A Cardinal Christmas (Christmas Holiday Extravaganza) Read online

  “I’m going home where I belong.”

  12

  Blythe picked up her bag rather than roll it across the floor to not disturb her father in his chair. But he wasn’t there. Mom and Dad’s coats were hanging in the closet. She padded on stockinged feet to their bedroom door. Her parents slept side by side on the bed, Dad on his back with Mom on her side curled against his good leg.

  The house was so quiet, she went to what Mom called her prayer corner and picked up Mom’s Bible and a devotional the same as she’d given Blythe. Folded in the corner of the love seat with a plush Christmas red throw over her legs, Blythe opened to where she’d left off. Movement drew her gaze out the window.

  The purity of that familiar flash of red appeared before Blythe’s gaze. Especially bright against the whiteness of snow, the sun broke through the clouds and enhanced her landscape just as the female joined her mate.

  Finally, a pair came into view. As if instructed by an unseen director of nature, the birds looked at her in a synchronized turning of their heads and blinked.

  As clear as if God spoke in her own ear, she knew. She and Werner were meant to be a couple. Any hurt over their separation as children was in the past where it belonged.

  She’d never see those birds associated with Christmastime again in the same light. The vivid red would be a constant reminder of how Jesus gave His blood for sinners. She whispered, “You were the perfect sacrifice for me. Thank You, Jesus. And Thank You, Father, for knowing what lies ahead for me. And for Werner. Teach me how to trust my future to You the way Werner does.”

  ~*~

  At lunchtime on Christmas Eve day, Werner opened the office door to Travis Auto. Any other day the singing male cardinals would make him jovial. He leaned his forehead against the door and checked to make sure it was locked.

  Trust me, trust me, trust me, one cardinal sang from a maple tree above his head as he walked toward the Travis’s home.

  A monotonous cardinal whistle answered from the edge of the village.

  A third chorused from a distance and sounded like coming, coming, coming.

  Werner finally smiled and lifted his head. “You’ve got this, Lord. I’m convinced Blythe and I are meant for each other. Bring her home, please.”

  Most of the time, when walking, he paid attention to the weather for the day. He looked for birds or squirrels, sought a glimpse of Pastor Gregg’s dogs. Even Mr. Twain ran up an occasional tree on Werner’s walk to the Travis home.

  So much to think about. Ross had offered him a full-time position at the garage. Ross had said his knee was improving, but he was worried it’d never be the same. With that in mind, he needed someone who could do the work. And with Blythe gone, Ross and Bette Jean claimed the house was too quiet with just the two of them. They’d invited him to stay indefinitely.

  Inside the Travis’s front door, a huge rolling suitcase stood against the wall. He had no time to process what it meant.

  Blythe came running from her parents’ room, a welcoming smile spread across her beautiful face. She flung her arms around his waist, right underneath his open coat.

  He drew in the scent of her. Something floral, like lavender, along with an earthy mix that reminded him of cedar. What a thing to cross his mind.

  His Blythe was in his arms. He drew back and framed her head in his hands. He drank in her beauty. She wore no makeup on her expressive dark eyes. He ran his thumbs over her thick brows, over her cheekbones. She sucked in a breath and fixed her gaze on his mouth.

  “Your face is thinner. Did you even eat while you were gone?” He now ran his touch over her bottom lip.

  She surprised him by kissing his finger. “I don’t care if my parents are a couple rooms away. Kiss me, big boy. I’ve waited way too long.”

  “Only if you’ll be here long enough for me to kiss you forever.”

  Her answer came on a sigh. “I’m here to be with you always, if you’ll have me.”

  Restraint gone with last night’s wind, he answered by bending to meet her lips for the first time. Her response was immediate and so heated that his knees gave out. He let the door hold him up. His stomach rumbled.

  They broke into laughter.

  “At least we finally got the kissing business done before the eating business.” She took both of his hands and walked backward. “Come on. There’s spinach and bacon quiche. Blueberry scones. I have so much to tell you.”

  “All I can say is that I’ve hardly slept since you left.” He’d washed at the shop so settled for a healthy squirt of hand sanitizer.

  Rather than set the table, she placed servings of quiche and drinks on the counter. She scooted her stool close so their legs touched from hip to knee. Blythe covered his hand, and bowed her head. “Lord, thank You for bringing me home safely. Thank You that Werner and I are both Your children. Thank You for Your presence, for this food, and for never leaving us abandoned. Amen.”

  He kept his hand where it was. “The wind howled last night. At times, it whispered your name. I pictured shadowed concrete and drenching rain. I imagined you in the city. To me, the downtown area of one city looks just the same as the next.”

  “It did rain in Atlanta yesterday.”

  He bit into a scone. “Oh, this is really good.”

  “It’s the butter.”

  “Anyway, did you see him? The guy who had you all torn up a couple months ago?”

