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Chapter Twenty-Nine
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Reid looked at Michael for just a moment, making sure he wasn’t about to change his mind about which tree he wanted and demand they keep looking, and when Melody put her hands on his shoulders and said, “You are going to have the best Christmas tree Santa has ever seen,” Michael beamed, and Reid dropped down to the frozen ground to saw through the thick trunk.
“Is there anything we can do to help?” Melody asked.
“Just make sure it doesn’t fall on you—or me,” he replied. He cut through most of the trunk, leaving just enough to keep it from tumbling over and then crawled out from underneath the branches. “Mikey, you want to finish it off?”
With a proud smile, Michael scurried under the tree, and Reid climbed under next to him, guiding his hand as the saw cut through the last little bit, sending the tree crashing to the ground.
“Timb
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Once he was out of earshot, Reid turned to Melody and said, “I’m sorry about that. He asks so many questions. We are working on appropriate questions versus inappropriate questions, but he doesn’t really get that yet.”“It’s fine,” she replied, and her smile looked more genuine this time. “I just wasn’t sure what to say. I’m guessing his reason for asking doesn’t have as much to do with what I want for Christmas as it does with what he wants.”Reid’s forehead crinkled. “What do you mean?” he asked, not sure what she was getting at.Melody cleared her throat. “Nothing. I mean, I might be way off base….”“Melody, what are you trying to say?” he asked, though he was beginning to understand what she was getting at.“I just wonder if all of this—wanting to s
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Once the trees were paid for and loaded up, and they’d spent about an hour looking through the shops and sipping hot chocolate—which wasn’t nearly as good as Delaney’s—Reid opened the passenger side door for Melody, and she climbed into the cab of his truck, thankful for the running board.He closed the door and went around to make sure Michael was buckled in. While she hated using her credit card, she’d had no choice since she hadn’t planned on purchasing a tree that day, and she was thankful she’d slipped it into her back pocket, along with her ID before she left home, just in case of an emergency.Reid shut Michael’s door and checked the trees one more time before he slipped in beside her. The truck was already running, and she could feel some life coming back into her toes and fingers as he put on his seatbelt and asked if they were ready to go. Melody nodded and glanced over at
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The outskirts of Charles Town came into view, and Melody glanced in the mirror to see that Michael’s head had lolled to the side. He was asleep. Maybe Reid wouldn’t want to bother with assembling her Christmas tree stand and wrestling the spruce into place when his son was so tired.“He’ll wake up as soon as the truck stops. Guarantee it,” Reid whispered with a knowing smile.Melody returned his smile and then turned her attention back out the window. The town was always beautiful, but there was just something about all of the old houses at Christmas time that made her feel warm inside. “What made you choose Charles Town?” she asked, quietly, turning her head so that he could hear.Reid shrugged. “I have an aunt and uncle who live in Harper’s Ferry. They suggested it might be a good place for Michael and I to start over. I’ve always wanted to start my own rest
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“Reid is so cute!” Sarah whispered, taking another step closer to Melody.Looking over her shoulder to make sure Michael wasn’t paying attention, Melody’s eyes became darts. “Mother! Shhh!” she insisted. “Michael can hear you, you know.”“Oh, he’s not listening. Besides, he’d probably just assume I was talking about him. And he is a cutie, too. But that’s not who I was talking about.” Her voice went up at the end, and Melody crossed her arms again to keep from shaking her.“Mom! We are just friends,” Melody reminded her, trying to keep her voice even.“We’ll see,” Sarah said, a little twinkle in her eye. “I’m going to go check on the cookies.”Melody shook her head, reminding herself she should have known better than to bring Reid home with her just yet, espec
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The message at church was another one about the significance of Christmas, and while Melody knew there were lots of people in the congregation who wanted and needed to hear about how important Jesus’ birth was to the fate of the world, Melody was ready for the Christmas season to be over. Had she been sitting in this very pew listening to a similar sermon two years ago, not realizing her life was about to change forever? Likely so. Once Christmas was over, things would begin to get back to normal, and she wouldn’t spend so much of her time trying to remember what life must have been like before her dad passed away.She’d seen Michael briefly before Sunday school and for a few moments before the service began. He had gotten up and left with the other children to attend children’s church when Pastor Kyle began his sermon. Now that the final invocation was over, most of the members would head over to another part of the building wher
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Lunch was full of polite conversation. Mrs. Gregory asked if she had enjoyed her time at the Christmas tree farm, and Michael had told them all about the snowball fight, the caramel apples, and how Miss Melody had picked out a tiny tree for her big house, which kept everyone laughing, especially his friend, Hailey. Melody tried to focus on her lunch and stay attentive to what Michael was saying since he was the only reason she was still there. It was difficult to keep her mind from wandering. She should be sitting with her parents, not these people. Most of them were hardly even acquaintances, though she had known Mrs. Gregory her entire life.Sarah was sitting at a table on the other side of the room with some friends from her Bible study group. Melody knew most of the women’s names, but she didn’t know the two gentlemen, though she thought one of them was the husband of Sarah’s friend, Ann. The man sitting right next to her mother had
