The door opened.
Across the room, Collins’s eyes instantly locked on the face of his grandson. Tears falling once again. He didn’t know what to do, what to say.
Patrick was already smiling, and when their eyes met, he smiled even more. For a moment, neither one moved. He looked down at the wooden soldier, and his eyes got big and wide. “Grandpa, you finished him!” he shouted.
“I did,” said Collins. “Merry Christmas.”
“For me? He’s for me?”
Collins couldn’t speak. He could only nod. He held out his arms.
Patrick ran right past the wooden soldier and jumped straight into them. “Thank you, Grandpa, thank you, thank you.”
They hugged a few moments more, then Collins gently pulled Patrick back. “Patrick,” he said, “can you please forgive a mean old fool? I’ve treated you so badly, and you didn’t deserve it, not any of it. I am so sorry. So very sorry.”
Patrick hugged him tightly and held him a moment as he cried, then said, “That’s all right, Grandpa. I forgive you.”
Katherine and Mrs. Fortini had been watching from the doorway, and now walked the rest of the way into the living room, followed by Ezra Jeffries. “Mr. Collins,” Katherine said, wiping her own tears away. “There’s someone I’d like you to meet.” She guided Ezra to the forefront. “This is Mr. Ezra Jeffries, the man who found Patrick the other night in the middle of the storm. He brought him home to his family, took care of him, then brought him home a few minutes ago.”
Just then the two policemen walked in, followed by their captain, in time to hear all this. “Mr. Collins,” the captain said, “my men and I have something to say about this.”
Ian Collins wiped his eyes with a hankie then looked at Ezra. “Mr. Jeffries, what happened to you?”
“Uh . . . there was a misunderstanding,” the captain interrupted. “They thought he was a kidnapper. But about the reward—”
“Please, Captain,” said Collins, holding up his hand. “I’m grateful for all you and your men have done, but right now, I want to hear what my grandson has to say. Patrick, would you come here? Please tell us what happened after you . . . after you left the other night, right up until Mr. Jeffries brought you home just now.”
Patrick looked around the room. “Don’t worry, Patrick,” Katherine said. “You’re not in any trouble. No one’s in trouble. We just want to hear all about your adventure.”
He started slowly, but over the next few minutes Patrick told the whole story.
When he was through, Collins walked right up to Ezra Jeffries and held out his hand. “Sir,” he said, “I owe you a debt I could never properly repay. But I offered a word five thousand dollar reward to whoever found Patrick and brought him safely home. I believe, Mr. Jeffries, that money is rightfully yours.”
Ezra looked as if he might faint dead away at the news. He was speechless.
“Captain, c’mon now,” one of the policemen said.
“Mr. Collins, let’s be reasonable here.”
Collins held his hand up again. “I’m not through, Captain. You and your men have also sacrificed your time, your safety, even most of your Christmas holiday to search for my grandson. And for that I am also grateful. So, I’ve decided to give you an additional five thousand dollars to divide among yourselves however you choose.”
The captain gasped. “I don’t know what to say.”
“There’s nothing to say. If my grandson was out there to be found, I’m sure your men would have found him. Please take the money and express my thanks to everyone who helped. I’ve only got one request to make.”
“Anything,” the captain said.
“Would you personally escort Mr. Jeffries home, so he can spend Christmas Eve with his family, and make sure he gets home safely carrying so much cash.”
“I certainly will,” the captain said.
“I’ve got a request of the captain,” said Mrs. Fortini.
“What?”
“I’d like Katherine to be able to spend Christmas Eve and have Christmas dinner with us tomorrow. She has no family in town. Could you have someone drive her back to her apartment to pick up a few things and bring her back?”
“Happy to,” the captain said.