The Perfect Christmas - Debbie Macomber [79]
“Oh, Len,” she whispered.
“Listen, would you call my mom and dad and tell them I still don’t know when I’ll be home?”
“Sure. Listen, since you can’t be here, I’ll go back to the nursing home tonight and play the piano for everyone. They wanted to sing Christmas carols but couldn’t find any staff willing to take time away from their families.”
Len loved her all the more for her generous heart.
“I can’t see sitting around home and moping,” she explained.
“Sing a Christmas carol for me.”
“I will,” she said, and her voice softened.
There was a beep in his ear and Len knew he had only a couple of minutes left on his calling card.
“Oh, Len,” Amy said. “Time’s running out.”
“Remember, I’ll see you as soon as I can,” he said, ready to hang up.
“Len, Len…”
“Yes? What is it?”
“Len,” she said, her voice catching, “I…love you. I was going to wait until tonight to tell you, but I want you to know right now. You might be in New Hampshire and me here in Rawhide, but that doesn’t matter, because you have my heart with you wherever you are.”
The line went dead. Len wasn’t sure if she’d hung up or if the time had simply expired.
“I love you, too, Amy,” he said into the silent phone, knowing she couldn’t hear the words. Somehow he was certain she could feel his heart responding to hers. Soon she’d know how very much he loved his Amy Sue.
Len replaced the receiver and turned around to face the room. Everyone seemed in a dour mood.
The door burst open just then and a smiling, lighthearted Clayton Kemper walked in. He glanced around and beamed proudly at the group of weary travelers.
“I was on my way home when I ran across this,” he said cheerfully. He stuck his hand out the door and dragged in the sorriest-looking Christmas tree Len had ever seen.
One side of the evergreen was bare, the top had split and two branches spiked in opposite directions, resembling bug antennae.
“The man in the Christmas-tree lot gave it to me for a buck.”
“You got overcharged,” Matt McHugh muttered. His words were followed by a few short laughs and a general feeling of agreement.
“That may well be,” Kemper said, not letting their lack of enthusiasm dampen his spirit. “But it seemed to me that since you folks are stuck here on Christmas Eve, you might as well make the best of it.”
“That tree looks like it’s in the same shape we’re in,” Elise Jones said dryly.
“The tree is yours to do with as you wish,” Kemper told them. “Merry Christmas to you all.”
No one thought to thank him, Len noticed.
The sad little tree stood in the center of the room, bare and forlorn, wounded and ugly. He’d have to go along with Elise. The Christmas tree did resemble them—and their attitude.
Five-year-old Kate Jones walked over to it and stood with her arms akimbo, staring at the limp branches. Then, apparently having come to some sort of decision, she turned to confront the disgruntled group.
“I think it’s a beautiful tree,” she announced. “It just needs a little help.” She removed the red bow from the top of her head and pinned it to the nearest branch.
Despite himself, Len grinned. On closer examination, the kid was right. The tree wasn’t nearly as ugly as he’d first thought.
Chapter 6
“Sing We Now of Christmas”
Most everyone ignored the Christmas tree, Cathy Norris mused sadly. Except for Kate… Then Kelly walked over and silently added a rattle. She took her time finding just the right spot for it, choosing to hang it directly in the middle, opposite Kate’s hair bow.
Turning to the others, she smiled and said, “Come on, you guys, it’s Christmas Eve.”
“She’s right,” Nick said, and joined his wife. He bounced the baby gently in his arms, and Brittany grinned and reached for his bright green muffler. Nick removed it, handed the baby to Kelly and placed the muffler on the tree, stretching it