He would be her faithful Father. Her protective Lover. Her loving Bridegroom.
“The young'uns done opened their gifts this morn,” Nella announced after Joshua finished the story. “But we saved the last two for you and Charlie.”
Kizzie shifted her attention to the woman. “What do you mean?”
“Go on, boys.” Nella gestured with her chin toward Isaac and Elias.
The boys rushed to the tree and picked up the oddly shaped gift, one on each side, bumbling forward as they brought it to set at Kizzie's feet. “You done so much to help us with our numbers, we wanted to give you something.”
“But we couldn't leave Charlie out for his very first Christmas,” Ruth added. “So we want to give him something too.”
“Y'all know you didn't have to—”
“Miss Kizzie,” came Joshua's deep voice, “we wanted to. And we thank ya.”
She quieted at his words and turned to the boys, whose smiles took over their whole faces.
“Open it, Miss Kizzie,” Isaac urged as Elias pushed the gift closer.
The paper fell away to reveal a wooden rocking horse, delicate in its design, beautiful in its craftsmanship. It reminded her of her brother Jeb and his handcrafts.
“I carved the tail,” Isaac nearly shouted. “And ’Lias carved the mane.”
“You both did a real good job.” Kizzie ran her hand over the wooden mane. Her gaze raised to Joshua, the major crafter of the gift. “Charlie is going to love it.”
“In a year or two, I reckon.” He grinned.
“I still love mine,” Isaac announced.
“But he's too big for it.” Elias shook his head as if his brother was the most ridiculous person in the world. “His knees almost touch the floor when he's on it now.”
“Charlie is going to love it.” Kizzie repeated, nodding to the boys. “And even more so ’cause it came from some good-hearted boys just like I hope he'll end up being one day.”
Their grins broadened, and Ruth pushed forward with the other package in her hands. “And this one's for you, Miss Kizzie.”
Kizzie breathed out a sigh and gathered the package into her arms. Soft, like a pillow? The paper fell away to reveal beautiful cloth, its pale blue background dotted with darker blue and pink flowers.
Kizzie looked over at Nella, who only stood smiling and bouncing little Charlie.
With careful fingers, she raised the cloth, and it unfolded into the most exquisite dress she had ever seen.
“Mama let me help make it for you,” Ruth said, scooting her chair closer to Kizzie, her smile lighting her eyes. “It was my first try at sewing puffy sleeves.”
“And she did a fine job.” Nella nodded. “She has the makings of a good seamstress.”
From the few dresses Kizzie had worn and seen from Nella, she knew the woman had excellent seamstress skills, but nothing prepared her for the beauty of this design.
“Nella.” Kizzie breathed out the word, continuing to examine the long sleeves with a delicate V-cut at the hand. Beaded appliqués lined the V-neck front, giving the gown a more elegant style, and a paler blue overskirt offered a soft silhouette to the darker floral print of the underskirt. “Ruth.” Kizzie blinked. “I … I can't wear this.”
“Yes, you can.” Ruth nodded. “Mama made it to fit.”
“And you can hold your head high when you wear it too, girl,” Nella added with a wink. “It's your birthday dress.”
“My birthday dress?” But Kizzie's birthday had been in September. She'd turned seventeen.
“For your soul.” Nella's gaze held Kizzie's. “You're a new creation, a woman of God now.”
Kizzie looked back down at the dress with new eyes, and the idea of how God had taken her from a very broken, sin-stained young woman to claiming her as His child presented itself through this gown. And Nella knew it. The Kizzie wearing the soiled, stinking dirty rags from that night over six weeks ago proved a very different Kizzie at heart now. She still marveled at the notion of being God's child, but His love and promises shone with the beauty and detail of the finest gown.
