Gracie – hahaha at your review! You can go ahead and warn Katrina about Danny's cheating heart, but I don't think she'll listen very well. You'll have about as much success as Rafe. LOL. But what makes you think Danny will be a pig in my story? Sorry to call "your Danny" a pig, but let's face it, he was! Lol. But I forgive him now :)

Bethany – good point. Yeah, most of the PC characters DO hate each other now. Haha, well not in my story :)

I apologize in advance for the bathroom humor. I know I've put a lot of it in this story and there's more in this chapter. It's just that kids talk about that kind of stuff! I know; I worked with them!

Oh, and to those of you who hate Landon, I have a feeling you'll enjoy this chapter. :) Until 15!

Chapter 14

"This is so not how I envisioned spending the day before Christmas Eve," Alison complained as she wrapped up some picture frames in newspaper and packed them into boxes. She and Rafe had been packing up some things at the center for a couple of hours.

"I know. Me neither. I was hoping we'd get a break but I guess not." Rafe sat down in his swivel chair, opening up his desk drawers, even though they were now empty. "I guess that's just about it."

"Rafe?"

"Yeah?"

"What are you going do with the rest of this stuff? Like all the furniture, and the computers? I mean, you can't really leave them here."

"I'm giving them to the church, since they donated it all in the first place. I've already spoken to Reverend Lovejoy about it." Rafe smiled. "You know, if it hadn't been for him, I wouldn't have gotten this job in the first place. I'm sure the church can find good use for all of these things, like give the computers out to kids who don't have one or something."

"I have another idea."

"What's that?"

"I think you should keep all of this stuff."

Rafe looked at her, confused. "Alison, it doesn't belong to me. All of these things were bought with church funds or donated to them. It's not mine to keep."

"Well maybe Reverend Lovejoy will let you borrow them."

Rafe looked at her, even more confused. "What am I going to do with 26 computers?"

Alison smiled. Apparently, she was going to have to spell it out for him. "I'll tell you what you can do with them. You open up your own center and use them."

"My own center?"

"Yeah! You can open up a brand new one. I mean, why not? And I bet Reverend Lovejoy would totally help you!"

"I never thought of doing that."

"And think about it. You'd already have a group of kids who love you. So of course they'll go. All you gotta do is find a place."

"Hmm."

Alison frowned. "What's the matter? You do like that idea, don't you?"

Rafe smiled. "I love it. It's a great idea. It's just that I'll miss this place."

"Yeah. Me too."

"I mean, I know it's an old building, and it gets a bit drafty in the winter, but I love this place. It has everything we need, and just enough space. It's going to be hard to find something that can compare to this."

Alison walked over to Rafe, putting her arms around his neck. "I know. But we can try. Rafe, I can think of no other person who is as good at this job as you are. It'd be a shame to put your talents to waste. Those kids…they're depending on you."

"After Christmas."

"After Christmas what?"

"After Christmas is when I'll start looking for a new building. And I'll talk to Reverend Lovejoy about keeping all of these things until we get the new center set up."

Alison squealed in delight and gave Rafe a quick kiss. "I think that's a great idea! And I'll help you!"

"Are they ready yet, Mommy?" Katrina asked as Alison put on her oven mitt and opened the oven.

"I think so."

"Oh boy! I love gingerbread men! I'm gonna bite their legs off before they run away!"

Alison laughed, taking the pan out of the oven.

Just then, the doorbell rang. Before Alison even had a chance to sit the cookies down, Katrina was already running to it. "I'll get it!"

"Katrina, ask who it is first!"

Katrina's little hand stopped at the doorknob. "Who is it?"

"It's Reverend Lovejoy," a voice called out on the other side.

Katrina cracked the door open just enough to poke her head out.

"Hello, Katrina," he said with a smile.

"Hi," she said softly. Usually she was more talkative, but she was confused at why the reverend was here at their home. She hoped he wasn't here to complain about her being loud in church yesterday. Boy was Daddy mad about that!

"Is your mom or dad around?"

"Uh huh," she said, shaking her head yes.

"Reverend Lovejoy, hi," Alison said, opening the door all the way. "Sorry, I had my hands full in the kitchen. Please, come in."

"Thank you."

"So what brings you by?"

"I apologize for just coming over unexpected, but I decided this couldn't wait. I was hoping to speak to both you and Rafe. Is he here?"

"Yes, he is. Katrina, will you go get Daddy?"

"'Kay!' Katrina ran out of the room, calling out for her father. "Daddy!"

"Reverend, would you like some gingerbread cookies? I just made some."

"Oh is that what I smell? Gingerbread is my favorite. Yes, I'd love some."

"Great. I'll be right back."

Katrina ran back into the living room. "Daddy said he'll be here in just a minute. He's in the bathroom right now. Don't go in there for a while after he comes out." Katrina waved her hand in front of her nose.

The Reverend held back his laughter. "Okay."

Katrina spotted her Christmas coloring book on the coffee table. "Hey! Wanna see my coloring book?" she asked the reverend.

"I'd love to."

Katrina set the book on his lap and opened it up. "There's Santa sneaking around in the house putting presents under the tree. Santa's gonna come here tonight, because I've been good. And I pray every night, Reverend Lovejoy."

He smiled. "Well that's really good. Listen, you keep being a good little girl for your mom and dad, okay?"

"Daddy says if you're good, you go to heaven."

"That's right."

Katrina showed him another picture in her book. "There's some reindeer. I colored them pretty."

"You did a wonderful job."

"You can color some too if you want."

