A Texas Holiday Miracle

Emma was busy pulling things out of a drawer as Lacey walked out. Lacey had to apologize to Gabe one more time and see exactly how he felt about Emma invading his privacy. And she had to thank him for removing the board.

* * *

GABE PLANNED TO give Pepper a few more minutes and then he would take her inside. He wasn’t sure when he realized someone was standing there, but he felt a strong presence and turned his head. It was the crazy lady. Now what?

She stepped onto his deck. “I’m sorry Emma came over here and disturbed you.”

He frowned. “Who’s Emma?”

She blinked, as if she was caught in the headlights of something disturbing. “She’s...my sister. The little girl who is always coming into your yard. Against your wishes.”

“Oh.” He was losing his mind, and he hated that she was reminding him how out of touch he was.

She motioned toward the gate. “Thanks for removing the board.”

“Yeah. I shouldn’t have done that.”

What did she want? Couldn’t she see he was having trouble making conversation?

Pepper whimpered, and she went to the dog and squatted next to her. “Is Pepper sick?”

Go away, he screamed inside his head. But then he heard words coming out of his mouth. “She has cancer.”

“Oh. I’m sorry.” She patted the dog and seemed generally concerned. But his perception was way off. “Is there any help for her?”

He rubbed his hands together, not wanting to talk, but once again words erupted from his throat. “No. The vet said it’s time to put her to sleep. But she was my son’s dog and I can’t do that.”

She continued to pat the dog. “She’s trembling in pain. You have to do something. You can’t just leave her like this.”

“She’s the last thing I have of my son. If she goes, I...”

She got up and knelt in front of him. He looked into green eyes as bright and shining as anything he’d ever seen. Was that a tear he glimpsed?

“She’s not the last thing you have of your son.” She placed a hand over her heart. “In here you have many memories that no one and nothing can take from you, not Pepper’s death or anything on this earth. That love, that feeling, will always be with you.”

His gaze narrowed on her face and he saw her for the first time, really saw her. Her hair was blond, a beautiful natural color, and it was short, kind of kicked up at the back and curled around her face. It gave her a young Meg Ryan appeal.... He had no idea where that thought came from.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know your name. I’m a little out of touch.”

“It’s Lacey.”

A pretty name for a pretty woman. He shook his head. “You don’t understand.”

“I do. I lost my father. The one and only safety net I had in my life, and suddenly all that security was gone. It’s been hard holding it together for Emma. I know your situation is different, but you can’t continue to let this dog suffer. Do the humane thing like the vet suggested.”

“I’ve been trying to do that, but something always stops me.”

“I will go with you if that will help.”

He looked at her again. He was a man and strong enough to handle anything. He’d dealt with his son’s death. Why was he so frightened of what would happen to him once Pepper was gone? Suddenly he saw a lifeline in her eyes. That was the way he saw it, and he took it, because it was the only thing he had at the moment.

“Thank you. I...I would appreciate that.”

She went back to Pepper. “Do you have anything to give her for pain?”

“The vet gave me some injections. I only have one left.”

Lacey sat next to the dog and stroked her. “She really needs something.”

He stood and walked into the house, knowing once he gave Pepper the injection, he would have to take her to the vet. It was time.

The woman was still there when he came back. She watched as he gave Pepper the injection. The dog drifted into sleep.

“When do you want to take her in?”

“The medication lasts a little over twenty-four hours. Probably tomorrow or when the vet has an opening.” He made the decision and he wasn’t panicking, because this woman, this crazy woman as he’d called her, had reached out a hand when he’d desperately needed it.

“Do you mind if Emma says goodbye to Pepper? She’s very fond of her, and I don’t know how she’s going to take this.”

He ran a hand through his hair. “Do whatever you feel is best.”

“Thanks. You’re doing the right thing. I’ll...I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

Was he doing the right thing? Then why did he feel as if he was in a deep dark hole without any chance for survival?

As she left, he wondered what had just happened. He’d talked so much in the past few minutes that his throat burned. And he realized how much he missed talking. How he missed a lot of things. Maybe there was a light at the end of his long dark tunnel. A green light.

* * *

LACEY STOOD ON her patio and took a deep breath. She needed it to calm her emotions before she went into the house. Gabe’s pain touched her heart. She feared this might be the last straw for him. But she would do everything she could to help him. She was just glad he was in a receptive mood, because he didn’t need to go through this alone.

She knew about loneliness, death, suffering and the unimaginable pain that went along with them. Maybe they could find solace together. She was still reeling from him talking to her. He had a deep, strong voice, and she could picture him in a courtroom. There wasn’t much on this earth he couldn’t handle, she imagined, except the death of his son.

Shivering, she wrapped her arms around her waist. Soon there had to be some relief for Gabe. He couldn’t continue to live the way he had been, and the fact that he’d actually confided in her gave her hope. She wiped away an errant tear.

Now she had another problem. How was she going to tell Emma about Pepper? Once again, death was going to derail them for a short time. It was too much, though. Too much for a six-year-old girl to handle. Too much for a twenty-eight-year-old woman to handle. And definitely too much for the man next door to handle.

She opened the door and went inside. Emma sat at the table, drawing.

Emma lifted her head. “Look. I drew a picture of Pepper.”

Lacey removed her jacket and stared at the black dog on the paper with the blue sky, green grass and tall trees. A happy scene.

How was she going to tell Emma?

“Very nice.”

“Did you talk to Mr. Gabe?”