Chapter Five
Brenna looked at Derek from her spot in the passenger seat. Though his brown hair was cropped short, it still got mussed from taking his wool knit hat on and off all day as they came in and out of stores.
After lunch, they’d stopped at several strip malls and freestanding stores before making the drive home. He’d been unusually quiet the last half hour, not responding to her simple attempts at conversation.
By the time he came to a stop in her driveway, she couldn’t take it anymore. They’d had a great day, and she didn’t understand his change in mood. “What’s going on? You’ve haven’t said more than twenty words the entire way home.”
“I’ve been thinking.” He unbuckled and shifted his hips. “Are we doing enough?”
She squinted her eyes. “We bought every item on each kid’s list.”
He moved his head side to side. “I’m not talking about the presents.”
“Are you talking long term?”
“Kind of.” He glanced at the back seat full of presents to be wrapped. “I know we’re doing the right thing by giving these gifts, but we keep saying we’re giving them a Christmas.”
“Aren’t we?” She furrowed her brows and stared at him, tried to decipher what he meant.
Confusion covered his face, and she could tell he’d put a lot of thought into whatever he wanted to say. “What is Christmas?”
“A time to celebrate the birth of Jesus.”
“Right. And yes, these gifts will bring hope to the families and show God’s love, but Christmas happens with or without gifts.” Pausing, he stroked his jaw. “If we want to bring Christmas back to Noel,that’swhat we need to focus on.”
Before responding, she considered his words and realized he was right. “Do you have any suggestions?”
He nodded. “No one has put out the nativity in town square this year.”
“Where is it stored?”
“I always assumed City Hall, but I haven’t found it anywhere.” His expression crossed a cringe with an embarrassed smile. “I could have made some calls to find it, but I’ve been preoccupied.”
“Once we find it, which we will, what did you have in mind?” She was curious to hear his plan and made several silent guesses as to what it might be.
“Bringing Noel back to its roots.” His smile stretched wide. “It doesn’t cost anything to gather together and sings carols. I envision people circling around the nativity set, having a visual reminder of the newborn King they’re singing about.”
“That’s a great idea. It puts the focus where it should be, and who doesn’t feel more at peace after singing a few Christmas carols?”
“So you don’t think it sounds too cliché?”
“Not at all. It’s perfect.” Already, her brain created a song list for the event.
“When I get home, I’ll make calls and find the nativity set. Even if it doesn’t surface, we can move forward.”
“Do you have a date in mind?”
“The sooner, the better.”
She rubbed her eyes and breathed in. “It won’t take much preparation, especially since the purpose is to keep it simple.”
“Could we pull off holding it this Saturday evening?” His eyes filled with hope.
Seeing how much it meant to him, she knew it had to happen. “I don’t see why not.”
“Are you good with social media?”
“I’m not on any of the major ones.” Somehow, she’d avoided falling into it. She had a few accounts, but it had been so long since she’d gone on them that her login information and passwords were anyone’s guess.