  “I saw him all right. He brought my belongings from the office I used to inhabit. Since I didn’t answer the texts right away, I lost any chance at continuing with the new conglomerate. Good riddance, I say, because the ex would have been my boss.”

  “Do you still have feelings for him, Blythe?”

  She met his gaze. “Absolutely not. I came here with him on my mind. But now if I close my eyes, I feel you with me.”

  He pulled her close. “You’re clear on the difference between Nebraska and Atlanta?”

  “No doubt I was caught in a false life. I fell for a man who didn’t love the Lord. The difference between you and his lifestyle is as different as a white-wall tire and a steel-belted one.”

  “If Silicon Valley can move to Lincoln, a hotel veep of management can find a high-falutin’ job here.” Werner’s belly rumbled again so he fed it a few bites of egg.

  Blythe nudged him with her shoulder. “And bicycles will never replace autos in this state, so a prize mechanic with an expensive diagnostic scanner will always be needed.”

  He used a napkin and then squeezed her knee. “Needed is right. Your dad offered me a permanent job.”

  She jumped off the stool so fast it tipped and then danced around the couch and easy chairs, making him laugh. “Guys like you and Dad do an important service to those of us who own automobiles.”

  “What kind of car do you have?”

  She rested her hip on the edge of the stool. “Had. A girly convertible that a friend is selling for me, along with my condo and power suits.”

  Cheese formed a string on his fork as he watched her perfect full lips form the words. “You mean…?”

  “Yes. I’ll be looking for one of those jobs you call high-falutin’. A job where I’ll travel no further than Omaha, Grand Island, or maybe Norfolk.” She drank half the water in her glass. Licked her lips. “Is there a 4x4 SUV you’d recommend over another?”

  “Along with an SUV for you, I’ll look for an acreage and home within bike riding distance of the trail.”

  13

  Hayley joined Blythe and Mom after lunch for baking day on Christmas Eve afternoon. The homey scents of cinnamon and vanilla filled the air in Mom’s kitchen. Several conversations carried on at the same time. About the ingredients, who was doing what with the recipes, both businesses, the Lord, and cardinals.

  Werner, Kameron, and Gregg had come over to occupy Dad.

  “What’s troubling you, daughter? You’re entirely too quiet today.” Mom nudged Blythe with her shoulder.

  Blythe shrugged in response. “I hav
e unanswered questions. I’ve prayed, but still not certain of concrete answers. Have I made the right decision? I think I should be here, yet my skills were used on a job centered in Atlanta. That’s what I’ve known for a long time now.”

  “Regarding those questions, share with us anything you’d like to know about your future,” Hayley offered. “I’ll pray about it along with you. Ask yourself what feels like home.”

  “I have to admit. I don’t miss Atlanta.”

  “Did Atlanta ever feel like home?” Mom leaned over to squeeze tubed green icing onto sugar cookies.

  “Honestly? No. If I ever missed a place while traveling, it was Edgewood, not my fancy condo in the bustling city.”

  “There’s your answer, friend.” Hayley beamed.

  “Follow your heart home. Stay here.” Mom used the tip of a plastic whisk dipped in melted chocolate to make an impression on cookie dough mounds.

  “Thanks. Both of you. Maybe it’s time to quit stewing about it. Werner believes the way Lincoln is progressing with big business moving in all the time that I won’t have trouble finding new employment.”

  “There you go.” Mom caught a drip of chocolate and licked it off her finger. With her gaze on Blythe, she used a damp cloth to wipe her hands. “And what about Werner?”

  “He wants me to stay and pursue a relationship with him.”

  “Did I hear my name spoken?” Werner laughed and waved from the card table. “Stay, woman. Be my love.”

  Mom pointed her whisk. “With an invitation like that, eavesdropping is allowed.”

  Kameron raised a game piece, caught Hayley’s eye, and then placed the token on the board game with a flourish.

  Things grew quiet except for the crackling fire, occasional mumbles by the men, and kitchen clunks.

  Hayley used red candies to accent a gingerbread cookie. “I’ve heard some people believe cardinals are angels.”

  “Werner thinks of his grandfather and parents when he sees the red birds.” Blythe switched to white icing. “His spirits always lift at the sight of cardinals.”

  “That’s true.” Werner agreed, “And since I’ve been here, I’ve been blessed by the music of many males, but I’ve only eyed pairs.”

  “I’d say that’s significant.” Kameron slid back his chair and repositioned his legs.

  Dad harrumphed and looked at Mom.

  Blythe swiped a glob of green icing on a spoon and took it to Werner. “I will forever think of you whenever I see the crimson birds.”

  He accepted the spoon and kissed her hand as she released it.

  The room went wild with various expressions of approval over the action.

  She returned to the kitchen, warmed all over.

  “Daughter, you are blushing as red as a female cardinal. Come here, both of you.” Mom put her arms around the waists of both younger women, and bowed her head. “Lord, whatever the presence of those winged creature means, thank You that You speak to our spirits through nature. Your presence reminds us we’re never alone.”

