Mr. Miracle by Debbie Macomber - excerpt

8/11/2019 Mr. Miracle by Debbie Macomber - excerpt

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Oh, shed returned home for visits at least a couple times

a year. When asked pointed questions about her work in thesilver mine, shed made sure her answers were vague.

Then, last summer, her chiropractor father had died un-expectedly of a heart attack.

Addie had adored her dad as a child, but the momentshed hit her teen years, their relationship had deteriorated.She hadnt repaired things before hed passed away so sud-denly. In retrospect, she suspected she and her father weretoo much alike. Both were stubborn and headstrong, un-willing to admit when they were wrong or make the effortto build bridges.

Theyd argued far too often, her mother stepping in,seeking to make peace between her husband and her daugh-

ter. How sorry Addie was for the strife between them, nowthat her father was gone.

For now, she was home for good. Addie parked in frontof the single-story house where shed spent the rst eigh-teen years of her life. She loved that it had a front porch,which so many of the more modern homes didnt. Nor-mally, the Christmas lights would already be up. Her father

had always seen to that the Friday after Thanksgiving. Thisyear, however, the two arborvitae that bordered each sideof the porch seemed stark and bare without the decorativelights.

Her mother must have been watching from the living-

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Mr. Miracle 15

room window, because the minute Addie climbed out of

the car, the front door ew open and Sharon Folsom rushedout with her arms open wide. Addie, Addie, youre home.

Addie paused halfway up the walkway and hugged hermother close.

Sharon Folsom brought her hands up to Addies faceand smoothed back her dark brown hair. Her motherschocolate-brown eyes, a reection of her own, held hergaze with an intensity of longing.

Addie found she couldnt speak. It felt so good to behome, to really be home.

Her mother hugged her even tighter this time. You saidyou were coming back, and Id hoped . . . She left the restunsaid.

Im not returning to Montana this time, Mom.Oh Addie, really? I couldnt be happier. So you decided

you are denitely back to stay? She wrapped her armaround Addies waist and led her up the porch steps. Its sowonderful to have you home, especially at this time ofyear . . . its the rst one thats so difficult, you know.

The rst Christmas without Dad.

I talked to your uncle Roy, her mother said.Yes? Addie tried hard not to show how anxious she

was to hear what her mother had found out.Hes pleased to know youre interested in health care.

Your dad would have been so happy; that was what he al-



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ways wanted for you. Roy said once you get your high

school diploma, hell do everything within his power to getyou the schooling you need. Hes even willing to hire youpart-time while youre in school and to work around yourclass schedule.

Addie hardly knew what to say. This was an opportunityshe had never expected. More than she could ever hopewould happen. Now it was up to her not to blow it.

Arent you excited?Again, her throat tightened and she answered with a

sharp nod. She knew that no matter what she hoped to ac-complish, shed need her high school diploma. One classcredit was all she needed. Why shed dropped out when shewas so close to graduation was beyond her. How stupid and

shortsighted shed been. Her one missing credit was in lit-erature, so shed found a class she could take at the localcommunity college.

B-o-r-i-n-g!As a high school sophomore, Addie had been assigned

to read Moby-Dick. Because of her dyslexia, she was aslow, thoughtful reader, often using her nger on the page

to help her keep track of the words. Then to be handed thatdoorstop and work her way through it page by excruciatingpage had been pure torture. Following Moby-Dick, shedbeen completely turned off to reading in general . . . al-though lately, after her television had stopped working,



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shed gotten a couple books at the library and enjoyed them

immensely. Finding pleasure in reading had given her hopethat maybe . . . just maybe she could return to school.

I already signed up for a literature class. It starts thisweek, which I understand is a bit unusual; apparently, itwas delayed until a teacher could be replaced. Addie hadthought shed need to wait until mid-February, when thesecond semester began. This class was perfectly timed forher.

You enrolled already? How pleased her mothersounded, and her face brightened with the news.

They were inside the house now, and after removing hercoat, Addie tucked her ngertips in the back pockets of herjeans. Standing in the middle of the kitchen, she looked

around and breathed in the welcome she found in the famil-iar setting. Her mother had placed a few festive thingsaround the house to help celebrate the season. The Adventwreath rested in the center of the kitchen table. The rstpurple candle had been lit.

