Dreaming of a White Christmas Read online

  Ben clapped his hand onto Jerry’s shoulder and grinned. “That’s great, Jerry.”

  “Yeah, and while we were looking up stuff, I found that bookmark you gave me. The one that talks about how to ask Jesus into your heart.” He paused and looked away, swiping at his eyes. “Well, um—the kid, he gets ahold of that bookmark and he says, ‘Dad, you and me, we need to do this. We need to get right with Jesus.’ ” Jerry turned back toward Ben. “My boy’s fourteen and he’s got more sense than me. But now, thanks to you, we both got Jesus.”

  w

  Casey found waking for work on Monday morning harder than she remembered. One week of languishing in bed and watching movies or talking to Ben on the phone had made her sadly inept at the work routine. To top it off, her in-box was overflowing with a week’s worth of work. She would have to stay late to clear it out.

  Ben called just as she sat down at her desk.

  “Casey, we really need to get together tonight. It’s important.”

  Casey cast a glance at the in-box pile that threatened to turn into an avalanche. “I can’t see you tonight. I have to work. What about tomorrow?”

  She heard him sigh. “No, I have to work.”

  The sound of Mrs. Montero’s voice warned her of her boss’s presence in the hall. “I have to go. I’ll call you at lunch.” She clicked off the phone and stashed it in her desk drawer just as Mrs. Montero rounded the corner with another woman in tow.

  “Welcome back, Casey. Meet my twin sister, Andi.” She smiled. “Andi, this is Casey Forrester, the genius behind the Christmas windows.”

  “It’s a pleasure, Casey.” Andi reached across Casey’s desk to shake her hand. “Alex has told me so much about you. Delia, too.”

  Mrs. Montero looked confused. “Delia?”

  “I’ll tell you all about it over coffee. It was nice meeting you, Casey. I hope to see you again soon.”

  Casey sat back in her chair and tried to make sense of what she’d just heard. Alex, Andi, and Delia. Where had she heard those names in conjunction with one another?

  “Ben.”

  She rose on shaking legs and headed for the break room to fortify her brain with the store’s signature French roast. Before she could pour her coffee, Mrs. Montero’s secretary came in carrying an enormous arrangement of flowers.

  “Those are lovely, Susan. Are they yours?”

  “No, Mrs. Montero’s brother sent them. The florist made a mistake and delivered them here instead of her home last week. Guess this was the only number they had for her. Anyway, aren’t they pretty?”

  The phone rang across the hall at Susan’s desk. “Oh, do you mind watching this until the water fills to the top?”

  Casey eyed the card as she took hold of the slowly filling clear-glass vase that Susan had put under the tap. “Sure, I’ll keep an eye on it,” she said as Susan scurried away.

  The envelope had been discarded, leaving only the card on the plastic holder. Casey parted the foliage in order to read the inscription.

  Thanks for the number, sis. I’m seeing her tomorrow.

  Love,

  Ben

  “Thanks for the number? I’m seeing her tomorrow?” Casey’s eyes narrowed. “And he let me believe the Callahan name was just a coincidence.”

  “Yes, I did, and I’m sorry.”

  “Ben! What are you doing at my office?” Casey dropped the arrangement and it crashed into the sink. She looked at the mess, then back at Ben. It was all she could do to keep from crying.

  “I came to see you.” He shook his head. “Actually, I came to see my father first, then you.”

  Elias Callahan stepped off the elevator. “There you are. Oh, good, Casey, you’re here, too. This is perfect.”

  Casey stared at Ben. “He’s your father.”

  “Yes.” Ben crossed the distance between them. “I wanted to tell you.” He paused to capture her hand with his. “No, that’s not true. I didn’t want to tell you at all. Then you talked to me about God’s will and I knew I had to.” He gestured toward his father with his free hand. “I also knew I owed this man an apology.”

  Elias came to stand at Ben’s side. It was obvious the man had been crying. “Casey, I owe you a huge debt of gratitude. You brought my son back to me. More important, what you said to him, he repeated to me. Those words brought me back to my son.”

  “There’s more, Casey.” Ben released her fingers to take her into an embrace. “I don’t mind saying this in front of Pop. I love you. I can’t explain it, and I know we haven’t known one another a long time, but my prayers have told me that this has to be something God approves of.”

  Casey stood quiet a long time, struggling to find the words to respond.

  “It’s a lot to take in, Casey, but I know we were meant to be. Will you give us a chance?”

  She tried to nod but couldn’t. Finally she managed to speak. “I love you, too, Ben.”

  While Elias beamed his approval, Ben went down on one knee. “Casey Forrester, you are the world to me. Will you be my wife, Sleeping Beauty?”

  This time Casey found her ability to nod. She also said, “Yes, Prince Charming, I will.”

  “This calls for a celebration. I know!” Elias clapped his hands. “We will turn Casey’s Christmas Eve party into an engagement party for the two of you.”

  Casey’s heart sank. “About that party. I’ve been trying to figure out how to tell you this, sir, but I can’t be there Christmas Eve. I have plans to go home to Missouri. Granny Forrester and the family are expecting me.”

  Ben exchanged glances with his father. “What if I were to accompany you to Missouri, Casey? I want to speak to your father before I make our engagement official.” He turned to Elias. “You understand, don’t you, Pop?”

  “Understand a man in love? Of course I do. What if we hold off on the party until Valentine’s Day? We can plan the party to coincide with Casey’s Valentine’s Day windows.”

  “I got the Valentine’s Day windows?” Casey jumped into Ben’s arms and kissed him soundly. When he set her on her feet again, she realized she now stood in her bare feet.

  “You did it again, Prince Charming,” she said as she looked up into the eyes of the man she loved.

  “What did I do, Sleeping Beauty?”

  “You knocked my socks off. Well, my shoes, anyway.”

  The End