Wishes for Christmas Read online

  “Who wants to go first?” Myra asked.

  Dennis raised his hand. “I was lucky at the appliance store. I bought two of everything, except the washers and dryers. I bought four of those. Viking. The best of the best. Delivery is scheduled for December twenty-third. Plumbers and electricians have to finish first. I’m on top of that, too.” He looked down at his list. “Two industrial stoves with double ovens. Two deep freezers, two refrigerators, two dishwashers, and two of those big, as in really big, bread-making machines. I saved over five hundred dollars by buying so much. I shamed the guy into free delivery when I told him where all of it was going. That was another three hundred dollars saved.” Everyone clapped as Dennis slid the order, marked PAID, to the center of the table.

  Ted took the floor. “I got the old piano tuned, and the tuner turned me on to a church organ that was for sale. I snapped it up, and it’s being delivered December nineteenth. I also got free delivery.”

  Nikki was next up. “Jack and I went to this woolen mill in Maryland and bought in bulk. We got blankets, sheets, pillows. Then we hit this discount mall and just about bought out their supply of heavy-duty crockery. It came yesterday by freight to our house. We couldn’t work out any special deals, because we bought discounted merchandise to begin with, but we still did good. We have to figure out how to get it all to Fayetteville. Oh, Jack came across a place that sold us two hundred sturdy cots, because the place was going out of business. They’re supposed to be delivered to our house tomorrow.”

  “That’s fantastic,” Charles said.

  Kathryn pulled a sheaf of papers out of a canvas bag at her feet. “Mr. John Matlock agreed to sell the building to Pastor Tennyson at a truly remarkable price. He’s a nice elderly man. He said he was relieved not to have to maintain the building any longer and to go on the books as having done a good deed, so that when he meets his Maker, he can look Him in the eye. Really sweet man, and he likes the pastor and his wife very much. Alexis did all the legal paperwork. Annie and Myra paid for the building, and we plan to gift the building to Pastor Tennyson on Christmas Eve.”

  “We also found—well, actually, Joseph found—new quarters for the two tenants on either side of the mission. They moved out last week, and he and Ted arranged for carpenters and plumbers to ready the building,” Alexis said. “When it’s finished, it will be one huge building. Everyone is working around the clock. They’re even renovating the second floor, which was just used as storage, so that the Tennysons can move in there and out of the hovel where they now live. And they won’t be paying rent anymore. The unit on the right is going to be the chapel, but we decided that Pastor Tennyson is in charge of that. The last time I spoke to him, he couldn’t decide if he wanted folding chairs or pews. His wife convinced him to go with the pews. They’re both overwhelmed. In a good way.”

  “I ordered two vans. Each seats twelve. They were delivered this past Friday. Charles and Fergus took care of the insurance, registration, and all that,” Annie said. “They’re white, in case anyone wants to know the color. Fergus volunteered to arrange the logos, or whatever you call them, on the side panels. They’re flying down in the morning to do just that.”

  “If we all pitch in, we can get all the stuff from our house to the plane, and then the pastor can use his new vehicles to transport it to the mission. Win-win!” Jack said.

  “Fergus and I hit the army-navy surplus stores in the area and bought up their supply of clothing. It was hit or miss on sizes, but I don’t think anyone will care as long as they’re warm. We literally bought them out,” Charles said. “We need to load all of that in the plane, too.”

  They all clapped their hands in approval.

  “Not so fast, everyone!” Isabelle shouted to be heard over the clapping. “Did you all forget that Abner and I are in charge of the Christmas party?”

  “No, dear, we didn’t forget. The party is the cherry on top. All this other stuff has to be done before we can have the party. Tell us what you have planned,” Myra said.

  “Abner said we ran out of money, so Dennis said he would pay for the party. We should all thank him.”

  They did. Dennis blushed at their thanks.

  “The party goes hand in hand with Yoko and Harry’s donating the live Christmas tree, the different wreaths, and all the poinsettias and greenery for the new chapel,” Isabelle said. “As for the party, I am having it catered by a caterer in Fayetteville. No one is cooking this year. The pastor and his wife deserve a night to remember. It will be a buffet, of course, all you can eat of everything known to man. We also ordered presents by the hundreds. Abner’s fingers are almost raw from wrapping. Poor thing can barely type these days.”