When she was growing up, itd been a big deal to seewho got to light the candle every night at dinner, Addie or

her brother. Generally, Jerry was given the honor. Oh, howher brother had loved lording it over her. He lived in Okla-homa now, was married, and worked as a physical therapistfor a center that trained Olympic athletes. Hed alwaysbeen athletic himself, just like his best friend, Erich Sim-



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mons, who lived next door. The two had been inseparable;

any mental image of her brother also conjured up his con-stant sidekick and the way shed humiliated herself overErich.

At one time Addie had thought Erich Simmons was thecutest boy in the universe. He was a star athlete, class vale-dictorian, and the homecoming king. Addie hadnt thoughtof him in a long time and didnt know why hed poppedinto her head now. As a teen, shed idolized Erich and hadntbothered to hide the way she felt. He, unfortunately, foundher hero worship highly amusing. Oh, thered been theusual antics when they were kids. Her brother and Erichhad wanted nothing to do with her, despite all her efforts tofollow them around. It wasnt until she was fourteen and

fteen that shed viewed Erich in a different light and senthim valentines and baked him cookies. It embarrassed herno end to remember what a fool shed made of herself overhim, especially since he treated her like a jerk.

Addie? Her mother broke into her thoughts. Youlook a million miles away.

Sorry, Mom.

Bring in your suitcases. Ive got your old room all readyfor you.

It felt wonderful to be home.Addie unloaded her car, which, sadly, took only a few

minutes. Everything shed managed to accumulate in six



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years was contained in two suitcases and a couple boxes.

When she nished unpacking, she headed directly for thegarage.

Her mother found her there ten minutes later. Addie,my goodness, what are you doing here? she asked. Ivebeen looking all over the house for you. Are you hungry?Would you like me to x you something to eat?

In a little while.What are you doing?Addie stood in the middle of the garage, surrounded by

several clear plastic boxes shed brought down from theshelves. Her father had been a whiz at organization, a traitshed inherited. Im looking for the outdoor Christmaslights.

But AddieIt wont feel like Christmas without the trees by the

porch lit up.But AddieMom, please, let me put up the lights. Her dad would

have wanted her to do this for her mother, Addie was sure.She owed him this, even if things hadnt been so good be-

tween them when he died, or maybe because of that.Erich offered to put them up for me, but I said no.Good. Perfect Erich. She bristled at the mere mention

of his name. Hed always been so thoughtful and kind . . .to others. But hed tortured her at every opportunity. For



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one thing, from the time they were in rst grade together,

hed insisted on calling her Adeline. Addie had always hatedthe name. Shed never even known the great-grandmothershed been named after. Saddling her with that name hadbeen her fathers doing, no surprise.

Her mother moved a couple steps into the garage.Um . . . theres a reason I didnt want Erich to put up thelights.

Addie straightened. Her mothers voice revealed hesita-tion and a bit of apprehension. What is it, Mom?

I mentioned all those rsts without your father, re-member . . . ?

Yes. It was one of the reasons Addie had returnedhome when she did. She didnt want her mother spending

this rst Christmas without Dad by herself. Jerry couldntget away, but Addie could. Actually, shed been more thanready to leave Montana. Although shed come to love thestate, everything else there had proved to be less perfectthan shed hoped. Her job at the mine had zzled out aftera few months, but pride hadnt allowed her to return homeso soon after her grand departure. For a while she drifted

from job to job, until nally settling in at the diner. Shedmade friends and the tips were good. It was easy enough tocoast through the next few years.

I didnt say anything earlier when you called to say you



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were coming . . . her mother said, interrupting her

thoughts. Her mother wrung her hands.Mom, what is it? Clearly there was something her

mother didnt want to tell her.Please dont be upset with me.This was all very strange. Mom, please, dont worry.

Youre not going to upset me.Youre sure?Positive. Just tell me.Her mother squeezed her eyes tightly shut. Im going

on a two-week Christmas cruise with Julie Simmons.It took a second for the information to sink in. A cruise?Her mother still hadnt opened her eyes. Julies a

widow. Im a widow. We gured that wed both get away

this Christmas with a trip to the Caribbean. We booked afew days in Florida before the cruise as well. The sunshineand all . . . please tell me youre not upset with me.

