An Angel For Christmas

“Hey, I’m just glad that Shayne is coming! I’ve talked to him, and he is just about the most depressed man in the world right now,” Morwenna said, her voice troubled. “I hope he doesn’t back out and work hundred-hour emergency shifts just to have something to do.”

“Shayne is coming. He said he might not have the ex or his kids, but we’d be the best place a depressed lonely guy could be for Christmas,” Bobby assured her.

“Our family is the best group to be with when you’re depressed?” She laughed.

He grinned. “Family—the only people you can rip to shreds in the name of love! Naw, we’ll make him feel better.”

“Good. At least, I think so!” Morwenna said. She glanced at him. “Well, how’s it going for you?”

“Fine.”

She looked at him skeptically. “Honestly, though, Bobby, you dropped out again?”

He sighed. “I didn’t drop out, Morwenna. I finished the semester.”

“But you’re not going back?”

Lord, save me! Maybe God heard; before Bobby could answer, he heard the crunch of a car’s tires on the snow. “Hey, it’s Shayne!”

He should feel guilty; his manically depressed brother had arrived. Now, they could all worry about Shayne’s problems!

“Yeah, it’s Shayne,” Morwenna said. She shaded her eyes against the glare on the snow. “He’s not alone. Who is that?”

“Think he picked up a hot babe for Christmas?” Bobby asked.

Morwenna elbowed him. “Shayne … with someone he met in the last few days?”

“No, no, too small. It’s the kids,” Bobby said. “Looks like Connor is in the front, and that’s Genevieve in the back.”

Shayne stopped the car in the driveway. Bobby thought that the kids were so excited that they had to get out. Connor had just turned nine, and Bobby was sure that the divorce was hard on him. Though Genevieve was just six, it seemed that she actually comprehended the change with the flexibility young children seemed to have.

She jumped out of the car. “Uncle Bobby!” And rushed him like a guard about to tackle. For a moment he caught his sister’s expression. She seemed a little hurt, and a little jealous.

But, then, he’d taken a lot more trouble to make sure that he’d seen his nephew and niece over the years; he knew that Morwenna always meant to.

She was just busy.

“Hey, little one!” Bobby said. He hiked her up on his hip. “Give Aunt Wenna a nice smooch right on the cheek there!”

Genevieve did; and she reached out with a cherubic smile. Morwenna took her, giving her a good hug and a kiss back. She looked at Bobby. Was there even a bit of gratitude in that glance?

Then Connor came flying out of the front, racing to them. He just gave Bobby a hug; Bobby opted not to pick him up. It might be against the boy’s dignity. Besides, at nine, Connor was tall and solid.

The car moved on into the garage.

“Didn’t know you were coming, munchkins,” Bobby said.

“We weren’t—then Mommy said we might have a better time with Daddy. And she said that we might really hurt Gram and Gramps if we didn’t come,” Connor said.

“Yep, she said that Connor and I were lucky to be loved by so many people,” Genevieve said.

Yes, Bobby thought, his sister-in-law—or ex-sister-in-law—would have said just such a thing, and meant it. She’d never known her own grandparents, and her parents had died the year before she’d met Shayne.

Shayne had emerged from the car by then and was walking toward them. “Hey, family,” he said. He was trying to smile.

“You got the kids!” Morwenna said.

“Yeah. Yeah,” Shayne said reflectively. Shayne, Bobby thought, was just as pretty as Morwenna—in a manly sort of way, of course. His brother was a good six foot three with the same dark hair and deep blue eyes. He was fit, and his posture was as straight as an iron girder. He had embraced being a physician, and lived well. Bobby had smoked on and off, over the years; he’d given it up last time because his brother had tortured him so much that the withdrawal was easier than listening to Shayne’s speeches.

“That’s great,” Morwenna said. “That was kind of Cindy.”

Shayne sniffed. “Yeah. Kind. She’s heading to Europe with the new love of her life. She decided that the kids might be a hindrance.”

“Hey!” Morwenna said, frowning. Shayne had the grace to wince, realizing that both his children were there, listening.

Shayne hunkered down by Genevieve. “Hey, guys, remember the rules at Gram’s house—you don’t come outside without someone here. What’s the other rule—do you remember, Connor?”

Connor nodded gravely. “Never take the side path out to the garage or shed in winter. Never. Never, never, never. The snow hides the slope and we could fall and get hurt.”

“Good,” Shayne said. “Now, Genevieve?”

Genevieve giggled. “Oh, Daddy! We know where the path is!”

“Genevieve, don’t come outside without an adult ever,” Shayne said. His voice had taken on an angry tone. “I’m serious.”

Connor came closer to his sister. “She knows, Dad. She just likes to argue lately. It’s a kid thing.”

Shayne nodded, looking at his son with gratitude.

Genevieve hugged him. “I’m sorry, Daddy. I wish Mommy was here, too. She makes good snowmen.”

Shayne nodded. “Yes, she makes good snowmen, but she is off on a trip, so we’ll have to make do with whatever Uncle Bobby and the rest of us can come up with. Now, run in and give big smooches and hugs to Gram and Gramps, okay? You’re going to be the best surprise for them!” Shayne said.

“Shayne,” Bobby said quietly. “You’ve got to be careful.”

“I know, I know. Sometimes I can’t help it,” Shayne said.

“Shayne, damn it. Bobby is right!” Morwenna said firmly. “Cindy is not a bad human being, and she was never a bad mother. I told you, she needed more time from you. She held down the fort when the kids were babies—I doubt if you ever changed a diaper—and—”

“Stop it, Morwenna! I changed plenty of diapers,” Shayne said. “You weren’t around much, so how the hell are you going to tell me what I did and didn’t do! I was working—”

“Come on, Wenna,” Bobby said. “Shayne was a good dad—you really do work a lot—”

“Better than you, who can’t even get the hell through school?” Morwenna interrupted angrily.

Before he could answer, they all froze in silence.

They’d heard … something.