The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans

Author:Richard Paul Evans
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Each day, as the first streaks of dawn spread across the blue winter morning sky, Mary could be found in the front parlor, sitting comfortably in a posh, overstuffed Turkish chair, warming her feet in front of the fireplace. In her lap lay the third Bible. The one that she had kept. This morning ritual dated decades back but Mary could tell you the exact day it had begun. It was her “morning constitutional for the spirit,” she had told Keri.

During the Christmas season she would read at length the Christmas stories of the Gospels, and it was here that she welcomed the small, uninvited guest.

“Well, good morning, Jenna,” Mary said.

Jenna stood at the doorway, still clothed in the red-flannel nightshirt in which she almost always slept. She looked around the room then ran to Mary. Mary hugged her tightly.

“What are you reading? A story?” Jenna asked.

“A Christmas story,” Mary said. Jenna’s eyes lit up. She crawled onto Mary’s lap and looked for pictures of reindeer and Santa Claus.

“Where are the pictures?” she asked. “Where’s Santa Claus?”

Mary smiled. “This is a different kind of Christmas story. This is the first Christmas story. It’s about the baby Jesus.”

Jenna smiled. She knew about Jesus.

“Mary?”

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“Will Daddy be here at Christmas?”

“Why of course, dear,” she assured. She brushed the hair back from Jenna’s face and kissed her forehead. “You miss him, don’t you?”

“He’s gone a lot.”

“Starting a new business takes a lot of work and a lot of time.”

Jenna looked up sadly. “Is work better than here?”

“No. No place is better than home.”

“Then why does Daddy want to be there instead of here?”

Mary paused thoughtfully. “I guess sometimes we forget,” she answered and pulled the little girl close.

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