The Perfect Christmas Gift

A Wise Man Brings a Gift

"...and opening their treasures they presented Him gifts..."
Matthew 2:11

"Don't tell me you are still chicken, buddy!" Joel scoffed.

"No, I'm just trying to think of the perfect Christmas gift to show her I'm interested," Wyatt countered.

"You mean she hasn't caught on yet that you hang around drinking coffee and eating her breakfast special every morning, then again eating your lunch and supper there as well.  This must be costing you a fortune!" Joel laughed not with, but at him.

"It'd be worth it if she noticed me enough for me to ask her out," he muttered.

"You just need a little backbone.  Are you afraid she'll shut you down?" his friend asked.

"I've seen a few guys come and go and overheard them asking her out, but to no avail," he admitted.  "It's enough to scare me, thus the search for a perfect gift to show I care."

"I see.  How about flowers?"

"Nah, I heard her say that she'd received a bouquet from some random guy and had tossed them in the trash not wanting a reminder of his flirtations."

"Ouch, that is harsh.  What about candy?"

"The last box of chocolates she was given, she didn't eat a one of .  Instead, Noelle brought them in to work to share with everybody else.  She said she couldn't stomach the guy and wanted nothing to do with him, including taking even a nibble of the candy he gave her.  You'd be surprised at what you hear when waitresses forget you are there and talk."

"Well, make yourself unforgettable, even if you have to spill your coffee or something," Joel suggested.

"Nah, I like to overhear her talking, even if I'm too shy to butt in."  He didn't admit to his friend that he thought her voice was as warm as embers, if only he could stir them up into a flame.

"Are you sure she hasn't noticed you.  Good grief you are in the restaurant often enough."

"She calls me by my name now, at least.  That's something.  Just when I think I catch her looking at me, she glances away so I'm not sure if I am just imagining it or not,"  Wyatt grumbled.

"What's something you can invite her to?  A movie? A Christmas stroll?  A special service at church?"

"I'm afraid to ask.  What if she turns me down? Then what?"  Wyatt groaned.

"You never know until you try.  Faint heart never wins fair lady."

"I know, I know.  Okay.  I'm going to give her something, like a snow globe."

"That sounds like a winner!" Joel exclaimed slapping him on his back.  "You go, man."

Wyatt took his time choosing among the selection of snow globes in the local gift shop.  He found one of a couple holding hands in the snowy glitter.  Wyatt paid extra for the special gift wrapping.

He hid it under his coat as he slid into a booth that night waiting for her to come take his order.  But then he heard her exclaim at the cash register, "Oh Georgia, I love it!  I've always loved snow globes, but how cute is this, a couple holding hands in the snow!"

"What!" he choked back his words with a cough.  Well, so much for that idea.  He'd have to return it the next day and find something else.

After skipping lunch and combing through the gift shop, he found a pair of mittens, and a scarf to match.  Once again, he had it beautifully wrapped.  It wasn't exactly his first choice for a gift, but he couldn't think of something better.  So he sat in a booth by himself with the gift concealed under his coat.

"Hello Wyatt, what will your choice be tonight?  The special is fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy.   I know you like that."

For a moment he was tongue-tied just drinking in her beauty.  He finally nodded tearing his eyes away from hers and croaked out, "Yes, I'll take that."

When she went back to give his order to the cook, he overheard her say, "Is your wife knitting me another scarf this year like she usually does?  I've got a drawer full of them that I cherish, but usually forget to wear."  

Her laughter started to warm his heart, then chilled it as he realized his gift was exactly the wrong thing.  "Not again," he groaned under his breath."  But he smiled really big at her when she brought his plate out.  But then he was shocked as she slipped into the booth to sit opposite him.

"So, how's the building going, Wyatt?  I'll bet it gets really cold out there pounding away with your nail gun.  I noticed you weren't here for lunch like usual."

We use an outdoor heater sometimes, but usually stay busy enough to break a sweat," he spoke before realizing he was actually having a real conversation with her.  He grinned just thinking about her missing him at lunch.  "At least it's always warm in here.  That's one reason I always like to come here as well as for the good food, but especially for the friendly waitresses."  

"Well, I have other customers I need to get to.  Stay warm out there, Wyatt," she said with a smile that could slay a thousand guys.  He only hoped he'd be the last man standing to take her hand.

"You're dreaming, buddy," he muttered under his breath before biting into a crispy breast piece.  Chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy were the perfect comfort food.  He searched his mind for what would be the perfect gift but came up with nothing.

The next day he braved going into a ladies' shop downtown on his lunch hour.  He touched a few sweaters that were folded in a display and was surprised at how soft they were.

"Those are cashmere, imported from Italy," a saleslady said over his shoulder.  "They make very nice gifts."

Wyatt picked up a pink one and checked the size.  Small should be about right.  "Do you gift wrap?" he asked.

