Valley Rise Christmas Blog--Day Nine

In Offered for Love, Stani and Emily are forced to spend Christmas in London, but Stani manages to provide Emily with a little of the Valley Rise tradition, despite their exile.

Blushing, he led her by the hand up the stairs.  “Just want to make you happy, love.”  He opened the bedroom door, deciding against any sort of announcement, hoping she would see immediately what he had done.  He was not disappointed.  For just a moment she paused on the threshold, as her eye fell on the rustic wooden stable nestled among the photographs on the table.  Her gaze slowly scanned the room, stopping at each little group of figures, the shepherds and their flock of three on the dresser, the wise men with their camel on the chest of drawers, Joseph and Mary and the humble donkey on the night stand.  As she stared into the room, her lips formed first an “oh” of amazement, and then spread into just the rapturous smile he’d hoped for.  “Oh, Stani!  This is beautiful!”  She went to each group, touching the figurines with a gentle finger.  He watched as she approached the stable and peered behind it.  With the greatest care, she lifted the angel from its hiding place, and studied it for a moment, reverently stroking the flowing golden hair.  Finally, she reached again behind the stable and drew out the tiny wooden manger with its precious occupant, and stood holding it in the palm of her hand.

He couldn’t resist joining her there, circling her waist with his arm and staring down on the tiny infant figure.  He didn’t need to ask if she approved.  Her smile, the tears clinging to her lashes, and the gratitude shining in her eyes when she finally looked at him said it all.  Carefully, she placed the manger in the stable and tucked the baby beside the hidden angel. 

“Stani, this is the most beautiful thing you could possibly have done for me.  You must have read my mind.”

“No, I just remembered that you said you’ve done this all your life.  I didn’t want you to have a Christmas without it.”  Pressing her head against his shoulder, he tried to steady his voice.  “If you have to be away from home this Christmas, I wanted you to have a little something of home here.  I can’t bring the hills, or the fields, but a crèche I knew I could get for you.”