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Rehearsal was scheduled to last an hour, but a few minutes before it was over, just before the children began to sing “Silent Night,” one of the deacons came into the sanctuary and pulled Mrs. Gregory aside. Her face went ashen, and she hastily nodded at him, looking at the children and then around the room. Her eyes fell on Melody.“Melody, sweetheart, I hate to trouble you, but Mr. Gregory is not feeling well at all. Brother James just came to get me to take him home. I know it’s a lot to ask, but could you please just get the kids started on “Silent Night”? Mrs. Watson will handle the music of course. And then… would you mind running Michael home?”The second part of the request was no problem at all; it was the first part that had left her mortified. Was Mrs. Gregory actually asking her to lead a song? Melody felt her face turning red. How could she say no to a woman who was rushing o
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The inside of Reid's house was just as impressive as the outside, and Melody couldn’t help but be awestruck at the new cherry wood floor and the refinished fireplace. “This place looks amazing,” she said as Reid followed her inside and closed the door behind them.“Thanks,” he said. “We’ve finished most of the downstairs, but the upstairs has a long way to go.”“My friend Olivia lived here when we were in high school. Have you met her? She still lives in town.” He shook his head, and she continued. “Anyway, the house looked much different then. I don’t think her parents knew much about taking care of old houses.”“Well, whoever lived here before us didn’t do a whole lot of repairs,” Reid agreed. “But the bones were still good, so most of what I’ve done is cosmetic.”“New floors, new
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Mrs. Gregory played the last chord, and Melody realized there were tears streaming down her face. The song had come straight from her heart. The words, the tune, the message was all there, engraved in her heart forever, just like the memory of her father.She smiled out at the audience, hearing their applause and knowing it wasn’t for her but for her father who had loved her on earth and her Father who loved her in Heaven still.A few moments later, after a blur of hugs and congratulations from Mrs. Gregory and whomever else happened to be backstage, she found herself making her way down the aisle to join Reid and Michael, not quite sure how she’d gotten there.Michael hugged her, and Melody scooped him up and set him on her lap, wrapping her arms around him as Reid slid his arm around her. The adult choir was about to begin their first song, but Reid leaned over and whispered into her ear, “You reall
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“I want to thank all of these wonderful children,” Mrs. Gregory was saying into the microphone as the kids left the stage to find their parents in the audience. “I want to thank all of the parents and church members for all of their support. I want to thank Mrs. Agnes Watson for her hard work in rehearsal and ask each of you to keep her in your prayers. Most of all, tonight, I want to say a special thank you to Melody Murphy who agreed to play piano for us at the last moment. Melody, if it hadn’t been for you, all would be lost. Thank you, Melody.”The room erupted in applause, and Mrs. Gregory came over, microphone still in hand. Melody stood and gave a shy wave to the crowd as Mrs. Gregory wrapped her free arm around her. “Are you ready to tackle that last obstacle, sweetheart?” she whispered into her ear.Melody pulled back and locked eyes with her, not sure if she should be upset that Mrs. G
A Christmas Melody Chapter Sixty-Six
Finding a parking spot was not easy, and Reid insisted on dropping Melody off at the church and then going to park the truck. She didn’t want him to be late, but she knew she had to be on time, and the program would be starting in just a few moments, so he wished her good luck and she ducked inside, trying to concentrate on his proclamation at her house instead of the butterflies in her stomach.When Melody reached the sanctuary, she saw her mother seated with the rest of the adult choir members in the first few rows next to Mr. Haywood. Melody waved, and by the expression on her mother’s face, she could tell Mrs. Gregory had spoken to her. Sarah mouthed, “You look gorgeous!” and Melody silently thanked her before rushing back stage.“Oh, Melody! Thank heavens!” Mrs. Gregory said as she rounded the corner. “My goodness! Look at that dress. You look like an angel.”“
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The hustle through the crowd back to Reid’s truck and the short drive to her house was a blur, though Melody was aware that all the way home he was holding her hand, his thumb tracing calming circles near her thumb, and before she knew it, she was standing in front of her closet peering inside, wondering what to do.She knew she had an appropriate dress hanging in the back of her closet. She’d shoved it back there exactly two years ago when she’d been so disgusted by it she’d never wanted to see it again. Her father had picked it out for her. It was white with silver rhinestones, and though it was a little fancier than anything she’d worn for the festival before, it went perfectly with the song he’d written for her to sing that night. There were other garments she could have worn, but standing in front of the closet, she realized, if she was going to face her fears, she may as well face them completely.