Of course not, Addie assured her, although her heartsank. This meant shed be spending Christmas alone.

Julie and I talked about it for months, and then rightbefore Halloween we found this great deal from the cruise

line and Julie said we should do it. If not now, when? I hadno idea youd be coming home, let alone for good, and . . .and, oh Addie, if you want Ill cancel the trip. Her voicebecame half plea and half regret.



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No way, Addie insisted, strengthening her resolve.

Youre going on that cruise and youre going to enjoy everyminute of it while I hold down the fort here.

Erich offered to look after the house.Of course he would.Hes not married, you know, and neither is Karl.Erichs younger brother.As if she felt the need to keep talking, her mother con-

tinued. Karl is dating a wonderful young woman and isspending Christmas with her family someplace back east.Neither Julie nor I have grandchildren yet, and being thishas been such a difficult year . . .

Mom, please, you dont need to make excuses. I wantyou to do this. Please go.

But youll be alone.Its ne. Ill connect with a few friends and it wont be

a problem. Dont worry about me.Youre sure . . . ?Absolutely positive.Its just that Julie and I have been so looking forward to

this, and . . .

Addie walked over and hugged her mother. Stop. Iwouldnt dream of letting you cancel this trip. Its perfect.You and Julie together on those warm sandy beaches. Ill bene, I promise.



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The relief in her mothers face was nearly palpable.

Addie was sincere. She wanted her mother to get away forChristmas. I still want to put up the outdoor lights, shesaid, returning to the plastic boxes her father had packedup the Christmas before and stored away.

Oh sure, sweetheart, if thats what you want. Do youneed me to help you?

I can do it. Among all the other valuable life lessonsMontana had taught Addie, shed learned resourcefulness.Though shed never done it before, shed gure out a way tostring the lights on those two trees. It wouldnt feel likeChristmas without them.

Ill start dinner, then.Great. Im starving.

After her mother left, Addie found the strands of out-door lights and carted them to the front of the house. Sheneeded a ladder, too. At ve-foot-three, she wasnt nearlytall enough to reach the top.

Shed gotten everything set up when she heard the soundof a car door behind her. Standing halfway up the ladder,she glanced over her shoulder to see a bright, shiny, silver

BMW parked at the curb behind her dilapidated, fender-rusting, once-blue Honda.

Erich.Her heart sank. He was sure to make some derogatory



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comment about her car, right after he called her Adeline.

He might even be so obnoxious as to mention her girlhoodcrush on him. Even before he spoke, her teeth were clenched.

Adeline, is that you?Unbelievable! Its Addie, she said coolly.Oops, sorry, I forgot, he teased, when clearly he

hadnt. Then he had the audacity to laugh.She brushed a long strand of dark hair away from her

face.Need any help with that?No, thanks, she said, as she continued to wind the

strand around the bushy tree. She needed no help, least ofall from him. It wasnt only the teasing shed taken as a kidthat contributed to her dislike of himthat was only a

small part. Erich, Karl, and her brother had often gangedup on her. Being something of a tomboy, shed followedthem, hungering to join in their fun. Instead, Erich hadteased her mercilessly. Itd gotten worse as she grew olderand got braces. Hed called her live wire and poked fun ather until shed run and hide in her bedroom. But that wasnothing compared to the way hed stepped all over her ten-

der, young heart.You home for Christmas? he asked.Something like that, she answered, without looking at

him.He hesitated, and when he spoke he sounded genuine



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Mr. Miracle 25

and sincere. Like I said when we spoke at the funeral, Im

sorry for your loss. I loved your dad.Yeah, me, too. The lump was back and she swallowed

hard, determined not to let him see how his words had af-fected her. Funny thing was, she didnt remember speakingto him at the funeral. Shed been in a fog then, confusedand grieving.

Maybe Ill see you around.Maybe, she returned dismissively. At the moment, all

she wanted was for him to leave her alone.By the time she had the lights wound around the rst

tree it was pitch-dark. The only illumination came from theporch light.