"Reverend Lovejoy," Rafe said, walking into the room. "What brings you by?"

"Rafe, hello. I just came over to talk to you and Alison about something that's suddenly come up."

"Nothing bad I hope."

"No, it's good news."

"Well we could certainly use some of that. I'm glad you're here. There's something I wanted to discuss with you as well."

"Here you go, Reverend." Alison placed a small plate of cookies on the table.

"Thank you, Alison."

"Katrina, there's some gingerbread men and hot chocolate waiting for you on the table."

"Oh! I gotta eat them before they run away!" she said excitedly as she ran to the kitchen.

"Did you tell him?" Alison asked, smiling as she looked at Rafe.

"Tell me what?" Reverend Lovejoy asked.

Rafe smiled. "I've made a decision. Since the center is closing down, I'm going to go and open up my own. I know we made arrangements to give all the center things to charity, but I was hoping instead you'd let me use them for mine. Once we get things settled, of course."

The reverend smiled. "That won't be necessary."

"I don't understand."

"I'm guessing you haven't seen this morning's paper."

Rafe and Alison shook their heads no.

"Landon was arrested yesterday for drug trafficking."

"Drug trafficking?" Rafe asked.

"Oh my god!" Alison said.

"Apparently, his little pharmaceutical company has been making some meth labs around the region very happy. Among other things."

Alison's eyes lit up. "What does this mean?"

"It means they're shutting down his company."

Rafe was stunned. This was the last thing he thought he'd hear today. "So this means…"

"He's no longer a problem," he said, completing his sentence. "There's really not much he can do behind bars."

"Oh my god! That's great news!" Alison said, laughing as she gave Rafe a hug.

Rafe turned to Reverend Lovejoy. "Wait a minute. Landon's not a problem anymore, but what about the money we need to keep the center open?"

The reverend's smile grew even wider. "I can't wait to tell you this. That's not a problem anymore either."

Rafe wondered if he heard him right. "What?"

"Some anonymous donor has offered to pay to keep the center funded. So it looks like you're back in business."

"You're not joking with me, right? Please tell me you're not kidding," Rafe asked with a laugh.

"It's no joke."

"Why would this person want to be anonymous?" Alison asked.

The reverend shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. People have their reasons. Well look, I have to run, and I'm going to leave you two to celebrate with the good news. Have a very merry Christmas."

"Oh we will!" Rafe said. "The center is saved, Landon is serving time. What could be better than that?"

"I'm going to take these cookies with me," Reverend Lovejoy added, taking a few off of the plate.

"Go right ahead. Enjoy!" Alison smiled.

"Bye."

"Bye. Thank you!"

"Bye, Reverend," Rafe said.

Rafe walked the reverend out and turned around to Alison.

"Ahh! See, I told you!" Alison ran over to Rafe, throwing her arms around you. "Didn't I tell you things would work out in the end?"

"Yes you did."

"This is going to be a GREAT Christmas!" Alison happily kissed Rafe.

"Hey!"

Rafe and Alison looked across the room, seeing Katrina grinning.

"You guys seen a gingerbread man running around here?" she asked.

"No, can't say I have," Rafe answered, smiling.

"No, I haven't seen him."

"That gingerbread man is a sneaky little guy! He got away from me! But I'm gonna find him! And I'm gonna eat him up!"

Alison knelt down to inspect Katrina. "Hmm, it's interesting that you say the gingerbread man ran away from you. Because looking at your face, it looks like I see cookie crumbs on your mouth."

"Oh!" Katrina covered her mouth, and then began to laugh. "Just kidding! I ate him all gone!"

"You nut!" Rafe knelt down, ticking his daughter, making her laugh. Then he scooped her up into his arms.

"Hey, why are you guys so happy?"

"Because, Princess, we got some really good news today. Remember that man we called a grinch?"

"Yeah! He's mean!"

"Well guess what? Since he did some really bad things, the police said he has to go to jail now."

"Is he still going to take away the center, Daddy?"

"Nope. He won't bother us anymore, Princess."

"Yay! I knew Santa could do it!"

Rafe gave his daughter a confused look. "Santa?"

"Yeah! I asked Santa to fix things and he did!"

"You wrote Santa another letter?"

"No. I asked him when I saw him at the mall. When Nana took me."

Rafe gave his daughter a smile. "You thought of asking Santa that all by yourself?"

"Uh huh! And I told him he didn't even have to bring me a pony if he could make you happy again."

Rafe almost felt as if he could cry. Looking over at Alison, she already was. Rafe held Katrina closer, giving her a hug. "I love you, Princess."

"I love you too, Daddy."

"And I love you both." Alison put her arms around the two, forming a group hug.

"Well, this calls for a celebration!" Rafe announced. "How about we all go out for lunch? Hmm? Somewhere nice. And tonight, we've got a party to go to!"

Katrina's eyes lit up. "Can we go to Luigi's?"

"What do you want at Luigi's?" Rafe asked with a smile.

"Um…spaghetti!"

"Spaghetti sounds good to me. Luigi's it is!"

"Yay!"

"Go get your shoes, Princess." Rafe put her down, and Katrina ran off to her room.

Alison smiled at Rafe, then wrapped her arms around him. "We have done an incredible job with her."

"Well of course. Look at her parents."

"She's the best of both of us."

"And I just bet that she's going to be a great big sister."

"Yes, she will."

"Speaking of which…will we know soon?"

Alison smiled. "I'd say we'll know something very soon."

"I can't wait," Rafe said, as he pulled Alison in for a hug.