A Mrs. Miracle Christmas(23)

“What a glorious night that must have been! Do you see your friends often?”

“Not nearly as often as I’d like.”

The nativity scene was in place now, and Mrs. Miracle stepped aside so Helen could view it. “What do you think?”

“It’s exactly like it used to be,” Helen said, thinking back to her childhood when her mother had arranged the pieces. They were in the same position as her mother had placed them all those years ago.

“Tell me more about the angels,” Helen said, wanting to learn everything she could.

“I dare not. I shouldn’t have said as much as I already did. It would be far too easy for you to forget in the excitement of the season and repeat what I said to Laurel and Zach.”

“Oh dear, you’re right. I should have never mentioned you’re an angel. I’m so sorry.”

    “No worries, dear one,” Mrs. Miracle assured her. “My fear is that it has caused them extra concern for you. It’s best to say nothing else for now. All in due time, they will learn the truth.”

That was enough to satisfy Helen.

“However, I will tell you this—I’ve enlisted Mercy’s help.”

“You have? With the adoption?”

“No, with Zach. It has something to do with shopping for baby clothes. I’m not going to say anything more. It’ll be a surprise, and I don’t want to spoil it.”

“Can’t you at least tell me what Mercy’s going to do?”

“You’ll learn all about it later. I don’t want to ruin it for you.”

Helen immediately started putting things together. There was an entire nursery filled with baby items that Laurel and Zach had bought for Jonathan.

The nursery. Laurel had refused to enter ever since they’d had to give up the boy they’d come to love, to think of as their own.

Helen would never forget the agonized look on her granddaughter’s face as she’d handed Jonathan over to the social worker. Zach had placed his arms around Laurel, and when the door closed, they’d clung to each other and openly wept. The scene had played over and over in Helen’s head for weeks afterward.

    They’d carefully painted the room in preparation for the arrival of their baby boy. Zach had drawn a huge hot-air balloon with a baby in the basket. Jonathan was the name they’d chosen for him. It meant ‘a gift from God,’ and it had been scripted on the woven bucket hanging below the big, colorful balloon.

To know there was another baby due for them filled Helen with happiness. It was all she could do to keep the news to herself.





CHAPTER EIGHT




Zach’s meeting didn’t last as long as he thought it would, which came as a pleasant surprise. Laurel was staying late at school, working with the parents and other teachers for the holiday assembly. Nana was with Mrs. Miracle, so Zach couldn’t think of a better time for him to do a bit of Christmas shopping.

He left his office at Amazon, which overlooked the Spheres in downtown Seattle. This close to Christmas, everyone seemed to have someplace to be and they were in a hurry to get there. Zach didn’t normally pay much attention to crowds. He was a man accustomed to routine and seldom deviated from it. As he made his way toward Macy’s on foot, he mulled over what to get Laurel for Christmas. Being practical, and on a budget, he quickly discounted the idea of jewelry as too expensive. He knew she’d been looking at purses lately, but he wouldn’t dare attempt finding one she would use and enjoy.

    At one point he’d asked for ideas, and she’d insisted she had everything she could ever want. But then her eyes had shifted to the nursery, subconsciously. Jonathan’s room. Although she claimed she had everything, Zach knew better. He knew her heart’s desire. A baby.

He’d badly wanted to tell her what he’d done, that he’d spoken to their caseworker at the adoption agency. If his wife knew that he’d asked that their names be reinstated she might come undone. After everything they’d been through, Laurel had given up. Zach could understand her reasons, but he didn’t see why it was necessary to close the door completely. Babies did come up for adoption. When he’d first spoken to Mary, she hadn’t encouraged him. But she hadn’t discouraged him, either. He would keep an open mind, and he was willing to wait. Unfortunately, Laurel didn’t feel the same way.

The perfect opportunity to confess what he’d done had come the night they’d gone Christmas tree shopping. That night was just like when they’d first started dating. Laurel’s eyes had sparkled with laughter and Zach couldn’t find it in his heart to ruin their evening with talk of the very subject that brought such pain into their lives. He couldn’t do it. He recognized that Laurel suspected he was hiding something from her. He would tell her at some point, but not now. Not right before Christmas. He’d wait until after the first of the year. The timing would be better. A new year. A new hope. They could look toward the future together.

    The first things to catch his eye when he entered Macy’s were the festive decorations. A huge sign posted near the entrance announced B E L I E V E to all who entered the large store.

How strange that I should see that sign, Zach thought to himself. That’s what Laurel has to do. She has to believe.