The Magical Christmas Cookies, page 4
“Maybe I should start selling cookies myself,” Mr. Grant said.
“Well, boys, good luck with sales. I need to be moving along now,” John said.
“Nice to see you again, John,” Mr. Grant said.
“You, too, Grant.”
“Bye, John,” the boys said as he walked toward his home. Somehow his knees didn’t ache quite as much as they did before.
“I can’t believe we’ve made so much money from selling cookies,” Laura said.
“I’m telling you, there is something magical about them,” Holly said with a wink.
“Come on, Holly. You don’t really believe there’s magic in the cookies, do you?”
“You tell me. Didn’t you say Daniel was offered a full-time job a couple days ago and you’re all caught up on your bills?”
“That wasn’t because of the cookies. Well, part of it was because of the cookies.”
“Tilly said yes to joining us for Christmas,” Holly continued her list. “Pastor agreed to form a committee to help the homeless in our community find places to live and jobs. The weather has even changed! It was bitterly cold a few weeks ago and we’ve suddenly had a warm spell.”
“Yes, but those are all coincidences.”
Holly raised her eyebrows. “Are they? I’ve even been hearing rumors that the paper mill is going to start up again. Everyone in town has been eating Magical Christmas Cookies. It’s no coincidence.”
“So what happens after Christmas, Holly? Does everything return to normal? Will Daniel lose his job? Will Tilly go back to living on the streets? Nothing has really changed. Yes, we made some wonderful cookies, but there’s no lasting change coming from all this.”
“We’ll see.”
Christmas Eve found John Risling peering into his son’s window; his family gathered around him. They were laughing as they roasted marshmallows in their fireplace. His presence wouldn’t add anything, just the opposite. He turned and headed back toward the alley behind the tavern.
Tilly was feeling uncomfortable. She should have said no to Nessa. She knew she smelled and she didn’t own any clothing that wasn’t dirty. Still, she waited on the corner for Holly and Nessa to pick her up and take her to their home. She didn’t have to wait long.
“Hi, Tilly,” Nessa said, getting out of the front seat passenger’s side of the car so Tilly could sit there.
“Oh, honey, I can sit in back.”
“No. Adults sit in front. That’s what my mom always said.”
“Hi, Holly.”
“Merry Christmas, Tilly.”
When they were back at Holly’s home, Tilly was greeted to a house decorated with a Christmas tree, candles, and home-made decorations of every shape and size.
“It’s like a Christmas wonderland in here!” Tilly said.
“Holly goes a bit overboard,” Nessa explained.
“Christmas only comes once a year. I’m entitled to go overboard.”
Nessa took Tilly’s hand and said, “Let me show you my room.”
Within minutes, Vanessa had filled Tilly’s head with more information than she could comprehend.
“I’m going to steal Tilly for a minute, Nessa,” Holly said, motioning for Tilly to follow her. “Tilly, if you’d like to take a bath or shower, please feel free. We have a tradition of hanging out in our pajamas on Christmas Eve, so we have a little gift for you. Nessa, will you get Tilly’s Christmas Eve gift?”
Nessa jumped up and ran into the living room to get the gift for Tilly and brought it back to them. “I hope you like it. I picked it out especially for you.”
“Then I’m sure I’ll love it.” Tilly opened the brightly colored package. Dark blue pajamas with stars and moons all over them met her eye, followed by a matching robe and slippers. “They’re perfect. Can’t wait to put ‘em on. Thank you.”
Holly showed Tilly where the bathroom was. Another package was waiting on the counter. “What’s this?”
“That’s a little gift from me. Just something woman-to-woman,” Holly said with a wink. “Take as long as you like and don’t you dare lift a finger to clean up afterward, that’s my job.” Holly closed the door and joined Vanessa in the living room.
“Can we make hot chocolate now?” Nessa asked.
“Sure. Will you get the cups ready? Peppermint sticks are in the cupboard.”
“I’m on it.”
Tilly unwrapped the package. Two Christmas gifts in a row; she usually didn’t even get one. Once the wrapping was torn aside, Tilly found several packages of undergarments as well as soap, deodorant, toothpaste and a toothbrush, a comb and brush, and other toiletries. She needed to sit down. This was all too much. All these nice things were just given to her without anyone wanting anything back.
After several minutes, Tilly decided that for at least the next twenty-four hours, she would simply enjoy herself and not think about what would happen after Christmas. For now, she was warm and safe. It was almost as if a blessing had descended upon her and she didn’t want to waste one moment of.