  Mom didn’t say amen. Blythe bowed her head and finished. “I know in my heart You’re never far from me. I only need to acknowledge and trust You. Thank You for restoring my joy. Thank You for all that Christmas represents. And thank You that according to Your will, I’m home where I belong. With my loved ones.”

  The men chorused amen.

  Dad stood. “I’ll add that God’s presence is a Christmas present that gives all year. I need to move this leg.”

  Hayley swayed a bit as she opened her eyes and sank onto a stool at the counter. She touched her forehead with the back of her hand.

  Mom filled a glass from the tap and set it before Hayley. “Are you all right?”

  She rested a hand on her flat abdomen, a huge smile across her face. “A little lightheaded, but it will pass.”

  Mom exchanged a glance with Blythe, who nodded.

  “My Christmas gift for Kameron is tucked away, Bette Jean. Woven in the dark by our Creator.”

  “Oh, my goodness. You’re expecting?” Mom squealed and grabbed Blythe’s arms. They circled around the kitchen on their toes as they had when Blythe was a young girl.

  The world looked bright again.

  ~*~

  Werner had never been more content.

  Ross stayed home from church, thinking ice and snow weren’t the best conditions to use a walker.

  Werner escorted Bette Jean and Blythe to the Christmas Eve service at Edgewood Community. He couldn’t escape a chuckle.

  “What?” Blythe squeezed his hand.

  “Your mom’s response when Ross asked for the newspaper, claiming it’s easier to read than the Bible.”

  “Well, it’s true.” Bette Jean slowed her step. “I’ve always believed a body doesn’t learn what God says by reading a newspaper.”

  “You two.” Blythe let go of Werner’s hand to give her mother a hug at the bottom of the church steps. “Some things never change.”

  “And some do. I never thought I’d see the day Pastor Gregg consulted an e-tablet while giving a sermon.”

  They shared a pew with Hayley and Kameron.

  To Werner’s way of thinking, whether Pastor consulted imaginary pages on an e-tablet or not, the message was perfect. Filled with peace and love. Singing praises with his loved one by his side brought tears to his eyes more than once.

  Church ended and after geeting others, they headed out. Gentle snowflakes sprinkled their walk home.

  “This is my first holiday without my parents. We always opened gifts after Christmas Eve service.”

  Bette Jean patted his back. “Why not? It’s just the four of us. We’ll be up past midnight anyway making it officially Christmas. We can start a new tradition.”

  Over hot chocolate including mini chocolate chips, they opened presents.

  He held his breath as Blythe unwrapped her gift from him.

  “Oh, they’re gorgeous.” She lifted up the large pair of cardinals nesting in a berry kissed wreath, examining it from every side. “Open yours, please.”

  He pulled out a key chain and plunked the dangling faded red pickup.

  As a gag, Blythe had included udder hand cream from Hayley’s business.

  Ross harrumphed. “Be careful where those soft hands touch my daughter.”

  Werner bent his head to hide his heated cheeks. In the bottom of the box were two homebuilder design magazines. “How’d you know?”

  Her whole face lit up. “A little birdie told me.”

  She rounded the coffee table and he pulled her onto his lap. Blythe rested her arms on his shoulders. “My heart belongs to you.”

  He searched the depths of her eyes, not caring at all that her parents looked on as witnesses. “My heart has always belonged to you.”

  “I loved you as a girl. I love you now.”

  “Will you always be my love and create a cozy nest together?”

  “Yes. I’ll be yours alone. Forever.”

  Amen.

  Author’s Note

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you so much for taking the time to read my Christmas story.

  At the beginning of this tale, Blythe is unhappy due to a recent breakup. Uncertainty over her job causes anxiety, and she’s bothered by her father’s pain. Meeting Werner again reawakens a childhood hurt.

  By contrast, Werner is laid back and takes a “What will be, will be” attitude that could be perceived as laziness. But He trusts the Lord to show him when to take action.

  If you’re like me, it doesn’t take a lot of trouble to get bogged down by “What will happen tomorrow?” Boo hoo. Just as fast, the Holy Spirit brings me around and I remember to focus on Jesus, to renew my trust in Him.

  If you’d like to stay with Blythe and Werner a bit longer, you could revisit them by writing a review. Authors value the time readers invest in reading our stories, and we welcome your thoughts concerning our work. Thank you again.

  If the Lord brings you cardinal sightings, e
specially a pair, think about the crimson blood Christ shed. Try to see yourself as He does, washed as white as snow. May you have renewed hope in the plan our Lord has for your lives.

  Merry Christmas, no matter the time of year.

  In Him,

  LoRee

  Thank you

  We appreciate you reading this White Rose Publishing title. For other inspirational stories, please visit our on-line bookstore at www.pelicanbookgroup.com.

  For questions or more information, contact us at [email protected].

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  AMDG

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