Charlie wiped at her eyes. “Do you know them?”
Gloria nodded. “Yes. The father is Tony Reeves. He’s part of the St. Augustine Sea Rescue team. About three weeks ago, there was a terrible accident. A family’s boat capsized during a sudden storm, with a father and his eight-year-old son. They were thrown into the water.” Gloria’s voice grew heavy with emotion. “Tony and his team responded to the distress call. They managed to save the boy, but during the rescue, Tony was struck in the head by debris. Part of the boat’s mast had broken off in the storm. The impact was severe. He’s been in a coma at Flagler Hospital ever since.”
“That’s horrible,” Charlie whispered, her heart breaking for the family. “And his wife and son...”
“His wife, Sarah, has been at the hospital every day,” Gloria said. “Young Mikey, too. The boy asks to come make a wish at leastonce a week, but Sarah can barely afford the parking at the hospital, let alone donations for wishes. It’s heartbreaking.”
Charlie looked down at the blank wish card in her hand, then back out the window where Mikey and his mother had disappeared around the corner.
She knew what her wish would be.
Charlie moved to the donation jar and pulled out her wallet, slipping in several bills. Far more than the suggested donation. Then she returned to the tree and wrote carefully on the card:
“I wish for Tony Reeves to wake up and go home to his family.”
She hung the card on a branch next to a small crystal cupid figurine that dangled from a golden ribbon. As she stepped back, a flash of sunlight came through the window, catching the crystal cupid. For just a moment, it looked like the figurine winked at her.
Charlie blinked and looked again, but the cupid was just a simple ornament, reflecting light as crystal does.
“How silly,” Charlie murmured to herself. This town, the wishing tree, and Julie Christmas were all rubbing off on her. She was starting to believe in magic.
“Thank you, dear,” Gloria said warmly. “I’m sure your wish will find its way to where it needs to go.”
“I hope so,” Charlie said. She glanced at her watch and realized she’d been at the shop longer than intended. “I should go. Thank you for talking with me, Gloria. And if William comes back and wants to reach me, he knows where to find me.”
“I’ll let him know,” Gloria promised.
Charlie left the shop and walked back to her car, her mind full of what she’d learned. William Moore, corporate attorney for a tech company in West Palm Beach. That detail nagged at her, as if it should mean something important. But she couldn’t quite connect the dots yet.
She’d been planning to head straight back to the inn, but as she passed a row of shops decorated for Christmas, Charlie found herself drawn in. Just a quick stop, she told herself. Just to pick up a few gifts.
Three hours later, Charlie emerged from the last shop, laden with bags and packages. She hadn’t meant to take so long, but once she’d started, she couldn’t stop. Gifts for Logan, for Holly, for Jane and Gabe, for Trinity and Maddy, for Christopher, Isabella, Julie, William, and for everyone who had made this Christmas season so special.
By the time Charlie pulled up to the Christmas Inn, her arms were full and her feet were tired. She struggled to manage all the bags as she walked through the front door.
“Charlie! Oh my goodness, let me help you!” Julie’s voice came from behind the front desk, and she rushed over to take several bags from Charlie’s overloaded arms.
“Thank you,” Charlie said gratefully. “I didn’t mean to buy so much, but once I started...”
“I understand completely,” Julie said with a knowing smile. “Christmas shopping has a way of getting away from you. Where would you like these?”
“The library, if that’s okay,” Charlie said. “I cleaned out a closet in there that I can use to hide everything until Christmas.”
“Perfect,” Julie agreed, and they walked together through the inn toward the library, Charlie juggling bags and Julie carrying the overflow.
As they walked, Julie’s expression grew thoughtful. “You know, there was a tragic story that happened in St. Augustine a few weeks ago. A sea rescue team member named Tony Reeves was badly injured during a storm rescue. He’s been in a coma for weeks. His wife and young son have been keeping vigil at the hospital, hoping for a miracle.”
Charlie’s steps slowed. “Tony Reeves? I just heard about him. I was at Moore’s Treasures and Treats earlier, and I saw his wife and son outside the shop. The little boy wanted to make a wish for his father.”
“Mikey,” Julie said softly. “Such a sweet child. The whole town has been praying for Tony’s recovery.”
They reached the library, and Charlie unlocked the door. As they carried the bags inside and started stashing them in the closet, Julie continued talking.
“But it seems that Christmas is working its miracles again this year,” Julie said, her eyes twinkling with thatspecial light Charlie had come to recognize. “Because just about an hour ago, Tony woke up.”
Charlie froze, a bag of gifts suspended in midair. “What?”
“It’s true,” Julie said, her smile widening. “I got a call from a friend at the hospital. Tony opened his eyes about an hour ago. He’s awake and responsive. The doctors say he’s going to make a full recovery.”