As Laura was packing up the last box of cookies from outside Ruth’s, she sighed. Selling Christmas cookies had been fun and she hated to stop. She enjoyed everything about making the cookies, baking them and decorating them. Valentine’s Day wasn’t that far away. Maybe she could talk Holly into making cookies with her again in February.
“Hi, Laura,” Tricia Manning said as she was about to enter the store.
“Hi, Tricia. Merry Christmas!”
“Merry Christmas to you, too. Is that your last box of cookies?”
“Sure is.”
“I’ll take it. Everyone loves those cookies. I don’t know what you put in them, but they are the best in town. Even better than my own.” Tricia leaned forward. “Don’t tell anyone I said that.”
“Mum’s the word.”
Tricia took a cookie out of the box and ate it. “What is in these cookies? Come on, you can tell me, from one baker to another.”
“Christmas Magic.”
“All right, you don’t have to tell me, but if you ever want a job making cookies, come see me. I could use an extra pair of hands and these cookies are truly the best I’ve ever eaten.”
“Do you mean that, Tricia?”
“Absolutely. Come by after the holidays and we’ll make arrangements. It’ll probably be part-time to start.”
“That would be perfect, since I’ll have to arrange child care for Bradley. Oh, Tricia, you’ve made my entire day!”
“Glad I could help. How much do I owe you for the cookies?”
“On the house.”
“Well, now you’re definitely hired!”
Tricia headed into the store while Laura beamed and then bit her lower lip. She hoped she’d make enough money to be able to pay someone to take care of Bradley while she worked. Daniel wouldn’t be too pleased, he wanted her to be a stay-at-home-mom, but it was only part-time. She couldn’t wait to try out new cookie recipes. Laura wondered if Christmas Magic worked in all cookies, not just Christmas cookies.
Tilly emerged from the bathroom looking ten years younger. “Well, how do I look?” she asked, twirling around in her new sleepwear.
“Wonderful!” Vanessa said, jumping up and spinning around the same way Tilly had. “We have hot chocolate. Do you want some?”
“I’d love some.”
The threesome spent Christmas Eve playing games, eating and laughing. Tilly shared stories about Christmas’ with her mother, as did Nessa.
“Well, I don’t know about you two, but I’m heading to bed,” Holly said.
“Do we have to go to sleep now?” Nessa asked.
“No, you don’t. It’s Christmas Eve. Stay up as late as you want. You, too, Tilly,” Holly said.
Nessa and Tilly stayed up until 12:01am. “It’s Christmas,” Nessa whispered to Tilly. She wasn’t sure if she was asleep or not as she had been quiet for a long time.
“Merry Christmas, Nessa.”
“Merry Christmas, Tilly.”
Neither one of them ever made it to the bedroom; they fell asleep on the sofa in the glow of Christmas tree lights, leaning on each other with candy wrappers strewn all around.
That was the sight that met Holly’s eyes when she came into the living room Christmas morning. Tilly was good for Nessa, and vice versa.
Holly began making hash brown potatoes, eggs and bacon. She knew the smell would wake the sleeping duo up in no time. She was right.
“We get to eat again?” Tilly asked.
“Yep. How often do you eat usually?” Nessa asked.
“Once or twice a day, maybe. Nothin’ like what you eat. It’s usually a piece of bread or half an apple someone threw away.”
Vanessa frowned. The thought of eating an apple that someone else had already been chewing on made her stomach upset.
They all enjoyed breakfast together and then opened presents. Tilly had relaxed since first coming to their home; she actually looked comfortable curled up on the sofa next to Nessa.
“Who wants to help make dinner?” Holly asked.
“I do!” Nessa said, jumping up from the couch.
“Me, too!” Tilly said.
“Well, let’s get to it, ladies.”
Baby’s first Christmas was written on the home-made ornament Laura gave to Bradley. “Can you put it on the tree?” she asked.
Bradley eyed the shiny round ball, then looked at the tree. He opened his mouth and stuck his tongue out as he tasted it. He grimaced and handed the ball back to Laura.
“I don’t think he likes it,” Daniel said with a laugh.
“That’s because he can’t eat it.” Laura took the ball and hung it on the Christmas tree. “So, you’re okay with me working part-time?”
Daniel nodded. “I guess it’s okay. I know you really want to do this and if it makes you happy, I think it’ll be a good thing.”
