Christmas peril, p.17
Christmas Peril,
p.17
Her heart fluttered as Joe stepped into the room. His arm was in a sling, his eye had swollen shut and a large bandage covered his neck, but he looked more handsome than ever.
In his good arm, he carried a small artificial Christmas tree decorated with tiny lights and shiny ornaments.
“I thought you could use a little cheering up.” He placed the tree on a table in the corner and pushed a switch.
“Battery operated and hospital friendly.” The lights flickered, sending colorful spots dancing along the walls.
“It’s beautiful, Joe.”
Stepping to Callie’s side, he rubbed his hand over her shoulder and stared down at her brother. “Any change?”
“Not that I can tell. They drew another CBC a short while ago. The nurse said she’d let me know his white blood count once she hears from the lab.”
“Why don’t you take a break, Callie? I’ll stay with Robbie.”
She shook her head. “No, I need to be here.”
“You’ve got to be exhausted.”
“I’m okay, Joe.”
“Which is what you always say. I do have some good news. Tamika and the police guard are stable and should make full recoveries.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful.”
“I met Tamika’s husband and girls in the hallway outside her room. They said they’re praying for Robbie.”
“That’s what he needs right now. Did you find out about Malachi?”
“He made it through surgery, and the doctors expect him to pull through. His mother and grandmother were relieved.”
“Did you tell them he’d have to stand trial?”
“No, not yet. That discussion can wait until after Christmas. Sanchez and Arnie are being questioned, although it’s doubtful either of them will divulge the name of the man at the top.” Callie heard discouragement in Joe’s voice. “The Exterminators won’t be stopped until their leader is apprehended.”
“His name’s Sanders Brown.”
“What?”
“Malachi thought he was going to die and wanted to come clean. He told me Brown was in charge of the Exterminators. I should have mentioned it sooner, but after everything that happened, it slipped my mind.”
“Oh, Callie, you are amazing.”
Another knock sounded and the door opened. A nurse peered into the room. “The lab called. Robbie’s white blood count has dropped a bit.”
Relief swept over Callie.
“What’s that mean?” Joe asked.
“It means the antibiotics are working,” she explained.
“He’s not out of the woods yet,” the nurse added. “But there’s improvement.”
“Which is what I’ve been praying for.” Callie waved her thanks as the nurse left the room.
Joe wrapped his arm around Callie. She felt Joe’s strength once again and was uplifted by his presence. They’d been through so much in the last thirty-six hours. It seemed they’d been together for a lifetime, which is what she hoped might unfold for their future. Of course, she didn’t know how Joe felt. Things would be different once they both went back to their normal workday routines. Not knowing what tomorrow would bring, she closed her eyes, wanting to hold on to this moment forever.
“Callie?”
She looked down. Her brother’s eyes were opened.
“I…I’m sorry,” he whispered.
“Don’t worry about anything right now, Robbie. The antibiotics are working, and you’re going to get better.” Callie was sure the Lord had heard and was answering her prayer.
“I…I was wrong, Callie. Mixed-up. Dad had died. And Mom.”
“Shhh,” she soothed. “We all make mistakes. I shouldn’t have closed my door to you three years ago, Robbie. Then I thought you had joined the Exterminators. Joe told me your were working undercover.”
Her brother tried to smile as he looked at Joe. “How are you, sir?”
“Better now that you’re getting the medical care you need. Oh, and by the way, I think your sister’s the greatest.”
Callie’s heart went into overdrive, but she knew the offhanded remark was only a figure of speech.
“So do I,” Robbie said.
Tears burned her eyes. She’d wanted to hear something positive from her brother for so long.
“There’s something I need to tell you,” Robbie said, his voice growing stronger. “I was cleaning out some old letters and things of Dad’s after he died. One letter was addressed to Mom.”
“Written after they divorced?”
Robbie nodded. “But he never mailed it. Dad wrote that he had been working on the gate the morning Becky died. He’d taken out a bolt on the latch and should have replaced it, but he’d gotten distracted since it was Christmas. The latch looked like it would work but sprung open when any weight pushed against it. He said he was to blame for Becky wandering off.”
All these years, Callie had carried the guilt for her sister’s death. “Why didn’t he mail the letter to Mom?”
“Maybe he thought she wouldn’t forgive him.”
Forgiveness. Callie hadn’t been able to forgive herself. She’d missed so much in life because of the guilt that had eaten into her like the flesh-eating strep had eaten into Robbie’s leg.
This Christmas was the time for new beginnings. She wanted to put all the pain and guilt behind her and start fresh. Joe’s hand was on her shoulder. She reached out and entwined her fingers with his.
Once again the door opened and a young woman stepped inside. She was pretty with long blond hair and big blue eyes. “Robbie?”
Haltingly, she stepped toward the bed. “I just found out what happened.” Tears spilled down her cheeks.