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The Christmas Festival was an all day event that started the morning of Christmas Eve with a craft fair, as well as various baking, art, and craft contests, activities for the children, and of course, the Christmas concert at the church. Most of the events were outside or in different buildings around the downtown area, but the concert would be held in the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church like it was every year.Reid picked Melody up mid-morning and they spent most of the day walking around visiting the booths and checking out the contest winners, including Mrs. Gregory’s sugar cookies. Soft Christmas music played over the downtown PA system, and even when a familiar song came on, Melody realized it wasn’t bothering her as much as it had before. Somehow in the past few weeks, she’d learned to associate ideas other than memories of her father with the songs that used to make her heart ache.Michael particularly lik
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Melody exited the assembly area of the church where the ladies had put together another nice luncheon for those who would be staying for festival rehearsal and made her way into the sanctuary. She’d sat with her mother and Mr. Haywood this time, along with Michael and the Gregorys, and the more she’d gotten to know Curtis, the more she could see why her mother was attracted to him. He was certainly a successful, respectable man, and Melody felt foolish for ever having tried to convince her mother not to follow her heart.Michael hadn’t mentioned his father at all—not even once—the entire time Melody had sat right next to him. She found that peculiar but didn’t nudge him because she wasn’t sure how he felt about Reid not being there. Whether or not he had made up an excuse or just told Michael he didn’t want to talk about it anymore, she was certain it would still be difficult for the little boy to stand on
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Reid looked at Melody's lips and then back to her eyes before clearing his throat and scooting away from her just a bit, and Melody was certain he was having the same thought she was. “Of course, I know we still need to take our time and not rush into anything. It’s only been a few weeks, after all.”“Right,” Melody agreed quickly, wondering how her face could feel so warm when she was sitting outside in the cold. “I guess we don’t need to wonder how Michael will feel about it.”Reid laughed. “No, I think his reaction might be a little different than yours when you found out about your mom dating again.”Melody felt the urge to elbow him in the ribs but didn’t do so. She realized now she’d been acting selfishly, and she owed her mother an apology. In fact, she wanted to make sure she was home when her mother got back from her date so she could spea
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Melody dropped to her knees. Even though that is what she had suspected, actually hearing him say it was still a shock. Trying to keep her expression nonchalant, she asked, “You did?” Michael nodded sharply. “What did he say?”“He said he’d see what he could do, but that was a tough one this close to Christmas,” Michael said with a shrug, his face showing disappointment.“I’m sure that would be difficult, Michael,” Melody agreed, stroking his hair again.“But, Miss Melody. I didn’t ask for just any old mom.”“You didn’t?” she asked, confused.“No,” he replied, his little face quite serious. “I asked for you to be my mom.”Melody felt all of the color drain out of her face as she fumbled for a response. Luckily, Reid came up behind her just then and
A Christmas Melody Chapter Sixty
Just as it had the night before, the feel of Reid's hand in hers gave Melody the sensation of warmth and safety. Melody felt herself relax and decided to concentrate on enjoying the moment, and as they continued to slowly make their way to the front of the line, they began a discussion of popular Christmas movies which completely took her mind off of her mom, her dad, music, everything except for Reid and his uncanny ability to quote holiday films.When there were only a few other families in front of them, Michael looked up and said something to his friend before trotting over to join them. “Dad, we read Olive the Other Reindeer,” he said, slipping under the tinsel.“That sounds like a great book, buddy,” his dad said. “Did you have fun with Hailey?”“Yeah. She’s going to church tomorrow. Am I going with Mrs. Gregory?”“As far as I
