she hoped to see Diane again after the holidays and had enclosed a gift certificate for a restaurant in town that also delivered.
The rest of the cards all followed the same pattern. She’d received a shower of meals, a very practical gift she couldn’t help being thankful for.
She had a nice stack of restaurant coupons and gift cards by the time she finished. Her heart felt strangely warmed by the gifts she’d received from women she barely knew. The final envelope had Rachel’s address on the return label.
Opening it carefully, Diane pulled out an invitation that had been colored by a child. It read, “Since no restaurants deliver on Christmas, this card entitles you to one home-cooked meal at the home of a friend. It includes free transportation, so be ready for your ‘taxi’ to arrive no later than one o’clock on Christmas Day. Love, Rachel and family.”
Her eyes misted. Now she wouldn’t be alone on Christmas.
She moved to open the packages next and reached for the smallest one first. The return address said “Seattle.” She broke out in a cold sweat, wondering if she should open it. What if it had come from Randy? Could her heart take hearing from him?
When she could stand the suspense no longer, she tore it open. Inside a small box she found the key to her front door with a folded note underneath. Her hands trembling, she opened it.
Diane,
I’m returning the key to your condo. I did what you said and reconciled with my wife. We now attend counseling every other week, thanks to your encouragement.
I think my wife and I will make it, and for that I’m grateful. It was only because of your insistence that I did what I needed to do. Now I’ll get to see my daughter grow up and not just visit her on weekends. How can I ever thank you enough? I even started attending church with my wife. None of this would have happened if you had taken me back.
You are a wonderful, beautiful lady, and I know that someday you will meet a man who will make you very happy. That man just wasn’t meant to be me.
Merry Christmas,
Randy
Tears poured down her cheeks and smudged the ink at the top of the letter. She wiped her face with the back of her hand. She had done the right thing. It hurt like crazy, but she’d never regret it. Someone’s marriage had been blessed because of her decision instead of ruined.
She was glad to know things had worked out for Randy. The ache from missing him was miniscule now compared to when she’d first discovered his deception. She wished him the very best. Folding the letter with a sad smile, she reached for her purse and tucked it inside.
Though tempted to question why people were being so nice to her, she left that alone. She was tired of questioning people’s motives. Maybe they really did care about her. And for once in her life, she believed God might actually care about her too.
* * *
“Mr. Passel, I hope you’ll be home for the holidays. Joey’s mother wants to have her first visit on Christmas Eve at the halfway house.”
Dave groaned into his cell phone. “You don’t have that day off?”
“No, I have to work.”
“But I’ve already made plans. Can we start visits after Christmas?”
“No, Mr. Passel, we can’t. Now if you want to bring Joey to the office and leave him with me, I’ll be happy to take him for his visit and bring him home afterward.”
Dave gasped. “No way. Joey will flip out if I leave him with a stranger—no offense.”
“Are you willing to go with Joey to help make it easier for him?”
The idea of meeting Joey’s mother made him shudder. He would prefer to never meet her. What if he liked her or felt sorry for her despite her being a prostitute and an addict?
“I don’t know if I can do that.”
“Then I’ll just have to take Joey by myself.” His caseworker wheezed and coughed several times. “Excuse me.”
He wondered if she was ill and for a moment wished it would get bad enough that she couldn’t
The rest of the cards all followed the same pattern. She’d received a shower of meals, a very practical gift she couldn’t help being thankful for.
She had a nice stack of restaurant coupons and gift cards by the time she finished. Her heart felt strangely warmed by the gifts she’d received from women she barely knew. The final envelope had Rachel’s address on the return label.
Opening it carefully, Diane pulled out an invitation that had been colored by a child. It read, “Since no restaurants deliver on Christmas, this card entitles you to one home-cooked meal at the home of a friend. It includes free transportation, so be ready for your ‘taxi’ to arrive no later than one o’clock on Christmas Day. Love, Rachel and family.”
Her eyes misted. Now she wouldn’t be alone on Christmas.
She moved to open the packages next and reached for the smallest one first. The return address said “Seattle.” She broke out in a cold sweat, wondering if she should open it. What if it had come from Randy? Could her heart take hearing from him?
When she could stand the suspense no longer, she tore it open. Inside a small box she found the key to her front door with a folded note underneath. Her hands trembling, she opened it.
Diane,
I’m returning the key to your condo. I did what you said and reconciled with my wife. We now attend counseling every other week, thanks to your encouragement.
I think my wife and I will make it, and for that I’m grateful. It was only because of your insistence that I did what I needed to do. Now I’ll get to see my daughter grow up and not just visit her on weekends. How can I ever thank you enough? I even started attending church with my wife. None of this would have happened if you had taken me back.
You are a wonderful, beautiful lady, and I know that someday you will meet a man who will make you very happy. That man just wasn’t meant to be me.
Merry Christmas,
Randy
Tears poured down her cheeks and smudged the ink at the top of the letter. She wiped her face with the back of her hand. She had done the right thing. It hurt like crazy, but she’d never regret it. Someone’s marriage had been blessed because of her decision instead of ruined.
She was glad to know things had worked out for Randy. The ache from missing him was miniscule now compared to when she’d first discovered his deception. She wished him the very best. Folding the letter with a sad smile, she reached for her purse and tucked it inside.
Though tempted to question why people were being so nice to her, she left that alone. She was tired of questioning people’s motives. Maybe they really did care about her. And for once in her life, she believed God might actually care about her too.
* * *
“Mr. Passel, I hope you’ll be home for the holidays. Joey’s mother wants to have her first visit on Christmas Eve at the halfway house.”
Dave groaned into his cell phone. “You don’t have that day off?”
“No, I have to work.”
“But I’ve already made plans. Can we start visits after Christmas?”
“No, Mr. Passel, we can’t. Now if you want to bring Joey to the office and leave him with me, I’ll be happy to take him for his visit and bring him home afterward.”
Dave gasped. “No way. Joey will flip out if I leave him with a stranger—no offense.”
“Are you willing to go with Joey to help make it easier for him?”
The idea of meeting Joey’s mother made him shudder. He would prefer to never meet her. What if he liked her or felt sorry for her despite her being a prostitute and an addict?
“I don’t know if I can do that.”
“Then I’ll just have to take Joey by myself.” His caseworker wheezed and coughed several times. “Excuse me.”
He wondered if she was ill and for a moment wished it would get bad enough that she couldn’t
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