It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Acts 20:35
Liam
once approved of helping others, but not anymore. He lost his mother due to a
crazed street person, and he's hardened his heart. Now a successful
photographer, he’s returned to set up shop in his hometown--directly across the
courtyard from his sister’s best friend. Zoe runs an outreach center and
encourages the homeless and needy, especially at Christmas. Nursing a soft spot
for Liam that started as a girlhood crush, she sets out to help him by creating
her unique brand of encouragement cards. Her hope is to reignite the fire and
love for Christmas and God, which Liam once had. The cards and ornaments
countdown to Christmas, but what if Liam doesn’t want to be one of Zoe’s
projects? What happens when her crush grows into something more? What if they
both receive more than expected?
Chapter 1.......
Prologue
Live in harmony with
one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low
position.
~ Romans 12:16
15 Years Ago
“He needs
’couragement.” Zoe ignored the walk light and stopped at the curb.
Her best friend,
Meredith Gorgeous, went on ahead.
Would Mom be mad if
Zoe talked to the man on the bench?
His crossed arms told
her that he sought warmth from the ragged blanket, which was too small to cover
the front of his body. Though his knees were pulled up, the metal bench had to
be ice cold. Did the poor man have anyone to share Christmas with?
From the corner of
her eye she caught Liam stay his sister with a hand, and return her to Zoe’s
side, where Meredith stood rooted. Zoe felt the heat of Liam’s heart-stopping
blue eyes as he looked down at her.
“What kind of crazy
word is ’couragement?”
Meredith jerked from
her brother’s touch and bumped into Zoe. “Just because you’re a teenager now,
Liam, doesn’t mean you can pull me around.”
Zoe liked Liam’s
protection. She’d never been afraid walking with Meredith in downtown Lincoln.
On Saturday afternoons, he often escorted them from a movie to the SUV where
Mrs. Gorgeous waited.
“I’m obeying Mom,
Meredith. And Zoe, that stranger might be as crazy as the word you used.”
The heat of Liam’s
attention pulled Zoe’s gaze off the homeless man. She raised her eyes and had
to tip back her head. Liam’s handsome face was capped by dark blond hair that
brought his last name to life. He’d grown again since school began. She looked
down to listen to what he said without being distracted by staring up at him.
“You’re in the fifth
grade now, way too old to not say the word correctly.”
Her heart did a
flip-flop at the sound of his deep voice. They’d never be in the same school
again. Next year he’d go to high school at the same time she and Meredith
advanced to middle school.
“Let her be, Liam.”
Meredith hit him on the shoulder. “So what if she says the word without the
beginning letters? I want to always be a little girl at heart.”
Zoe reached for
Meredith’s hand. “That man on the bench. He’s sad. He’s cold and alone. I want
to make a Christmas card to ’courage him.”
“OK, squirt.” Liam
circled her tender earlobe, freshly pierced. “I got it. You want to encourage
the man to make him feel better.”
“Right. Could you ask
your mom to take us to the craft store on the way home so Meredith and I can
make a card tonight? Let’s look for him next week after the movie.”
That night, the girls
sat at Zoe’s kitchen table, which was covered with scrapbooking materials.
“Meredith, since Mom works at the hospital on Saturdays, I’m glad your mom
drives us. Do you think Liam will walk us girls around a couple blocks by the
theater? I’ll pray first on Friday night.”
“I’ll pray, too. I
want to give this card I’m making to just the right person.”
Zoe worked her tongue
while she cut silver paper. “Did you see the face of the man on the bench
today?”
“I did. He made me
think of Santa Claus.” Meredith swung her heavy, long braid over her shoulder.
“It shouldn’t be hard
to find him with that white beard. I want this card to go to him. I wish I was
older and had a job so I could buy him a big blanket to keep him warm.” Zoe
handed the scissors to Meredith.
“You look for him. I
want to look for a raggedy woman. Maybe even someone who has a place to sleep
at night, but looks lonely and lost. God will show me if a sad lady needs
Christmas cheer from my card all decorated like a beautiful tree.”
“I have an idea.” Zoe
reached for gold foil and a snow-white sheet of paper. “Let’s each make a card
and then make one together. That way we can give out three cards for three
Saturdays.”
“You work your
favorite number nine into everything you do.” Meredith uncapped a bottle of
silver glitter. “That’s OK. We don’t have enough time to make twenty cards.”
“You’re my best
friend, Meredith Gorgeous, but I’ll never understand why your favorite number
is twenty.”
“Why does anybody
have a favorite number?” Meredith straightened the table mess.
Three weeks later,
the girls waited inside the lobby for Liam. He and his friends had met for a
sci-fi movie, yet to end. Meredith bopped to a tune plugged into her ear.
Zoe scanned past the
movie posters, and sighed at the sight of Liam loping down the corridor. Her
mom said she was too young to read romance novels, but as long as they were
Christian and her mom had already read them, it was OK. Every hero in every
book she read had Liam’s face. She’d never told Meredith the way Liam made her
feel. He was strong and protected them. He did funny things to her insides, and
she often didn’t know what to say or do. He thought she was his sister’s best
friend, and nothing more. I want to marry Liam someday.
He approached and
yanked out Meredith’s earbud.
Zoe waited, but he
didn’t look at her.
He waved to his
friends as they headed for a different exit.
Outside the theater,
the girls held hands, Liam walking behind so it didn’t appear as though the
three were together.
A homeless man pushed
off the wall of the building and into their path. “You girls are angels.”
Liam’s shoes slapped
on the sidewalk as he ran to catch up. He placed a hand on each of their
shoulders, preventing them from getting too close to the man.
Zoe smiled at the man
who wore a light jacket over a frayed, hooded sweatshirt that looked more gray
than black. “We’re not angels, we’re ’couragers.”
“I like that better.
It takes courage to approach a reprobate like me. I’m not gonna hurt them,
laddy. You girls encouraged me last week by that beautiful gold angel card.
Prettiest thing my hands have held in a long, long time. You gave me hope, so
much I’m gonna clean up and find a church Christmas Eve.” He gave a slight bow
and moved aside.
The girls didn’t say
a word as they walked the two blocks to the SUV.
Liam clambered into
the front.
Zoe waited to open
the door. “Meredith, let’s always remember each other at Christmastime.”
“Why would we forget?
We’re best friends forever. How could we forget each other?”
“I don’t know.” She
braved a look at Liam through the window, where he slouched in the seat,
drumming his fingers on his knee. “He always keeps us safe when we walk
downtown.” I’ll never forget Liam, either.
