Christmas Comes Home to Canaan Page #4

I thought she was

a country girl.

Make her feel

right at home.

This country girl

might just be

your father's new beau,

and I'll be switched

if I'm going to

let her think

a bunch of hayseeds

live here.

Now, go on.

Huh?

I'd say this looks

pretty good.

It looks really good.

Good enough

for country folk.

Now we just need

the angel.

I'll get it.

You think she'd mind?

Me inviting a friend here

for Christmas?

I imagine she'd be happy.

She'd never have wanted you

to stay alone forever.

And what better time

than Christmas?

She always did love

Christmas.

And she always

loved this angel.

Then let's put her

up on her angel's perch,

so she can

watch over us,

just like always.

Come on.

The boys are waiting.

Okay, who wants the honors?

Dj?

No, my hands

got pitch on 'em.

You'll have to.

Bobber?

Can't reach that far.

Why don't you

do it this year?

I suppose I could,

I guess.

All right.

There.

Perfect.

Her plane lands

in a couple hours.

Best get movin'.

Hey, you sure

you don't want to borrow

some of my cologne?

It's musk.

I'll do just fine

without it,

thank you very much.

Ooh, somebody's

a little prickly.

I wonder what

that's about.

I wouldn't have

the faintest idea.

You kids are going to end up

embarrassin' me yet.

Well, we'll certainly

give it our best shot.

Drive safe.

Will do.

Poor girl.

I hope she knows

what she's in for.

They're here!

They just drove up.

And would you

quit fussing?

You look sufficiently

glamorous.

Why is it that

I feel like a mother

meeting my son's prom date

for the first time?

Well, I'm not quite sure,

but if you're thinking

about having

the "birds and the bees"

talk with him,

I think that duck's

pretty well flown.

What's taking them

so long?

Well, he's getting

her things.

Women come with

a lot of accessories.

They do.

Would you look at

the three of you?

You're all lined up

like it's a firing squad.

Here we are, guys and gal.

Please welcome Dr. adair.

Hello.

I'm glad you made it.

Me too.

This is my older son, dj.

Ma'am...

Uh, doctor?

It's briony.

Briony... ma'am.

And this is

Rodney Freeman,

canaan's

most famous author.

Canaan's only author,

best I can tell.

I loved your book.

It makes coming here

almost like coming home.

Thank you.

And this is Sarah...

Sissy, I call her,

which I'm sure

she hates.

Sarah.

I'm so glad to finally meet you.

I hope you brought

an appetite.

Dinner's about ready.

I bet you'd love

some help.

Just point me

towards the kitchen

and turn me loose...

No!

I mean...

You're a guest.

I can manage.

Well, let me help you

get settled in.

Come on,

grab your things here.

Just follow me.

Through here.

Okay.

I'll help you get

settled in here...

No, ma'am...

And what's

your new book about?

Short stories mostly,

about growin' up.

Things my grandmother

taught me.

Oh, you would have

loved her.

That woman was fearless.

Oh, she had to be.

You know, it wasn't

easy back then.

Back then?

So when did it get easy

all of a sudden?

I must have

missed that part.

Okay, now

it's Sarah's turn.

I want to hear

all about you.

What about me?

Anything.

Hopes, dreams.

Any special fellas

lurking out there

that we should know about?

Not much time

for that

when you're busy

riding herd

on this bunch.

Then, how about your plans?

Not much to tell.

Ever thought about college?

As bright as your dad

says you are.

Yeah, sissy,

what about college?

Sarah go to college?

What for?

For your information,

I recently applied

at the university of Texas

at Austin.

Daniel, why didn't

you tell me?

That's wonderful.

That's the first

I've heard of it myself.

I was wondering

when one of us

was finally going to

make a run for it,

especially now that

there's somebody here

to keep track of you.

Hey.

You got 'em all tucked in?

Mm-hmm.

Three in beds,

and Rodney on the couch.

Listen, daddy.

What I said,

about going to college?

I just filled out

the application, that's all.

I probably won't even

get accepted,

and, even if I do,

I don't have to go.

I've been meaning

to tell you.

It's just,

when she asked,

I blurted it out.

Well, she has

a gift for that,

making folks say

what they're feelin'.

It's obvious

the boys like her.

Yeah. And you?

I just met her.

I don't know her hardly at all.

She certainly feels at home.

But you like her, right?

I like that you like her.

Oh, I haven't had

one of these since last year!

Hey, look,

I got one, too.

Just the color I wanted.

Dj, care to hand me

that package

there under the tree?

Thank you.

Now, see, we've got a little

family tradition around here.

The kids know

all about this.

It started

one particular Christmas...

My daddy started it...

It had been

a pretty rough year.

We weren't expecting much,

but come Christmas morning,

here were all these gifts,

wrapped and under the tree,

just like always.

Well, my mama, when she seen it,

boy, she lit into my dad,

said, "where'd you get

the money for all that?"

And daddy just smiled

and looked at her, and said,

"don't you know nothin', woman?

"Even if you're flat broke,

you can still have

some Christmas."

See, to him,

"some Christmas" meant

giving all the gifts

you really wanted to give,

when only your heart

could afford it.

We did it that first year

Rodney came to live with us,

you remember that?

I sure do.

You gave me

my first typewriter.

That's right.

So, this year,

with you being

practically family and all,

I thought you deserved

some Christmas, too.

It's a little house.

It's a country house.

You're always

talking about

how you're

a country girl,

so I just thought,

maybe someday,

you might like a little

country place of your own.

Thank you.

I love it, I really do.

It's so sweet.

Of course, until then,

you're plenty welcome

to stay right here with us.

I brought along

a little Christmas of my own.

First, the guys.

A sweater.

Not just

any sweater.

That's cashmere.

Nothing wrong with

sheep's wool.

Thanks, briony.

And, Sarah,

this is for you.

They're Laurel burch.

I think she makes

the most beautiful things,

don't you?

Well, go ahead,

sissy.

Put 'em on.

I'll do it later.

Nah, do it now.

I wanna see

what you look like in 'em.

Look how pretty

you look.

You could be on the runway.

Yeah, along with

all the other

crop dusters.

Now, come on,

be nice, dj.

Sorry.

Thank you,

Dr. adair.

You shouldn't've.

All us girls

need some pretty things.

Now, Daniel,

your turn.

Aw...

Briony, you didn't

need to do all this.

You better see if you like it

before you start thanking me.

It's a "real" tie.

Whoo...

Italian silk no less.

I bet you didn't think

I'd notice.

I love it.

Thank you.

I guess

no more gettin' thrown out

of ritzy places.

Come in handy

around here, that's for sure.

And...

I brought something

for the house.

A kind of a thank-you

to all of you

for inviting me

to Christmas.

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