Page 47 of Unexpected Gifts

Was it possible to fall in love with a woman over the course of a long weekend?

No. It was merely infatuation. He must keep his cool.

He thought back to his time with Lily’s mother. She’d been a summer worker at their farm, and he’d been attracted to her right away. Over the course of the summer, they spent time together, and his feelings slowly grew into a sureness that she was the one. By Christmas, they’d been married. By Christmas the next year, Sarah had filed for divorce and left him with an infant. At the time, he’d thought he might never get over it. However, his daughter had taken so much of his time and energy, and he’d fallen so desperately in love with Lily that theheartbreak had faded until one day, he woke up and didn’t think of his ex-wife at all. Now, she was only a faded memory from a different lifetime.

Lily had changed everything. He was a dad now—a proud dad of what he could only describe as a miracle.

Was he about to experience yet another huge shift?

With Sarah, his feelings had been more of a slow build, until one day, he’d decided he loved her. It was not that way with the woman beside him. From the moment he met her, she’d stirred emotions within him that he’d assumed were permanently muted. He’d not known that his heart could be awakened this way. And with such suddenness. Maybe it was timing? Four years had passed since his disastrous marriage ended. Perhaps that meant he was ready? Or maybe it was simply this—Abby Parker moved him and intrigued him. She was familiar yet exciting. Again, he imagined puzzle pieces. Was she the missing piece of his life’s puzzle?

“Will Rufus go to work with you?” Jack asked Abby before sticking a pretzel bite into his mouth.

“No, he has to stay home, or goodness knows what trouble he might cause me at work,” Abby said.

“Hehasbeen known to cause trouble,” Luke said, teasing. “But maybe he’s actually like Santa, bringing unexpected gifts.”

Unexpected gifts to a man who had thought himself permanently broken.

The rest of the lunch passed pleasantly, with the younger children blabbering away about this and that. Sophie was quiet but ate her lunch and answered questions when asked. From what he could observe, Sophie seemed to be warming to the idea of Abby in their lives. He knew it must feel difficult, and maybe even disloyal, to welcome a virtual stranger into the role that should have remained Ramona’s. But it was not to be. God hadhad a plan, one Luke couldn’t understand, but as a man of faith he knew it was not his place to question, only to trust.

Had he sent Abby for all of them?

After lunch, they all walked Sophie over to the dance studio. Abby had mentioned going in with Sophie to meet the teacher, but when they arrived, the studio was dark. A sign on the door said that Saturday classes had been canceled due to the teacher’s illness.

“I hope she’s okay.” Sophie bit her bottom lip, her expression tense.

Sophie would naturally react this way. Her mother had died from an unknown illness. She was bound to worry that it would happen to more adults in her life. What a burden to carry, this intimate knowledge of death and grief in someone so young.

“She probably has a cold or flu,” Abby said, wrapping her arm around Sophie’s shoulder. “Should we head over to see Santa instead?”

The younger children cheered.

“Santa it is,” Luke said.

“Have you been here yet?”Luke asked Abby as he parked in the dirt lot next to the country store.

“No, not since I arrived. But I remember it from when I was a kid.” Abby gestured to the sign that hung above the door in old-fashioned font.

Hearth and Holly Country Store.

“Did it have a different name back then?” Abby asked.

“Yeah, it used to be Sugarville Country Store, but Max wanted to freshen it up when he took over,” Luke explained how he and his brothers had helped him to remodel the place,making it quaint instead of just functional. The store itself had once been one of the oldest homes in the community, built at the turn of the century, making it perfect for a shop and a residence. Walter, Luke, and his brothers had spent an entire summer remodeling the store as well as turning what had been unused space into a cozy apartment.

“He brought in local products, like gourmet cheeses, wines, and crafts made by Vermont artisans.” He couldn’t keep the pride out of his voice. Max had created something special. People drove from all over Vermont for the experience, as well as the products.

Max and his team had spent the day before Thanksgiving getting the store ready for the holidays, hanging garlands, wreaths, and lights.

The storefront displayed an array of goods, with tables and barrels lined up outside, showcasing fresh produce such as apples, pumpkins, and breads, along with poinsettias. Neatly arranged baskets and wooden crates gave the space the feel of an old-fashioned general store, where customers could buy everything from fresh foods to holiday treats. Picnic tables and benches invited visitors to relax for a chat or a picnic. His father and his friends often gathered there in pleasant weather, gossiping and playing cards or checkers.

“Let’s go see Santa,” Lily said in a high-pitched squeal.

“I can’t wait for you to see this,” Luke said softly to Abby as they headed around the building to the back, where the North Pole had been created. “It’s our local postman who plays Santa every year, but don’t tell the kids. He’s also the town’s most notorious gossip, so be careful what you tell him.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Abby said, laughing.

Santa sat inside a cozy red-and-green cabin adorned with colorful Christmas lights on top of an oversized, cushioned red armchair with gold trim. Small Christmas trees in burlap sackswere lit up with twinkling white lights. A giant Christmas tree decked out with sparkling ornaments, tinsel, and glowing lights created the perfect backdrop for photos. On a path lined with lighted candy canes, a dozen kids and their parents waited their turn.

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