LITMIR.BIZ

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up before finding out what Brenda had made them for supper.

      As soon as supper was finished and the kitchen cleaned, Brenda offered to give Travis his bath while Bret found the decorations. Something had happened where his two oldest children were concerned, Bret realized as he pulled the ladder to the attic down from the ceiling and began to climb. Freda’s accident had caused him to look at Chris and Brenda in a new light. Both of them had stepped in to help—Chris assisting Roy in getting Freda to the hospital and Brenda looking after the younger children.

      They’d shown a surprising maturity that deeply touched him. Brenda was attempting to keep to a familiar routine in order not to alarm Sally and Travis any more than was absolutely necessary.

      Bret knew that he could do no less. He was actually thankful to have the tree to trim, which should keep the children occupied until their bedtime.

      Once he was in the attic, Bret mentally blessed Freda for keeping the storage area neat and orderly. The Christmas decorations were labeled and waiting in one of the corners. He carefully stacked the boxes and managed to get down both flights of stairs without mishap.

      By the time the children came back downstairs from getting their baths and dressing for bed, he’d tested and strung the lights.

      “We always have hot chocolate when we decorate the tree,” Sally said pointedly. “Can we make some hot chocolate?”

      “Uh, well—I’m not sure if we have the time to—”

      “Don’t worry about it, Dad,” Brenda said. “I’ve got it ready to heat.” She grinned at him, looking calm and in control of the situation. “I’ll get it ready while you ride herd on these two.”

      He began to sort through the boxes, opening them and arranging them around the tree.

      “Oh, Daddy, look!” he heard Sally say behind him. “Our angel! Isn’t she beeootiful?”

      Bret glanced down at the battered box that continued to hold the Christmas tree angel. Her dress no longer stood out quite so stiff and shiny. Her wavy hair could stand a good brushing, but her deep blue gaze was as potent as ever. He’d never before or since seen a doll with so much character in her face. The little angel remained a symbol for Bret of another lifetime…a time when he’d been young…a time when he’d actually believed in happy ever after.

      He was glad Patti had insisted they keep their angel. She stirred bittersweet memories, but the memories were a part of who he was.

      He watched Sally reverently lift the little angel from the box and carefully smooth her dress where it had been mussed from being packed away for the past year. Sally looked up and saw him watching her. She smiled and once again he saw Patti’s smile in their daughter’s face.

      “Here, Daddy.”

      He took the angel even while he said, “Not yet, honey. Remember we put her on the tree the very last thing, after everything else is hung, just before we turn on the lights.” He didn’t point out to her that he’d already made sure all the lights were working first.

      He glanced down at the angel in his hands. He couldn’t seem to take his gaze away from her while the children quickly hung their treasures from Christmases past. He carefully smoothed wisps of hair away from her cheek before gathering the soft fluff of hair in his hand in an effort to subdue some of the curls.

      She had such a wise look, as if she understood him and the pain that he perpetually carried in his heart. Bret knew he must be losing his wits to have such a strong reaction to a doll, even if she was supposed to be an angel!

      He placed the angel on the mantel and turned to help Travis. Picking him up, Bret pointed out some of the higher branches that still needed decorating.

      “Dad?” Brenda asked, carrying a tray with cups into the room and setting them down on the coffee table. “Did you find out how Freda’s doing and when Chris is coming home?”

      “Chris probably won’t be home until late. He and Roy plan to wait at the hospital until the doctor finishes with all his tests.”

      “Was her leg broken?” Sally asked.

      “’Fraid so, sugar,” Bret replied.

      “Well, who’s supposed to look after us?” Sally asked. “What are we going to do without Freda?”

      Bret readjusted Travis’s weight on his hip, handed him a tiny rocking horse and waited while small hands arranged the ornament to a three-year-old’s satisfaction before he answered. “It seems to me that we managed quite well last summer when Freda went to visit her sister for a few days, didn’t we? None of you starved to death.”

      Brenda giggled. “Maybe so, Dad. But you really looked silly wrapped up in Freda’s apron making pancakes.”

      Sally chimed in. “And you got real mad that time when you burned the biscuits you’d made for supper.”

      Bret forced himself to smile at the girls, recognizing their teasing was a way to lighten the atmosphere. “Okay, so maybe I need a little more practice. This will be a good time. According to the weather report, it’s going to be too bad for me to work outdoors for the new few days, anyway.” He looked down at his son who was still in his arms. “Travis and I’ll find something to keep us busy, won’t we, pardner?”

      “Will Freda be here for Christmas?” Travis asked.

      Since Travis seldom spoke they all looked at him in surprise.

      Bret hugged his son a little closer to his chest. “I hope so, son, but it’s too soon to tell just yet.”

      “School’s out next Friday, Dad.”

      “I know, Brenda.”

      “Then we’ll be here all day long for two weeks,” Sally pointed out.

      “I know.”

      There wasn’t much to add to the conversation and for the next few minutes each of them concentrated on the tree.

      Eventually, Brenda said in a subdued voice, “I wish we could go see Freda and let her know how much we miss her and how sorry we are she got hurt.”

      “Maybe we can, sweetheart,” Bret replied. “I’ll talk to the doctor tomorrow to see when he thinks she can have visitors.” He glanced at the clock. “In the meantime, it’s way past time for you to go to bed. School isn’t out for the holidays yet.”

      “But Dad—”

      “We have to—”

      Brenda and Sally spoke at once, but it was Travis who was the most emphatic.

      “You forgot the angel,” he said with a great deal of indignation.

      Bret stepped back from the tree and studied it. All the ornaments were hung…everything was in place…except for the angel.

      “Sorry, gang,” he muttered, leaning over and setting his pajama-clad son on the floor. He reached for the angel and carefully smoothed her dress and hair once more, then stepped on a nearby footstool so that he could reach the top of the tree.

      With an ease from years of practice he attached the angel to the tree so that she faced the room. Then he climbed down from the footstool, walked over and turned off the overhead light, leaving the room in shadows. He returned to the tree and flipped on the switch.

      The tree immediately came to life with a multitude of tiny lights flickering and twinkling among the scented branches.

      “Oooh,” Travis sighed softly. The girls took each of his hands and stared at the tree in awe.

      Finally Brenda said, “I wish Chris could have been here. This is the first Christmas he hasn’t helped us decorate the tree.”

      “I know, honey,” Bret replied. “I miss him, too, but Roy says he was a real help today. At least he helped to choose the tree.” He was silent for several moments, as they

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