wasn’t sure who was protecting whom, but that was okay with her. They went to the children’s department first and found a ski-jacket for Toby. They bought it a little large to fit over his casts. Elizabeth added some sweaters and long sleeve polo shirts to the pile, too. Then they went to the men’s department to buy him some large T-shirts. Molly explained to Elizabeth about them borrowing one of Richard’s the night before.
“Then we should get at least four T-shirts,” Elizabeth said. She put that many in their basket. When they reached the women’s department, Elizabeth thought Molly should buy a good wool coat that would last for many years. Molly didn’t remind her that she would be returning to Florida in a month.
Since the wool coat was navy and would go with almost anything, Molly was pleased with it. She added a couple of sweaters to the basket for her, too.
“Now, shall we look at the Christmas tree ornaments?” she asked.
“Oh, not here. There’s a lovely Christmas store that I’ve been to before. They have all kinds of specialty ornaments. Let’s go there,” Elizabeth insisted.
Molly agreed. She managed to convince Elizabeth that she should pay for her purchases.
Albert sped them away to the store Elizabeth had chosen. Inside, everything shimmered and glowed as the ornaments were displayed beautifully. Toby was thrilled, especially when his grandmother told him he should pick all the ornaments. He raced around the store, not wanting to miss anything. But he made very thoughtful choices.
“He reminds me so much of Susan,” Elizabeth said softly as she watched him make his selections.
“He is a terrific little boy, but you mustn’t spoil him too much,” Molly warned. “Susan taught him beautiful manners, and we wouldn’t want her teaching to go to waste.”
“You’re quite right, dear, but as long as you’re here with him, I’m sure you will keep him in line,” Elizabeth said with a big smile.
Molly thought about reminding Elizabeth that she would be going back to her life in Florida after Christmas, but she didn’t bother. Richard would make sure his mother knew that.
They returned home at noon, just in time for a wonderful lunch that Delores had prepared. Then Molly suggested everyone lie down for an hour or two so they’d be rested for the Christmas tree hunt that evening.
While Elizabeth and Toby took their naps, Molly removed the tags from their purchases, including the ornaments, which she carried down to the garden room. They’d bought a tree skirt and some colored lights, too. Toby had also chosen an angel to go on the top of the tree.
He had assured Elizabeth it looked just like the angel that had topped his tree in Florida. Though it was expensive, Elizabeth had declared it the perfect choice for the top of Toby’s tree at their house, too.
Molly had enjoyed their shopping as much as the other two. Because she had no family, she usually only decorated a tiny tree that sat on her dining table. She was excited just looking at all the ornaments they’d bought. A big tree, with presents under it, filled her with an anticipation that she hadn’t experienced since she was a small child with her parents.
Her parents had died in a car accident, much as Toby’s had, but she’d had no relatives to take her in. She’d spent the rest of her childhood in foster homes. None of them had celebrated Christmas as she’d remembered it with her parents.
Now, though she was alone, she tried to make Christmas special for those around her. She’d already purchased Secret Santa presents for the patients in the hospital. Since she’d left early with Toby, she’d left the gifts with another nurse to pass out for Christmas.
She usually did a lot of baking, taking goodies to her friends at the hospital and neighbors in her apartment building. She would miss baking. Unless she could convince Toby to make Christmas cookies with her.
She smiled. She wasn’t sure Delores would let them invade her kitchen.
When Toby woke up, Molly kept him busy by playing a game with him. She had a deck of cards with her and together they played more hands of Battle and Go Fish than she could count.
At five o’clock, Louisa knocked on Toby’s door. Richard had called to tell them he would be there in half an hour to go find a Christmas tree. Could they please be ready?
“Yes, of course, Louisa. Have you told Mrs. Anderson?”
“Yes, ma’am. She said she would be ready, too.”
Molly put the deck of cards away, reminding herself to buy some games the next time she had a chance. Toby was a smart little boy. She didn’t want him getting bored. According to Elizabeth, he wouldn’t be going to school until after the New Year, since most of the schools in town had ended their semester this week.
Toby could hardly contain his excitement. Molly took the child down early to wait in the garden room and discuss where they thought the tree should be placed.
When Toby finally decided on the corner of the room, she reminded him that Elizabeth and Richard might decide otherwise.
“Yeah, but I think Grandma will agree with me.”
“You think so, do you?” Molly asked him with a grin.
“She’s nice, isn’t she?” he asked, smiling back.
“Yes, she is. You’re a lucky little boy.”
Toby’s blue eyes clouded over. “I’m not lucky ’cause my mommy and daddy died.”
Molly hugged him. “I know, sweetie, but the same thing happened to me, and I didn’t have a grandma to take me in.”
Her revelation caught Toby’s attention. “Your mommy and daddy died, too?”
“Yes, when I was seven.”
He immediately hugged Molly. “I’m sorry.”
“Thank you, Toby, but it was a long time ago. I told you so you could appreciate your grandmother and uncle taking you in. That makes you a lucky boy.”
“Did you have to live alone?”
Molly laughed. “No. I might’ve been better off if I had, but I was put in a foster home.”
“What’s that?”
With a sigh, Molly said, “It’s a family who gets paid to take care of you. Usually they have too many people in the house and they don’t have time to make you feel special. Like your grandma.” Or even loved. In the two foster homes she’d lived in, they had assigned chores, but they hadn’t shown appreciation or love for what she did. She’d almost felt faceless.
“That must’ve made you sad,” Toby said solemnly.
“Yes, it did. But I—” She was interrupted by the sound of a car pulling into the driveway.
Toby rushed out of the room, calling over his shoulder, “I bet that’s Richard!”
Molly sighed and followed him more slowly. The last thing she wanted to show was enthusiasm for
