A Splash of Christmas (7 page)
Yet, all Faith had heard from Ben during the past week or so came in the form of a note he'd tacked to a bough of the Christmas tree.
Faith,
I've been thinking of youâ¦of us. I'll see you tonight at the party. I'm looking forward to our evening ahead.
Ho, ho, hoâ¦
Ben
Faith held the slip of paper to her nose, where she inhaled the scent of Ben's aftershave that lingered with pine sap from the tree. Fresh, clean...and so very Ben. It brought an onslaught of tears to her eyes.
“The money you earned from the Poolside Oasis show sure has funded a nice spread here,” Avery continued as she finished stocking papers supplies at the table. There were festive plates, napkins, and cups for milk and holiday punch, along with plastic utensils. “I'll bet the kids will remember tonight for years to come.”
“I didn't pay for it.” The thought brought a slight stab of guilt. Avery had encouraged Faith to do the episode to make her job of providing for the kids that much easier. Yet, the money sat unused in her bank account.
“No?”
“No. Ben bought practically all the gifts, Mrs. Parker donated the tree, and you've provided the bulk of the food with the donations you garnered through the banquet hall. I've mainly just watched everything unfold.”
“You've supervised to make sure it all comes together.”
“Yes, that was tough.” Her laughter spilled tinny and fake, merely a sound rather than an emotion. “It's not enough. I should be tossed on probation again.”
“Bite your tongue. You've done more than your fair share in all of this, Faith.” Avery switched off the overhead lights, casting the room into a colorful glow of Christmas cheer. She added sound from the stereo system and Bing Crosby's “White Christmas” flooded the intercom. Soon the children would arrive with boundless appetites and shouts of glee. Eyes would grow wide with wonder as each gift was opened. Everything seemed perfect.
Almost everything.
Faith sighed and ran a hand through her hair. She'd swept the long waves into a neat chignon tonight, in preparation of the red felt hat waiting to be donned. “I wouldn't blame him if he didn't come.”
“Who?”
“Ben. I miss him, but it's my own fault.” Faith's heart tugged at the finality of her actions. “I kind of messed things up in that arena. I think I hurt him badly.”
“Don't sweat it too much.” Avery smiled as she patted Faith's shoulder. “All you have to do is look out the window to know how much Ben cares for you. He built that pool in the side yard because he saw how much you love what you do here. He's fallen in love with the kids, too. Come summer, they'll spend their days splashing and playing in the sunshine. It's going to be a child's dream come true.”
“You're right.”
“Of course I'm right. I keep telling you that, but I have yet to make a believer out of you.”
“I'm getting there. Be patient with me.”
“And you need to be patient with Ben. Remember, nothing is ever so messed up that it can't be fixed with a little faith, a little love, and a whole lot of help and guidance from the Man Upstairs.”
Â
~*~
Â
Lights glowed from the community room as Ben pulled into the lot at Mountain Light. The hum of music spilled into the night as he parked and slipped from the truck. Black patent-leather boots clomped over pavement as he crossed to the entrance. He cleared his throat, warming up the laugh he'd taken care over the past several weeks to perfect.
The ample red suit warmed against a bite of winter breeze, and the overstuffed pillow he'd lassoed smartly to his waist added girth. He wanted to look every bit the part of Santa for the kidsâand for Faith. He'd let her down once and he had no plans to repeat the blunder and further jeopardize her trust.
“Well, look at you.” Avery met him at the double entrance doors. “You clean up well, Ben Ward.”
“Thanks. Where is she?”
“Inside with the kids, doling out slices of pumpkin pie doused in whipped cream. She's been waiting on you all day, though she'd never admit it. I'm glad you're here.”
“Me, too.”
Ben followed Avery, winding his way through the halls until they came to the community roomâ¦and to Faith.
She took his breath away. Dressed in a cute crimson hat and a cream-colored sweater paired with a hunter-green skirt that skimmed the top of leather boots, he'd never seen a more beautiful woman.
“Ho, ho, ho!” Ben tossed a sack loaded with gifts for the youngest children over one shoulder and headed Faith's way. “Merry Christmas!”
