A Gift to Last Page 0,17

acting like a dolt and snapping at his wife in public.

That wasn't his only offense, either. For most of the afternoon, he'd ignored Kelly and the baby, wanting to escape them both. He wasn't proud of himself; he'd ignored their needs, leaving Kelly to care for their daughter on her own while he brooded and behaved like a spoiled child.

With that in mind, he boarded the train, walked down the narrow aisle and got the baby seat down from the storage compartment. Kelly's arms must be tired from holding Brittany. He wished he'd thought of this sooner.

Hauling in a deep breath, he walked back into the station and stomped the snow from his boots. When he looked up, he discovered Kelly staring at him, her lips tight, but her eyes forgiving.

"I'm sorry," he whispered as he sat beside her. He gazed down at Brittany, who gazed back at him, her blue eyes wide and curious. His daughter seemed to recognize him, and she, at least, didn't know enough to realize what a cantankerous fool he'd been the past few hours. He offered her his finger, which she gripped eagerly with her little hand.

"I'm sorry, too," Kelly whispered back, sounding close to tears.

Nick set the baby seat on the floor and placed his arm around his wife's shoulders. She leaned her head against him. "I don't know what came over me," he murmured. "I wish we were anyplace but here."

"Me, too," Kelly said.

"Amy?"

Len felt a surge of relief and unmistakable joy at the sound of her "hello."

"Are you in Boston?" she asked excitedly. "When can you catch a flight home?"

"I'm still in Abbott," Len said, his happiness evaporating quickly with the reality of this long day. He was trapped, a hostage to circumstances beyond his control.

"You're still in Abbott?" Amy sounded ready to weep. "Oh, Len, will you ever get home for Christmas?"

"I don't know," he told her, trying to keep his own hopes alive - and failing. It seemed everything was against him.

"Yes," he said suddenly, emphatically. For a moment he didn't know where this optimism had come from. Then he did. It was his overwhelming need to be with Amy. "I will get home for Christmas." He wasn't about to let the storm, the damaged tracks or anything else ruin his leave. "I'll be home for Christmas, Amy. You can count on it."

He could almost feel her spirits rise. "Your girl in Rawhide will be waiting for you, sailor man."

"You're more than my girl in Rawhide," Len said. "You're my one and only girl. Period!"

She said nothing after his declaration. "Do you mean that, Len?" she finally asked.

"With all my heart." He was tempted to tell her about the diamond, but that would ruin his surprise, and he didn't want to propose over the phone. It just didn't seem near good enough. He wanted her to see the love in his eyes and watch her face when she saw the ring.

"Oh, Len," she whispered.

"Listen, would you call my mom and dad and tell them I still don't know when I'll be home?"

"Sure. Listen, since you can't be here, I'll go back to the nursing home tonight and play the piano for everyone. They wanted to sing Christmas carols but couldn't find any staff willing to take time away from their families."

Len loved her all the more for her generous heart.

"I can't see sitting around home and moping," she explained.

"Sing a Christmas carol for me."

"I will," she said, and her voice softened.

There was a beep in his ear and Len knew he had only a couple of minutes left on his calling card.

"Oh, Len," Amy said. "Time's running out."

"Remember, I'll see you as soon as I can," he said, ready to hang up.

"Len, Len..."

"Yes? What is it?"

"Len," she said, her voice catching, "I...love you. I was going to wait until tonight to tell you, but I want you to know right now. You might be in New Hampshire and me here in Rawhide, but that doesn't matter, because you have my heart with you wherever you are."

The line went dead. Len wasn't sure if she'd hung up or if the time had simply expired.

"I love you, too, Amy," he said into the silent phone, knowing she couldn't hear the words. Somehow he was certain she could feel his heart responding to hers. Soon she'd know how very much he loved his Amy Sue.

Len replaced the receiver and turned around to face the room. Everyone seemed in a dour mood.

The door