“I think this would be okay,” she said.
“Then Landry will bring your bedroom furniture from your house and put it in the spare bedroom. And we can start to dream up what kind of things we want to cook and bake for the holidays, and I bet you’d like to do some shopping. I think we’re going to be very busy.”
“Will we bake cookies and things?”
“Would you like to?” Kaylee asked. “I have to admit, I haven’t had much practice…”
Mallory gave her an impatient look. “If you follow the directions, it comes out good. If you cheat the directions, not so much.”
“I’ll be sure to remember that,” Kaylee said.
* * *
If there was one thing Kaylee hadn’t expected, it was how the people in Virgin River, her new friends, responded when they heard the news that she’d taken in Mallory. The generosity they displayed was unimaginable. It was almost as if they were showing their appreciation. Jack was probably responsible for getting the word out because he and Mike and Preacher helped Landry move Mallory’s bedroom furniture the very next morning. Mallory spent one more night with Ali until then.
Kelly Holbrook brought over a large basket of scrumptious baked goods, and Jillian brought some squash and onions and peppers from her winter garden. Paige and Preacher hand-delivered a large basket of brisket and salmon, prepped for the freezer, for their future meals together. Vanessa and Paul brought two pies and a dozen cookies, which was a lifesaver because Kaylee’s first attempt at baking Christmas cookies didn’t go that well. Then there were many packages left on the porch with no card. There were gifts of banana, zucchini and cranberry breads and a tray of cinnamon rolls. Not only were the gifts of food plentiful and in a great variety, there were other gifts—hand-stitched Christmas place mats and napkins, garland left decorating the front porch rail, a wreath for the door and a holiday basket filled with ornaments.
“I guess we’ll have to put up a tree,” Kaylee said.
“That shouldn’t be too hard since we live in a forest,” Landry said.
Kaylee called her father and surprised him by inviting him to Christmas Eve dinner. “Really?” he asked. “Of course I’d like to come! What can I bring? Where should I reserve a room?”
“Life has become very interesting here,” she explained. “I’m fostering a little girl who just lost her mother, she’s ten, and she’s staying with me. Landry said you can have his room.”
“Where is Landry going to stay?” Howard asked.
“I’m sure I can make room for him somewhere in my little house, but he has the larger dining room and kitchen, so we’ll be cooking there.”
“I guess things are progressing nicely,” Howard said.
“There’s a gathering in the town at Jack’s Bar and it spills out around the tree. I hear there’s food, drink, carol singing and in general a town party. I’m told it usually starts around six when the sun goes down and the tree lights up. Can you get here early enough for that?”
“I wouldn’t miss it.”
The week leading up to Christmas was consumed with volunteer duties. Mallory decided she was ready to go back to school and that freed Kaylee to shop and help with the food baskets. Every evening she read with Mallory and it thrilled her. Since all her books were back in Newport, she downloaded the first book in the Harry Potter series and if Mallory enjoyed it, she’d buy her the set. But for now, having this sweet little girl tucked up next to her, the two of them taking turns reading every other page, was sheer bliss.
Kaylee could see that when children suffered a loss like this, they could be resilient, at least in the moment. Mallory could be easily distracted by the puppies or other children, laughing and playing one moment and then a bit later, morose and feeling a little lonely. Kaylee was there for her when her spirits were down.
Every day was packed with activity. Every evening Kaylee was busy getting dinner ready or spending time with Mallory. Most nights the dogs joined them for at least a little while until one the puppies made a mess. Kaylee found that Lady curled up beside her, leaning against her, as if Lady had chosen Kaylee as her everything.
Not only had she gone over to the coast to do a little shopping, but Landry had run a few errands for her as well so that Santa would not miss this house. There were gifts wrapped and hidden at Landry’s house, ready to be put under the tree.
In the dark of night when Kaylee and Landry held each other, they whispered about the turn of events. “I never would have seen this coming,” Landry said. “I’m glad you decided to bring Mallory home.”