That night, he came in a little late having stayed to make sure the kitchen install was finished on his job.  Once again, he hid a present under his coat and was feeling good about it, that is until he heard Noelle talking with another waitress who was wearing a funny Christmas sweater.

"I envy you and your cute Christmas sweaters.  I get too warm and feel almost claustrophobic when I wear a sweater, especially one with a high neckline like that.  If I wear a turtleneck, I feel like I'm being strangled," she laughed.

"Another one bites the dust," he groaned again.  "Back to square one with less than a week till Christmas," Wyatt scowled.

"Hey, what's wrong, Wyatt?"  She was there with a pen and pad to take his order.  

"I'm fine, just a long day.  How was yours?"

"My feet are always killing me by this time at night.  So, what are you having?"

"Steak and baked potato, like usual.  I guess I'm pretty predictable," He scowled.

"Hey, that's not a bad way to be.  It's also called being reliable."

He kept his eyes on her all the way back to the register where she was cheerfully checking a customer out.  "Hmm.  I'll take that as a compliment," he muttered with a grin.

After supper, he braved the biting chill to stroll past the stores staying open later for Christmas shoppers like him.  He saw a display with a mug with an "N" on it.  Nah, that wasn't saying how special he thought she was.  He kept walking.  He looked over some purses and wallets, but vacillated.  He tried to think if he'd ever seen her with a purse over her shoulder.  He studied the books on display in the bookstore.  But he couldn't stand it if he chose wrong and gave her one with steamy scenes or bad language.  Not being familiar with names of Christian fiction authors, he kept walking.  When he came to the end of the block, he threw his hands up in the air and muttered "forget it!"causing some other shoppers to stare at him like he was a crazy man.

"Lord, if you want me to give her a gift, please enlighten me," he prayed silently.  Crossing the street he slowed as he walked past a toy store."  He suddenly stopped making the shopper behind him to crash into him.  "Sorry," he said as he turned into the store.  He found someone to ask, "Can you show me the music boxes you have?"

"Certainly, they are over here."

He followed her just one aisle over where there were all kinds to choose from, some just costing a few bucks to a couple that were over a hundred dollars.  He puzzled over it until he found one he thought she'd love.  Two skaters were going round in circle while it played a Christmas carol.
He remembered a few weeks ago when he was jogging past the pond in the park where he saw Noelle ice skating and was enthralled.  The music box he chose was neither too cheap, nor too costly.  What was the worst thing that could happen?  Would she shove it back into his hands or would she break into her sweet smile.

"Can you gift wrap that please."  The shopkeeper showed him a selection of wrapping paper, and he chose one with a vintage look in a print of skaters in a winter scene.  "If she didn't like it, he'd mail it to his sister and give up."

The next morning, she wasn't there.  Neither was she there for lunch.  Finally, when she didn't show for supper, he got up his nerve to ask another waitress, "Where's Noelle?"

"Oh, she called in sick."

His shoulders slumped.  He couldn't give her the gift until she was back at work, hopefully tomorrow.  But he certainly didn't like the fact that she was sick.  He prayed, "Oh, Lord, please help her to feel better soon."

However, she once again was missing in action the next day and the next.  It was Christmas Eve, and he could wait no longer.  He strode up to the cash register when he was done eating and asked, "Can I have a pint of chicken noodle soup to go?"  Then he bit the bullet and said, "I want to take it to Noelle since she's still sick, but I don't know where she lives."

The older waitress with more lines on her face than an atlas stared at him with her arms crossed.  "I guess you've been in here long enough, but if you hurt that girl I'll poison you myself-and I'm only half joking." She pulled out her order pad and wrote the address down for him as the cook hollered out, "He's okay.  He built my cousin's house.  You can trust him."

Wyatt saluted the man, grabbed his Styrofoam pint, then walked out trying to hide his grin as he stepped outside.  He couldn't get there fast enough.  She lived in an older section of town with a few apartments sprinkled in.  It didn't take him long to find it and to leap up the stairs to knock.

At first no one answered though there was a light on shining through her blinds.  He knocked again and listened for footfalls.  He heard a muffled shuffling, then the door cracked open only wide enough to put a slice of bread through, like a toaster.  

"Wyatt?  What are you doing here?"

She sounded horrible.  "I've been worried about you.  I brought you some chicken soup."

Noelle groaned, "I don't know if I can keep it down."  Thus saying, she ran to the bathroom where he heard her retching.  

He let himself in and put the soup container on the table and followed her into the bathroom where she was hunched over the toilet.  Wyatt gathered her hair away from her face and simultaneously felt her forehead.  "You're burning up, Noelle."

Finally, she sat up enough to flush the toilet and croaked, "You shouldn't be here, Wyatt.  I'd feel terrible if you caught this awful flu from me."

"I took a flu shot, not that it will prevent it, but you need help."  He lifted her to stand up on shaky legs though she was still bent over holding her stomach as she shuffled back to her couch. 

"Where's your Advil or Tylenol, and when did you take it last?"