He took her outstretched hand. “Everything’s going to be okay, Missy.”
She kissed his forehead then wiped her hand over her face and smiled at Callie. “You must be Robbie’s sister. He’s talked so much about you. I’m Missy Adams. Robbie and I are—”
She smiled down at him.
“Planning to get married,” Robbie completed her sentence. “That’s why I wanted to see you, Callie. So you and Missy could meet.”
Seeing the love so evident in her brother’s eyes when he looked at Missy, Callie knew he would have a complete recovery. She and Missy would get to know each other in the days ahead, but right now, the young couple needed a bit of privacy.
Joe took Callie’s hand as they moved to the corner. “In spite of everything that happened, this is the best Christmas of my life,” he said.
She turned to face him.
A warm glow tingled her neck.
“I don’t want this to end, Callie.” He rubbed his fingers over hers. “I want every day to be Christmas. Not the hostage part, of course, but being together. I want to see you tomorrow and the next day and the next. I want to call you from work and tell you how my day went when my shift’s over. I want to share birthdays and holidays and go to church with you every Sunday.”
Her head swirled and she wanted to laugh with joy. “Aren’t you moving a little fast, Officer Petrecelli?”
“Hmmm? Maybe. But who knows what the future holds?”
A life together was her dream, and she was beginning to think it was Joe’s, as well.
He hesitated for a moment then glanced at Robbie and his girlfriend. Callie followed his gaze. The young couple was totally occupied.
“I stopped by Lazarus House this afternoon,” Joe finally said.
“Room ten?”
He nodded. “I told Theo I’d met a very special woman. I said I didn’t deserve you, and that we must have met because of his prayers. Then I asked his forgiveness for closing him out of my life. Only he said he was the one who’d been wrong.”
Callie sighed with contentment as Joe wrapped his arm around her and drew her close. Being careful of his wounded shoulder, she snuggled into his embrace and, without hesitation, raised her lips to meet his. Their kiss was long and lingering and filled with the promise of a lifetime of Christmases to come.
The tree twinkled, bathing them in light, but it was the light of Christ, the light of a child born so long ago, that reflected in their hearts.
Forgiveness and reconciliation, healing and wholeness were all wrapped up in the Christmas message. Callie’s heart sang with joy, and in the distance she heard a joyous chorus as if the angels were singing on high: “Peace on earth. Goodwill toward men.”
Dear Reader,
Emotions intensify at Christmas. For most people, the holidays are a time of joy. For others, they are bittersweet, often shadowed by pain and loss. The good news is that Christ came into the world to bring light to the darkness. Writing Yule Die allowed me to explore how a baby born in a manger more than 2,000 years ago can transform lives for the better today.
Callie and Joe learned the true meaning of Christmas in Yule Die and in so doing found love and happiness. Once they were able to ask and receive forgiveness, they were freed from the pain of their pasts. By turning to the Lord, they allowed the light of Christ to shine in the darkness.
If you’re suffering and in pain, ask the Lord to touch your life in a new and special way. Open your heart to the message of love freely given. By embracing the true meaning of the season, you’ll find transformation and healing.
I’d love to hear from you. E-mail me at debby@debbygiusti.com or write to me c/o Steeple Hill, 233 Broadway, Suite 1001, New York, NY 10279.
Watch for Killer Headline, book 2 in the PROTECTING THE WITNESSES continuity series, out in Febru-ary 2010. To learn about my other books, visit me online at www.DebbyGiusti.com.
Merry Christmas!
Wishing you abundant blessing,
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Why does the news report about the shootout in Atlanta trouble Callie at the onset of the story?
Callie believes Christmas should be a time of joy instead of sorrow, yet her own life hasn’t been especially happy. What does Callie believe about Christmas that makes the difference in her life?
What does her association with Lazarus House tell us about the real Callie Evans?
Joe believes Callie uses peaceful harmony to effect change. How does she put that into action throughout the story?
Why can’t Joe forgive his brother? Is his struggle with Theo justified in your opinion?
What does Joe finally realize about Theo? Why do you think the older brother turned his back on Joe when he was thirteen? Do you think there might be more than one reason?
Neither Joe nor Callie had anyone who would come looking for them on Christmas Eve. Is that telling? If so, what do we know about both of them, at least at the beginning of the story?
What secret do we learn about Joe in regard to his brother? What does that tell us about the real Joe Petrecelli?
ISBN: 978-1-4268-4524-6
CHRISTMAS PERIL
Copyright © 2009 by Harlequin Books S.A.
The publisher acknowledges the copyright holders of the individual works as follows:
MERRY MAYHEM
Copyright © 2009 by Margaret Daley
YULE DIE
Copyright © 2009 by Deborah W. Giusti
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Steeple Hill Books, 233 Broadway, New York, NY 10279 U.S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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Margaret Daley, Christmas Peril
