The Christmas Lamp by Lori Copeland Page A

have to scrimp for the next few weeks to make up the financial expenditure, and even though she most likely wouldn’t have a job by spring, she did not regret her decision. Change and risk were all that life guaranteed, and even that was fleeting. “I did it and I’m glad,” she said aloud as she stepped back to adjust the taupe shade. Supple light spilled from beneath it.
    Jake . She missed him dreadfully. The office had been so quiet. She had tried to reach him all day, but he wasn’t answering his phone. Once, she’d called Mary’s room at St. John’s but there was no answer. Roni figured she was asleep and the nurse or Jake had stepped out, so she only let it ring a couple of times.
    She started when she heard a knock on the window.
    Bending closer, she peered out and saw Jake, hands stuffed in his coat pockets, staring through the pane.
    She waved.
    He waved back.
    “What are you doing here?” she mouthed.
    “Freezing. Open the door,” he mouthed back.
    “Oh!” She turned and hurried to the front door and let him into the house. Shrugging out of his coat, he rubbed warmth back into his hands. “I see you finally bought that lamp.”
    Color crept to her cheeks. “Yes. I know it’s a foolish purchase … I didn’t know that you knew I was admiring it.”
    “Are you kidding? You looked like a little puppy wishing for a bone every time we walked past the hardware store.”
    “Oh, yeah. I suppose I was pretty obvious. It’s foolish, isn’t it?”
    He caught her hands, his eyes lit with emotion. “No, it isn’t foolish. If it makes you happy, then what’s foolish about it?”
    “For one thing, the price. Another, some people have never seen A Christmas Story so they won’t identify with the lamp’s significance.”
    His gaze locked with hers. “But you do.”
    “Of course. And when I have children and grandchildren, we’ll watch A Christmas Story together and the lamp will be as meaningful to them as it is to me.”
    He sobered, his hand tightening in hers. “Grandma passed early this morning.”
    “Oh… Jake, I’m so sorry.” And she had been babbling about a silly lamp. “I tried to reach you several times today.”
    “She went quietly. That was her way.”
    “Why did you come back here?”
    “Because I need you.”
    He needed her. Roni’s heart melted. Gathering him into her arms, she held him. They stood for many long moments locked in the embrace until he gently pulled back. “I have something I want to show you.”
    “Okay, but first I have something to show you.” She reached for her coat and slipped it on.
    “If you’re talking about the town decorations, I’ve seen them.”
    She paused. “Are you angry?”
    Shaking his head, he smiled. “I’m not angry. If I had done a better job, the town’s spirit would have never been broken.”
    “You did your job well. You challenged the town to see what we could do without funds. You helped us discover just how important this season is to our little town. It’s not about what we do, but that we do something to celebrate Jesus’ birth.
    He ruffled her hair, and then opened the door. “Let’s go see my surprise.”
    She trailed him out of the door. Hand in hand they walked by the gazebo. Nativity was a twinkling wonderland. Their gazes traced the laughter coming from the packed gazebo where breathless skaters flew by.
    “Are they roller skating?” he asked. About that time, Judy went down in a squeal and her husband stumbled and then piled on top of her. Sprawled on the gazebo floor, the couple’s infectious laughter floated over the hillsides.
    “I might have to rethink that ice rink,” Jake admitted.
    “Why? Roller skating is a lost art. The folks are having a great time, though I’m afraid Dusty might have cracked something. He took a hard fall earlier, but he vowed he was still intact. We can’t get him to go to the hospital and have things checked out. He says to wait until he goes down a second time.” They