  The others hooted with laughter, knowing that would never happen. “And we called Mrs. Ryder, and she said she would do her best to make the party and bring along all of Alma’s Christmas decorations that she left behind. She was truly excited when I told her what her old neighbor and friend has been doing all these years.”

  “What did you get in the way of gifts, dear?” Myra asked.

  “TracFones, iPads, all that digital stuff that Abner loves so much. Pastor Tennyson will be in charge of the minute cards. He’ll monitor them so there is no abuse. Abner also got three state-of-the-art computers, fax machines, and copiers for the mission.”

  “Did you get anything for the pastor and his wife?” Myra asked.

  “We did, actually, but it isn’t something that can be wrapped up. It was Dennis’s idea, because on one of his trips to Fayetteville, Pastor Tennyson mentioned that his wife’s dream was to someday open a medical clinic where the poor could go for help. Two blocks away from the mission was an empty building, and Dennis bought it. Renovations start after the first of the year. Maggie’s teacher is going to get her dream. We’ll wrap the deed to the medical clinic property in a box with a big red bow and leave it and the deeds to the other three properties under the Christmas tree, with instructions that both gifts are not to be opened till Christmas morning.”

  This time, the clapping was so loud, along with the cheers, that Dennis buried his face in his hands.

  “Nice going, kid,” Harry said. “You got heart. I like that.”

  Dennis thought he was going to fly to the moon with Harry’s praise.

  “It’s nine o’clock now,” Fergus said. “I think if we all put our shoulders to the wheel, we can transport all the merchandise from Jack and Nikki’s, plus what Charles and I bought, to the plane by midnight. The cots that are being delivered tomorrow will have to go on the next flight out. We plan to leave by seven in the morning.”

  “Then let’s get to it,” Ted said as they all scrambled to their feet for their outerwear.

  Annie looked at Myra, who said, “Do we belong to that group, or are they leaving us behind?”

  “I think they think we’re too old to do our share,” Annie hissed in return. “I hate when they do that, so move your ass, Myra!”

  Dennis poked his head in the door. “Aren’t you coming? This is a team effort, you know. Everyone has to do their share. Shake it, ladies. I’m driving.”

  Annie hissed again. “I can’t give that kid another raise. He’s making too much money as it is. We have to do something nice for him. He’s been in such a funk lately. You do know that new girlfriend of his dumped him, right?”

  Myra stopped in her tracks. “No, I didn’t know. What happened?”

  “Okay, now, this is in confidence, Myra.”

  Myra nodded.

  “Well, it seems Miss Mitzi Overton, UPS driver, playfully or maybe not so playfully asked young Dennis how much money he had in the bank, and he just as playfully said he was overdrawn. That was the end of that. It happened right before Thanksgiving. He came to me for advice, and I told him to forget he ever met her.”

  “Sound advice, Annie. How did he take it?”

  “Pretty good, all things considered. He was going to buy her a cashmere scarf for Christmas. She would have dumped him for sur
e when she saw the scarf. Young women today want bling. Lots of bling. He’s fine now, I think. He’s caught up in this mission, which is a good thing. He’ll find his princess when it’s the right time and not one minute before. This is going to be such a great Christmas, isn’t it, Myra?”

  “The best, Annie. The best!”

  A light snow was falling when the gang arrived at the airport in a caravan of vehicles. Jack looked at his watch. They were right on time. Annie’s Gulfstream was sitting on the private runway, ready for boarding. The date was December 24, and the time was five minutes to noon. This time, there was no cargo, no overnight bags. Maggie was the only one who carried a bright red shopping bag with a huge silver bow on the crinkly handles. Her gift for her old teacher. Annie had the four property deeds wrapped and stuffed in her huge carryall. She was so excited, she stumbled twice going up the portable stairs.

