Stuck On You (A Christmas Novella) Read online

  “No, I wasn’t,” Sheila Lynn announced. She sat across the room and rocked her baby doll.

  Samantha laughed. “You weren’t?”

  Sheila watched her niece shake her head. “Nope, I was in my car seat.”

  “What exactly did your mama say?” Sheila coaxed.

  “Shame on you,” Samantha scolded with a grin.

  Sheila Lynn tucked a blanket more securely around her doll. “She said it wasn’t fair the baby was coming this soon. She said she had hoped you would have a husband or at least a boyfriend by the time our baby came. Mama said you need a husband real bad.” She looked up at her aunt with big eyes. “Do you need a husband real bad?”

  Samantha turned her head away but not before Sheila saw her grab her mouth to keep laughter from pouring out. Her sister’s shoulders shook with merriment. On the one hand, Sheila wanted to say no, but to do so might make Sheila Lynn doubt her mama. The last thing Sheila wanted to do was make Sarah look bad in her daughter’s eyes. On the other hand, there was no way she was going to say she needed a husband real bad. She silently prayed for an escape from the question or a means to answer honestly and not make Sarah’s daughter think her mother had lied.

  “Do you, Aunt Sheila?”

  Sheila studied her and frantically awaited an answer from God. “Do I what, sweetie?”

  Samantha snickered.

  The little girl stood up, put both hands on her hips, and said, “I told you. Need a man really bad.”

  She knelt down in front of her niece. “I don’t think so, but your mama thinks I do.”

  “Oh, like when she thinks I need to eat all my carrots, and I don’t think so?” Her face twisted in distaste.

  Sheila sighed. “Exactly.”

  Samantha snorted and finally, unable to contain herself, laughed.

  Dave entered the waiting room. His grin told them everything.

  “Daddy!” Sheila Lynn rushed into her daddy’s waiting arms.

  “Congratulations, Sheila Lynn! You are the proud sister of a little brother.” He swung her up in the air. Sheila Lynn squealed. Dave hugged his little girl close and smiled at Sheila and Samantha. “Sarah did great. The baby was born about ten minutes ago. He weighs six pounds and three ounces, and best of all, he’s healthy.”

  “What’s his name?” Sheila and Samantha asked in unison.

  “David James.”

  Sheila moved forward and hugged father and daughter together. “That is a wonderful name.”

  Sarah had refused to tell anyone the names she had chosen for this baby. It was fitting that he be named after his father, Dave, and his maternal grandfather, James. Tears filled Sheila’s eyes. Her dad would have been so proud.

  “Hey, let me hug them now,” Samantha teased behind her.

  Sheila moved out of the way and let her little sister in. “When can we see him?” she asked.

  “They’ll have him in the nursery here in a few minutes.

  I’m going back in to be with them. Do you mind taking Sheila Lynn home with you tonight, Sheila?”

  Before Sheila could answer, Sheila Lynn protested. “But I want to see Mommy and DJ.”

  “You will, sweetheart, but Mommy and DJ have to stay all night at the hospital. So after you see them, I need you to go home with your aunt Sheila. Okay?”

  She patted his jaw. “Okay, Daddy.”

  He looked over her head at Sheila, who nodded her consent to keep her. “Good. Now go with Aunt Sheila and Aunt Samantha. They’ll take you to the nursery to see your new baby brother.”

  After he set her down on the ground, Sheila Lynn grabbed Samantha’s hand and then Sheila’s. Samantha scooped up the discarded doll. They swung their excited niece between them as they walked toward the nursery. Dave went back through two double doors to join his wife.

  “DJ, huh?” Samantha asked.

  “Uh-huh. Mama said if it was a boy she wanted to name him David James and if it was a girl she wanted to name her Donna Jo. So I told Mama and Daddy I wanted to call the baby DJ because I learned how to write that in preschool.” She swung her legs out and kicked.

  Samantha looked over her head. “Why didn’t we ask her what they were going to name the baby? Here we’ve been trying to guess for months.”

  Sheila laughed. “I never dreamed they’d tell Little Ears for fear she’d tell us.”

