Page 57 of Sweet Home

“Um, yes please,” Dulcie said. “Thanks so much.”

She still had her pay in her pocket, and while she wanted to save every penny, getting the princess for Elizabethfelt like the right thing to do. She wanted to support the store after their really wonderful donation. And it was also a way to thank West for everything he had done for her.

Besides, she knew the little princess would make Elizabeth smile, and she was finding it awfully hard to resist doing anything possible to earn a sweet smile from her favorite preschooler.

“I’ll just wrap it up, and then we can stick it in your big bag,” the lady suggested.

Dulcie paid and tucked the package with the princess into the bottom of the donation bag, feeling a shiver of happy anticipation that she was going to be giving Elizabeth something that would make her so happy.

“Are you ready to go?” she asked Elizabeth when the transaction was finished.

Elizabeth nodded, her eyes solemn.

“Let’s head out then,” Dulcie told her. “Maybe we can go say hi to your Aunt Charlotte at the ice cream shop.”

“Okay,” Elizabeth said, looking much more cheerful.

As they walked back out into the little town, hand in hand, Elizabeth began singing “Jingle Bells” in a bright, cheerful tone. The people they passed with their packages, strollers, and little dogs on leashes all smiled at the sweet, happy girl.

She’s starting to let her hair down more easily,Dulcie thought proudly to herself.I’m so lucky to have this time with her.

If only it didn’t have to end…

17

DULCIE

Dulcie sat beside West in his truck that evening, feeling amazing about the day.

Shop owners in the town had all been so generous that she and Elizabeth needed to stop by his office twice before the end of the day just to drop off bags of donated items.

Dulcie was pretty sure that it didn’t hurt that Elizabeth was the daughter of the beloved town doctor, and adorable to boot. Everyone wanted to help in some way.

And West seemed so proud of them.

The first time they had stopped in with a few bags of donated items, Dulcie had been a little worried that West wouldn’t want them invading his professional space and leaving a bunch of stuff, but she wasn’t sure what else to do with it all. She planned to just ask Nurse Deb if there was a spot where they could tuck the bags out of sight.

But West had been between patients when they arrived. He listened so intently as Elizabeth told himwhat they were doing, and immediately cleared a spot for them in his little office in back.

“This is really special, Dulcie,” he murmured to her as they headed back down the hall to reception. “You didn’t have to do this, but I’m so grateful that you’re sharing the joy of helping others with her.”

She had been too pleased to respond, her cheeks burning and her heart pounding in her chest at his praise. The feeling had stayed with her for the rest of the day as she visited more places with Elizabeth and gathered more donations.

Now, West was done for the day, and they were all heading to the country store together to pick up some donations from the owner there. Once that was done, Dulcie figured they would have plenty to drop off at the library for Anita tomorrow.

On the radio, Brenda Lee was singing “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” and Elizabeth was humming to herself in her car seat in back. As far as Dulcie was concerned, everything seemed just right with their little corner of the world.

“Here we go,” West said, pulling into the parking lot.

Once they were parked, the three of them headed in together.

“Can I visit Santa?” Elizabeth asked suddenly.

“Oh,” Dulcie said, unsure of how to respond.

“Sure,” West told her right away. “If he’s not too busy.”

“Okay,” Elizabeth said, grabbing Dulcie’s hand as they headed in.

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