  They were airborne in less than fifteen minutes. The moment they were at cruising altitude, Isabelle swung into her party mode. Since there were no stewardesses, she popped champagne bottles and set out a wide array of canapés, which the gang devoured the moment they saw them. They toasted their mission, Maggie, and the Tennysons.

  “And the game plan is to be back on board by nine this evening for our return to Pinewood, with one stop at St. Ann’s for midnight services, where Lizzie and little Jack will be waiting for us. Then we will all spend the holidays together, and Charles promised us a Christmas goose for dinner,” Nikki said, holding her champagne glass high in the air.

  Maggie was on her feet in an instant. Tears rolled down her cheeks. “I don’t know how to thank you all for . . .” She waved her arms about. “What started out as a mission to locate my old teacher turned into this . . . this . . . wonderful thing we’re doing for so many people. And on top of all that, it’s supposed to be a white Christmas. All I can say is thank you, thank you, thank you!”

  “Believe it or not, my dear, we’ve enjoyed every minute of what we’ve been doing these past weeks. I think I speak for all of us when I say if we had to do it all over again, we wouldn’t change a thing. The biggest reward is knowing we’re helping others. In the end, isn’t that what Christmas is all about?” Myra said.

  Maggie nodded tearfully as Ted moved closer and hugged her tightly.

  Dennis chirped up. “Did Abner tell you he opened bank accounts for the mission? Well, he did. Pastor Tennyson will never have another worry. He can tend to his flock, work on his mission to get the street people jobs and training. Annie, Myra, and I funded it, along with . . . um . . . a generous donation from Mr. Angus Spyder.”

  “Hear! Hear!” Kathryn shouted. She started to pour coffee into Annie’s monogrammed cups. Isabelle was corking the champagne for the return flight.

  The group made more toasts, one after the other, for every conceivable thing they could think of. The mood was bright and cheerful as they settled down for the remainder of the flight, which was over before they knew it.

  When the gang deplaned, they saw at least an inch of snow on the ground. Everyone smiled as they waited for the two mission vans to come to a stop. Annie was the last to board the van because she was giving last-minute instructions to the pilot.

  “We absolutely have to leave here this evening. You have my cell phone number. Give us time to get here if you think we need to leave ahead of schedule due to the weather or some unforeseen circumstance.”

  The pilot nodded. He wanted to be home for Christmas as badly as everyone else.

  “Just make it happen, Anthony,” Annie said, patting his arm before she sprinted for the van that was waiting for her.

  Forty-five minutes later, Pastor Tennyson threw open the doors and welcomed his guests. Myra, Annie, and Maggie were the only ones who hadn’t already seen the Guardian Angels Mission, and they complimented the pastor. Maggie looked around in awe at what she was seeing. How wonderful it all looked. And it smelled delicious, with the scent of fresh balsam and the food that was being prepared by Isabelle’s caterer.

  Long tables with real tablecloths in red and green graced the room. Every table had beautiful centerpieces of poinsettias and greenery. There were poinsettias everywhere, compliments of Yoko, who had flown down yesterday, the plane full from top to bottom. Kathryn said she didn’t think there was a prettier sight anywhere.

  Maggie looked around for a glimpse of her old teacher. When she didn’t see her, she started to panic. The grip she had on her gift bag was fierce. “I don’t see her. Where is she?” There was such panic in her voice, Harry put his arm around her shoulders to calm her. At his touch, Maggie calmed and smiled. Harry had that effect on people.

  And then she had her answer. “I’m sorry my wife isn’t here at the moment. I surprised her by giving her my present a little early. A new dress for the occasion. She went home to, as she put it, get dolled up. She’ll be back shortly. So, until she gets here, why don’t I give you all the dollar tour?”

  The gang trooped along, offering compliments and smiling.

  “We’re a work in progress, but we’re getting there,” Pastor Tennyson told them. “In my wildest dreams, I never thought this was even a remote possibility, as much as I prayed for it to happen. There has been such a change in our people. Yes, they still come for meals, and yes, they still come to sleep, so they aren’t on the streets at night, in the cold. They’re asking to help. They’re starting to see what we’re trying to do, and they want to be part of it. I’ve been in touch with some of the smaller businesses in the area, and we’re working on a jobs program. It’s all like a miracle. Thanks seems so . . . lame, but it’s all I can say.”

