“I’m finished,” Ashley called out loudly.
All the adults laughed.
“Then let’s get started,” Grace encouraged them.
Three hours later, the twelve-foot spruce sparkled with red, green, and white lights, the ornaments she’d bought for the girls, plus dozens and dozens of her own personal ornaments that she’d collected over the years. She still had the hot pink star she’d made for her mother in sixth grade.
“I think there’s something missing under the tree. What do you think, Amanda? Ashley?”
The girls looked to their mother for an answer, but Stephanie just shrugged. Bryce and her mother shook their heads.
“Are you sure you don’t know?” Grace inquired.
“Nope, Miss Grace we don’t. We never had a tree this big before. We just had one Mommy had from when she was a little girl, but it wasn’t real. It didn’t smell good either,” Ashley continued. “It was glass.”
Grace’s eyes welled with tears when she realized this was the first real Christmas tree the girls had ever had.
“Well, since you can’t guess, I’m going to tell you.” Grace smiled, wrapping one arm around each of their shoulders.
“I believe we are missing some…presents!” Grace emphasized the last word as loud as she could without scaring them.
“Presents? Real presents with sparkly wrapping paper and shiny bows?”
“Yep,” Grace said.
With a questioning look, Ashley said, “But we already have our presents, Miss Grace. You bought us all these pretty ornaments.”
“Oh, sweetie, those aren’t your Christmas presents. Those are presents for the…tree. Yes, trees get presents, too,” Grace improvised. Bryce gave her a high five. She was practical, wasn’t she?
“They do? Mommy never got presents for our tree,” Amanda said.
“Well, only real trees get presents because when they’re cut down they leave all their…tree friends and family behind.”
“You’re pushing it, Sis,” Bryce interjected.
“Yes, I suppose so. But it doesn’t matter. Either way, I’m going to need the help of two little…elves. Ashley, Amanda, do you want to be my elves for a while?”
“Do we have to wear those shoes that curl up in the toes like the elves at the mall wear?”
Again they laughed. “All you have to do is follow me,” Grace instructed, then headed toward the steps.
As the two little girls trailed behind her, she heard Amanda whisper to her older sister, “See. I told you there really was a Santa Claus.”
Chapter 10
The road leading off the mountain was completely cleared of the afternoon snowfall. The forecasters had been wrong. They’d barely gotten a foot of snow. Max was glad because he didn’t want to wait any longer to do what he’d decided to do as he’d skied down Powder Rise yesterday afternoon.
With both dogs securely buckled in the backseat of the fire-engine red Jeep, Max carefully drove down the mountain to his destination: Denver. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been to the city, but now was as good a time as any.
The traffic on I-70 was heavy since it was Sunday morning. Hundreds of residents of Denver and the surrounding area drove to the resorts on the weekend. With Christmas just four days away, the traffic was horrendous.
Three hours later he made it to the city. First on his list was the Hummer dealership, where he traded in the Jeep he’d bought for Kayla for a bright yellow Hummer. Eddie would love this.
Next, he drove downtown to the police station. He had already dropped the dogs off at a doggie spa for grooming, figuring by the time they were finished, he would be, too.
He was taking a chance, hoping to take advantage of his acquaintance with Kayla’s former partner, Paul McCormick, who, he remembered, was a decent guy.
Luck was with him. According to the girl manning the front desk, Paul’s shift had just ended. She paged him and told Max to have a seat.
“Max Jorgenson, good to see you,” Paul said when he saw him. “I couldn’t imagine who it was when Kathy paged me. How are you?”
“Actually, I’m doing okay. Listen, I need a favor. I hate to ask you, but it’s important, and I don’t know who else I can trust.”
“Sure. Let’s go to the break room. I can’t guarantee the coffee, but it’s private.”
“Great,” Max said.
Once they were seated, Paul poured them each a cup of coffee. Max sipped his, trying hard not to gag.
Paul got straight to the point. “So what can I do for you?”
“Have you ever heard of a woman’s shelter called Hope House?”
Paul raised his eyebrows. “Everyone in law enforcement knows about it. It’s one of the best-kept secrets in Gypsum. Why? Do you know someone who needs protection?”
“No, no, nothing like that. You see…” This wasn’t as easy as Max thought it would be. It felt like a betrayal of Kayla. “The woman who runs the place, Grace Landry. What can you tell me about her?”
“Now wait a minute, Max, Grace Landry is as good as it gets. Just ask around. Whatever beef you have with her, I’ll warn you, there’s a thousand guys that’ll come to her defense.”
“Look, Paul, I owe the woman a favor. She broke down on Blow Out Hill the other night. She had two little girls with her. I just need to find a way to contact her.”
“In my day, when a lady wanted any contact from a man, she usually gave him her phone number.”
“I have her number. Here.” Max removed the crumpled slip of paper that Grace had written her number on from his pocket. “I want to surprise her. I don’t want to call her. Can you help me or not?” Max didn’t like begging, but if he had to, in this instance he would.
“Remember the old Sutton Mansion in Gypsum? It was in the paper a few years ago, something about it being on the historical register.” Paul looked him squarely in the eye. “No one knows about this, Max. If word got out that it was a shelter, the women Grace works so hard to protect wouldn’t stand a chance. There are a lot of angry husbands and boyfriends out there who would like nothing more than to see her shut down.”
“You have my word I won’t tell a soul. Thanks, Paul. I really appreciate your going out on a limb for me.”
“Anytime.” Paul stood, and Max clasped his outstretched hand.
“Whenever you want to go skiing, take a ride up to Maximum Glide. Ask for Eddie and tell him to give you and your family anything you want.”
“Thanks, Max, I might just do that. Skiing is getting a bit pricey these days.”
Max laughed. “Don’t I know it. Be careful out there.”
Max left the police station, picked up Ice-D and Cliff, who now smelled like strawberries and cream. There was one more stop Max needed to make on his way home.
He was going to buy a Christmas tree. He was sure the decorations were stored in