After she had done all her chores she started working on the jewelry people ordered for Christmas. She enjoyed doing beading. She liked creating something from nothing.

It was an extra income she needed so much. With the extra shifts and all the jewelry orders she will be able to give Emily a Christmas she deserves.

While working on a bracelet she thought of the strange things that happened at the diner tonight.

First there was the strange man that talked to her. He seemed very kind. There was a certain sadness in his eyes. Maybe just like her, he lost someone dear to him. He must be new in town because she didn't recognize him. He is not a regular. And he said that he will see her around. There was just something she liked about him. She couldn't put her finger on it.

Then there was Thomas. That was a huge surprise to her. He was kind and gentle. Something she did not expect.

She knows that he liked her. He started asking her out about a year after Peter died. She refused to see anyone of course. She felt she cheated on Peter and wasn't ready yet. Thomas never stopped trying though, until she harshly asked him to stop. Because of that he never asked her out again and never treated her nice until tonight.

She can't stop thinking of how nice it felt to be held by him. She only realized tonight that she missed being in someone's arms. To be held and embraced. To be loved.

She has been so busy trying to raise Emily and keep her head above water that she never thought of her own needs. Maybe she could give Thomas a chance. Take it slow and see what comes of it. She is responsible for her own destiny, as Annie said, if she wants Emily to be happy she must start with herself.

She decided to go to bed early to get up early. She usually read to Emily before she went to bed at night. The last two weeks it was impossible because she has been working double shifts. Maybe she could read to her in the morning before she went to school. She still had to explain to her about the excursion money.

**********
Lexi got up early the next morning. Packed Emily's lunch and clothes she will be wearing after school.

"Wake up sleepy head." She kissed Emily's all over her face and tickled her.

"Mommy, I want to sleep." She complained.

"I know honey. I haven't read to you in a while, and I wanted to read a special story to you this morning."

"What story, Mommy?"

"A story about Jesus's birth. Jesus is the reason for Christmas you know. Would you like to hear it?"

"Yes, please Mommy."

Lexi took out the book and started reading to her.

Two thousand years ago the Caesar Augustus told the people to be counted in all of Roman. Everybody had to go to their birth town. Joseph was married to Mary and they had to go to Joseph's home town to be counted. They had to travel a long way to Bethlehem. Mary was expecting a baby so they had to travel very slowly by donkey.

When Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem there were no place for them to stay. A lot of people had travelled to Bethlehem to be counted. All the Inn's were full. The only place they could find was a stable. They took it because Mary was very tired and needed desperately to rest.

Baby Jesus was born in the stable that night. Mary wrapped Him in a cloth and laid Him in the manger. When Baby Jesus was born, a brand new bright star appeared in sky.

There were shepherds in the fields nearby looking after their sheep. An angel of the Lord appeared to them. A bright light were shinning all around him. It was the Glory of God.

They were very scared. The angel told them: "Do not be afraid. I bring good news of great joy. It is for all people. Today in the town of Bethlehem a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord. You will know this is true when you find the Baby wrapped in a cloth in a manger.

Then many more angels appeared and started singing: "Glory to God in the highest, and peace to everyone on earth."

When the angels had gone the shepherds went to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph. Baby Jesus was lying in a manger as they had been told. When they saw him, they told everyone what the angel had said. Then the shepherds returned to their sheep, praising God for sending his Son to be their Saviour.

After Jesus's birth, Wise men from the North came looking for Him. They asked, "Where is the child who has been born to be king of the Jews? When we were in the east, we saw His star. Now we have come to worship Him."

They followed the star they had seen in the East. It stopped over the place where Baby Jesus was born. When they saw the star stopped, they were filled with joy because they knew they had found Him.

The Wise men went in and found Baby Jesus in Mary's arms. She smiled up at them. They bowed down and worshiped Baby Jesus. They brought Him some precious gifts, gold, incense and myrrh. All gifts to suit a King.

"That is a beautiful story, Mommy." Emily said excited. "Is that why we put a star at the top of our Christmas tree?"

"Yes honey, to remind us that Jesus was born to be our Savior. The bible says in John 3:16 'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have eternal life.' That means if we believe in Jesus we will be with Him in heaven someday."

"Please read it again."

"I will read it you again tomorrow morning. You have to get up so we can get you to school in time. But I have to tell you something first."

"What is it Mommy?"

"I'm sorry I didn't get enough tips yesterday to pay for your Christmas excursion. But I promise I will make it up to you." She said softly.

