know who I am?”

Justin scowled. “She knows she has an aunt Sarah. You can visit with her until the baby-sitter gets here. If all goes well, then we’ll see about visits after that. I’d better warn you, though—Mickie doesn’t take well to strangers, whether she’s heard of them or not.”

Sarah nodded.

Without another word, Justin turned and headed up the stairs.

The kids at school all have aunts and uncles.

Sarah’s heart ached at his words. How much had Mickie missed because of her mother’s death, because of Sarah’s bitterness and anger, because of the bitterness and anger between her and Justin?

Well, she was going to set things right if she could, starting now.

A sound at the top of the stairs caught her attention and she looked up. A five-year-old girl, with long brown curly hair that hung past her shoulders stood at the top of the stairs, a fashion doll clutched in her hands.

The child studied Sarah a long minute before slowly descending. “Daddy says you’re my aunt.”

Tears welled in Sarah’s eyes, but she quickly blinked them away. Mickie looked so much like Amy it hurt to see her. She wanted to grab the child and hug her, never let her go, but she knew Mickie didn’t remember her. “That’s right, Michelle,” she said, trying to hide her trembling by clasping her hands.

“Daddy calls me ‘Mickie.’”

Of course, Sarah thought, not even knowing why she had used the child’s given name. “That’s right. Your mom said that was the first word out of your daddy’s mouth when you were born.”

Mickie’s eyes widened. “Did you know my mama?”

“Yes, sweetheart, I did. Your mama was my sister.”

Mickie’s wide brown eyes, the only thing she had inherited from her father, stared at Sarah as if assessing that bit of information.

“Her picture looks like you. Will you tell me her favorite story?”

Sarah reached out for the child’s hand. After Mickie slipped her tiny one into hers, she led her over to the couch. “Of course I will,” she said, humbled that Mickie took her in without questioning why she’d never come by or why she’d missed birthdays and Christmases. “Her favorite story was The Littlest Angel. Have you ever heard that?”

Mickie shook her head and Sarah settled her in to tell her the tale.

Upstairs, Justin listened to the murmuring below. He’d told Sarah Mickie didn’t usually take to people, but Mickie had been so excited when she’d found out her aunt Sarah had come to visit. Knowing the sitter would be there any minute, he’d allowed Mickie to go down by herself.

It was the least he could do after telling Sarah never to come near his child again. Sarah had attempted to breach the wall between them. He wouldn’t reinforce the barricade by refusing to trust her for a few minutes with his daughter. After all, what could happen?

The ringing phone interrupted his thoughts. Pulling on his long-sleeved white shirt, he crossed the room to answer it. “Hello?”

It was Mrs. Winters, the baby-sitter. “Justin. I know I was supposed to baby-sit tonight, but I just got a call fifteen minutes ago from my daughter out in Arizona. She’s gone into early labor and it’s not going well. I’ve had to book an emergency flight and am leaving within the hour. Justin?”

Barely able to restrain a groan of dismay, he replied, “I understand, Mrs. Winters. I’ll be praying for your daughter.”

“I really hate to do this. I know I told you I’d be able to work at least three more weeks, but pregnancies just aren’t always predictable.”

“Don’t worry,” he said, even as he silently went through a list, trying to figure out whom he could round up to watch his daughter on such a short notice. “I’ll find someone. You just worry about getting to your daughter’s side. I’ll be fine.”

Justin could hear the relief in Mrs. Winters’s voice as she hung up the phone. It might be relief for her, but it was near chaos for him. He had to make that important business meeting scheduled in less than an hour with the top executives of a software firm on the West Coast. His second-in-command, Phillip, had worked out most of the negotiations over the phone. This was the only time the executives could meet with Justin to sign the papers and go over last-minute details before the merger was completed.

Why did things have to get so messed up now? If he called off the meeting, the men might lose confidence in him and go to another company. They were desperate and needed this…and so did he. His company had suffered financial setbacks the past few years, but he had finally turned things around. With this merger, his firm would again be one of the biggest producers of software components in the southwestern United States.

He finished buttoning his shirt, then grabbed his tie and draped it around his neck. After picking up his jacket, he headed downstairs. Justin supposed he could take Mickie with him to the meeting. He’d set her up someplace comfortable with books and toys and hope she’d manage to amuse herself. He’d done it before. But this meeting would last longer than most, and be more delicate. Maybe he could call Phillip, who had picked up the businessmen from the airport, and have him stall…

Coming down the stairs, he was surprised when he saw Sarah on his couch. He had forgotten she was there.

Finally continuing on, he reached the bottom of the stairs before she spotted him and her murmurs to Mickie drifted off. Justin tossed his jacket on the back of the sofa and worked his tie into an acceptable knot. “Mickie, I need you to go upstairs and change. That was Mrs. Winters on the phone and she can’t baby-sit tonight. You’ll have to come with me to work.” Seeing her downcast look, he decided to remind her of his secretary’s presence. “Christine will be there and maybe she can play with you while I work. You love to play with her.” It wasn’t exactly true and he was feeling guilty for suggesting it. Mickie tolerated the older woman’s game of Go Fish and her comments about her pretty little dresses.

“What about Aunt Sarah?”

Justin’s gaze shifted to Sarah. He still couldn’t believe he’d almost forgotten she was there. That was very odd. In the past, every time they’d been in the same room a yelling match had ensued within minutes of their arrivals and she’d stormed off in a huff. Why was she being so quiet today? Her deep blue eyes blinked and he could have sworn she was embarrassed to be caught in the family emergency. Hah! Unlikely. Sarah loved controversy.

“What about her?”

“Why can’t she watch me?”

“Mickie,” her father warned, surprised by his daughter’s unusual show of spirit.