A little while later, when Addie was half nished with

the twin tree on the other side of the porch, her motheropened the door and called out, Dinners ready.

Im almost done, Addie promised, unwilling to quitnow. She worked quietly, traipsing up and down the ladderas she moved the string of lights around the tree, stretchingher arms as high as she could without losing her balance.

The Simmonses front door opened. Let me hand you

the lights, Erich offered, crossing the yard and coming upbehind her.

Addies initial reaction was to reject his offer. She wasmore than capable of nishing thisshed managed therst tree on her own. Shed rather avoid Erichs company.



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Its the least I can do to make up for calling you Ade-

line, he said.If you had to place lights on trees for every time you

called me Adeline, youd be decorating the entire OlympicNational Forest.

True enough. Its Addie from now on. I promise.She wasnt sure she should trust him not to be a jerk, but

she was tired and hungry. So while it dented her pride toaccept his help, at this point, she was willing. Okay. Thesecond part took more of an effort. Thank you.

His sigh was audible. That wasnt so hard, now, was it?Come on, Addie, admit it.

Harder than you realize.Erich chuckled.

He continued to feed her the string of lights, and theydidnt speak for several seconds. I talked to Jerry the otherday. We stay in touch on Facebook, but . . .

Addie nished and hurried down from the ladder. Lis-ten, Erich. You dont need to make small talk with me.Weve never really gotten along and theres no need to pre-tend otherwise. She guessed he felt a little sorry for her

back at home, having failed at her big adventure. In her sad,decrepit car . . .

Fine. He held up his hands as if shed pointed a gun athim. You cant say I didnt try.



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Mr. Miracle 27

Thanks for the help with the lights, Addie said, before

heading into the house.

Harry watched the scene, standing beneath an evergreentree, from across the street. Celeste stood next to him.

What is it Im supposed to do for these two again? heasked, unable to hide his dismay. It had seemed like a pieceof delicious rum cake earlier, but now that he saw the wayAddie bristled around Erich, he was a bit more daunted.She was like a porcupine around him, defensive and un-friendly. And that was only a small part of what he sensedin her. She was full of fear, and trying desperately hard tohide her feelings of inadequacy.

Youll nd out soon enough. God has obviously crossedtheir paths for a reason. There must be something theyneed to learn from each other, dont you think? she said,turning the question back on him.

Just how am I supposed to help them nd out what it iswhen they can barely tolerate the sight of each other? heasked. He was an English teacher and Addie was in his

class. There was only so much he could do while teachingher literature.

As I explained earlier, circumstances have been set inmotion.



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Yes, but

Patience, Harry, patience.Do you have an idea about whats going to happen?I do.Harry frowned. Dont you think you should ll me in,

seeing that Im going to be working with Addie?Celeste grinned. All in good time.Harry wasnt pleased. Is there anything else you want

to tell me?Not yet, she said, and tucked her arm around his

elbow, shivered, and then glanced toward the sky. Lets getback. The roads are getting icy.

Harry watched as Erich sped off in his shiny car. He hadthe distinct feeling Celeste had been trying to tell him some-

thing important.



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Mr. Miracle is a work of ction. Names, characters, places,and incidents are the products of the authors imagination or are

used ctitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales,or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright 2014 by Debbie MacomberExcerpt from Starry Night by Debbie Macomber

copyright 2013 by Debbie Macomber

All rights reserved.

Published in the United States by Ballantine Books, an imprint ofRandom House, a division of Random House LLC,

a Penguin Random House Company, New York.

B and the H colophon are registeredtrademarks of Random House LLC.

- - Macomber, Debbie.

Mr. Miracle : a Christmas novel / Debbie Macomber. First edition.pages cm

ISBN 978-0-553-39115-2eBook ISBN 978- 0-553-39162-6

1. Guardian angels Fiction. 2. Women college students Fiction.3. Man- woman relationships Fiction. 4. Christmas stories. I. Title.

PS3563.A2364M75 2014813'.54 dc23 2014027142

Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper

www.ballantinebooks.com

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Book design by Dana Leigh Blanchette

Mr. Miracle by Debbie Macomber - excerpt

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