  “We were glad to help,” Myra said. “Just so you know, while we are going to be leaving you to return home, that does not mean we are going away. We will always be just a phone call away. If you need anything, anything at all, or if you run into problems, just call us.”

  Pastor Tennyson raised his eyes and said so softly only Maggie heard him, “And the angels sing.”

  The tinkling bell over the door could be heard as members of the pastor’s flock started to arrive. And then it was mild chaos as men, women, and a few small children wandered around. It was obvious to the gang that the flock had made a real effort to clean up and be at their best. It was so heartwarming, they all felt their eyes fill up.

  Dennis, Mr. Social himself, decided to give tours and repeated almost word for word what the pastor had said when he’d done his own tour just minutes ago. He’d seen the look of panic on the gang’s faces when they saw the children appear. He was glad now that he’d listened to his gut and bought toys on the off chance some children might appear. He’d gotten doll babies, doll buggies, trucks and cars, mittens and warm hats. And, of course, candy canes. He gave himself an imaginary pat on the back for having the foresight to snap up all the Christmas stockings in one of the Big Lots stores. The stockings came in different sizes. Those for children contained small toys, candies, and things like toothbrushes, bubbles, and individually wrapped soaps. In the adult stockings, there was deodorant, soap, toothbrushes, razors, wool socks, and warm gloves. He wasn’t sure, but he thought there were over three hundred stockings. More than enough to go around.

  It was coming up on five o’clock when Annie’s phone rang. She moved off to take the call. It was the pilot.

  “Ninety minutes, and we have to be wheels up, or we’re here for the holidays. The snow is coming down heavy now,” he said.

  “Okay. We’ll be on time.”

  Annie clapped her hands and whistled to get everyone’s attention. She explained the situation.

  “Well, then, we need to get this show on the road,” Pastor Tennyson said cheerily. “I hear my wife’s car in the back, so let me welcome her in her new finery so she doesn’t get all flustered. She’s supposed to be Mrs. Santa Claus. You all do what you need to do while I greet my wife.”

  Everyone fell to it, and within minutes, the pastor’s flock was seated at the tables. The buffet was set up as everyo
ne scurried to help. Except Maggie, who stood rooted to the spot where she was standing. She waited, her gift bag clutched firmly in her hands.

  As Nikki whizzed by, she whispered, “I can hear the angels singing. Look alive, girl. This is what you’ve been waiting for. Smile. Please.”

  And Maggie smiled as Pastor Tennyson led his wife, who looked beautiful in a long red dress with white faux fur around the neck and sleeves. Her hair was all gray now, but she looked the same to Maggie, her smile just as beautiful as she remembered. Maggie stepped forward. “Hello, Miss Roland. Remember me?”

  In that instant, the sudden silence was louder than thunder. It was as though the flock knew somehow that this was a momentous moment, and they honored it with silence.

  “Margaret! Margaret Spritzer! Of course I remember you. You were my favorite student. How wonderful to see you after all these years! You are part of this! I should have known that. I cannot tell you how often I thought about you over the years and wondered how you were doing.” She moved forward to take Maggie in her arms.

  Maggie started to cry. Then everyone else started to cry. Pastor Tennyson rushed around to find tissues but ended up with rolls of toilet paper, which he unrolled and handed out. Which made Maggie laugh as she handed her gift bag to her old teacher.

  Alma Roland Tennyson carefully picked at the tissue paper and withdrew ten-year-old Maggie’s Christmas decoration, the toilet-roll Santa with the colored cotton balls.

  “You saved this all these years!”

  Maggie’s head bobbed up and down as Alma swiped at her eyes.

  “Ah, now I know why my husband said we weren’t going to decorate the tree. This will do the job nicely. What a wonderful present. Come along. Let’s hang this on the tree together.”

  “Isn’t this the most wonderful thing you’ve ever seen, Annie?” Myra asked.

  “I can hear the angels singing. Can you?” Annie beamed.

  “Loud and clear, my friend, loud and clear.”