Tears started running down her cheeks. Lexy took her in her arms and cried with her.

"I'm so sorry."

She sat like that crying with her. Hating herself for disappointing her daughter yet again.

They were just about to leave when Lexi heard someone knocking at the door. When she opened the door she was stunned to see Thomas standing there.

"Good morning." He said with a big smile on his face. "I'm here to give you girls a lift to school."

After they dropped Emily at school, Thomas didn't go straight to the diner.

"Where are we going? This is not the way to the diner."

"I'm taking you for coffee at the Pin Stripe Coffee Shop on the other side of town."

"What? Why?" Lexy asked shocked?

"I just want to talk, Lexy. Nothing serious. I want to know what's going on in your and Emily's lives."

"But what about the diner? My shift starts in twenty minutes."

"Don't worry about the diner, I have organized everything with Connor. He will stand in for you."

Lexy didn't say anything util they sat at a table in the coffee shop. She had to admit she was a bit nervous. She hadn't gone out with someone since Peter died. "What do you want to know, Thomas?"

"I want to know a lot. I want to know how you get home so late in the evenings? I want to know why you are staying in a Motel and not an apartment. I want to know how you survive on your own? How do you get by on your wages?"

"Wow!" She said pausing. "That is a lot of questions? Well, I live in a Motel because I can't afford any better. Each night when I get Emily from Mrs Kennedy I carry her home, because she is to tired to walk by herself. I can't afford a car either. I survive by working double shifts. I also do beading for extra money." She almost said in one breath.

"Why didn't you tell me? You know I would do anything for you."

"You hated me, Thomas. You didn't treat me very nice. It felt like you were unapproachable." After the waitress left she continued: "I were scared of you." She said softer with lowered eyes. "I didn't want to jeopardize my job. I desperately need it to put food on the table and a roof over our heads."

"So, you just sucked it up?"

"Yes.... You deducted so many hours from my wages. I had to work more and more shifts. I had to take on more beading work to pay the bills. I sometimes go to bed at three o'clock in the morning to try and finish the orders. That is why I sometimes oversleep and are late for work. The last six months has been the hardest ever, since you have been deducting so much. What made it worse is that I had to work some Sunday afternoon shifts and I couldn't spend time with Emily. Those are my worst moments."

"I'm sorry. I have been a jerk. When you made it clear that you didn't want to see me, I became hateful and mean towards you. I wanted to get back at you for hurting me. You hurt my ego. It's shameful I know. I'm so sorry."

He took her hand when he saw the tears in her eyes. "It will never happen again. I want to make up for it. If you will allow me."

"Thomas I can't promise anything, we must take it slow. I don't know how ready I am. It's going to be difficult to allow you in my life. The only man I ever knew was Peter."

"I know. We will take it one day at a time. But I want to be there for you and Emily."

"Thank you Thomas."

After chatting for two hours they left for the diner.

It was much busier than the day before. Everybody came into town for Christmas shopping. Lexy was tired by the time her second shift started.

She couldn't stop thinking about Thomas and their coffee date this morning. They didn't talk at all today. It was too busy. She caught Thomas looking at her two or three times during the day. She smiled at him and he just blushed and looked away. That gave her butterflies in her tummy and made her excited. She was looking forward to getting to know him better.

"Good evening, miss." A familiar voice greeted her when she got to one of her tables.

"Good evening, Sir. Good to see you again." She said enthusiastically.

"Please, call me Anthony."

"Anthony, I'm Lexy. Pleased to meet you. What can I get you tonight?"

"Just a coffee, please."

After she served him his coffee the diner got quiet. "Thanx for the coffee. Enjoy the rest if your evening. See you tomorrow." Anthony said and paid his coffee with a hundred dollar bill. "Keep the change."

"Really?" She asked shocked. "Anthony this is way too much for the coffee. I'll bring you your change.

"No, please don't. I want you to keep it." He said and left the diner.

Lexi cleared the table and left to change to go home.

"Lexi, I arranged with Connor to take you and Emily home tonight."

"That's not necessary. I will walk." She said disappointed. All day long she has been looking forward to spend time with Thomas, even if it was just a ride home.

"Please, Lexy. I already arranged for Connor to stay late and give you a lift. I don't want you to walk alone with Emily this late at night."

"Thomas, I have been doing this for a very long time. I'm sure I'll be fine."

"I don't care how long you have been doing this. You will not do this anymore. And that is final."

She didn't want to argue with him and left with Connor without saying goodbye.