Santa's Sweetheart (The Christmas Tree Ranch #4)(53)
In the very center of the mall was the biggest Christmas tree Maggie had ever seen. It was even taller than the one in the Branding Iron park. The lights and oversized ornaments were all gold in color. The tree was so dazzling that Maggie had to stop and stare at it for a moment.
“Do you like it?” Miss Chapman asked.
Maggie thought for a moment. “It’s pretty,” she said. “But our tree at home has things on it that mean something. This tree doesn’t mean anything. It’s just big and fancy.”
Miss Chapman gave her a smile. “Well said, Maggie. I think you’re going to get along fine in life. Now, I know you’re hungry. What would you like to eat?”
“How about those big, giant pretzels? I’ve always wanted to try one.”
“Come on. I know right where to find them.”
The pretzels were delicious, soft, warm, and chewy, flavored with butter and salt. Maggie and Miss Chapman ate them sitting on a bench outside the food court, while they watched the Christmas shoppers go by. When they’d finished eating, they washed their hands and went up to the mezzanine of the mall. Miss Chapman had mentioned that she had a special surprise. Only now did Maggie discover what it was.
They walked along the mezzanine until they came to a store called Lemonade and Lollipops. “Here we are,” Miss Chapman said, and took Maggie inside. It was a clothing store for young girls.
“When I asked you what you were going to wear to the Christmas ball, you told me you didn’t have a nice dress that would fit you,” she said. “If we can find one here, I’d like to buy it for you. They’re having a big half-price sale, but if you find the perfect dress, and it isn’t on sale, that’s fine, too.”
“Thank you!” Maggie almost hugged her teacher but wasn’t sure that would be proper. “My dad can do a lot of things, but I don’t think he knows much about buying girl clothes.”
“Look around. Pick out some dresses to try on. This is going to be fun.”
Maggie walked over to a long rack marked SALE and began looking through the dresses. She knew that some people at the ball would be wearing cowboy clothes. But she’d be better off with a nice dress she could wear other places, too. And she certainly didn’t want Miss Chapman to spend much money.
Many of the sale dresses in Maggie’s size were too summery for Christmas. And most of the Christmas dresses, which weren’t on sale, were too fancy. Satins and velvets with glittery trim were definitely not her style.
It took some looking, but she finally did find the perfect dress. It was a dark green cotton knit, printed with tiny blue and yellow flowers. It had a long skirt and a white collar trimmed with a bit of lace. When Maggie tried it on, it fit perfectly. It was even on sale.
“And you know,” Miss Chapman said, smiling, “that dress even looks a little bit western. It’ll be perfect for the Cowboy Christmas Ball. Now, shall we go home and make some lasagna?”
They trooped across the parking lot to the red Cadillac. Maggie clutched the shopping bag with her new dress against the icy wind that had sprung up. The sky was overcast—no storm clouds yet. But something was blowing in.
“If it snows, do you think they’ll close school?” Maggie asked as they buckled themselves into their seats.
“That’s not up to me.” Miss Chapman started the car. Maggie could feel the leather seat beginning to get warm. “You know, Maggie, when we get back to school, I’ll just be your teacher. You’ll be treated the way you always have, as one of my students. Do you understand?”
“Uh-huh. Besides, I don’t want the other kids to know that you took care of me and bought me a dress. They’d start calling me the teacher’s pet. Nobody would be my friend, maybe not even Brenda. That would be awful.”
“Then we’re good.” Miss Chapman glanced back with a smile before turning the car onto the highway. “How about some nice Christmas music?”
She punched the radio button. The sounds of a choir singing “Silent Night” wafted into the backseat where Maggie sat. She was already tired, and the song was like a lullaby. By the time it ended, she had drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Thirteen
On Monday, Grace was up before first light. Dressed in her gray slacks and red sweater, she changed the sheets on Sam’s bed, threw some last-minute laundry into the washer, and packed the suitcase she’d brought to tide her over the weekend. Sam would be coming home today. He was more likely to rest if the place was in good order. Leaving it that way was the least she could do.
Before waking Maggie and starting breakfast, Grace paused to open the blinds and gaze out the front window at the gray, windy dawn. She’d spent a sleepless night, tossing, turning, and staring up into the dark. But she had yet to come to a decision—one that would affect her life and the lives of two precious people.
Should she commit to building a lasting relationship with Sam, or should she end things now, before any more damage could be done?
She loved Sam. And she loved Maggie. But was love enough to keep her here, with them, for the rest of her life? Or would fear drive her away—as it had sent her fleeing from every relationship in her past.
It wasn’t Sam she doubted. He had the truest heart of any man she’d ever known. She’d seen it in his devotion to his late wife and his love for his little girl. He would never hurt his family the way her own father had.