"It's in the kitchen on the counter.  I think I took it a 3:00 this afternoon."

"Well, it's time you take some more.  Do you have any Seven Up?"

"No, I felt too sick to go to the store," she moaned.

He went to her linen closet and brought out a sheet to cover her lightly.  "Do you have a thermometer?"  

"In the bathroom cabinet, I think."

"Okay," I'll take your temperature, then run to the store to get you some fizzes to drink.  You need something to help bring down your fever.  Becoming dehydrated won't help. You can have the soup later."

He got the thermometer, then read it when it beeped.  "Wow, that's not good.  It says you have 104 degree temperature."  He hurried around and brought her the medicine along with a glass of water.  Wyatt helped to lift her head to take a sip.  Then he found a small trash can and put it near her.  "Here's a bucket in case you can't make it to the bathroom.  I'm going to the closest store and will bring back some soda crackers and a liter of soda to drink."

He took the stairs two at a time and pealed out of the apartment parking lot.  He was back in ten minutes, and ran up the stairs again.  He quickly found a glass and poured in the clear soda.  Then he set the crackers on the coffee table.

Noelle look up with her eyes glassy and her cheeks flushed with fever and said, "Why are you doing this, Wyatt?"

He stroked her hair back from her forehead and lifted her head so that she could sip it.  "It's because I care for you, Noelle, a lot."

A single tear slipped down her face.  "No one has ever done something this nice for me, not to mention that I've never been this sick."

"It's my privilege to be here, sweetheart."  He suddenly didn't care that the endearment had slipped past his lips.  "However, if you can't keep anything down, I'm taking you to the Urgent Care so they can give you something to stop your nausea."

It would almost be worth it to go.  My stomach is so sore from upchucking the past couple of days."

He stroked her hair as she fell into a light sleep.  She was so beautiful, sick or not.  Remembering his Christmas gift, he quietly slipped out the door to retrieve it from his truck.   Wyatt placed it under her tree and made himself comfortable in her nappy recliner and watched the lights blinking on her small tree.  There was only one other gift under it.  It made him wonder if she had any family.  If not, that would make both of them alone for Christmas.  While he had family, they lived too far away to drive to, and he didn't want to pay a bundle to fly home.  Yep, he didn't mind spending Christmas right here even if she was sicker than a dog.  He hoped she would take a turn for the better in the morning.  Maybe God could use this terrible illness for good, especially if it brought them together.  He found a Christmas play list on his phone and put carols on very softly.

When she groaned in her sleep, he stroked her forehead before feeling her temperature.  She was slightly cooler than before at least.

He dozed off until he heard her stir.

"You're still here, Wyatt?  I'm better enough to be embarrassed how you found me."

"Merry Christmas, Noelle.  There's no place I'd rather be, that is, unless you mind, of course."

She propped herself up on her elbows.  "Mind?  The way you took care of me, I'm so grateful and happy to wake up to your handsome face," she said blushing, and it wasn't fever this time causing her to look flushed.

"Why don't you try eating a few crackers, and if you keep those down, I'll reheat the soup I brought over last night."

"Thanks," she replied as he brought her a fresh cold glass of soda and helped her to sit up.

After a bit she laid her head back on the couch and said, "So far, so good."  Noelle chuckled and spoke again.  "Have I told you Merry Christmas, Wyatt?"

He decided to go for broke and brought over his gift.  "I got this for you earlier."

She gasped.  "You shouldn't have," but took it with a big smile, the one that always melted his heart.  When she unwrapped it, tears filled her eyes.  "I love it, Wyatt."

"I guess you  noticed I hung around the restaurant kind of a lot.  It was because of you."

She giggled, "Yes, and did you happen to notice that I was always your waitress and none other? I told the other waitresses you were mine."

"You mean...?" he said gaping at her.

When she nodded smiling back at him he added, "I can't believe it took me so long to get up the nerve to tell you how I felt."

"I was beginning to wonder if you'd ever ask me out," Noelle said with a chuckle.

"Well, as soon as you're better, look out!  I'm asking you on a date right now then."

"That's tempting enough to make anybody get well in a hurry, so just tell me when, and I'll be ready," she grinned.  "Well, give me a few days to get back on my feet first though."

He said apologetically, "Sorry that I can't kiss you right now, but be forewarned, it's coming."
Once again he brushed her hair back and felt her head.  "You're a little clammy, but not as hot.  Hopefully, that means your fever broke."

"I hope so, she said nibbling on a cracker.  I think I'd like some soup now.  I want to see how good a waiter you can be," she said with a smirk.  

"Yep, I think you are better, alright," he replied knowing nothing could wipe the smile off his face now.  "I can't think of a better way to spend Christmas than with an adorable sickie."

"I like the music box, but the perfect gift was you being here and helping me at my worst, the gift of your presence."

He smiled, she smiled with the hope that soon those smiles would melt into a kiss.