Santa's Sweetheart (The Christmas Tree Ranch #4)(27)
“Actually, Wynette has her own good news, too,” Jess said. “Don’t you, Wynette?”
Wynette’s grin broadened. “I’ve got a job, for now at least. Starting tomorrow, I’ll be helping out at Stella’s Bakery over the holidays.”
“That’s great,” Grace said. “You’re a fabulous baker. I’ve probably gained ten pounds since we moved in together.”
“Sure, you have. So where did you put it?” Wynette laughed. “Seriously, I’ll learn a lot from Stella. Since she plans on getting married, and will want more free time, I’m hoping she’ll keep me on. If things work out, I could even end up managing the place. Meanwhile, I can still keep my Mirabella Beauty clients and take orders. Ladies, I’m coming up in the world!”
“You were never down.” Grace hugged her friend with her free arm. “Just promise you’ll bring home some leftovers for us.”
“You got it!” Wynette breezed into the kitchen to clean up the remains of the cookies she’d made with Maggie. Grace made her way to her room, dropped her boots and purse, and stripped down for her shower. She was feeling stronger, but the cold still lingered in her limbs, as if it had frozen the marrow of her bones. Tomorrow was bound to be one more day of the Christmas crazies at school. Staying ahead of her students would demand all her energy and focus. She would put tonight behind her, Grace resolved, and concentrate on the day ahead.
But later, as she drifted into sleep, it was the memory of Sam’s arms, holding her close, that carried her into dreams.
*
The next day, Maggie was on her best behavior. She listened to every word the teacher said and raised her hand to be called on. Not once did she appear to want extra attention from Miss Chapman because of last night. She didn’t even tell Brenda that she’d stayed at Miss Chapman’s house and had a wonderful time with her roommates, or that Sam had agreed to play Santa. Maggie disliked keeping things from her best friend. But Brenda liked to talk, and no secret was safe with her.
She played dodgeball in the gym and didn’t complain once, not even when the ball slammed her hard in the ribs. She didn’t want to do anything to change the good luck she was having with her father and Miss Chapman. True, her strike had led to their meeting. But the events that had followed—the damage to her car, the bad replacement, the Christmas party meeting, the fog, and Sam’s rescue of Miss Chapman—had been nothing but luck and fate. Surely the two of them were meant to be together. How else could she explain the way everything had fallen into place?
In the morning, after math practice, Miss Chapman told the class about the Christmas ball and the need for some children’s activities. The students came up with a great list of videos, board games, and crafts that younger children would enjoy. Some of them even offered to bring games and videos from home and help make craft materials.
After lunch, two sixth grade boys helped Miss Chapman bring the Christmas tree inside and set it up on a stand. The heavenly smell of pine filled the classroom. While Christmas music played, the students had made paper chains and cut snowflakes and stars, sparkling with glued-on glitter, to hang on the tree.
It was one of her favorite school days ever, Maggie thought as she walked down the hall toward the front door. The only thing better would’ve been going home to tell her mom all about it, then planning how they would decorate their own Christmas tree. Her mother had loved everything about Christmas. Celebrating without her this year was going to be hard. But Maggie was determined to give Sam a reason to smile. That was what her mother would want.
Sam would be picking her up today. Their house wasn’t far. Some days, when he couldn’t make it, she walked home and went to the neighbors until he got off work. But she liked it when they could go home together—especially today. Maybe after supper, he would feel like getting their Christmas tree up.
He was waiting in the Jeep when Maggie came outside. Something else was waiting, too. There in Miss Chapman’s parking place was a big, shiny, bright red car. Maggie could tell by the fancy emblem on the trunk that it was a Cadillac.
“Wow!” she said as Sam climbed out of the Jeep to lift her into the rear seat. “Miss Chapman will be so surprised. Is that the car you ordered for her?”
“It is. She was supposed to get it yesterday, but the rental agency made a mistake, and you know what that led to. I called them this morning and threatened to take them to court if they didn’t make it right. It looks like they did.”
“Miss Chapman is still in the building,” Maggie said. “Do you want to wait for her to come out?”
Sam shook his head. “I think the surprise will be better if we’re not here. Let’s go home. I think I can find the makings for spaghetti. How does that sound?”
“Good. Let’s go.” Maggie wanted to mention the Christmas tree, but maybe she’d have better luck waiting until after supper. She knew it wouldn’t be easy for Sam, getting her mom’s decorations out and hanging them up. But if she didn’t push him, he might put it off forever. She couldn’t let that happen.
*
Grace stayed an extra forty-five minutes after school to tidy up the classroom and arrange her lesson materials for the next day. On her way out of the building, she stopped at the office, hoping to find the paperwork and the key to the rental car Sam had promised to leave. The secretary had left for the day, but Grace found what she needed in her mailbox. She tucked the papers in her briefcase without looking at them. The car could be a surprise. She didn’t know what to expect, but anything would be better than the tiny green Volkswagen she’d left broken down on Main Street.