Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

The following morning was another flurry of organizing the final details for the tree lighting. Maggie counted out fifty copies of the book of Christmas carols and placed them in boxes and added one small pack of cookies for the children to give to Santa. She liked the reversal of the trade. The parents did, too. Their kids were giving sugar to someone else for a change. Each child was handed a cookie just sitting on his lap. Volunteers would gently correct them if they showed any sign of biting into one. Occasionally, one of the kids would kick up a fuss, but the parents would intercede with “You don’t want to be on Santa’s list of naughty little boys and girls, do you?” That usually ended any kind of ruckus.

The afternoon slipped away, and the Matthewses were having an early dinner before they left for the tree-lighting ceremony. Maggie was having a hard time trying to keep quiet about what she had learned from her conversation with Kate.

“Kevin, what are you going to wear tonight?”

He gave his mother an odd look. “What? What am I wearing? Since when did you join the fashion police?”

“Just curious. I really like that cobalt-blue sweater you wore when we picked you up.”

“It’s not very Christmassy.”

“You have the Christmas spirit. That’s what matters.” Maggie was thinking that Kevin would stand out in the crowd, and the sweater made his eyes appear even a deeper blue.

“Mom. Are you okay? You’ve always insisted on a holiday-themed sweater. I have several that I know will fit.”

“I didn’t have a chance to get them dry cleaned, and they’ve been sitting in the closet for six years. Wear the blue one. It looks so nice on you.” Maggie tried to play down her out-of-the-ordinary stand on the holiday dress code.

“Fine. Whatever makes you happy, Mama.”

Maggie had been pondering the nitty-gritty of the ceremony for almost twenty-four hours. It seemed obvious that Kate and Kevin were deliberately avoiding each other. At the very least, there was some kind of tension between them. Getting them to speak to each other was going to take a bit of strategy.

“And I think that new cologne you were wearing the other night is very nice. Splash a little on. For me. I like it.” She knew she was close to being over the top, but she wanted this to be a special, magical holiday.

“Mother, you’re starting to sound like you’ve been dipping into the eggnog a little heavily.” Kevin wasn’t sure if he was close to being right. She was acting a little odd. Or maybe it was just the holiday spirit. He reminded himself that this was his first time home at Christmas in six years.

“Just a little sip.” Maggie decided she’d rather have her son think she was tipsy instead of meddling in his love life, and she wasn’t fibbing. She had tasted it with a tablespoon earlier.

“Well, that would explain a lot. Otherwise, I’d think you were trying out a new career as a personal stylist!”

“I read a lot of blogs.” It was rather matter-of-fact. That small taste gave her a welcome sense of bravado.

“Holy smoke! Things really have changed around here. I wouldn’t have thought you even knew what a blog was!”

“Never underestimate your mama! Now go get Wylie. Make sure he’s wearing his holiday duds! Get a move on. We want to make sure we get a good spot.” Maggie grabbed her purse and a shawl, chuckling to herself about the mischievous notions running through her mind.

“We always get a good spot.” Kevin resigned himself to the fact that he would be carrying Wylie around, so he pulled out the doggie papoose. The first time his mother had insisted on this kind of holiday antic had met with a great deal of resistance. “The dog is the size of my head!” Kevin protested. “Oh, hush and make your mama happy,” would be the response, so he could not object.

A few minutes later, they arrived in the parking lot of the church. Kevin glanced over to the area where he had helped the clumsy doctor the first day they met. At first he smiled, but then remembered Mr. Wimp-o in his stocking feet at Kate’s. He felt a little prickle at the back of his neck and wondered if his thought about giving the female gender a second chance at love was still a good idea. He shook his head no. Nope .

“Kevin? You okay? You got a little red-faced for a second.” Maggie was beginning to worry about whether he would be okay so that she could execute her plan.

“Yeah. I’m fine. Why do you ask?” Furrowing his brow, Kevin asked, “Are you sure you’re okay? You’ve been acting a little strange.”

“Don’t be silly. I’m just excited that you’re here, and it’s Christmas, and we’re at the tree lighting. Remember, dear, it’s been six years! I’m over the moon!”

“I think it’s that eggnog!” Kevin looped her arm through his and led the way to the courtyard.

It was an hour before the activities would start, and there were several dozen people milling about.

The festivities would proceed in layers of light. One of the parishioners had once worked as a lighting technician for Prince and knew how to program the lights to coincide with the music. And the tree had some very small twinkle lights just to give the area some atmosphere. The choir would assemble and begin its fifteen-minute recital before leading the entire group singing four or five familiar carols. With each song, another layer of lights would go on until they got to the finale, “Joy to the World,” at which point the entire courtyard would explode like fireworks, with thousands of lights. It was a truly mystical experience regardless of one’s religion. For a few moments in time, the atmosphere—and what seemed like the entire world—vibrated with good cheer, peace on earth, and goodwill toward all.

Maggie thought she caught sight of Kate and Emma. Kate looked particularly radiant. Her hair had a soft wave sans the headband, and she wasn’t wearing those googly eyed glasses. Emma was adorable, with her soft white scarf, matching hat, mittens, and her pink cheeks surrounding a big smile. They were standing with a little boy about four years old, and two other adults who appeared to be his parents. Maggie recognized him as Jesse Myers, the little boy with the crushed leg. The stars were lining up in a way that even Maggie couldn’t have orchestrated.

