Little Christmas Miracles: Her Christmas Wedding Wish / Christmas Gift: A Family / Christmas on the Children's Ward. Carol Marinelli
his shoulder like she wanted to. She didn’t really have that right.
“Uncle Richard, look, it’s here!” Toby exclaimed. “We’re facing West!”
Richard responded to Toby, but Molly didn’t look up. She could tell Toby was doing just fine. Could it be true, what Richard had said? Still, she wasn’t going to admit to him that he was right.
The waiter brought their food. It was all beautifully served and looked great on the plate. Even though a hamburger was the normal American fare, it tasted better than any Molly had ever had. All in all, she had to admit, she enjoyed the lunch at one of Dallas’s main tourist attractions.
Until they had to enter the elevator again.
She was still irritated with Richard, in spite of Toby’s quick recovery. She was determined to manage without his help. But just entering the elevator, facing the windows for that brief walk, was hard.
When she hesitated, Richard took her hand and turned her around. “You can back in. I’ll guide you.”
“Thank you,” she said stiffly.
Once they were in the elevator, she stood close to the door, her gaze fastened on it, waiting for it to open again.
“Need any help?” Richard whispered.
“No, thank you, I’m doing fine.”
“Too bad. I enjoyed our ride to the top.”
She said nothing. With her teeth gritted, she refused to bury her face in Richard’s chest, as she’d done earlier. She wanted to. His warmth had felt good. But she mustn’t take advantage of his goodness.
When the elevator door opened, Molly drew a deep breath of relief, knowing her ordeal was over.
Richard took her hand and led her to the escalator. She tried to pull her hand free, but she would’ve had to make it obvious to do that. With Elizabeth and Toby right behind them, she thought the best thing to do would be to wait until they reached the hotel lobby. He’d have to present their parking ticket to get the car pulled up.
When that happened, she turned back to Elizabeth and Toby. “Elizabeth, do you want me to sit in the back of the car with Toby on the way home?”
“Do you mind, dear? I’m feeling a little sleepy after our lunch. I believe I ate too much.”
Toby took her hand. “Yeah, I’m tired, too.”
“I guess you and Grandma both need your rest, don’t you?” Molly said. “You were up way too late on Saturday night.”
“Yeah, I don’t remember the end of the movie.”
“That’s because you fell asleep. Richard carried you to bed.”
“I didn’t know that. He must be very strong,” Toby said, a touch of awe in his voice.
“I suppose,” Molly agreed, but she knew how strong he was. She’d felt his arms around her, too.
Not only did she remember the rock-hard wall of his chest, but she recalled his warmth, the security he provided her in the circle of his arms, the smell of his citrus aftershave. All things she should not be remembering now. Shaking off the thoughts, she got in the car and put her head back, willing them not to invade her mind again.
After a few minutes, her roving eyes betrayed her, landing on the rearview mirror where she studied Richard’s reflection. His jaw was square, his dark hair perfectly groomed, his blue eyes focused on the road ahead. Say what you will, she thought, but he was one handsome man.
As if feeling her gaze on him, he looked up into the mirror and their eyes met in reflection. “You okay back there?” he asked.
“Y-yes,” she stammered, feeling as if she were caught doing something illegal. “I’m fine. Toby’s just a little tired.”
“We’ll be home in a few minutes.”
When they got home, Molly roused a sleeping Toby and led him in, holding his hand all the way up to his room. Elizabeth accompanied them upstairs.
A few minutes later, Molly slipped back down. The door to Richard’s study was closed. Even so, she tiptoed past the door. When she reached the kitchen, she found Albert sitting at the table having a cup of coffee.
“Albert, could you take me shopping for a few minutes?”
“Sure I can, Molly. You have more Christmas shopping to do?”
“Yes, just a little bit that I can’t do at the mall tomorrow.”
“No problem. Are you ready to go?”
“Yes. Can we go without asking Richard?”
Albert grinned. “Sure. He doesn’t ever need me.”
About an hour later, Molly hurried back up the stairs. She heard a door open as she reached the top of the stairs, but she didn’t turn around to see if Richard had come out of his office.
She didn’t want to know.
Richard watched Molly’s rapid ascent up the stairs, carrying a package. With a frown, he walked to the kitchen.
“Albert, did you take Molly out?”
Albert, sitting at the table with a fresh cup of coffee looked up in surprise. “Yes, sir, I did. Did you need me?”
“No, I was just curious. We’re going shopping tomorrow.”
“I know, but she had some shopping to do that she couldn’t do in the mall.”
Richard stood there staring into space.
“Want a cup of coffee, Richard?” Delores offered.
“Yeah, that would be great.”
She poured him a cup of coffee, but instead of leaving, Richard sat down beside Albert. “Where did you take her?”
“To a camera store.”
“She’s buying a camera?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t go in the store with her. She told me she wouldn’t be long, and she was right.”
“It seems to me she has a lot of secrets.”
Delores chuckled. “Of course she does. It’s Christmas. Are you telling everyone what you’re doing every moment of the day?”
Delores had a point.
“She’s such a nice lady,” the cook continued. “I wish she didn’t have to leave.”
“Toby feels the same way, Delores.”
“So why don’t you do something about it, Richard?”
“What do you want me to do? Hire a nurse as a nanny to Toby? He’s not that small.”
“I don’t know. I just know I’ll miss her when she’s gone.”
“When is she supposed to leave?” Albert asked.
“Mid-January,” Richard muttered and took a sip of coffee. The longer she was here, the more he was dreading the date. But he couldn’t admit that to Delores and Albert.
“She sure is pretty,” Albert said.
“You got a crush on her?” Richard teased.
“Of course not. I’m old enough to be her father, but I like her. She’s kind to everyone.”
“Yeah, she is.”
“And she’s not a snob, like some people you know,” Albert added.
“Okay, I get the picture. You both want Molly to stay. But I’m not able to take that on. I’m still working nonstop on office stuff, except for when I have to take Mom, Toby and Molly to do something for Christmas.”
“It’s