Page 68 of Healing Hearts at the Christmas Inn
"Trinity," Maddy introduced them, beaming. "She's a guest at the inn."
"Ah." William's smile widened as he turned to Trinity, holding out his hand with old-fashioned formality. "So you're the famous Trinity that's helping Jane with the ball. How do you do, young lady?"
Trinity shook his hand solemnly, clearly charmed. "Very well, thank you." Then her eyes widened as she took in the shop around them. "Your shop is so... so magical," she breathed in awe.
"Ah. Yes, it’s been known as St. Augustine’s equivalent to Santa’s village in the North Pole," William teased, his expression turned mysterious. He glanced around his shop, then pointed to a very large, brightly lit Christmas tree in the corner. On it, instead of ornaments, hung hundreds of small cards. "Come and make a wish."
He led them over to the tree, and Jane felt her heart lift and break simultaneously. She'd come to this tree every year since she was a baby, writing wishes on cards and hanging them among the branches. Some wishes had come true. Others hadn't. And one wish, the one that mattered most, could never come true. So the tree hadn’t received any wishes from Jane in three years.
Her hand went instinctively to her stomach as her mind tried to veer toward that dark place that was filled with pain.
Her grandmother noticed. Julie always noticed. She moved and stood beside Jane, taking her hand and giving it a gentle squeeze, drawing her back from the edge of the dark abyss of haunting memories. They stood side by side, quietly watching the young girls choose cards, pick up pens from the nearby table, and bend over their wishes with serious concentration.
"What do you think they're wishing for?" Julie's soft voice made Jane turn toward her.
"I think Trinity is wishing her father were here," Jane answered. A strange fluttering sensation tickled her stomach. She shook it off. She must be hungry. "I'm not sure what Maddy's wishing for..." She raised a brow and looked at her gran. "Maybe a better mother?" Sarcasm dripped from her voice.
"Jane!" Julie admonished, shaking her head. "When are you going to let go of the past? High school for you and Isabella was a long time ago. You've both changed. And she's a lovely person."
"I'm sorry, Gran." Jane crossed her arms. "She may have you all fooled, but I remember her as the Queen Bee at school. You know how horrible she used to be to me."
"Not to you directly, sweetheart," Julie corrected gently.
"You're horrible to my friends, you're horrible to me," Jane said stubbornly. "That's how it works."
"Jane, you did hang out with some nerds," Julie stated matter-of-factly.
"Gran!" Jane looked at her in disbelief. "We were academics."
"Yes, but look at you." Julie gestured at Jane's athletic build. "You were also a top athlete. Your friends could have been too, if they'd wanted."
"Some people aren't that way inclined," Jane said in exasperation. "Anyway, I want to continue to enjoy my night and not walk down memory lane to when Isabella terrorized the school with her Beauty Bees." She shuddered. "What a stupid name."
Julie smiled and nodded. "Okay, but could you please just try to get along with Isabella? She's been trying for two years to be friends with you."
"I'm as nice as I'm going to get to her," Jane stated flatly. "Now, why don't you go make a wish?"
"Maybe that's what I'll wish for," Julie said, moving away and glancing over her shoulder. "You to forgive and become friends with Isabella."
"That's wasting a wish," Jane called after her.
The girls rushed back to her, faces bright with excitement. "Hey, you two. I see you hung your wishes in the prime spot on the tree."
"It would be nice for them to come true," Trinity said, her voice dropping and sadness casting shadows in her eyes. She looked at Jane. "But I guess it's nice to hope."
"That's the spirit," Jane said, her heart squeezing. She turned to Maddy. She really did like Maddy. The girl was sweet, modest, insanely intelligent, and incredibly talented. "And you, Maddy? What did you wish for?"
"I wished for what I do every year," Maddy told her, and a frown marred her young brow. "And for some reason, I have a feeling it's going to come true this Christmas."
"Oh?" Jane raised her brows.
"Yes. I wished that my mother would find someone to love." Maddy’s young words were filled with hope. “She’s so lonely, and I know she’s given up everything, even a social life, for me.”
The words hit Jane right in the heart. That was so sweet, so selfless from this young girl. She swallowed against tears.
"That's the nicest wish," Trinity said, her face falling. "You wished for your mom. Mine seems so selfish now."
"Oh no, Trinity," Jane smiled gently. "Every wish comes with a ripple effect. Like say... You wished that your father would come home for Christmas..."
