A Gift to Last Page 0,28

as soon as possible. Their marriage would be a strong one, based on love and mutual respect.

He felt like the luckiest man alive.

"Are you awake?" Nick whispered to Kelly in the dead of night. He thought he'd heard her stir and realized they were both accustomed to Brittany waking and needing to be fed around this time.

Nick had been wide-awake for the better part of an hour. Sleeping upright with his head propped against the wall had been awkward, but he'd managed to get some rest. It helped to have his arm around Kelly and hold her close to his side. They hadn't held each other nearly enough lately, but that was something he hoped to remedy.

In response to his question, Kelly yawned. "What time is it?"

"About two."

"Already?" His wife smothered a second yawn.

"How's Brittany?"

"Better than either of us."

Nick grinned into the darkness and gently squeezed her shoulder.

"I never thought we'd spend our first Christmas as parents stuck in some train depot," Kelly said, her words barely audible.

"Me, neither."

"It hasn't been so bad."

Nick pressed his face into her hair and inhaled, delighting in her warm female scent. He loved Kelly and Brittany more than he'd thought it was possible to love anyone. More than it seemed reasonable for any human heart to love. Little in his life had come easy, and this parenting business might well be his greatest challenge yet. But his struggles had taught him to appreciate what he did have. Tonight, Christmas Eve, had taught him to recognize what he had.

He'd considered the trip home to Georgia unnecessary, but Kelly had wanted to introduce Brittany to her grandparents. Besides, traveling in winter was a mistake, he'd told her over and over. In the end he'd agreed only because Kelly had wanted it so badly. He hadn't been gracious about it, and when troubles arose, it was all he could do not to leap up and tell her how right he'd been.

Nick felt differently now. Being with these people on Christmas Eve hadn't been a mistake at all. Nor was taking Brittany to meet her extended family. They needed each other. He'd stood alone most of his life, but he wasn't alone anymore. He had a wife and daughter. Family. And friends.

More friends than he'd realized.

At six o'clock Christmas morning, Clayton Kemper received word that the tracks had been repaired. He hurriedly dressed and rushed down to the train depot, not sure what he'd find. It came as a pleasant surprise to discover everyone waking up in a good mood, grateful to hear his news. While the travelers stretched and yawned, Clayton put on a pot of coffee, then dragged out the phone book and called the hotels in town to alert the passengers there that the tracks had been repaired.

"I don't imagine this will be a Christmas you'll soon forget," Clayton said as he led the small band from the depot to the train. The engine hummed, ready to race down the tracks toward Boston.

Mrs. Norris was the first to board. She smiled as she placed her hand in his. "Thank you again for all your kindness, Mr. Kemper. And Merry Christmas."

"I was glad I could help," he said as she climbed onto the train.

The couple with the baby followed, along with the young navy man who lugged his own bag as well as the infant seat. It never ceased to amaze Clayton that one baby could need this much equipment. Time was, a bottle or two and a few diapers would suffice. These days it took the mother and two full-grown men to cart everything in. Clayton was pleased to see that the couple had struck up a friendship with the sailor. They certainly seemed to have a great deal to talk about.

The sales rep boarded next, after helping an elderly black couple with their luggage. This was the man who'd spent a large portion of the day before scowling and muttering under his breath. Kemper didn't know what had happened to him, but this morning the man grinned from ear to ear and was about as helpful as they come.

"We appreciate everything you did for us, Kemper," he said as he made his way into the train.

Five-year-old Kate bounced onto the first step and told Clayton, "Santa came last night and dropped off a present for me and Charles."

"Did he now?" Clayton asked, catching Elise Jones's eyes.

"Indeed he did," Elise said with a wide smile.

Apparently the adults had arranged something for the children. Clayton was