Read Online A Gift to Last by Debbie Macomber - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Debbie Macomber
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Christmas tree,” one of the girls said. She was about sixteen, with long blond hair in a ponytail and twinkling eyes.
“We decorated it ourselves,” Kate said, pointing to her hair bow. “That’s mine.”
“Would anyone mind if I took a picture?” the girl asked, pulling a disposable camera from her coat pocket.
“This is something that’s got to be seen to be believed,” Matt whispered to Cathy. “Actually I wouldn’t mind having a copy of it myself.”
“Me, too.”
“Shall we make it a family photo?” Elise asked.
A chorus of yes’s and no’s followed, but within a minute the ragtag group had gathered around the tree. Cathy ran a comb through her hair and added a dash of lipstick. Others, too, reviewed their appearance as they assembled for the photograph, jostling each other good-naturedly.
What amazed Cathy were the antics that went on before the picture was taken. They behaved like a group of teenagers themselves. Len held up the V for peace sign behind Nick’s head. Even Matt managed a crooked smile. For that matter, so did Cathy. Someone joked and she laughed. That made her realize how long it’d been since she’d allowed herself to be happy. Too long. Ron wouldn’t want that.
The girl took four snapshots. Before long the development of the film had been paid for and she had a list of names and addresses to send copies of the photo. Cathy’s name was there along with everyone else’s. She wanted something tangible to remember this eventful day—the oddest Christmas Eve she’d spent in her entire life.
“We thought we’d deliver a bit of cheer,” Dean said, once the photo arrangements were finished.
Their coming had done exactly that. The travelers gathered around without anyone’s direction, positioning the benches in a way that allowed them all to see the singers.
The choir assembled in three rows of five each and began with “Silent Night,” sung in three-part harmony. Cathy had heard the old carol all her life, but never had it sounded more beautiful than it did this evening. Without accompaniment, without embellishment, simple, plain—and incredibly lovely. With the beautiful words came a sense of camaraderie and joy, a sense that this night was truly special.
This was a holy night.
“Silent Night” was followed by “The Little Drummer Boy,” then “Joy to the World,” one carol flowing smoothly into another, ending with “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”
While Cathy and the others applauded loudly, Kate in a burst of childish enthusiasm spontaneously rushed forward and hugged Dean’s knees. “That was so pretty,” she squealed, her delight contagious.
Len jumped to his feet, continuing the applause. Soon the others stood, too, including Cathy.
The small choir seemed overwhelmed by their appreciation.
“This is the first time we ever got a standing ovation,” the girl with the camera said, smiling at her friends. “I didn’t realize we were that good.”
“Sing more,” Kate pleaded. “Do you know ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’?”
“Can you sing it with us?” Dean bent down and asked Kate.
The child nodded enthusiastically, and Dean had her stand in front of the choir. “Sing away.”
“Join in, everyone,” he suggested next, turning to face his small audience.
Cathy and the others didn’t need any encouragement. Their voices blended with those of the choir as if they’d sung together for weeks. “Rudolph” led to other Christmas songs—“Silver Bells,” “Deck the Halls,” and the time passed quickly.
When they finished, the choir members brought out paper cups and thermoses of hot chocolate. No sooner had the hot drink been poured than the station door opened again.
“So Clayton was right.” A petite older woman, with a cap of white hair and eyelids painted the brightest shade of blue Cathy had ever seen, entered the room. Two other women filed in after her.
“I’m Greta Barnes,” the leader said, “and we’re
“We decorated it ourselves,” Kate said, pointing to her hair bow. “That’s mine.”
“Would anyone mind if I took a picture?” the girl asked, pulling a disposable camera from her coat pocket.
“This is something that’s got to be seen to be believed,” Matt whispered to Cathy. “Actually I wouldn’t mind having a copy of it myself.”
“Me, too.”
“Shall we make it a family photo?” Elise asked.
A chorus of yes’s and no’s followed, but within a minute the ragtag group had gathered around the tree. Cathy ran a comb through her hair and added a dash of lipstick. Others, too, reviewed their appearance as they assembled for the photograph, jostling each other good-naturedly.
What amazed Cathy were the antics that went on before the picture was taken. They behaved like a group of teenagers themselves. Len held up the V for peace sign behind Nick’s head. Even Matt managed a crooked smile. For that matter, so did Cathy. Someone joked and she laughed. That made her realize how long it’d been since she’d allowed herself to be happy. Too long. Ron wouldn’t want that.
The girl took four snapshots. Before long the development of the film had been paid for and she had a list of names and addresses to send copies of the photo. Cathy’s name was there along with everyone else’s. She wanted something tangible to remember this eventful day—the oddest Christmas Eve she’d spent in her entire life.
“We thought we’d deliver a bit of cheer,” Dean said, once the photo arrangements were finished.
Their coming had done exactly that. The travelers gathered around without anyone’s direction, positioning the benches in a way that allowed them all to see the singers.
The choir assembled in three rows of five each and began with “Silent Night,” sung in three-part harmony. Cathy had heard the old carol all her life, but never had it sounded more beautiful than it did this evening. Without accompaniment, without embellishment, simple, plain—and incredibly lovely. With the beautiful words came a sense of camaraderie and joy, a sense that this night was truly special.
This was a holy night.
“Silent Night” was followed by “The Little Drummer Boy,” then “Joy to the World,” one carol flowing smoothly into another, ending with “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”
While Cathy and the others applauded loudly, Kate in a burst of childish enthusiasm spontaneously rushed forward and hugged Dean’s knees. “That was so pretty,” she squealed, her delight contagious.
Len jumped to his feet, continuing the applause. Soon the others stood, too, including Cathy.
The small choir seemed overwhelmed by their appreciation.
“This is the first time we ever got a standing ovation,” the girl with the camera said, smiling at her friends. “I didn’t realize we were that good.”
“Sing more,” Kate pleaded. “Do you know ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’?”
“Can you sing it with us?” Dean bent down and asked Kate.
The child nodded enthusiastically, and Dean had her stand in front of the choir. “Sing away.”
“Join in, everyone,” he suggested next, turning to face his small audience.
Cathy and the others didn’t need any encouragement. Their voices blended with those of the choir as if they’d sung together for weeks. “Rudolph” led to other Christmas songs—“Silver Bells,” “Deck the Halls,” and the time passed quickly.
When they finished, the choir members brought out paper cups and thermoses of hot chocolate. No sooner had the hot drink been poured than the station door opened again.
“So Clayton was right.” A petite older woman, with a cap of white hair and eyelids painted the brightest shade of blue Cathy had ever seen, entered the room. Two other women filed in after her.
“I’m Greta Barnes,” the leader said, “and we’re
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