  “Nah, Mama said it was a secret and not to tell you.” She released their hands and ran ahead to the glass wall at the front of the nursery.

  Morgan carried the forgotten candy cane in his hand. He searched for the little girl named Sheila Lynn and her aunt. His bell jingled with each step he took, and for a moment, Morgan wished he’d brought extra clothes to change into after he and “Santa” had completed their visit. Why would Sheila and her namesake be at the hospital? The question had plagued him ever since the moment he saw her standing at the back of the room. Was one of the little girl’s parents sick? And if so, where in the hospital would they be?

  He’d just about given up on finding them when he heard a little girl’s squeal of delight and the word “yea!” Morgan hurried down the hallway that led to the location the sound had come from. As he rounded the corner, he saw Sheila standing in front of a large glass window. Morgan slowed his steps. What was it about this woman that attracted him like a painter to an easel?

  Morgan leaned his hip against the wall and studied her. It wasn’t her dishwater blond hair, her hazel eyes, or even her slim figure. Not that he didn’t find her attractive, but though he’d met many women who were as attractive or even more so, they hadn’t had the same effect on him as Sheila Fisher. Could it be that his soul could sense hers was his match?

  He shook the thought away and walked up behind her. She was looking at a lone newborn whose name card read Baby Girl Harrison. He whispered close to her ear, “She’s beautiful.”

  “Yes, she is,” she whispered back. A smile touched her lips as their gazes met in the reflection of the window.

  Still keeping his voice down to a whisper, he asked, “You saw me coming?”

  “Yes.” Her voice drifted to him like a petal on the breeze, soft and slow.

  For a moment, she leaned into him. Then as if she realized what she was doing, Morgan felt her stiffen and straighten her spine.

  “You two look awful cozy.” He turned to see a young blond-haired woman and the little girl, Sheila Lynn, standing a few feet away, staring at them.

  Morgan moved a little farther away from Sheila. He watched Sheila’s cheeks take on a pink hue.

  “Morgan Foster, this is my sister Samantha and my niece, Sheila Lynn.”

  He stepped forward and shook Samantha’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”

  “I know you. You’re Santa’s elf,” Sheila Lynn accused.

  Morgan knelt down in front of her. “That’s right, and you forgot your candy cane.” He held the candy out to her.

  A smile lit up her face. “Thank you.” She took the candy.

  “So, Morgan. . .are you going to escort Sheila to the family Christmas Eve party and help her win a bet with our sister?”

  Samantha asked.

  Chapter 7

  Just let the floor swallow me now, Sheila pleaded inwardly.

  “You must be little Sheila’s mother,” Morgan said.

  Samantha flipped her hair over her shoulder and grinned. “Nope, I’m her aunt. Sarah is Sheila Lynn’s mother. And you didn’t answer my question.” She smiled and winked at Sheila.

  “Samantha!” Sheila hissed, going from pink to red within moments.

  “I’ll be happy to escort Sheila to the party,” Morgan answered. “If she will allow me to, that is.” He turned and looked at Sheila.

  Sheila looked at her feet. How could her sisters be so uncaring of her feelings? Didn’t they realize how embarrassing this was for her? She saw his feet join hers. His hands felt cool against her hot cheeks as he lifted her face to meet his. He brought his face close to hers and grinned.

 
With his forehead resting against hers, Morgan whispered, “I’m wearing an elf outfit, and you’re the one who’s embarrassed?” He wiggled his head so the bell would tinkle. “Play along with me on this one.”

  She knew Samantha couldn’t hear what he was saying. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see her little sister leaning in their direction and frowning with frustration. Sheila nodded and whispered back, “I’m sorry. I can’t believe they are doing this to me.”

  “I have two older brothers. I understand.” He took her hand and gave it a little squeeze. “Trust me. This can be fun.”

  “Okay.” Her heart fluttered in her chest at his nearness.

  Morgan’s breath smelled like peppermint.

  He turned to Samantha and grinned. “Tell your sister I’ll be there.”

  Sheila couldn’t help but wonder why Morgan was being so nice. Didn’t he realize her sisters were trying to set her up? Well, maybe Sarah wasn’t; after all, she was more than likely focused on her newborn son. But Samantha was definitely up to mischief and matchmaking.

