“They’ll love it.” His words were sincere and not patronizing.
If it were anyone else, she’d be embarrassed to share the simplicity of her gift ideas, but Carl understood and never judged. He understood the struggle from his own childhood. “We didn’t have a Christmas last year.”
“I’m sure it was hard with Mercy only a few weeks old.”
“Manny spent the week in Puerto Rico with old friends.” Bitterness crept into her voice. “There was always money for what he wanted but never any for the girls.”
Carl’s cheek twitched. “He wasn’t much of a husband or father.”
“That’s one thing we can agree on.” She laughed to lighten the mood. She couldn’t, wouldn’t, let herself travel that road. Manny was her past, not her present nor her future.
Chapter Ten
“Stupid, stupid, stupid.” Carl kicked the pavement and continued muttering to himself.
Why had he stepped in to play the hero? He should have called Tyson to help Luna. She wouldn’t have ridden with him, but he could have run her battery to the store for her and exchanged it, then brought it back. There was absolutely no legitimate reason why Carl had to be the one to help her.
Except he’d been the one to spot her having car trouble, and he wanted to see her. He’d tried to keep his distance. Until two hours ago, he’d done a sufficient job of it. Unless it involved Hope, he steered clear of Luna. He may have even switched his schedule, so he didn’t have to see her as often. A chicken move, but he was only human.
When they’d returned to the shelter an hour ago, she hadn’t waited for him to change the battery. Instead, she’d rushed inside with a casual mention to drop her keys off once he’d finished. If he didn’t know her better, he’d assume she didn’t care to be near him, but he’d caught her inhaling the scent of him and watching him from the corner of her eyes.
After today, he was confident that she held feelings for him, the depths of which he didn’t know, but they were there, nonetheless. It would almost be easier if the attraction wasn’t mutual. Then he could chalk it up to unrequited love—not that he’d call it love at this point—and tell himself to move on.
He jingled her car keys as he walked to her car. His conscience seared for the lie he’d told her earlier. The battery had cost a pretty penny, and he was fortunate she didn’t know the difference between brands. When the associate had completed the sale, the printer really had jammed, so at least that part was true.
One day he would come clean, but not today. Luna’s stubborn pride wouldn’t allow him to help honestly, and he knew she couldn’t afford even the cheapest battery. He saw it as an investment into her future. She needed a solid, reliable battery in that old car of hers. It was her lifeline to securing a better future for her and kept her from having to ask for rides that may or may not be reliable.
Forgive me, but I have to do this. He removed the pack of spark plugs from the interior pocket in his coat where he’d hidden them from her. After he popped the hood, he changed out the old spark plugs for the new ones, then checked all the fluids. He added antifreeze and a quarter quart of oil. If it wasn’t so cold and it wouldn’t have been obvious, he’d have washed and detailed the car for her, but that would push her over the edge.
Sitting sideways in the driver’s seat with his feet planted on the ground outside, he started the car. The engine came to life without delay. It idled at a steady hum, and Carl turned the key, satisfied the car would be fine for Luna to drive back and forth to work.
He made sure to lock the car then went inside to find Luna. A beautiful voice stopped him in his tracks. He moved his gaze around the room until he found the source. Luna stood in front of the shelter’s Christmas tree with Mercy on her hip and Skye beside her. Her eyes were closed and head lifted as she sangO Holy Night.
He thought to leave and not interrupt her private time of worship, but his feet refused to cooperate. In all of his thirty years, he’d never been this moved by a song. He choked on emotions lodged in his throat.
Sparkling lights danced in even rhythms around the tree. Ornaments had been placed so that they would catch the glow of the bulbs. The candy canes they’d hung at the beginning of December were noticeable fewer, lost to kids and adults alike who couldn’t resist the sticky, old-fashioned treat.
Wrapped presents overflowed from under the tree. Not a single person at Hope House would go without presents on Christmas morning. The residents of Mansboro always showed their generosity, and this year was no exception. He wondered what Mercy and Skye would receive. Instinctively, he knew they’d love their gifts no matter what they got.
Luna stopped singing. Her eyes remained closed, but her mouth moved—if only he could read lips. When he realized she was praying, he turned away. The moment was too private for him to intrude on.
Lost in thought, he jerked when someone tapped him on the shoulder. He spun around and came face-to-face with Luna. The glow from the Christmas lights cast an ethereal glow around her. In her white sweater she could have passed for an angel in the nativity pageant.
He choked on his words before finding his voice. “Your car’s good to go.”
“Thanks. I’m glad it was an easy fix.”
“Me too.” He handed over her keys. “Any plans for the evening?”
“We’re watching the Grinch movie.” She shifted Mercy on her hip. “Are you coming? They’ll have hot chocolate and popcorn.”
Man, he wished he could, but he had to keep those boundaries. Fortunately, he had a valid reason for declining. “A buddy from the Marine Corps is passing through. We’re catching dinner and hanging out for a few hours.”
“That’s exciting. I hope you have fun.”
“It’s impossible not to with Trey.” He hated to end the conversation, but work called. “I’m cutting out in an hour, which means I need to get busy. Enjoy the movie.”
He turned away but not before he memorized every part of the image before him. They could easily have been a family standing near the tree and making Christmas memories. Was it outside the realm of possibility, or could the future hold that for them?