Laura kissed Daniel. “Can you give daddy a kiss, Bradley? Give daddy a kiss.”
Bradley giggled, then made a smacking noise as he touched his lips to Daniel’s cheek.
“I was thinking about asking Nessa to babysit Bradley. I know she’s young, but she’s really good with him and I’m only a phone call away. What do you think, Daniel?”
“She’s young. She’s also responsible. Maybe Holly could supervise for a while, sort of taper off over time until Nessa’s doing it all on her own.”
“Oh, that’s a good idea. I’ll call her after Christmas.”
“Why not call her now?”
“It’s Christmas!”
“Yeah, you know she’ll be home.”
“Good point.”
Laura called Holly’s home and ran the idea past Holly first, asking if she thought Nessa would be interested.
“Are you kidding? I think she’ll jump at the chance.” Holly watched Nessa and Tilly as they played Yahtzee at the dining room table. “Laura, what do you think about Tilly and Nessa watching Bradley together?”
“Well, to be honest, Holly, it makes me a little uncomfortable. I mean, Tilly’s been living on the street for a long time. Do you think she’d be safe around Bradley?”
“Absolutely. She has all her faculties about her and she and Nessa seem to really get along well. And, I have a sneaking suspicion that Nessa would do the job for free, so Tilly would be the one receiving the money. It’s a win-win. I’d be happy to join them the first few times they babysit, if it makes you feel better.”
“It would make me feel better. Should I ask them or do you want to?”
“I think it would be better coming from you. I’ll give Nessa the phone, hang on.”
When Nessa hung up the phone, her excitement could not be contained. “I get to babysit Bradley almost every day!” she hollered, jumping up from her chair and dancing around the dining room. “Tilly, you get to help, too. And, you’ll get paid!”
Tilly was filled in on the plan and while she thought it was a good one, she knew she’d need to have access to a shower and she’d need clothing. “I’m not sure it’s possible.”
“Tilly, we have an extra bedroom that’s just sitting empty. How about if you stay with us for a while, until you can get some money built up?” Holly offered.
“You’ve done so much for me already.” Tilly wanted to take Holly up on her offer, but she had always been independent.
While Tilly weighed her options, Nessa said, “The job is perfect because I can do it before school. Laura said she has to be there early, since it’s a bakery and all. They have to be all set up with fresh stuff before they open their doors.”
“Okay,” Tilly said. “Yes, I’ll stay here with you until I can get on my feet and Nessa and I will be the best babysitters ever.”
“Hurrah!” Nessa said, as she gave Tilly a hug. “I can’t wait to start!”
John Risling stood where he had the previous day, looking into his son’s living room from the porch. He saw the table laid out with more food than he could even imagine. One chair sat empty. He rubbed his hand across his newly shaven face and straightened his worn clothing before knocking on the door.
“I’ll get it,” one of his granddaughters said. “Merry Christmas,” she said as she opened the door.
“Merry Christmas,” John said, thankful he didn’t stumble over the words.
Adam approached them asking, “Who is it, Grace?”
“I don’t know, daddy.” Grace turned and went back to playing with her new doll.
“May I help you, sir?”
John stood there, staring at the son he hadn’t seen in over twenty years. “I’m sorry,” he said. “Son, I’m sorry.”
“Dad? Is that you?”
Tears streamed down John Risling’s face as he nodded his head. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
Adam reached forward and wrapped his arms around his father. No words came.
“That’s his dad,” Grace whispered to her mother when she entered the living room.
“Oh,” she said with surprise. She glanced over at the empty seat at the table. The idea had come to her after she bought a box of Christmas cookies from Holly Robinson. She never actually believed Adam’s father would show up on their doorstep. She hoped, yes she hoped.
“Come in, Mr. Risling,” she said, as she approached the door. “We’re so happy you’re joining us for Christmas.”
“Thank you,” John said. He reached for his handkerchief and wiped his eyes.
“Look, daddy, he’s got a handkerchief just like yours,” Grace said.
“Yes, yes he does.”
Holly placed the velvet-covered box that housed the Magical Christmas Cookie recipe back in the far corner of the cupboard above the stove.
It wasn’t a coincidence that a glow seemed to emanate from Maple Valley. The Magical Christmas Cookies had passed along a bit of their spirit to every person who nibbled on their compassion, forgiveness, and hope.
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Table of Contents
The Magical Christmas Cookies
Midpoint
Merri Hiatt, The Magical Christmas Cookies
