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middle she wrote the old man’s name.
    Brian and Tish admired it when she was done. “It’s perfect, honey.”
    “Think he’ll like it?” Her hopeful eyes searched theirs.
    “Like it?” Tish hugged Gideon to her side. “He’ll love it.”
    T he next night at the mission, after they finished serving dinner, Brian and Tish anchored themselves at a table not far from Earl’s and waited. Since the night included a Christmas concert and figured to last longer than the others, Dustin had stayed with a neighbor. The concert had come first, then dinner. Now, with everyone eating, Gideon found the place where she’d hidden her gift, raised it so Brian and Tish could see it, and flashed them a thumbs-up.
    Carrying the decorated brown paper sack in front of her, she approached Earl’s table and sat down. “Merry Christmas, Earl.”
    Brian could hear their conversation perfectly.
Make him smile. Please.
    Earl’s fork froze halfway to his mouth and he lifted his eyes to Gideon. “Get lost.”
    Gideon shot Brian and Tish a weak look. Tish motioned to her, encouraging her to go ahead. Gideon stood a little straighter, nodded, and turned back to Earl. Then she lifted the decorated brown bag and set it in front of his plate. “I brought you a Christmas present.”
    Earl stared at it. For a long moment Brian actually thought the gift had worked. Then the old man set his fork down. “I hate Christmas. Didn’t I tell you that?”
    “Yes.” Gideon’s eyes were fixed on his. “You told me you didn’t believe. But believing is the best gift of all and I thought maybe if I gave you a—”
    “You thought wrong.” Earl’s voice boomed across the table.
    Brian made a move toward the man, but Tish grabbed his arm. “Don’t, Brian.” She shifted her gaze to Gideon. “This is her thing.”
    “But she spent all her money on that stupid gift.” His teeth were clenched, his anger so strong it choked him.
    “She
wanted
to do this.”
    Brian sighed. “You’re right.” He felt the fight simmering within him. They watched Gideon and Earl. Their daughter hadn’t said anything since Earl’s rude interruption.
    Now she leaned forward and clasped her hands on the table. “Aren’t you going to open it?”
    Earl dropped his gaze. “I’ll probably throw it away.”
    Again Brian’s muscles tensed.
How dare he.
Even from their spot a few tables away they could see tears building in Gideon’s eyes.
    “You can’t throw it away. It’s a Christmas gift. I… I bought it for you.”
    Something in their daughter’s voice must have caused the old man to look up. When he saw her sad face he huffed hard. “Fine.” He jerked the bag from the table and stuffed it into his coat pocket. “Happy?”
    It took every ounce of Brian’s resolve not to go after the old man and knock him to the floor.
    Gideon blinked back the tears. She was trying so hard to be brave. “I-I want you to open it, Earl.”
    This rime he snarled at her. “I’m not opening it, okay? Now, leave me alone.” The old man’s eyes looked dead as he lowered his voice. “I hate Christmas, kid. And I hate people like you.”
    The shock on Gideon’s face must have startled Earl, as though even he couldn’t believe what he’d just said. He tossed his fork down, pushed back and stood. Then without saying a word, he took five angry strides toward the door and disappeared into the night.
    Gideon watched him, her mouth open. When he was gone, she cast a desperate look at Brian and Tish. The pain in her eyes hurt Brian more than anything ever had. They went to her and together wrapped her in a hug.
    “Oh, honey, I’m sorry.” Tish kissed her cheek and wiped one of her tears.
    Brian held Gideon tightly, unable to speak.
God? How could you let this happen? After all her hard work?
He closed his eyes and rested his head on her smaller one.
    “He didn’t even open it.” Gideon’s tears were under control. No hysteria or loud sobbing. Just the quiet pain of a little