“Ms. Lily, can she help me?” Logan asked.
Lily looked at me, and I replied, “Of course I can.”
I was stunned to see how smoothly the breakfast line went. After the kids and the people from River Falls Haven sat down with their plates, the family and friends followed suit. I wanted to stay and eat with Lily and the kids, but didn’t want to ignore Ladd and his family, or their guests. So I ate half of my breakfast with them, then excused myself and finished eating with the kids. I spoke with each one, trying to learn a little bit about them and the staff members who’d brought them.
When breakfast was over, and Ladd, David, Jason, Mike, and LouAnne went outside with the staff and kids to play for a bit, I asked Lily if I could speak with her.
“I won’t keep you long,” I started. “I’m going to be moving to River Falls after I graduate from school this spring.”
She smiled. “I heard you’re engaged to one of the Wilde boys. Congratulations.”
“Thank you,” I replied. “I plan on trying to get a teaching job, but I’d love to volunteer at the…center.”
Her eyes lit up. “That would be amazing. I’ll give you my phone number, and we can chat about it more. Would you be interested in teaching there? It wouldn’t be full time, but maybe you could do a couple days a week?”
I felt my heart soar. “I love that idea. We’ll talk again as the date of graduation approaches. Thank you, Lily. I’ll let you go. I need to get to the kitchen to help clean up.”
Lily reached for my hand. “Thank you, Vivianne. These kids are so wonderful, and to have people like you and the Wilde and Mitchell families take the time to show them love like this…well…it means a lot to them.”
I squeezed her hand before she turned and headed to get her coat to go outside and play with the kids.
When I turned to make my way into the kitchen, Ladd was standing behind me.
“Oh, hey!” I said as I walked up to him.
“Everyone has been telling me how lucky I am.”
Raising my brows, I asked, “Why is that?”
“Because you said yes.”
I laughed. “I’m the lucky one.”
He shook his head. “Viv, seeing you with the kids this morning, and how you took the time to talk to every one of them. Plus, you made sure to spend time with us first…it didn’t go unnoticed by me or anyone else. Your heart is so beautiful.”
I chewed on my lower lip before I exhaled. “I know how those kids feel. The only difference between me and them is that my parents were around. As far as they were concerned, I was just a prop that was only good for when they needed me. But at least I had a home, food, and clothes. These poor kids…”
My voice faded, and he took my hand and drew me to him. “My mother was nearly in tears as she watched you. This event means so much to her. I love you both for how much you care for others.”
“I’m so glad I came home with you this Christmas.”
He chuckled. “Me too!”
“We’d better get in there and help clean up.”
Lacing his fingers in mine, we walked hand in hand to the kitchen where we were immediately put to work.
Ladd
The arena in the barn was full of noise and activity. The older kids from the haven arrived before it was time to open gifts, and I wasn’t sure how my mother and grandmother managed to pull this off, making everything run as smoothly as it did. But the kids were having a fantastic time, and it all flowed efficiently.
I glanced around and saw Vivianne with the same little girl she’d spent time with earlier that morning at breakfast. Her name was Logan, and the way she smiled at Vivianne left my heart feeling as if it had doubled in size in my chest.
“She fits in perfectly,” my father said as he walked up next to me. “She’s wonderful with the kids.”
Smiling, I nodded. “She is.”
“She’ll make a wonderful teacher, if that’s what she decides she wants to do.”
