when Maggie threw open the door and scampered down the hall.
Caleb paused. “Do you want to go first?”
“Nah, I don’t mind waiting. You go ahead.”
When Caleb closed the door and she was alone, Judith let herself think about Ben again. And imagine there really was something more between them.
Privately, she thought that was a terribly gut Christmas wish.
Seven Days Until Christmas
“Lilly, I’m amazed at how domesticated you’ve become,” her mother said as she shopped beside her at the Walnut Creek Cheese Shop. “Never would I have guessed you would be spending your days planning dinner menus and cleaning house.”
“Those things need to be done.”
“Believe me, I know. It’s just that you seem to being enjoying these chores. That’s what’s surprising.”
Somewhere in there was a compliment. Lilly was sure of it. But she felt a little embarrassed, too. Had her mother thought she was really so shallow? “You make me sound like I used to be a princess.”
“Not at all. It’s just you were always more of the type of girl to go to the mall and the movies instead of finding happiness baking cranberry bread.” She paused. “Or washing towels and sheets.”
“People change. I mean, look at Charlie.” Her older brother had somehow turned into a dedicated student at college. The last time he’d come home, he told their parents that he’d been looking into scholarship opportunities so he could apply to law school. This was night and day from the way he’d been in high school, when everything was about him—and what he thought he deserved.
“Your brother’s transformation has been impressive.” Her mother smiled as she tucked a blanket more securely around Carrie. “People do grow up, it’s true. Here Charlie is planning a career, you’re married, and I’ve got a new little girl to look after! Who knows what Ty will have in store for us.”
“If Anson’s involved, it will be nothing good.”
“Oh, those boys are growing and changing, too. As God intends for us all.” Shaking her head in dismay, she said, “I never would have imagined I’d have another baby. But now I can’t imagine life without Carrie.”
“She is precious,” Lilly agreed, almost able to completely stifle the pain that boiled up as she recalled her miscarriage just a year ago. If she’d had the babe, she probably never would have married Robert. She knew deep down that God had a plan for her. But as she watched her baby sister, it was hard to not think about that loss.
As they walked along through the grocery store, they stopped and looked at the fresh produce and headed toward the meats. Then she couldn’t hold back her worries any longer. “Mom, I’ve got an idea about what to buy Robert, but I’m afraid he won’t like it.”
“That man is smitten with you. He will love anything you get him.”
“I think he’d rather I made him something.” Lilly bit her lip. Trying not to be so fixated on it, but unable to help herself.
“What is he getting you? Do you know?”
“He told me that he’s making me something at his shop.”
“That’s sweet of him. He’s a good man.” She paused as she held up a package of bacon. “I shouldn’t buy this, but I’ve been longing for bacon and eggs.”
When her mother started talking about a recipe she found for a breakfast casserole, Lilly found her mind drifting.
Back to Robert. He really was a good man. A wonderful man.
Maybe that was the problem, she thought to herself. Here Robert had not only given up everything for her, but he knew exactly what to do to make her happy. She had no clue how to match that.
Directing the conversation back to Christmas, Lilly said, “Mom, I think I’m going to give him a new watch. One for his wrist, you know?” she clarified when her mom looked confused. “It will be expensive, but he’s sure to really like a new watch, don’t you think?”
“Well—”
“Or do you think it will send the wrong
Caleb paused. “Do you want to go first?”
“Nah, I don’t mind waiting. You go ahead.”
When Caleb closed the door and she was alone, Judith let herself think about Ben again. And imagine there really was something more between them.
Privately, she thought that was a terribly gut Christmas wish.
Seven Days Until Christmas
“Lilly, I’m amazed at how domesticated you’ve become,” her mother said as she shopped beside her at the Walnut Creek Cheese Shop. “Never would I have guessed you would be spending your days planning dinner menus and cleaning house.”
“Those things need to be done.”
“Believe me, I know. It’s just that you seem to being enjoying these chores. That’s what’s surprising.”
Somewhere in there was a compliment. Lilly was sure of it. But she felt a little embarrassed, too. Had her mother thought she was really so shallow? “You make me sound like I used to be a princess.”
“Not at all. It’s just you were always more of the type of girl to go to the mall and the movies instead of finding happiness baking cranberry bread.” She paused. “Or washing towels and sheets.”
“People change. I mean, look at Charlie.” Her older brother had somehow turned into a dedicated student at college. The last time he’d come home, he told their parents that he’d been looking into scholarship opportunities so he could apply to law school. This was night and day from the way he’d been in high school, when everything was about him—and what he thought he deserved.
“Your brother’s transformation has been impressive.” Her mother smiled as she tucked a blanket more securely around Carrie. “People do grow up, it’s true. Here Charlie is planning a career, you’re married, and I’ve got a new little girl to look after! Who knows what Ty will have in store for us.”
“If Anson’s involved, it will be nothing good.”
“Oh, those boys are growing and changing, too. As God intends for us all.” Shaking her head in dismay, she said, “I never would have imagined I’d have another baby. But now I can’t imagine life without Carrie.”
“She is precious,” Lilly agreed, almost able to completely stifle the pain that boiled up as she recalled her miscarriage just a year ago. If she’d had the babe, she probably never would have married Robert. She knew deep down that God had a plan for her. But as she watched her baby sister, it was hard to not think about that loss.
As they walked along through the grocery store, they stopped and looked at the fresh produce and headed toward the meats. Then she couldn’t hold back her worries any longer. “Mom, I’ve got an idea about what to buy Robert, but I’m afraid he won’t like it.”
“That man is smitten with you. He will love anything you get him.”
“I think he’d rather I made him something.” Lilly bit her lip. Trying not to be so fixated on it, but unable to help herself.
“What is he getting you? Do you know?”
“He told me that he’s making me something at his shop.”
“That’s sweet of him. He’s a good man.” She paused as she held up a package of bacon. “I shouldn’t buy this, but I’ve been longing for bacon and eggs.”
When her mother started talking about a recipe she found for a breakfast casserole, Lilly found her mind drifting.
Back to Robert. He really was a good man. A wonderful man.
Maybe that was the problem, she thought to herself. Here Robert had not only given up everything for her, but he knew exactly what to do to make her happy. She had no clue how to match that.
Directing the conversation back to Christmas, Lilly said, “Mom, I think I’m going to give him a new watch. One for his wrist, you know?” she clarified when her mom looked confused. “It will be expensive, but he’s sure to really like a new watch, don’t you think?”
“Well—”
“Or do you think it will send the wrong
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