“They denied me,” I answered, swallowing hard, blinking away the tears.
“I don’t understand.What did they say?”
I glanced over my shoulder to make sure Sarah wasn’t listening behind me and then took a deep breath.
“They said that while everyone they spoke to gave me nothing but glowing recommendations, they didn’t feel that it was a suitable environment.The fact that I am single weighed heavily on their decision.”
“Mindi, this makes little sense.You were going to speak with Noah the morning after our holiday dinner.His review and recommendation would have sealed the deal.”
I closed my eyes and wiped the tears that ran down my cheeks.
“I know it would have,” I whispered.
“What do you mean by that?Did you not speak to Noah and ask him to fill out that portion of the paperwork?”
“Ethan, it really isn’t that easy.I wanted to do this on my own.”
“My dear, you are a strong individual, independent and self-reliant, and you love to help others.You also need to know when you need to ask for help.Knowing when to ask for that help doesn’t show weakness but strength.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, sometimes being so stubborn and not asking for that help shows weakness.It’s a fine line, and I think there comes a time and a point when we all learn that.You can’t do everything on your own, kid.It’s not a weakness to ask for help.”
“I know,” I muttered.
I heard the bathroom door open down the hall and Sarah humming along to a Christmas song.
“I’ll be right there, Mindi!”she yelled from the hallway.
“Okay, sweetie,” I called.
“I know you have to go, but let me ask you, have you told her yet?”Ethan asked.
“I haven’t, but I will within the next couple of days.”
“Okay.I will let you go, and I am sorry it’s come down to this.I will see you at the center in a couple of days for Santa.”
“Me too, and I will see you then.”
I hung up the phone just as Sarah came into the room dressed in the new Christmas pajamas I’d just gotten her a couple of weeks ago.She sat down on the couch, grabbed a blanket, and smiled at me.
“Can we watchThe Grinchagain?”
I smiled.“Sure can.Want some popcorn?”
“Can we add some of those candy-covered chocolates?”
“Sure can.Come on, let’s go get that snack, and then we will curl up and watch the movie.”I winked.
Noah
It was a frosty morning.A fresh blanket of snow covered the ground.I’d spent the entire night reading Mindi’s letters, and I could see how with each letter, her hope that I’d return was diminishing, as had mine when I never heard from her.
Now that I knew the truth, I planned to speak with her before the children arrived to give Santa their final wish list before Christmas.
As I made my way down the street, I passed by Bluebird Books and stopped in.The front windows of the store displayed lights, Christmas decorations, and as many Christmas books as Trinity could put in them.
I pulled the door open and stepped inside, the floor giving away that same creak it had when I was a boy.The place hadn’t changed much, just expanded, and it still smelled the same.I’d always sworn they pumped the smell of ink and paper in the air when I was younger.Now I was almost certain of it.Peggy and Trinity sat at the counter, Christmas music playing, having a coffee.