“Santa's here!” Cries rang out as chairs screeched and kids scrambled toward him. “What's in your sack, Santa?”
Ben paused long enough to pat a few on the head, lifting others into his arms. One or two whispered their gift request into his ear and he nodded, confident that Faith had worked all of that out. When the commotion died down a bit, he continued toward Faith.
“Hi there.”
“Hi, yourself.” She tugged at his beard, offering the warm smile that had been missing for days. “You lookâ¦perfect.”
“How about the laugh? Ho, ho, ho!”
“That's an A-plus, as well.” She smoothed a hand down his arm, grazing his skin through the heavy fabric of the costume. “You came.”
“I promised I would.”
“The kids are thrilled.”
“I am, too.”
“I'm sorry for the things I saidâ¦and for hurting you.”
“You're forgiven.” Ben lifted a hand to her cheek. “You look beautiful tonight.”
“And you look⦔ She paused for a moment. “Wow.”
“I guess I'd better get started with the gifts.” Ben crossed to the chair that had been set out for him, nestled within a miniature Santa's workshop beside the Douglas fir. “The kids have finished their dessert and they're getting restless.”
“Yes, they're ready.” Faith handed him the first gift to be delivered to a waiting child. “But are you?”
Â
~*~
Â
“That was some party.” Faith picked up shredded wrapping paper and stuffed it into a trash bag. “And you were the life of it, Mr. Claus.”
“The clean-up can wait.” Ben reached for her. “Come sit with me for a minute in Santa's workshop.”
“Me in the workshop? Why?”
“I think I spotted something for you over there. Let's take a look.”
Ben guided Faith over and settled her into the oversized, high-backed chair to the right of the tree. The scent of pine, sweet and rich with the season, filled the air around them. Faith's heart thrummed against her rib-cage as Ben reached a hand deep between a few high boughs of the tree.
“Yes, here it isâ¦a package for you.”
“But I didn'tâ”
“I know.
I
did.” He drew the small box from the limbs and turned back to her with such love in his eyes that the thrum of Faith's heart grew to the steady pounding of a bass drum. “Merry Christmas, Faith.”
“But I didn'tâ¦you can'tâ”
“Hush and hear me out.” Ben pressed a finger to her lips. “Faith O'Fallon, I have loved you since the moment I first laid eyes on you. It was unexpected, for sure, yet it was and continues to be something so very special that I can't even begin to describe what I feel deep insideâ¦in here.” He took her left hand and pressed the palm to his chest. Even through the heavy fabric of the costume, Faith felt that his heartbeat mirrored hers, strong and steady. “And that love has only grown over the past several months. There's no denying it. Now we're hereâ¦no cameras or scriptâ¦just the two of us.”
Ben lowered to one knee, and Faith could manage no more than a gasp as he lifted the lid of the small, velvet box to reveal a sparkling diamond solitaire.
“I want to share my life with you, Faith. I want to spend the length of my days loving youâ¦cherishing you and thanking God for every moment with you. So I'm askingâ¦will you marry me?”
“I thank God for you, too, Ben, and for His boundless grace.” Faith leaned in to kiss him, beard and all, as tears gathered to blur her vision. Happiness welled like a fountain broad and deep. “Yes, I'll marry you.”
“Merry Christmas, Faithâ¦the first of many yet to come.”
Â
Â
Thank you for purchasing this White Rose Publishing title. For other inspirational stories, please visit our on-line bookstore at
www.pelicanbookgroup.com
.
Â
For questions or more information, contact us at [email protected].
Â
White Rose Publishing
Where Faith is the Cornerstone of Loveâ¢
an imprint of Pelican Ventures Book Group
Â
Connect with Us
www.facebook.com/Pelicanbookgroup
www.twitter.com/pelicanbookgrp
Â
To receive news and specials, subscribe to our bulletin
Â
May God's glory shine through
this inspirational work of fiction.
Â
AMDG
Free Book Offer
Â
We're looking for booklovers like you to partner with us! Join our team of influencers today and receive at least one free eBook per month. Maybe more!
Â
For more information e-mail
Â
Â