A Forever Christmas

He picked up Chase, then nudged Hunter awake. Hunter usually complied, then didn’t even remember it in the morning. But this time he seemed more alert as he followed Gregory down the hallway.

“Where have you been, Daddy?” Daddy. He never called Gregory that unless he was upset or scared.

“I had a late meeting.”

“But I don’t want to have to wake up and move to my bed,” he whined.

He wished the boys could be at home every night. But he hated to ask his dad to come there. He was already imposing by asking him to babysit so often. “I’ll see what I can work out with Granddad.”

When they got to their house, a shivering Hunter threw off his jacket and fell into bed. He started to doze almost immediately. Chase cried when Gregory laid him down in his own twin bed, so he took him and put him in Hunter’s bed, where he slept every night, anyway. Then Gregory watched as the two settled in.

Keeping up this kind of pace wasn’t easy. He was worn out after twelve hours on the job. But it would be worth it to see the look on the boys’ faces on Christmas morning when they discovered the new game system, then looked outside and saw the huge trampoline—the exact one they’d circled in the toy store wish book.

He’d make it up to them by providing his sons with the best Christmas ever.

The next day, Sarah’s father left early for the office, and her mother tried to persuade her to attend a luncheon at the country club with her. Sarah had no desire to go, smile and make small talk with a group of her mother’s friends, so she declined. Instead, she ate a quiet lunch alone in the echoingly empty house. She didn’t so much mind being alone. But she had to battle her thoughts. About Peter. About his parents and their regret.

About Gregory…and Delia.

Delia had been two years older than Sarah, more mature, more experienced. Her father had been in the same firm as Sarah’s dad, so they’d grown up together at parties and social functions. They’d even spent the night at each other’s houses a few times.

And Delia had always had a thing for Gregory. She said she liked to go after guys who drove her dad crazy. Guys who presented a challenge.

Gregory had told Sarah he loved her. But apparently, love hadn’t been enough. Because when she’d broken off the relationship and asked him to wait until she graduated and finished college, he’d ignored her plea and moved on. Then within a few short weeks, he’d been dating her supposed friend—seriously.

Very seriously.

Seriously enough that he and Delia were forced to get married right after they graduated, because she was pregnant.

Recalling it made Sarah sick. Still to this day.

And then when Gregory and Delia lost that baby, Sarah wondered if she’d lied about the pregnancy to trap him. But somewhere through the years, Sarah concluded the suspicion had been a way to try to ease the sting of rejection. She’d asked him to wait for her, but he’d chosen Delia, plain and simple.

Not pleasant memories, so she puttered around the house trying to forget, wondering how she was going to fill her day.

The phone rang. “Hello?”

“Well, it’s official. I’m stuck on the couch until this baby gets here,” said Donna Rae.

“Is everything okay otherwise?”

“Yes, so far. But I promised the doc I would be good. Vinny’s trying to farm out the younger kids for me during the day.”

“Let me know if I can help.”

“Well, you can. I was supposed to go to a meeting at the church tonight as director of the play. Seven o’clock. Can you go and be me?”

“Of course. What do I need to do?”

“Just tell them about our progress. Let them know if there’s anything you need for the lighting and sound. And give them a copy of the rehearsal schedule so they’ll know when you’ll be at the church.”

“You’ve got it.” She’d have to sit down and come up with a plan. “Maybe I can go over early to look at what’s available for sets.”

“They’re in the basement storage closet. The custodian will help with setting up the stage area. Oh, and call Gregory if you need anything made. He’s pretty handy with tools.”

Her heart fluttered. “Okay.”

“Thanks a million. I really owe you.”

As soon as they hung up, Sarah grabbed a notebook and her copy of the script. Maybe she could put some sort of new twist on the play this year. For variety.

The one thing she wasn’t going to do, though, was ask Gregory to build any props.

That evening, Gregory whipped into the church parking lot and nabbed the closest spot to the back door. “Come on, boys. Hop out. I’m late for the meeting.”

“Do we have to come?” Hunter asked.

“Yes, you do. I’m sorry, but Granddad is on this committee, too.”

“I’m hungwy,” Chase said in a pitiful little voice.

They’d come straight from the day care center where Chase spent each day and Hunter went after school. Why hadn’t Gregory thought to bring a snack? His sister would have. “Hang in there, guys. We’re going to eat dinner as soon as we finish.”

Work boots and two pairs of tennis shoes clomped and squeaked down the long hallway. When they reached the door, he held his finger in front of his mouth to quiet them. Then he stuck his head in the door to see how badly they were interrupting.

Sarah—handing out papers?

“Come on in, Gregory,” Pastor Eddie said. “Sarah was just telling us about the Christmas pageant.”

She stood motionless as if shocked to see him, then all of a sudden jerked into motion and continued distributing papers.

He walked in with Hunter and Chase in tow. “I’m sorry I didn’t think to get a babysitter.”

“It’s okay. Come on in, boys,” Pastor Eddie said. “There’s a box of crayons and some paper over there on that table.”

Gregory smiled his thanks. And thanked God for crayons.

He ducked into a chair as he watched the boys get settled across the room. Sarah started to place a sheet of paper on the table in front of him, but it slipped off, and they both reached for it. Their hands touched, and it was like a shockwave streaked from his hand to his heart.

She looked into his eyes for a split second and appeared alarmed. “Oops. I’m sorry,” she said as she handed him the paper and moved on.

She was still in his space, though. Smelling as good as she always had. In fact, she might wear the exact same perfume she did in high school. Clean, fresh…classy.

His mind made a lightning flash trip back to high school. Sarah in his arms…Sarah in his car, scooted up beside him…

Sarah dumping him.

Yeah, that was the sticking point. She’d said she wanted to break up because he didn’t understand her goals. But he knew the real reason was because she’d let her parents get to her. And that because he wanted to stay in Magnolia and start his own business, he wasn’t good enough for her.