  “Will do. She’ll be thrilled,” Samantha answered.

  “Aunt Sheila, I can’t see,” Sheila Lynn whined. She stood on her tiptoes trying to see into the nursery.

  Morgan squeezed Sheila’s hand one last time then released her so he could lift Sheila Lynn onto his shoulders. “Can you see now?” he asked.

  “There he is!” she squealed in answer.

  Sheila’s gaze followed her niece’s finger. A bassinet had been pulled up alongside Baby Girl Harrison. A new baby boy lay wrapped up like a mummy in a blue blanket. He wore a blue stocking hat on his head, and the card on his bassinet read Baby Boy Wayne.

  “That’s my baby,” Sheila Lynn said, tapping Morgan on the head.

  Sheila enjoyed the way he laughed. Warmth filled her at the sound.

  “He sure is a handsome young man.” His gaze joined Sheila’s in the glass’s reflection.

  “I think so, too.” She smiled up at Sheila Lynn. Morgan’s warm fingers enclosed hers. A shiver ran up her arm.

  Sheila Lynn yawned.

  “I hate to break up this cozy scene, but I think Little Ears is getting sleepy and needs a nap,” Samantha announced.

  Sheila looked up at her niece. Another yawn followed the first. “It has been a long day. I should take her home.”

  “I’m not tired,” Sheila Lynn said, pushing her lip out in a pout. “I want to stay here and watch my baby.”

  Morgan laughed. “Your baby is sleeping. If you went home and took a nap, I bet your aunt would bring you back tomorrow to see the baby. And, I’ll let Santa know what a good girl you are.”

  Another yawn captured Sheila Lynn and a big smile filled her face. “Okay.”

  “I’ll carry her to the car for you,” Morgan offered.

  Sheila nodded.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow, sis,” Samantha said.

  Sheila gave her a stern look. “I’ll call you after I get Little Ears to bed.”

  Samantha laughed, waved, and then turned, no doubt to go report to their older sister. She opened the door to return to the private rooms of the new mothers. “Okay,” she called over her shoulder. “Nice to meet you, Morgan.” And then she was gone.

  Morgan’s soft chuckle caught her attention. She turned back to him and saw that he now cradled Sheila Lynn next to his chest. The little girl was sleeping.

  “Your sister is a mess, isn’t she?”

  Sheila smiled. “You have no idea.”

  The next day, Sheila reread the last few paragraphs of her story.

  Harley and Baby Honey wailed out their disappointment.

  Her mother tisked and shook her head. “Is that what Jesus would do?” She pulled the two younger hedge children to her.

  “I don’t know,” Hannah answered, knowing it wasn’t true. Jesus would share, but Hannah didn’t want to.

  Sheila began writing.

  “May I go outside and think about it?” she asked, knowing Mama would let her. “Be back in time for supper,” Mama said as Hannah turned to leave. Hannah walked down to the riverbank. She sat down in the dry grass and sighed. Why did Mama always want her to share with her sisters?

  “Those are pretty bows.”

  Hannah turned toward the blade of grass where the voice had come from. A ladybug sat looking up at her.

  “Thank you.”

  “Why do you look so sad?” the ladybug asked.

  “My mama wants me to give my sisters my bows,”

  Hannah answered, touching the blue Christmas bow on her front paw.

  “Oh, how many sisters do you have?”

  Hannah answered, “Two.”

  “Let me see. You have one, two, three bows,” the ladybug counted. “And they are red, blue, and yellow.”

  Hannah smiled. “That’s right.”

  “If you hid two of the bows, you wouldn’t have to share them, would you?” the ladybug asked, and then she fluttered away before Hannah could answer.

  Hannah picked the blade of grass the ladybug had been sitting on. She thought about hiding the bows. If she did that, which one of the bows would she keep? The red? The blue? Or the yellow? She walked to the water’s edge and looked at her reflection.

  A fish swam up. “I like your bows,” the fish offered sweetly.

