Page 42 of Christmas at Pine Ridge Inn
“Still no baby,” Ali announced as she and Mike brought the last of their luggage downstairs, “but the doctor says everything looks good. She might be a Christmas Day baby after all.”
“How exciting,” Carol said. “Christmas babies are special.” She turned her warm eyes on Lila when she said this.
Lila wondered how her birth mother felt every year on the holiday. Did she think of Lila? Imagine who she’d become? Lila had certainly thought of her birth mother every year on Christmas, but this was the first one where she’d felt such an intense need to connect with her.
Mike and Ali hugged everyone goodbye, promising to stay in touch. With time for one more game, the rest of the group gathered around the fireplace with an easel that held a giant pad of paper. After a hilarious round of Pictionary, Carol told everyone they had time to freshen up before dinner and asked them to be back down at 5:30.
Lila decided to stop and check on Sarah on her way to her room, knocking lightly on the door in case she was asleep. Sarah didn’t answer, so Lila quietly tiptoed down the hall to her room to brush her hair and change into something nicer for dinner.
When Lila descended the stairs at 5:25, she was surprised to find the lobby eerily quiet. Was everyone still in their rooms?
She heard a noise coming from the dining room and went to see who was there. She walked in to find a beautifully decorated cake blazing with candles and everyone standing at the far end of the table.
“Happy Birthday!” everyone shouted in unison before launching into the traditional birthday song.
Lila felt tears spring to her eyes as she looked around at these people who’d become so important to her in just a matter of days. Sophie and Miles were singing with gusto, the sisters had found party hats somewhere and were wearing them with glee, Brady was grinning at her from across the room, and even Tom joined in with his deep bass voice.
“Make a wish,” Carol said as she set the cake down in front of Lila.
Lila didn’t hesitate. She made the only wish that mattered: Let me find the answers I came here looking for. When she opened her eyes and blew out the candles, everyone cheered.
“What did you wish for?” Kimberly asked as Carol began cutting the cake.
“If I tell you, it won’t come true,” Lila said with a smile. “Cake before dinner?” she asked Carol.
“You know how it is,” she said, smiling like she was letting Lila in on a secret. “If I let everyone eat dinner first, they’ll be too full for cake. Since it’s a special occasion, I say we start with cake and worry about dinner later. We’re only having leftovers tonight anyway. Last night was the big feast.”
As they indulged, everyone shared stories about memorable birthdays. Lila felt overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness of these people who’d planned this celebration for her. It was exactly what she’d needed, even if she hadn’t known it.
Later, after they’d heated up leftovers and shared more holiday stories, they reflected on their time together. Everyone would be departing tomorrow.
“This has been the most wonderful Christmas,” Sophie said as the celebration began to wind down. “Thank you all for making us feel so welcome.”
“It’s been our pleasure,” Carol said, but her eyes kept drifting toward the stairs.
As the group began to disperse, some heading to their rooms to rest and others settling by the fire with books or games, Lila found herself both grateful for the birthday celebration and anxious about what the rest of Christmas might bring. Might she still get her birthday wish?
Brady appeared at her side as she helped clear plates. “Good birthday so far?” he asked quietly.
“The best,” she said, and meant it.
Carol returned from taking things back to the kitchen and asked Brady to go outside and get some more logs for the fire.
Once they were alone in the dining room, Carol said quietly, “Before you go, I wanted to share something with you about the night you were born. I know you want more than I can give you right now, but I feel like I can give you this much.”
Lila’s breath caught. “You remember that night?”
“How could I forget?” She laughed. “It’s not every night a baby is born at the inn. The snow was coming down something fierce, and we had a guest who went into labor unexpectedly on Christmas Eve.” Carol’s voice grew soft with memory. “I was still fairly new to working here, but it was all-hands-on-deck while the paramedics tried to get to us through the storm. I’ll never forget how brave that young woman was, laboring through the night while the storm raged outside.”
“Was she alone?” Lila asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“She was visiting alone, yes, but she had all of us around her. And when you were born, just as Christmas Day began, there was so much love in that room, Lila. So much love and such difficult decisions being made out of that love.”
Tears sprang to Lila’s eyes. “Thank you for telling me that. I can’t believe you were there that night.”
Carol smiled warmly. “It was an honor to witness your arrival into this world, sweetheart. You were loved and cared for from your very first breath, even if the circumstances were complicated. No matter what, I want you to know that.”
As Carol squeezed her hand and headed toward the kitchen, Lila felt something settle in her chest. Whatever happened next, she knew that she’d entered the world surrounded by love, not abandonment. That knowledge felt like a gift in itself.
