Page 50 of Soldier's Chrismas Hope
River knew that she didn’t really need his help, and he was honestly impressed at how independent she had been up until now, but it only made him want to take care of her even more. She deserved a break now and then. No one should have to take on so much at such a sad time.
The bumpy trip down the hillside went much better than the trip up had, with everyone laughing and making bumpity noises.
River paid for their tree, and put his change and a few extra bills in the collection box for a local food bank. When he turned back to the others, he noticed that John-John was talking excitedly to Nora and Pixie, pointing at the counter.
“What’s up?” River asked.
“Go on,” Nora told the kids, handing them each a few coins.
“Farmer Bear putscoins in a binto help other bears,” John-John told River excitedly. “We’re going to put coins in a bin too.”
River smiled and watched the kids stretching as theytried to reach the collection box. After a few seconds, he offered to help.
Pixie stepped back so that he could lift John-John up first.
John-John’s face was a study in reverence as he opened his chubby little hand to release the coins into the box.
“That’s very generous,” Jacob said to him. “The money in there goes to help people who don’t have enough food this Christmas.”
“They don’t have food?” John-John asked worriedly.
“They will now,” Jacob told him. “Don’t you worry. That’s why everyone pitches in a little, to take care of each other.”
John-John seemed satisfied with that answer. When River put him down onto the snowy ground again, he dashed off to tell Nora all about it.
Pixie ran right up to River and put her arms up.
He lifted her slight frame and watched as she put all her coins in the box.
“I hope they get lots of food,” she said softly.
River swallowed over the sudden lump in his throat as he placed her down.
“That was very nice,” Nora told Pixie. “I’m glad you two spotted it.”
“River put a wholebunchof money in there,” John-John reported. “That’s how I noticed it.”
“Just my change from the tree,” River said, suddenly feeling almost embarrassed, though he wasn’t sure why.
He snuck a look at Nora and could tell by her smile that she had seen him and knew better.
“I think it’s lovely,” she told him, without calling him out. “Just like I was saying to the kids, the world is a better place when we all look out for each other.”
They were all tired and content from their adventure at the farm, so the ride home was quiet. The kids were half-drowsing in the back as Nora gazed out the window with such a peaceful expression on her face.
River felt a bone-deep happiness paired with an impossible longing.
What am I supposed to do when they leave?
When they got home,everyone was excited to put up the tree, but River couldn’t stop thinking about how good it felt to have them in his home, and how empty the place was going to feel when they left.
Still, he carried on, knowing he was being ridiculous. He couldn’t fall in love with his brother’s ex-wife. And he couldn’t let himself fall for these children.
What the three of them needed was a good friend, and he was determined to be that for them, and not allow himself to blur the lines.
They got the tree set up in the old stand that Aggie had left in the attic, and then prepared and ate a nice dinner while the tree relaxed back into shape.
Tonight, the kids wanted him there for story time, so he went up with everyone and sat on the edge of the bed to read them ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.As usual, John-John was drifting off before the story was over.