  “Thank you,” Hannah answered. She tried to see the bow on her head, but it was too far back for her to get a good look at it. So she wiggled around until she could see the one on her back. It was hard to see, too.

  “What are you doing?” the fish asked.

  “I’m trying to see the bows,” Hannah answered.

  The fish twisted its head sideways. “Why?”

  Hannah sighed. “Because my sisters want them, and the ladybug told me I should hide two of them and then I wouldn’t have to share them. I’m trying to see the red and the yellow ones because I want to wear the prettiest one home.” Even as she said the words, Hannah felt guilty.

  “Oh, if you can’t see all three of them, why don’t you share them, and then you would be able to see all three?”

  “I don’t want to share!” Hannah yelled at him.

  The fish shook his head and swam away.

  She could feel the fish’s disappointment in her, and she felt ashamed.

  Sheila read over her words aloud and then muttered, “What should happen to make Hannah change her mind and share with her sisters?” She thumped the pencil gently against her chin. She tried to think of a time with her own sisters that something like this had happened. Growing up, there had been a number of times when she and Samantha had wanted something Sarah had. Why had Sarah given in and shared with them?

  A glance at the clock reminded Sheila that Morgan was expecting her at Carly’s Cookie Jar at two o’clock. The face of the grandfather clock read eleven fifteen. She wondered if Sarah had eaten lunch yet. Picking up the phone, she dialed her sister’s number.

  Sarah answered on the second ring.

  “Have you had lunch yet?” Sheila asked immediately.

  Sarah hesitated. “As a matter of fact, I haven’t. Why?”

  “Care to have it with me?”

  “I don’t know, Sheila. I’d love to, but the baby is fussy, and Little Ears will need a nap soon. It would just be easier for me to stay home and take care of these kiddos.” Her voice sounded tired.

  Sheila felt sorry for her sister. “How about this? Have a pizza delivered, and I’ll come over. We’ll feed Little Ears, and I’ll put her down for a nap.”

  Sarah laughed. “Only if you’ll bring me a large diet cherry soda.”

  “Deal, and I’ll pay for the pizza when I get there.”

  “Deal.”

  The baby was asleep, and Sheila Lynn was tucked in for a nap. Sarah sipped on the diet cherry soda as if it were honey to a bear. Sheila admired her older sister. Her house was clean, the babies were happy, and Sarah still had her sense of humor.

  “So tell me. What made you come running to me
today?”

  Sarah asked, sitting up in her chair.

  Sheila took a deep breath. “I’m stuck in my story, and I’m supposed to meet Morgan in an hour and tell him about myprogress.”

  “I’m not a writer, Sheila. I can’t imagine what I can do to help you.” She set her cup down with a sigh.

  Sheila smiled at her older sister. “No, but you are an older sister, and I know that when we were growing up, there were a lot of times you had to share with Samantha and me whether you liked it or not.”

  Sarah jerked her cup back up as if she thought Sheila was going to ask for some of it. “You got that right.”

  “What made you do it?”

  “Do what?” Sarah frowned over her straw, not sure what

  Sheila was talking about.

  “Share.”

  “That’s easy.”

  Sheila watched her sister’s eyes dance with glee as she sipped her drink. “Well, are you going to tell me?”

  “Sure.”

  “Today?”

  “Mama made me.”

  Chapter 8

  Two days later, Sheila picked up her pencil and reread the last few paragraphs.

  “Oh, if you can’t see all three of them, why don’t you share them, and then you would be able to see all three?”

  “I don’t want to share!” Hannah yelled at him.

  The fish shook his head and swam away.

  She could feel the fish’s disappointment in her, and she felt ashamed.

  Sheila tapped the pink eraser on the desk. Sarah had been no help at all. Her sister had simply teased with her about Mama making her always give up her favorite things. But the hug Sarah had given her as she’d left spoke louder than the teasing. The truth was, Sarah shared because she loved her little sisters.

  Chrissy leaped from her lap when the phone rang. The sudden noise and movement caused Sheila to jump, too. She took a deep breath then answered the phone.

  “May I speak with Sheila Fisher, please?”

  Sheila recognized Morgan’s voice, and her pulse did a little flutter. “Speaking,” she answered.