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Emma’s shiver had nothing to do with the cold.
* * *
Twinkle lights blinked on the twelve-foot fir tree that was the centerpiece of Christmas decorations in the downstairs parlor of Angel’s Rest. Emma studied the ornaments—an angel-themed tree—and decided to get some angels for their Christmas tree at the Wildcatter.
A sound in the hallway caught her attention, and she turned to see her daughter wrapped in her fiancé’s arms beneath the ball of mistletoe hanging from the light fixture. Gladness filled Emma’s heart. When Jared’s hand slipped around her waist, she glanced up with a smile. He, too, was looking at the couple in the hallway. “He’s a lucky young man.”
“The luckiest,” Emma agreed.
“No.” Jared squeezed her waist. “That would be me.”
Emma fingered the angel-wings pendant hanging from a long silver chain around her neck, a gift from Celeste. The Angel’s Rest blazon, she called it, signified the healing of a broken heart. “I think we’re all lucky. I know that tonight I feel blessed.”
Earlier, they had broken from strict Stapleton family tradition and opened their gifts. Now Mozart was upstairs in his travel crate, happily chewing on the toy Jared had given him while wearing the stylish new collar that was Molly’s gift. Molly wore the diamond stud earrings that had been a gift from her parents.
Jared’s gifts to Emma and her gifts to him remained wrapped up in their boxes, and they would stay that way. They’d both decided that, in this case, it truly was the thought that counted. Those wrapped packages would forever be symbols of their love that never died. The perfect Christmas gifts.
Outside, church bells began to peal. Molly and Mason broke their kiss, then Molly looked at her parents and smiled with utter joy. “Merry Christmas, parents.”
“Merry Christmas, daughter and son,” Jared replied.
Though Emma wouldn’t have thought it possible, Molly’s smile grew even brighter. “The human heart is a curious thing. How can it possibly hold this much joy?”
The grandfather clock in the hallway chimed the quarter hour as Celeste descended the stairs, a vision in a shimmery gold dress with a white wool coat draped over her arm. “Merry Christmas, friends. I’m so glad you are joining us for our midnight service, especially since I just received a phone call from Kelly Green. We’ve had a bit of a problem, and we’re hoping you will help.”
And so it was that at eleven-thirty at night on Christmas Eve, with her daughter and her husband seated in the pew behind her, Emma Stapleton took a seat at the piano in St. Stephen’s. The first song she played was “Joy to the World.”
The congregation members agreed that the song had never been played so beautifully.
EXCERPT FROM THE CHRISTMAS PAWDCAST
Dallas, Texas
"Carol of the Bells" drifted from the sound system and blended with the laughter of the holiday party guests who were taking their leave. Mary Landry worked to keep the smile on her face as she hugged and cheek-kissed and waved goodbyes to the stragglers. She had enjoyed the party, and she was thrilled that so many invited guests had attended. But seriously, would these people never go home? She still had so much to do! How could it possibly already be December twentieth?
"Tonight was so much fun," bubbled a wedding planner from Plano, her blue eyes sparkling with champagne. "Landry and Lawrence Catering throws the best party of the season, year in and year out. Thanks so much for inviting us!"
"I'm so glad you could join us." Mary graciously accepted the woman's enthusiastic hug and glanced up at her date. "Shall I call an Uber for y'all?"
"We're good,” he said. “I'm the designated driver tonight, but I can't say I missed the booze. Your non-alcoholic eggnog was killer."
"Mary is the best chef in Dallas," the wedding planner declared. "Restaurants are always trying to lure her into their kitchens."
"Mary! Great party!" A venue manager sailed toward them, which helped ease the first couple out the door. "I don't know what tweak you made to your mac-and-cheese recipe, but it made the exquisite simply divine."
She hadn't changed a thing. "Thank you, Liz."
"You gonna share your recipe?"
"Nope. Trade secrets."
"Dang it. Although my waistline and arteries both thank you for that. Merry Christmas, Mary."
"Merry Christmas."
Finally, almost an hour after the party had been scheduled to end, Mary's business partner Eliza Lawrence shut the door behind the last guest. She gave her long brown hair a toss and flourished her arms like a game show hostess. "We are so freaking awesome!"
Mary laughed. "Yes, we are."
