Silent Night, Star-Lit Night (Second Chance at Star Inn)(28)

Except it wasn’t home. She didn’t really have a home because she’d stubbornly refused to make final decisions until Josie was tucked safely into her arms. So here she was with a baby and nothing in readiness. She’d foolishly let fear run her life.

She was a smart, educated woman. Why would she do that?

“And you’re not to worry about a thing,” Deanna Taylor promised. “We’ve got all the bases covered. And Mia . . .”

She paused as Mia’s father walked into the room.

Mia pulled the baby closer in a protective move. She didn’t want the miracle of her child sullied by the reality of her father. She held her breath, wishing he’d leave. His presence brought back a decade of harshness.

Seeing him, she didn’t want any part of Josie’s life stained by his behaviors. How could she possibly stay here and deal with his presence in their small town?

“She’s a cute little thing.”

The normalcy of his voice surprised her, which meant he’d made an effort to stay sober.

“You sat with old Joe last night.”

She nodded.

“I know he gave you a couple of things.” When she nodded, Ray folded his arms. “He left me some money. His money,” he added, as if there were another kind. “To go away and get a new start. I didn’t want you surprised by the will or nothing, even though it seemed kind of wrong and right the way he did it.”

He was leaving?

Hope stirred within her, but it was darkened by shame, too, because why couldn’t they just be a normal, loving family?

“He figured I might do better to get away from here.”

“Joe was a smart man,” Deanna said. “Always looking ahead.”

“I brought you this.” He handed Mia a tiny jeweler’s box. “I’ve kept it a long time, and shoulda given it to you before, but I didn’t. It was your mother’s and she wore it every day.”

A tiny heart locket on a gold chain lay in the box. When Mia opened the locket, there was a tiny image of her . . . an image that looked remarkably like the baby in her arms . . . and a picture of her mother, alongside.

“I was a jerk for keeping it. Maybe if I get a fresh start someplace, I can learn to not be a jerk.”

Her heart stirred.

Peace.

Forgiveness.

Patience.

Family.

Angel had talked about it. So did Celia, as if the simplicity of those things marked the way.

She stared at the locket, a concrete symbol of her mother’s love, but even more than that was Mia’s father’s sober admission.

He wanted to do better.

So did she.

She swallowed hard, gripping the gold locket. “Can you stay here and be less grumpy?”

He frowned as if he didn’t understand, or maybe he didn’t dare to understand.

“I think Mom would want us to try harder. Both of us.”

He shook his head instantly and Mia was pretty sure he’d set his mind to leaving, but his next words surprised her further. “Don’t take any of this on you. It wasn’t your fault. I was a user. I’m not now, haven’t been in a while, but I caused a lot of sadness. You. Old Joe. Pauline and Si. Maybe I don’t deserve to stay. I’ve been thinking along those lines mostly.”

It wasn’t about deserving, Celia had said. It was about faith, hope and love.

Mia looked down at the sleeping infant in her arms. “God gave me the opportunity to know a grandpa’s love. To be cherished by him, to laugh with him and cry with him. I’d like Josie to have the same chance, Dad. If you think it won’t mess up your chances to stay straight.”

“I’ve been doing good. No slips in over two years.”

Straight and sober for two years.

She’d worked the E.R. for long enough to know how rare that was. She motioned to the chair under Deanna’s smile of approval. “Well, then, I think you should sit down and meet your granddaughter, don’t you?”

“You mean, like hold her?” Ray Folsom didn’t just look surprised by the offer. He looked flabbergasted.

Deanna stooped low beside him. “I’ll give motherly advice.”

He took a seat nervously, but when Deanna lowered the bundled baby into his arms his gaze softened. “She’s a pretty little thing, ain’t she?”

“Beautiful.”

“She looks like you did.” He raised his eyes to Mia’s and couldn’t know what his words truly meant. She’d have doubted he remembered her existence, much less what she looked like, as a baby. “Same little face, peeking up, like she’d like to ask a worldful of questions once she can.”

Mia was exactly like that, and the analogy made her smile.

“I made it hard when I lost the answers for so long, though. I’m real sorry about that, Mia.” Regret shadowed his features as he gazed at the baby. “Are you sure you wouldn’t mind my stayin’? Because Joe thought if you ever came back, it might be better if I was someplace else.”

Grandpa, looking out for her, always wanting to help. “If you think it won’t make things too hard on you, then yes. I’d like a chance to start over.”

“Well, then.” She thought he blinked away tears, but his gaze was downturned. He swept a hand to his eyes as he cradled the baby; then he smiled the first real smile she’d seen from him in a long, long time. “I expect Christmas is the best time to try.”