Earlier that morning, Kate had been given her patient duty roster and was assigned Jesse’s case. His parents were visiting, and they were trying to explain to him that he wouldn’t be able to go to the tree lighting. Jesse was deflated. All of them had hoped he would have been released by then.

She had scrutinized his chart, X-rays, recent MRI, and his progress with his physical therapy and the Trekker Gait Trainer. She was cautiously optimistic that it might be possible to release him from the hospital.

“Hello, I’m Dr. Kate Stafford. I’m taking over Jesse’s case. Do you have a moment?”

She had ushered them into her small office.

“I see he’s made great progress, and I am wondering if you would be comfortable if we arranged for medical transport for him to attend the tree-lighting ceremony tonight? I will accompany him, and both of you, of course, but I need you to sign a waiver.”

Both parents looked at each other with shock and curiosity. “We were told he needed to stay another two to three days,” Mr. Myers offered.

“Yes, I know. It was primarily for physical therapy, but the weekend is coming up, and he wouldn’t be doing much anyway. I think it would be a boost for his frame of mind. It’s been shown that a patient who is happy and has a positive attitude heals faster than those who do not.”

Tears started rolling down Mrs. Myers’s face. “He’s been here for almost two months. We made all the preparations in his room, installed a ramp, retrofitted the bathroom to accommodate his gait trainer. . . .”

Mr. Myers took his wife’s hand and spoke gently. “We are certainly ready to take him home if you think he’s ready.”

“Well, I do. I’ll have his discharge papers drawn up and arrange for a medivan to take y’all to the tree lighting. The van will wait and take you home afterward. How does that sound?”

The couple hugged each other and practically tackled the petite doctor. “We don’t know how to thank you! This will be the best homecoming ever!”

Kate ushered them out the door and busily filled out the forms and made the arrangements.

Kate smiled, thinking about her own family joining her and Emma for their first Christmas in the new house. She would have her personal homecoming, too.

Kate had brought a change of clothes, her contact lenses, and peeked in a small mirror to freshen up her makeup. She picked Emma up from day care and followed the medivan to the church courtyard, hoping her parents would have no difficulty finding the church.

When the entourage from the hospital arrived, the crowd parted like the Red Sea to allow Jesse in his gait trainer and his family a spot right in front. Brian was also there with his fiancée and Kate’s family.

Kate’s dad gave her the biggest bear hug he could manage without squeezing the air out of her. Her mom was beaming, kissing Emma all over her cherub-like face when Jesse yelled out, “Wylie! Wylie! We’re over here!” Jesse was waving to Wylie in the papoose wrapped around Kevin.

Kate snapped back to reality. No! Not him! Not here! Not now! her brain was screaming silently.

Kevin was having a similar reaction until he saw Brian put his arm around a woman standing next to him and realized where he had first seen the man—before the debacle tree delivery. Brian was a nurse at the hospital. Approaching the brink of an awkward moment, Kevin stood tall and held out his hand. “Merry Christmas. I believe we met a few days ago when I was delivering a tree.”

“Yes. Sorry I wasn’t much help. This is Anita, my fiancée.”

“ Very pleased to meet you.” Kevin was effusive as he turned to greet Kate.

She looked radiant. “Dr. Klutz, I presume?”

Kate broke out in a hoot. “Please. Not in front of my patient! And my family!”

“How do you do. I’m Kevin Matthews, and this here is Wylie. He thinks he’s a therapy dog.” A roar of laughter filled the air. “When did you stumble in?” Kevin could not hold back his teasing.

“Besides being a ‘famous Christmas tree man,’ are you also a comedian?” Kate volleyed back.

Kevin pulled out his biggest smile, exuding all the charm and warmth he could. “That’s an occupation I hadn’t considered, but perhaps we can discuss it over dinner some time?”

“I would like that very much. And I promise that I will try to stay vertical!”

Maggie was witnessing the camaraderie and pulled her husband over to the group.

“Hello, Maggie and Mr. Matthews!” Kate was beaming. “This is my mom, Eliza, and my dad, Henry.”

As they exchanged greetings, Kate felt a hand on her elbow. “I don’t want you to be falling down in front of your family,” Kevin whispered in her ear.

His touch felt warm and secure, and she looked into his azure eyes. “I guess I’m going to need a therapy tree man to make sure I don’t!”

Just before the music started, someone dressed in an elf costume made an announcement. “Before we begin, we want to dedicate this first song to those of you who have been away—Mr. Kevin Matthews; for those of you who are making your home here for the first time—Kate and Emma Stafford; and for those who are going home from the hospital, Jesse Myers!” After the cheers and applause died down, the choir began to sing “Home for the Holidays.”

* * *

Kate and Kevin gazed into each other’s eyes, as if to say, “best homecoming ever!” Emma tugged at her mother’s coat and, pointing her finger at “the famous tree man,” announced in a voice loud enough for everyone around them to hear, “Mommy? I don’t think we need to go Daddy shopping after all.”