She’d never felt a need to punish herself before, making her decision to go as inexplicable as Jack’s own behavior.
But her car would be repaired soon. She’d never have to see Jack again, and maybe watching him playing Santa for children who had no claims on him would finally convince her he was right.
She offered to gather the last few toys out of Esther’s collection box while she waited for a cab.
“Thanks for taking these.” Esther piled them into a canvas shopping tote. She sighed as she patted the bag, smoothing it into a less lumpy shape. “I love this town. It’s full of caring people.”
“Do you?” Sophie didn’t see the town in quite that way, but Jack’s behavior had colored her view. He was saving himself by abandoning their daughter.
She wasn’t like Jack. She couldn’t turn her back on someone without trying to fix whatever had gone wrong.
“We try to help each other,” Esther said. “Just look at the green. How many places in this world do you know where everyone in town donates a good amount of money and time every year to do something that’s nice for the children?”
Sophie took the bag, smiling. “If you aren’t head of the tourist board, they’re suffering a great loss. The adults seem to enjoy it, too, and the tourists are growing ever thicker on the ground.”
“You’ll understand soon. You’ll be even happier at Christmas once you’re sharing it with your own kidlet.”
If only Jack could see that. “There’s my taxi.” Sophie waved as she went through the door. “See you later, Esther.”
“Sing extra loud for me.”
The carolers in their Victorian finery were already making the walls echo when Sophie stepped off the elevator on the hospital’s third floor. Dr. Everly came over to greet her.
“I didn’t expect you. Everything okay?”
Sophie held up her bag as she shrugged out of her coat. “I had a few things to deliver,” she said.
“Oh, good. Always room under the tree.”
Sophie added her packages to the impressive pile. “There aren’t this many children in the hospital?”
“Whatever we don’t give out we take to the green for distribution later.”
“Where’s Santa?” Sophie focused on folding her bag.
“Waiting until all the children arrive. He doesn’t dare show his face early. There’d be a riot.”
“How did Jack end up playing Santa?” she asked.
“His grandfather used to play Santa, and now his dad does, but his parents are touring the country in an RV during the holidays. No one expects them back.”
Sophie still didn’t understand that. Instead of providing a polite answer, she waited in silence, hoping Dr. Everly would explain. Sophie was eager for any tidbit that might explain Jack’s behavior.
“They took care of Jack’s grandmother for years. She had debilitating epilepsy that couldn’t be controlled by medication. She endured several experimental surgeries and I don’t know how many drug trials. Nothing worked, and when she couldn’t be left alone, the whole family pitched in. She passed away recently, and the elder Bannings took off for the first time since I’ve known them. I think they didn’t know what to do with themselves.”
“When did his grandmother die?” Sophie already knew. The “business trip” he’d taken in May. He’d disappeared for nine days, and when he came back, he’d been jumpy and moody, and had made excuses to avoid spending time with her.
If only she’d taken the hint then.
“I think it was just before...oh, I know. The week my children got out of school, end of May.” Dr. Everly guided Sophie toward a table with punch and cookies set out on plates stamped with The Tea Pot’s logo. “He’d hate us discussing him.”
“I didn’t mean to.” Maybe her desperation, even for her baby, didn’t make snooping acceptable, but at last his story was starting to make sense.
They both sipped punch, and Dr. Everly introduced her to members of the hospital staff, who’d also brought their children to the event.
Everyone sang. When a small group of pajama-and-robe-clad children began to recite “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” the festivities had started. Nurses and doctors drifted among the little knots of young patients, passing out treats and punch. Sophie joined in. Even her own little girl seemed to understand she was at a party. The fluttery sensations intensified, lending Sophie strength and smothering her guilt over badgering Dr. Everly.
The carolers offered a few more selections until the children began to fidget, growing impatient for the big arrival. Sophie couldn’t blame them. What little child hadn’t firmly feared Santa would never come?
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