The Christmas Ornament

Chapter 6 - A Christmas Eve Miracle

          It was a little past 2 PM and she wondered what she could do to kill time until Brad's arrival. Holly decided to check on the progress of the'Letters To Santa' crusade. She went to the letters box under the lobby Christmas tree and looked at the names checklist. Only two names were yet to be checked off. She made it her mission to trackdown the last two holdouts and get them to write their Santa letters, which was successfully accomplished with a half hour to spare.

          True to her word, Holly tracked down Stan in the cafeteria where he was replacing some flickering fluorescent light bulbs.

"Hey Stan,  do you want to see what was in the package now?"

"You bet Ido!" he said, and he started descending the ladder he was standing on.

They sat together at one of the cafeteria tables. Holly took out one of the portrait picture and handed it to Stan.

"That's me and my parents. I was only five or six when that was taken." Holly said fondly.

"That's a great family picture, Holly!" Stan reverently observed.

          Mary noticed the two of them sitting at the table and came over and sat with them.

"What's all this?" she asked.

"These are pictures that Holly found in her package." Stan explained.

"Oh, may I see them too?" Mary pleaded.

"Sure!"Holly answered back.

          She methodically removed each picture from the box, handed it to Stan whoin turn passed it over to Mary. Holly tried to describe the circumstances of when, where, and the occasion under which each photo was taken as best as she could remember.

"These are absolutely wonderful...and so well preserved." Mary affectionately told Holly.

"Thanks!" she replied as she carefully placed the pictures back in the box.

Holly reached into her pocket and pulled out the folding pocket knife and returned it to Stan. "This was very useful, but now I have another favor to ask of you."

"Okay, I'm always glad to help you out, Holly! What is it?"

"After Mrs. Pembroke leaves tonight, I want you to let me into her office."

"Wow...I've gotta say, I wasn't expecting that!" Stan responded with surprise.  "Should I ask or do I even want to know why?"

          Holly went onto apprise Stan and Mary of the situation regarding Penny, the Connor's, and Mrs. Pembroke and her plan to intervene.

"Before to dayI wouldn't have believed that Bella would deliberately sabotage a child and prospective adoptive parents spending time together. But after seeing those letters today...now I'm not so sure." Mary said with deep concern.

"I agree!" Stan concurred. "So you can count me in!"

"Great! I have something else I've got to do right now...but I'll catch up with you after Mrs. Pembroke has gone for the day."

          Holly went and got the box with the Santa letters and headed outside to meet Brad. She found him in his truck with the engine running trying to stay warm. When he saw Holly approaching with an armful of boxes,  he jumped out to give her a hand. After securing the box with the Santa letters in the bed of his truck, the two of them hopped inside.

"How did everything go today with the diversion?" Brad inquired.

"Perfect...and that Candy Cane hunt was a stroke of genius! All the girls simply loved it!"