Trading Christmas - Debbie Macomber [43]
The urge to defend Heather rose quickly, but died within the space of a single heartbeat. Emily could tell that he’d been hurt by Heather’s actions—just as she herself had been. “Heather’ll be back soon, I’m sure,” she murmured. It was the best she could do.
“You came out to spend Christmas with her and she left anyway?” Ben sounded thoroughly disgusted. “Yes…”
“You know, when Heather told me her plans for Christmas, I assumed it wouldn’t take her long to see that she’s making a mistake.”
Emily’d hoped so, too.
“But if she could turn her back on her own mother at Christmas, then she isn’t the person I thought she was.” Ben’s eyes hardened. “To tell you the truth, I don’t care if I ever see her again.” He walked over to another section of the lot. “There are a couple of nice trees over here,” he said, all business now.
Emily and Ray followed him.
“Give her time,” Emily said, squeezing his forearm with one mittened hand.
Ben glanced at her. “She isn’t interested in me anymore.”
Emily hung her head, fearing her daughter hadn’t given her a single thought, either.
Sensing her mood, Ray placed his hand on Emily’s shoulder. “You okay?” he asked.
She nodded. Nothing she said or did now would make a difference to what Heather had done or how Emily felt about it. But Ben seemed like a decent, hardworking young man and she felt bad that her daughter had so obviously hurt him.
“With Christmas this close, we don’t have much to choose from,” Ben apologized. He picked through several trees, then chose a tall, full one. “This is probably a little bigger than you wanted, but it’s the best I’ve got.”
Ray looked skeptical and circled the tree. “What do you think?” he asked Emily.
“It’s perfect.” She winked at Ben.
“We’ll take it,” Ray said and reached for his wallet.
Without a car they were forced to carry the tree back to the condominium. They walked in single file, Ray holding the trunk in one hand and a stand in the other, and Emily behind him, supporting the treetop. They must’ve been something of a spectacle, because they got lots of stares along the way.
Once inside the condo, they saw the message light blinking again. Ray checked the caller ID and groaned. “It’s my mother. Again.”
“Are you going to call her back?”
“Of course, but not anytime soon.”
Emily smiled. While Ray fit the tree in the stand, she took out the decorations she’d brought from Seattle.
“You got all that in a single suitcase?” Ray marveled when she spread everything out.
“Two very large suitcases if you must know. Don’t forget the stuff already on the mantel.”
He shook his head, but Emily could tell he was enjoying this.
The living room was compact, and after a long debate, they decided the best place for the tree was by the window, although that entailed moving the furniture around.
“It’s beautiful,” Emily told him. She handed him the first decoration—a felt snowman complete with knitted scarf. “I made that for Heather the year she was in kindergarten,” Emily explained.
Ray placed it on a tree limb and picked up a second ornament. “Does every one of these have some significance?”
Emily nodded. “Each and every one.”
“That’s wonderful.”
She was surprised he’d appreciate her sentimentality. “You don’t think I’m silly to treasure these ornaments?”
“Not at all. You’ve given your daughter a lovely tradition.”
At the mention of Heather, Emily bit her lip, overwhelmed by sadness.
Ray wrapped his arms around her. “My guess is she’s got just enough freedom to be miserable,” he said softly.
Emily doubted it, but she was grateful for his encouragement.
“Everything’s going to work out for the best,” he assured her. “Just wait and see.”
Emily hoped he was right.
NINETEEN
Faith woke up to the sound of Charles rummaging around in the kitchen. Grabbing her housecoat, she hurried down the stairs.
“Morning,” he said, grinning sheepishly. “I hope I didn’t wake you.”
Faith rubbed the sleep from her eyes. He had to be joking. But then she glanced at